A chance to meet old school friends
BATTERED...Alfred Street, whose fish and chip was popular with Westoe pupils.
IF it was possible to have a scratch ‘n’ sniff version of Cookson Country, this page would sizzle with the tang of vinegar and the hot savoury aroma of chips.
Sadly, this picture of a by-then broken-down Alfred Street in Shields is all I can offer to recall Smith’s fish and chip shop that was there, so popular once upon a time with pupils of neighbouring Westoe Secondary School.
As were, indeed, Hopp’s fish shop in Westoe Road, Newman’s in Osborne Avenue, and Whitmore’s in Readhead Avenue,
These appetising memories and more will no doubt come flooding back when former pupils of the school hold their 15th reunion in April.
It’s for all those who attended the school in the years between 1949 and 1959, which includes Westoe Infants’ between 1949 and 1951, after which they were split-up, half attending Laygate Juniors’ and the other half, Mowbray Road Juniors’.
Then they were all back together again in 1955 until 1959 at Westoe Seniors’ – boys downstairs, girls upstairs.
The reunion has gone from strength to strength each year, and people travel from all over the country – Kent, Oxfordshire, London and Coventry – for it. I’m told they would like to see a few more of the teachers, if possible.
Other memories to be shared include dancing at the old Liberal Party rooms in Westoe Road, and the ‘pit steps,’ which led over the railway line from nearby Westoe Colliery.
Each year, organiser Sonia Bell (nee Brown) also gets asked if she can trace more and more of their old school friends. This year the names of folk they would like to see include Auty, Brown, Hansen, McGrafin, McMurray, Smith, Taylor, Gofton and Clavery.
The reunion will be held on April 4 at the Marsden Inn, starting at 7pm. There will be a hot buffet and entertainment. Limited tickets are available. Contact Sonia on 0191 4567934.
“We are all looking forward to yet another brilliant night,” she says.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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