Hi
My name is Garon Hawkes, and I lived at the Mullers Childrens Home Tilsley House near Clarence Park from 1970 to 1978.
I attended Walliscote Junior School and Broadoak School in those years. In those days I was known as 'Gary' (lots of the kids at the home had slight name changes!)
I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. Some particular friends names I remember are: Shawn Haskins, Simon Edwards, Steve Jenkins, Sally-Ann Royal, Suzzanne Fowell, Michael Grant, Haydon Palmer, Steven Harris, Ian Coombes - in fact I'd better stop there as each time I think of a name, by mental association another springs up.
If you are any of these, or know any of them, please get in touch
Garon (Gary) Hawkes
Hi Gary,
I attended Broadoak School between 72 and 77 not 100% sure if we have met but I used to deliver newspapers for Cox's newsagency in Whitehorse Road all around the Clarence Park area. Did you ever work at the newsagency?
Good luck in your search.
Chris Thoday
Hi Chris
I do remember Cox's, though I never worked there, I had a Saturday Job at Baxters Butchers in the Town. Cox's and the Bakers shop on the corner used to donate sweets and cakes to the home around xmas time each year, though my memories become more opaque as time goes on, I think coxs would send all their unsold selection boxes after xmas to the home. The Bakers, on a weekly basis would send bread and cakes that had just started to get a bit stale and therefore couldn't be sold. We didn't care though, it was a treat to come home from school and find the table set for our tea, with cakes and malt loaf and the like(bearing in mind there were up to 20 of us kids and 3 adult workers in the home at any one time).
I'm not sure that I remember you, the name does not ring a bell, but maybe you know of some of the other guys that were in the home with me, or other names that I remember from Broadoak, here goes: In the home, lads who went to broadoak, (some of the lads went to wyvern) Adrian Hill, Raymond Derrick, Clive Edwards, Gerald Pope, Stephen Jasper, David, Colin and Johnny Dixon.
Other friends from Broadoak included, Gary Irwin, Michael Grace, Howard Bax, Chris Hazzard, Ian Towser, We all played Rugby for our year school teams from first year right up to when I left in the 4th year. Russel Bazely (I remember having a fight with him on the playing fields, and Mr Morgan the PE teacher broke it up and using arbitrary justice awarded us both with one of his infamous 'tony bonks' wich involved him clenching a (huge as I remember) fist, extending the middle knuckle of the middle finger, grab us in a headlock and bang us on the head with the knuckle, with not too little force!). I remember 3 sets of twins David and Charlie Boyce, Martin and ? Bidwell, and Julian and Robert Hedges.
I was in the school Army cadets, run by Captain Carter who was also a teacher at Broadoak. I recall we won the Army Cadet National Band Champioships in the mid 70's, I played the Bugle. Gary Bright was the Drum Major. I was in 1,2 then 3SJ (Scarlet House - Mr Jones) then when the house system changed I was in 4SM (Sherwood House, with the dreaded Mr Morgan!)
I remember the scary figure of Mr Brierly-Jones, who walked with sticks due to an accident in the Chemistry Department, (and he was teaching us chemistry!)
Teahcers I remember are Mr Blackmore, our head of year and french teacher, Mr Hammer - German, Mr Rose, Mr Davis and Mr Morgan - PE, Mr Rivers - woodwork ( he could fling a board rubber or wooden mallet the length of the classroom with unnerving accuracy!) Mr and Mrs Trench - English, Mr Kelly - History, Dr Hinton was the Headmaster. I recall getting the cane or slipper several times.
A popular pastime during lunch and breaktimes was running across the quad, for some reason considered a heinous crime! Also, without saying a name, partly due to lack of recall and partly due to 'protect the innocent' as they say in these true crime fly on the wall documentries, The school janitor, a red faced scotsman with a wicked temper, who always stank of whiskey!
Well, perhaps thats enough of the ramblings through the memory maze of a middle aged man.
Thankyou for your reply, I wish you well to you and yours
Garon (Gary) hawkes
You may not know me, but maybe my brother Garry. We were in the same Army Cadets which were on the Coronation Estate (the sixth form of Broadoak school). I too was in the band - I played the drums and was also part of that winning band in the mid 70s. Ian Coombes is a name I remember but do not know where any of them are. Best of luck on your search. Regards Andy Coughlan (Mini)
Hi Andy
Thanks for your reply. Your name does ring a bell, and without meaning to sound rude, but did you used to have gold caps over your two front teeth? (because that is the person that springs to mind ) and did you used to knock about with the Hedges twins, Julian and Robert?
Garon
Hi Garon,
Sorry for the delay in responding. Indeed I did have the caps on my teeth and yes I did knock about with the Hedges twins sometimes. I used to knock about more with Richard Fletcher from the coronation estate. I started Broadoak in September 1974 in 1SP Mrs Platt and moved onto 2SD Mr Dumas (the French teacher) and thereafter 3SKH with the pleasant Karen Hutchins (or Hutchinson - can't remember). I finished up with Mr Dixon in 4SD and 5SD. Dr Hinton I remember too and Quad running how dare we tread on the sacred grass of the quads!!!! All good fun at the time!. Thereafter I left Weston to join the Army in Harrogate, went to Germany and never returned. I now live in Holland.
Anyway I wish you good luck in all of your searches and hope you hear from the people you are looking for.
Regards
Hi Garry
My Name is Keith Pow and I was also in the Army Cadets from Broadoak in the 70's as a drummer and for a short time as Drum Major. Did you go to Ypres. I remember so many names but none you mention.
I can remember, chris and andy allcock, rich brittle, gary coughlin, robert porter, gary mitchell, dave walker. all from the band.
If you mean Steve Harris from oldmixon he's in devon and now a grandfather!
I do remember Capt Carter very well, he was a brilliant teacher and mentor to me. I was in Mrs Browns class fom 1970-1976.
I lived at coronation and oldmixon.
I must know you, but my memory is getting old! Ha!
Hi, remember you all, Keith, Gary, Chris T et al.
Thanks for the teacher memories, particularly Mr Rivers (woodwork and plastics, if I recall) and Mr Blackmore - he took me for french after a brief interlude with a Ms Chempin(?).
Regards to you all
Andrew Parsons (married, 3 grown up girls, living nr Derby)
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