The building occupied by Cleveland College of Art and Designs Painting and Decorating Department, along with Stockton Further Education Centre
A plaque for Stockton Higher Grade School on the front of the building presently occupied by Stockton Further Education Centre (1976-present day), and Cleveland College of Art & Designs Painting and Decorating Dept.(c.1980-present day), Nelson Terrace, Stockton.1984. The building was originally Stockton Higher Grade School(built 1892-6, architect J.M.Bottomley),became Stockton Grammar School and closed in 1951, when it became Stockton & Billingham Technical College, and then finally became the above colleges. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
I attended Cleveland collage of art and looking for anyone who was there in 1980
I attended The Dept. of Decoration at Middlesbrough College of Art in 1964 (after three years at Redcar with Noah Welch Tn IOB. I have been trying to find out what happened to Bert Laws NDD (?LIBD), and Alan Todd NDD though I believe Alan went into business on his own account – I have been unable to get a copy of the staff list with qualifications. Anyone know? I have lived in New Zealand for about 28 years apart from 2 years in Nigeria (+ short spell in Kenya) and 3 years in Latvia – so its difficult to access records. Peter Dawson
I too attended Stockton Technical College way back in the dark ages. Harry Booth was a great teacher and truly taught me how to paint. He taught us to layer the paint by first brushing with strokes from east to west then repeating by brushing from north to south. We were to do this many times to ensure a very even spread. The final brushing had to done with a light and slow touch. What he instilled into me I still apply today 58 years later. He and the brickwork instructor used the expression ‘Immacularty’. Everything had to be ‘immacularty’, woe betide us if it wasn’t. Both were brilliant teachers. Harry timlin, the brickwork teacher, had been a foreman on the then new Stockton ship quay. Additionally we were taught by Alec Thomson for joinery and a Mr Fred Coates for Plunbing. All in all a good grounding in the principal bulding trades. As I said, this was back in the dark ages and we were taught in the old School in Hume Street. Any old pupils reading this??
I attended the Cleveland College of Art and Design Painting and Decorating Dept in the early seventies and was taught by Harry Booth who was an amazingly funny character who put his lessons over with great gusto. I also remember Bert Laws, Bob Trueit and Alan Todd who were all great teachers. Arthur the storeman was a real character who could often be seen on a Saturday afternoon fully enjoying himself in the High Street pubs. We were taught in the rear annex, but went into the main building for theory lessons. I remember the ground floor being ornately tiled and immaculately kept. I hope someone took pictures of the place before it was knocked down. It’s a great pity that part of the old place could not have been rebuilt at Preston Park Museum, as a fine example of a late Victorian school.
I attended as a P&D apprentice working for Turners in the early 80s. Lecturers then were – Bert Laws, Bob Trewhitt, Bill Horn, Arthur Adamson, Jack Fletcher. Brilliant memories and a very good P&D training centre for Teesside at the time.
I served my time here Kenny and Bill Horn was our main tutor, I remember going to the shop for him for 20 Benson and Hedges, he always had a fag in his mouth, I think he had a DIY shop in Sedgefield or somewhere on the outskirts of Stockton, he was a brilliant teacher, there was a twisted wall in one of the classrooms and nobody could paper it without losing pattern, but he taught me how to do it, we had a science teacher called Peter Nutter, another great teacher. The girl who served in the cafe was Grace Graham, we had discos at Christmas, went to play five a side at Tilery sports center every week, it was like school but a lot better, great memories
Hello Barry
I remember you clearly, judo or karate kid comes to mind, hope you’re ok mate good to hear from you
Kenny
Harry Booth and his family lived in Westbourne Street and I remember well when he and his family left Stockton on Tees to live in Wales I remember him as a jolly man and played with his children in the gang because we were all the same age
I Went to Stockton & Billingham Technical College Painting and Decorating Dept. Back in 1978 it is sad to see all the old buildings go even My Old School is waiting to be demolished. Wen I left Stockton & Billingham Technical College I Went to Swan Hunters at Haverton Hill shipyard Back in 1978 to 1979. Most of the old buildings that I remember no longer exist on Teesside, and I will be only 45 in 2007 watt is going on? Some of the old buildings that I remember: Saltergill School opened in 1971 and closed on 25/07/2005 for the last time, never to open again as a School. The architect of the School won an award for the design of the architecture of the building, architect award 1971. For Photos of the School see: http://www.srsfb-1970s.org.uk Hospitals Closed: North Ormesby Hospital Closed and demolished. Middlesbrough General Hospital Closed on 13 August 2003 and demolished 2004. North Riding Infirmary Closed on 15 August 2003 the eye and ENT departments at North Riding Infirmary transferred to new accommodation at James Cook University Hospital. North Riding Infirmary has close down and it is likely that a well known local landmark will soon be demolished and the site redeveloped. The Infirmary opened in 1864 and, at the time of its closure, will have served the people of Teesside for 138 years.
I too attended this school in Nelson Terrace but it was used as a night school in those days, 1950-51. Not having attended a Grammar or Secondary Grammer School, and leaving school at fifteen I had start my Night School at the Junior 1 Certificate standard, and Nelson Terrace was my first stop on my Tertiary Education. At the Time the A2 certificate looked so far in the future it did not bear thinking about, J1 J2 S1 S2 S3 A1 A2, to a fifteen years old we lived from week to week, sport and girls were more important at that time than studying. I remember I attended night school in the first year 4 nights per week, and the only night I was free was Friday night, but my girl friend Marie Kennedy had to attend on that night as she was doing National Certificate Accounting. The situation eased off after the second year as my employer Head Wrightsons gave me a full day off for study. I often wonder how I would have coped without the generosity of Head Wrightsons, and what the young people do today, now that all of these great Engineering Companies no longer exist on Teesside. Mr Harry Soppet was A Pioneer of getting young people a start in life, and was rewarded in later life with an MBE. Also in this scheme to help young people was Mr Frank Shepherd a director of Head Wrightsons. Head Wrightsons also sent me to various courses to further my Education. I remember one at Durham University, we ate our meals in this larage Baronial Hall steeped with history. I still remember how impressed I was being in such exalted company. I suppose the New Teesside University helps in the Education of present day youngsters. I have two young nephews living on Teesside who both left school at Fifteen and have first class honours degrees, so the opportunites are still there for young enthusiastic early school leaver, to advance their education. Years ago leaving school at fifteen was usually reckoned as not the thing to do.
You are quite right, Harry. When I went there in 1950, it was definitely the Stockton Secondary Grammar School (for Girls or Boys). Miss Milburn was the headmistress. and a formidable figure indeed. The first “joke” I remember her making was to tell us that when we moved to the Grangefield premises, we would stop being the SSGS and become GeeGees. We rolled in the aisles! I also celebrated my engagement in the Vane Arms. I couldn”t believe it when I heard that it had been demolished. Did the developers finish up in jail or am I thinking of something else?
I remember this plaque as being on the front of the Stockton Secondary School, Nelson Terrace, where I was a Pupil from 1941 until 1946. A small point, but in 1944 the School became the Stockton Secondary Grammar School, and not Stockton Grammar School which was located at the corner of Garbutt Street and Norton Road. Is there any record of what happened to the plaque, or did it just fall to the Wreckers Ball in “84. This is a lovely web site and I greatly enjoy reading of other folks school days. However, none of the postings ever seem to come from former pupils of the old “Sec. There must be a few still out here.So come on “Vivat Scholae Stocktonensis”
During the years 1956-61 this was the college I attended on day release and evening classes when serving my apprenticeship at the Stockton Co-op Building Department. Harry Booth was the man responsible for teaching the lads on the building and decorating courses. Many of the apprentices attended the college because it allowed them to be deferred National Service at 18 years of age until they completed their apprenticeship at 21. It was for that reason there was always a good attendance rate until National Service eventually ended.