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Preparatory School
Dorothy Cline started at this school in 1931. It was run by Mrs Easey, who used to teach at the Parochial School, and was situated in what is now the Cuthbert Room in the St. Mary's Centre. There was a big table in the middle of the room with forms on either side to accomodate the pupils, about 8. A blackboard stood beside the fireplace. What is now the lounge held two billiard tables which were always shrouded. The pupils had to pass through there to go to the toilets, which were where the kitchen is now. The pupils wore purple blazers with a school badge, WPS in gold on a purple background. The girls wore purple berets and also black velour hats.
When Mrs Rollins took over the school, she moved it to the building where the Healthlands Cafe is now. (Dorothy also remembers a Miss Conner teaching them, but is unsure of exactly where she fits into the picture.) During the war, Mrs Rollins ran the school from her house on Fellside Road, situated on the R.H.S. going up from the Front Street. Dorothy left WPS in 1938 to go to Dame Allan's Girls School. However, when the girls were evacuated from there during the war, Dorothy's mother would not let her go. She returned to WPS on Fellside Road for about a year until the evacuees started returning to Dame Allan's.
Comments
There are no comments with respect to the headmaster Mr. Edwards, who was headmaster in my day. He was a wonderul man. Very fair, humerous, dedicated and remembered everyones name and family affiliations. He was replaced by the barely bearable Mr. Mears for my last year there. Mr. Mears was certainly no Mr. Edwards and with his predelection for music, if you didn't sing or play a musical instrument you didn't exist. Sorry this is negative about Mr. Mears but I think you need to garner a bit more local information about Mr. Edwards. I am sure there are plenty of local residents in their 40s and 50s who remember him well.
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Thanks for your comments. We will put any further information we get about Mr Edwards on our webiste.
Posted by: Elizabeth Cassar at January 18, 2007 9:57 PM
I remember Mears very fondly - he was biased in favour of the more academic kids but was indeed a gifted teacher. He introduced a wage for those singing in the church choir - 7s & 6d per 3 months!
Edwards was a sad, miserable, cold fish. I recall him assaulting me (and others) with a cane, hands held upwards, simply for going beyond a lamp post that 'marked' the part of the street in front of the school designated as a playground. Today his sadistic sort are not tolerated.
Posted by: Tony Moorin at August 19, 2007 1:17 AM