Back In The Day

A Memory of South Kirkby.

1 was a pupil at common road infants approx. 1954 to 1956. We had recently moved from South Elmsall, the area was strange and I knew no-one, my parents bought the corner ship on Currieville at the end of Carlton Street, it was directly opposite to the one owned by 'HINKS'. if anyone remembers it, Hi! It wasn't a particularly happy time at school as I never really felt integrated until I hit Mrs Smeaton's class, she was wonderful and became every one's second mum. I remember on a hot summers day she would take us onto the playing field and send someone down to the shop for a penny ice lolly for each of us while other classes looked on in envy. Just say we're doing nature study if someone asks she said while we sucked on ice lollies and talked about the important things in life to any eight year old. Others filled us with dread when we were told we were going into HER class the following year and some cried at the thought, a year later we almost all cried because we had to leave. We went into Mrs Storey's class then, she was a really good teacher who taught us how to write 'joined up writing', I heard later she passed with cancer and was very upset but she and Mrs Smeaton were the best teachers I had at common road. They were fantastic. I also remember Mr Thorpe as my headmaster, Mr Wilson and Mr Westwood who taught my final year at juniors from which I left for the grammar school at Hemsworth in 1960. Happy days and happy memories.

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