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Wednesday 29 January 2020


Web Page No 2656

28th January 2020

1st Picture. Solent Road School tie

2nd Picture. Solent Road pupils all in uniform


3rd Picture. 1950’s satchel





4th Picture. School street sign

School Uniform

I really is scary when you realise that it is almost 70 years ago when you first put on a school uniform. Not the casual wear that they wear today but a regulated smart uniform to be proud of.

Starting at the top it was the cap or in the girls case a beret. Mine, for Solent Road Infant School was a navy blue cap with a badge in the centre consisting of a dark blue background with SR in light blue on it. Naturally these initials soon got known as the Southern Railway badge. With this both boys and girls wore a grey shirt with a light and dark blue striped tie (a tie they are still wearing 70 years later) and for the boys grey shorts plus for the girls a grey skirt or a gymslip, no trousers or ski pants in those days! Most dresses were shirtwaist style with cinched-in waists and added coordinated belts. The lengths went from below the knee to mid-calf.

We all wore long grey socks with garters to hold them up and black shoes. The whole topped off with a Navy Blue blazer, again with the school badge attached to the pocket.

A navy blue gabardine mackintosh and school scarf, (again two tone blue) completed the ensemble. The mac was essential because, unlike todays school children, we had to walk to school and back everyday, sometimes twice a day if you did not stay for school dinners. One other item that was required wear in the winter was a pair of black wellington boots.

I do not remember a sports kit but I do remember having sports shorts and plimsoles either lace up ones or those with elasticated fronts. All of this was carried in a homemade shoe bag with a drawstring top.

Everything, of course, had to have your name either embroidered on it of a Cash’s name tape applied.

Then came the schoolbag or satchel in which to carry your shoe bag, sports shorts, biscuits for break and the essential pencil case, normally wooden, with pens, pencils, crayons, rubbers and pencil sharpeners in them.

Looking back school uniforms when we started school reflected the British class system like never before. Many private schools changed their uniforms to distance themselves from state schools, for example the Portsmouth High School, Daley’s and the Southern Grammar for Girls had very different hats for their pupils from the Secondary Moderns. The Southern Grammar for Girls even had a deportment sash that was awarded to some girls who carried themselves in the correct way. (my wife Pam had one of these). Also, in some schools boys were not allowed to wear long trousers until they reached the grand old age of fourteen!

The Butler Reforms in the late 1950’s raised the school leaving age to 15. Mixed gender schools became popular and schools were encouraged to create uniforms codes based on the time of the year, light weight dresses for the girls in summer. Grey knitted jumpers for the winter. Leather satchels became popular.

Come the 1960’s pupils began rebelling against tradition, often unbuttoning their blazers and slackening their ties. Girls started to wear pleated skirt with tights, a blouse and blazer. Boys were allow to wear long trousers from a young age, however, one tradition remained and that was that both girls and boys always wore ties with shirts at all times.

All this before we even try to consider the very odd uniforms worn by the pupils attending public schools. But that, my friends, is a totally different subject.

Stay in touch

Peter

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Part 2 from Griff
Found it !!     Ricky Dean & The Rivals.  My photo... and I'll stick my neck out and say it's the only one in existence, hence my crease in it.  To the best of my knowledge it was taken in Kimberly's Ballroom, Southsea, Autumn 1961.  Ricky was a very good singer as were The Rivals as an instrumental group and they use to start their act with a few instrumentals mainly The Shadows or The Ventures to start with and then Ricky would leap out onto the stage and belt out an Elvis or Billy Fury song to get the dancing going. 
Ricky and The Rivals won the Southern TV search for a group competition that year. Unlikely anyone remembers that fact now though .... lol     I can't remember when the group broke up but I think it was around 1964.




News and Views:


On this day 28th January 1960-1965

On 28/01/1960 the number one single was Why - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was Call for higher police pay.
On 28/01/1961 the number one single was Are you Lonesome Tonight? - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was The Russ Conway Show (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £ 13.25. The big news story of the day was Bootsie & Snudge (Granada).

On 28/01/1962 the number one single was The Young Ones - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 28/01/1963 the number one single was Dance On - The Shadows and the number one album was Out of the Shadows - Shadows. The top rated TV show was The Prime Minister (All channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 28/01/1964 the number one single was Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Labour Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24.

On 28/01/1965 the number one single was Go Now! - Moody Blues and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Wednesday 22 January 2020


Web Page No 2654

21st January 2020

1st Picture. Sound of Music poster

 2nd Picture. Grandad knitting

 3rd Picture. Where to put the dentures

4th Picture. Crumpets for tea


The Sound of Music!

(To be sung to the tune of “Raindrops on Roses” from the “Sound of Music”)
The original first verse goes like this:-
Raindrops on roses
And whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things
But I really do think that at our age we should be singing the version below.



Botox and nose drops  and needles for knitting,                                               Walkers and handrails  and new dental fittings,                                      Bundles of magazines tied up in string,                                                           These are a few of my favourite things. 


Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,                                             Polident and Fixodent                                                                                     and false teeth in glasses,                                                                             Pacemakers, golf carts                                                                                       and porches with swings,                                                                         These are a few of my favourite things.

When the pipe leaks,                                                                                        When the bones creak,                                                                            When the knees go bad,                                                                                     I simply remember my favourite things,                                                           And then I don’t feel so bad.                                                                       Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,                                       No spicy hot food or food cooked in onions,                                  Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,                                These are a few of my favourite things.                                                

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin’,                                      Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin’,                                             And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames,                                 When we remember our favourite things.

When the joints ache,                                                                               When the hips break,                                                                                   When the eyes grow dim,                                                                           Then I remember the great life I’ve had,                                                           And then I don’t feel so bad.


(recognise any of this???? Ed
                                                                

In 2005 these lyrics are frequently included in an email that has been circulating for several years under the title "Fwd: Favorite Things.” The text in the email reads:
"To commemorate her 69th birthday on 1st October,) actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP ( this is   a United States-based interest group whose stated mission is "to empower people to choose how they live as they age). One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favourite Things" from the legendary movie "Sound of Music." However, the lyrics of the song were deliberately changed for the entertainment of her "blue hair" audience....
It is also claimed that Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and she did repeated encores.
Unfortunately, this story is a total hoax. Ms. Andrews (she was born on 1st October 1935 so her 69th birthday was the previous year) never sang this song.
However, for those of us who are experiencing some of the aches and pains described in these lyrics, this version of the song provides a moment or two of smiles, especially when we affirm the truth of the last two lines.

Then I remember the great life I’ve had,                                                               And then I don’t feel so bad.
Too true!

 Stay in touch

Peter

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Griff writes:-

Peter putting up a picture of the top Portsmouth group "The Rivals" brought back some good memories for me. The Rivals were fronted by their lead singer Ricky Dean and to give this group their full billboard name it was "Ricky Dean & The Rivals". Ricky Deans real name was Ron Rickwood and he was a personal friend of mine from the early 1960's. He is still performing in the Northern night clubs and working mans clubs or at least he was the last time I spoke to him a few years back.
The Rivals were nearly always the supporting group at the Savoy Ballroom & Kimberly's in Southsea to the top acts appearing there like Freddie & The Dreamers and other top acts of the time. Ron (Ricky) use to give me free entrance tickets when they were appearing at these venues.  I can see now where my schoolwork suffered... My apologies to Miss Blitz.  lol
                To the best of my knowledge there are only 2 perhaps 3 pictures of  Ricky & The Rivals and Peter has put up the one that is well known on the historical references of the Portsmouth Pop Scene from the early to mid 1960's and I have another rarer one which I shall try and recover for Peter to put up on the website.

Regards & A Happy New Year to Everyone.

Melvyn ( Griff ) Griffiths.



News and Views:


On this day 21st January 1960-1965

On 21/01/1960 the number one single was Why - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1961 the number one single was Poetry in Motion - Johnny Tillotson and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1962 the number one single was The Young Ones - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was The Young Ones - Cliff Richard. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1963 the number one single was The Next Time/Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was Out of the Shadows - Shadows. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1964 the number one single was Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Steptoe & Son (BBC) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1965 the number one single was Yeh Yeh - Georgie Fame and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.






Wednesday 15 January 2020


Web Page No 2652

14th January 2020

1st Picture. Manor Court School Badge




2nd Picture. June Blitz









3rd Picture. Music lesson in Court Lane
4th Picture. The Old Guard Barry, Peter(Willie), Peter and Melv.

Over the 17 years of this blog I cannot remember if I have published this before, if so I am sorry and if not I am sure you will find it interesting!

Court Lane/ Manor Court Schools

After some enquiries at the Portsmouth History Centre about the history of the school, they told me that they had very little but have sent me the following about Court Lane and the construction of Manor Court.
Court Lane opened as a council school in 1937. Because of limited space in the late 1950’s, premises at Cosham Park House and Cosham Baptist Church Hall were used. It was decided to build new premises on the 12 acre site sited  off  Grove Road, an area which had been used by the Civil Defence during the war.
It was going to be called Court Manor, but later it was decided to reverse the name. There is confusion over the date of the opening of Manor Court School  is because the first new wing of the building was opened and in use in September 1960 and only half the 600 pupils were using it, half still at Court Lane.
The second phase of the building was completed later, but there is no records of an official opening. There is very little in council minutes other than costings for the building materials, etc.

However an article appeared in the Evening News on 16th September 1960 and describes the new block ,but states as this is the first part of the new school, there will be no official opening.

The only records that in the Portsmouth History Centre are school log books for Court Lane School, which are mainly teachers notes and are closed for 95
years. Records of Manor Court School have not been deposited there either
the Centre staff speculate that they are either still with the school or they may have been disposed of them.

As you know I can get no response from the school so below I reproduce the article from the Evening News of 16th September 1960
A bridge over the railway linking Grove Road to the eastern end of the Highbury Estate would save time and money for pupils attending Cosham Court Lane Secondary School’s new building which ajoins Central Road and Grove Roads says the Headmaster Mr R R Davies.
The new block of what will eventually become the ‘home’ of the entire school came into use this week.
Although staff, parents and pupils are delighted with its facilities the railway barrier and the cost of bus fares are already causing concern.
“ I have no intension of setting off with a grumble” Mr Davies told the Evening News, “ We are termendously lucky to have this lovely well equiped building but many of the children have a great deal of travelling between home and school. It is unfortunate that the railway forms this barrier between Highbury homes and the new school. Children living at the eastern end of Highbury have to got to Cosham and almost retrace their steps.”
“A few parents have approaced me about these difficulties” said Mr Davies, “Whether another bridge can be built in the future I do not know. Certainly the qusetion of bus fares is no inconsiderable matter for some”.
Mr Davies said that it was Ministry policy for fare to be paid for children living three miles from the school. But the parents of a 14 year old living two and three quarter miles away had to pay full adult fare for her.
“ I am strongly of the opinion that children should travel at half fare however long they remain at school, especially that parents are now rightly allowing their children to stay at school longer”, he said.
No date has yet been fixed for the completion of phase two and the present school of 600 children are divided almost equally between the old and new buildings.
“As some of the practical rooms, such as domestic science and handycrafts are at Hiliary Avenue it is necessary to treat the accommodation as a whole which means a considerable amount of travelling between the building” said Mr Davies.
The new building has a spacious library with tables for private study and six airey classrooms with huge windows. The hall, fitted with ropes and wall bars, will also be used as a gynasium until phase two is completed. It can seat 500, has a dais, which is also used as a dinig annex seating 150. This has removable safety barriers and will be used also for musical events, drama and social occassions.
Soon octagonal dining tables will be installed so that the 215 midday meals can be served in a ‘family atmosphere’. Hatches connect the dais with the beautifully equipped kitchen. These hatches and their blue and black tiled surround will be curtained off when not in use to give proper dignity to the dais on other occassions.
This term, for the first time, the school has a sixth form, with thirteen boys and girls. Part of the large staff room is being partitioned for their use, and those pupils also have another small room.
A greenhouse and a fish pond are to be installed in connection with biology study and there is a fine biology laboratory with a micro-projector and screen.
Salt and fresh water tanks will be provided and a tidal tank is planned in which sea anemones will be grown. Preliminary experiments withthis were done last term and most of the difficulties surmounted. The two science laboratories have a wealth of equipment and the benches are fitted with low voltage circuits.
In the music room the children will use special chairs with swivels on which to rest their note books. Special lighting and ten sewing machines are features of the new needlework room.
When the grounds have been laid out there will be a play area, five tennis courts, netball, football and hockey pitches, provision for athletics and a cricket square.
Already there are changing rooms and thermatically controlled showers for use after gym and games.
There will be no official opening as the block is only part of the new school but there will be an ‘At Home’ shortly for official guests and some parents evenings.  

Stay in touch

Peter

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News and Views:
  
On this Day
On 14/01/1960 the number one single was Why - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was price of large eggs cut to 3/- a dozen.

On 14/01/1961 the number one single was Poetry in Motion - Johnny Tillotson and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 14/01/1962 the number one single was The Young Ones - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was The Young Ones - Cliff Richard. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was Van Doren guilty in US quiz show fix.

On 14/01/1963 the number one single was The Next Time/Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 14/01/1964 the number one single was Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Steptoe & Son (BBC) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 14/01/1965 the number one single was Yeh Yeh - Georgie Fame and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.







Wednesday 8 January 2020


Web Page No 2650

7th January 2020

1st Picture. Nitty Norah the bug explorer




2nd Picture. Ginger Beer plant




3rd Picture. Floor scrubbing
4th Picture. Mickey Mouse watch

Welcome to 2020

Well we have made it into another decade. This is the first repeat year since 1919 and we did not see that one and the next will be 2121and we will not reach that landmark. BUT I do remember the last upside-down year and you should too. That was 1961 which ever way you looked at it, it was still 1961.

Now some memory joggers.

Back in the day

Back in the days of tanners and bobs
When Mothers had patience and Fathers had jobs.                               When football team families wore hand me down shoes,   
And TV  had only two channels to choose.

Back in the days of three penny bits,
When schools employed nurses to search for your nits.
When snowballs were harmless; and slides were permitted  and all of your jumpers were warm and hand knitted.

Back in the days of the thrupenny bit
With PT at school we certainly kept fit
We had frost inside the window and oil in the stoves
And most of our aunties were knitting us gloves.
Back in the days of thick stews and meat
We had to be polite to those that meet
When on her knees Mum scrubbed the floor
And the friendly postman delivered to our door
.
Back in the days of hot ginger beers,
When children remained so for more than six years. When children respected what older folks said,
And pot was something you kept under the bed

Back in the days of Listen with Mother.
When neighbours were friendly and talked to each other. When cars were so rare you could play in the streets.
When Doctors made house calls and Police walked the beat.

Back in the days of Milligans Goons
When butter was butter and songs all had tunes.        It was dumplings for dinner and trifle for tea,       and your annual break was a day by the sea.

Back in the days of Dixon's Dock Green,      Crackerjack pens and Lyons Maid ice cream.
When children could freely wear National Health glasses,       and teachers all stood at the FRONT of their classes.

Back in the days of rocking and reeling,
When mobiles were things that you hung from the ceiling.       When art and pottery got taught to us in schools,
And everyone dreamt of winning the Pools

Back in the days when we played the day through
From Portscreek to the hillside and then to the zoo
We had no Timex or Ingersol to wear
We told the time by the sun as it hung in the air

At school on cold days I took biscuits for break
The heating was poor so we all stayed awake
Whilst work was all messy and full of odd blobs
Back in the days of tanners and bobs.

Yes back in the days when I was a lad,
I can't help but smile for the fun that I had.
Hopscotch and roller skates; snowballs to lob.        Back in the days of tanners and bobs.


Stay in touch

Peter

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News and Views:


On 07/01/1960 the number one single was Starry Eyed - Michael Holliday and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed but the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was New French franc introduced.

On 07/01/1961 the number one single was I Love You - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was The Russ Conway Show (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was Decimal coinage introduced in Pakistan.
On 07/01/1962 the number one single was Moon River - Danny Williams and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrell Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.
On 07/01/1963 the number one single was Return to Sender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.
On 07/01/1964 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

 On 07/01/1965 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.