The main entrance to the Frederick Nattrass School in Norton. c1994.
Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The main entrance to the Frederick Nattrass School in Norton. c1994.
Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron.
Picture Stockton Archive 
John Rigg< Thanks for your comments. I also remember afternoon naps and porridge (I"d already had mine at home) white emulsion! and tea before we left also the "special" early bus.(2 breakfasts and 2 teas!) I too took a long time to catch up in main stream school,I was 8 when I left and only ever caught up to average. The people that went in the 30s and 40s talk of a good education, I have aways felt that my education took a back seat. Do you remember Miss Daisy? Or the Headmisress"s name that retired? I do recall very poorly children mainly heart problems, many of which died before their teens, lots of children with callipers and cleft lips. I remember the age range very mixed and all being taught together. Our school trip was Seaton Carew…Swimming was at the old Stockton baths.I don"t remember swimming though, more the bath afterwards. I recall sports day being a big event. Hope this has jogged some memories.
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audrey small here i am sat in Turkey and noticed that you went to the open airschool at the same time as me .I dont have a lot of memories about the place we got there by special bus vey early then were force fed porridge – only other memory is being forced to have an afternoon nap .I had epilepsy and was considered dangerous to the other “normal” kids and when at 8 i was allowed to go to a “normal “school i was introduced to my new classmates as a new boy who was ill .I remember being so far behind with spelling and maths last in our class every year didnt catch up till i went to Hardwick secondary modern. i”d be interested to hear if you have any different memories from mine
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Was interested to read about Ragworth open air school Norton.I went there 1965/66/67 would be interested to know if any one had photo from evening gazette when the Head mistress retired.
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Hi Ian Cambell Like you I”m a bit remiss in checking the web site so sorry for the late reply. Gordon and I were out walking around Aldbrough St. John and Middleton Tyas today and I showed him a copy of your comments. He remembers Max with great fondness and reports that he is hale and hearty and appears to have a younger lady in tow. However the news of George Brown is sad. He becme a professional drummer and moved to Tyneside where he died quite young after an asthma attack. Gordon does not remember too much about the jazz club. After school and early employment in ICI ( like us all ) Gordon voluteered for the DLI band to further his music skills and he is still a very busy musician.
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Hey Bob, iv”e have just been talking on the telephone with my sister Dorothy (nee Waller)who went to FN up till 1940, and then on to William Newton ,which she recalls as a brand new school. I had mentioned seeing your name and she reckons you and her were classmates and asks if you remember her ?
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Thanks Bob for your info. regarding the Compass-Rose, so I didn”t imagine it. I have also remembered recently the music teacher Mr.Fordy, the science teacher Mr Walker and some of my classmates, Brian Trattles, Brian Atkinson, John Dale, Eddie Ridsdale, Mike Hobbs, Fred Dickinson(his sister Shirley, one of my old flames of the 60″s is still a good friend to this day) and I often wonder what happened to them ? Bill, re. the other Bob Harbron, I will endeavour to contact him and mention you wish to contact him I”m sure he will be pleased to hear from you.
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Hi Ken McGregor. I”ve just been browsing this part of the archive, and spotted your reply to my e-mail about your brother Gordon, back in March!!I”m so sorry I didn”t spot it at that time. The Art & Craft teacher at SGS was Max Underhill, a lovely man, who did indeed play the drums. I remember him teaching another boy called George Brown, who was in the Billingham Boy”s Brigade, how to do Taradiddle with a couple of pencils on a woodwork bench top!! And MammyDaddy as well. (These are drummer”s exercises for the uninitiated.) Please ask Gordon if he remembers the Jazz Club. He, and Max and George all played there.
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The Compass-Rose is still there to the right of the entrance to the Assembly Hall 20 June 2007
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Yes Albert did live in Eamont Rd. I lived in Wylam Rd. just round the corner and Keith Bunn and Jimmy Young lived in Norton Avenue. I worked with Albert”s elder brother Bob some years ago at AMEC in Darlington, if i remember rightly he used to live near to the ship in Redmarshall In fact i used to go their often with my ex.wife who went to Richard Hind with Olive Albert”s younger sister, but that”s another story. My dad had a brother Alec who lived in Larkhall Sq. and according to my sister he had a son called Norman, is that someone you know. Can someone help me ,I”m sure there used to be a compass engraved on the floor in the corridor outside the hall at Freddie Natt, or did i imagine that?
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Thanks for the information Keith. No, Albert Harbron lived in Eamont Rd., he had a brother called Bob, but not the Bob that has all the information on Norton.I hung out with Albert`s brother,I”d love to know how he is.
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Louis Waller was at FN Junior School with me. He is now 70. He had a sister slightly older than him called Hazel and an older brother again called Fred. There may have been another brother Jack. They lived in Greta Road between Leven Road and Norton Avenue. Albert Harbron was the younger brother of Bob who went to Grangefield Grammar They lived in Eamont Road nearto the junction with Norton Avenue.
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I will contact my older sister this week. She seems to remember more of our relatives than i do. On reflection Bill i would have thought you being i think slightly older than me would have been at school with Bruce Hillarby ( Dave his younger brother was in my year), and maybe Trevor Davis,Dave Sedgewick or Alan Cleaver. Re. Pattison ,”Spam” was just a nickname,i think his name was Trevor,and his elder brother was Stan. Wasn”t Albert Harbron your younger brother Bob ?
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Hi Keith, yes Lewis Waller is my first cousin.I remember Stan Pattison,the others I do not remember.I am in contact with a Waller who lives in Australia ,used to live Larkhall Sq. off Norton Rd., Nice to hear from you. Bill Davies
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Sorry Bill but as far as know i”m not related to Johnny.There was a Lewis Waller lived in Leven Rd. who was a distant cousin. Members of my class who i do remember were Alan Heald (we married cousins),John Dale,Albert Harbron,Spam Pattison ,Robinson Dodgeson,Tommy Hornby,Fred King,Brian Warrinder and Dennis Mitchinson.The last time i saw Dennis he was Preacher at the Crematoriuma few years ago. From junior school the only girl I remember was Mary Agar,I think she lived on the corner of Norton Avenue in one of the houses which had replaced one that had been hit by a bomb during the war. Of course the most famous member of our class was Brian Lee , a fantastic artist who i think went on to work for Tyne Tees Television.
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Re Keith Waller,are you related to Johnny Waller I was in the same class as him,and down the line I am related to him.
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I remember leaving “Freddie Natt” in 1956 at the ripe old age of 15. I distinstly remember Mr. Easby (Egghead) descibing my attempts at technical drawing as disgracefull and meeting him years later when i couldn”t wait to tell him that I was a draughtsman. Does anyone remember Mr. Barnards cane “The Brown Bomber” it was more like a bar of hardwood than the usual bamboo. Mr.Buckley I remember as a someone who sang completely out of tune, Mr. Metcalf as someone with a complete lack of teaching ability, we spent hours of copying down notes he dictated from reference books. I think Patchy Wardell was an exceptional teacher who had taught my elder brother in the early 30s. My brother,who died a few years ago, was part of a team of 6 engineers who went on to develop the arrestor hook and other inventions, always maintained the Freddie Natt had given him the impetious to go on achieve a high status in the field of Engineering.
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A Gary Pallister that did live in the area, and was player for THE BORO,and MAN.U.maybe that”s the same one.
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Yes I’m the same age as Gary Pallister and I went to Freddie Natt with him and then on to Blakeston. My name is Shawn Dixon. I remember Paul Stewart, Paul Coates, Alice Hill and Paul Czarnota. Who all lived in Norton the same as me. My Brother and Sister Shayne and Sharon also attended these schools.
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Gary Pallister’s parents lived across the road from Freddy Nat School on the Green Court Estate, Norton.
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I began my teaching career at Frederick Nattrass in the late sixties. I remember teaching a delightful little boy by the name of Gary Pallister. I wonder what happened to him?!!!
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I went to freddy nat from around 1967- 1973 was wondering if anybody had any pics from around that time. Would be much appreciated.
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I remember you I remember the name I was in Mrs Powell class I lived in Greta Road Norton
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Jean Boyle. What an interesting story and what loyal teachers taught at the Freddy Natt: I started in the first class in the infants in 1933. Miss Burdon was the Headmistress of the Infants school. I am not sure whether she was related to (Daddy) Burdon of Holy Trinity or Burdons Music or Wet fish shop. Miss Nichols taught the first class, Miss Sheldon second, Miss Baldwin I think third, and then Miss Ditmar who I think came to school on her bike. Mr Morland was Head of the Junior School and quite correctly Miss Bulmer taught the first class of Juniors when I attended. She was a blonde young thing in those days but she knew how to keep control. I left her class to go to Trinity. I think Dettol must have superceeded Igladene which was the popular antiseptic for schoolyard grazes or perhaps it was iodine. Just one more game to add, midget cricket played with a marble, cigarette card for a wicket and your own hand carved cricket bat cut with your pen knife. What changes today!The world has gone mad.
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I went to “Freddy Natt” up until 1958. The teacher who taught the “scholarship” class was Miss Bulmer. Miss Bulman taught the first Junior class. Miss Dowse, Mrs Gill, Mr Dack,Mr Thompson,Mr Brown(went to be Head at Holy Trinity),Mrs Cameron were all teachers in the Junior school at that time.Mrs Gill used to ride her bike to school along Darlington Lane from Fussick Bridge,with all the homework books in a basket on the front!Miss Dowse also rode a bike along Darlington Lane from her house in Junction Road.Mr Moreland was the Headmaster at that time. He was a JP. I can remember doing PE on little woven mats in the playground. The hall always smelt of dust. It had a wooden floor that didn”t have a polished surface, and my sister got a huge splinter in her bottom when she was sitting on it during assembly! We used to go out of school at lunchtime (not allowed!)to buy sweets at Vosniac”s shop opposite St JOSEPH”S CHURCH on Darlington Lane. I still have a photo of the “SCHOLARSHIP CLASS”taken against the rose- covered wall of one of the air-raid shelters. There was another air raid shelter at the back of the playground, where the gardeners kept their tools.(it was set into the wall and the garden and had a rounded top covered in plants.)Mr Buckle was a teacher in the secondary boys dept. He was also a Methodist Local Preacher. We always thought that my sister wouldn”t shake hands with him at church because of his missing finger.However she said it was because “he shouted at the big boys.” That was how loud it was;she could hear it in the infants! I also remember doing country dancing in the hall with Miss Bulman.THE BOYS HATED IT!I can remember her shouting “Sixteen steps to the end of the hall Nicholas (Langburn), not six!” Miss Baldwin and Miss Ditmar were teachers in the Infants.Miss Ditmar lived near Newham Grange Park on Darlington Back Lane.I just remember that she had very white hair.We always had very good school dinners, especially the jelly and cream!The “nitty nurse” used to be in a room down at the bottom of the drive,near the senior boys dept.Her room always smelt of Dettol.(she dipped the comb into a dish of it after each child.)Girls used to skip together with a long,heavy rope.They also played “two baller” against the wall. Boys played marbles, T-Alley -O,and Kingy.We were still allowed to play conkers then.No worries about Health and Safety! Lots more memories, no more time to write them down.
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Hi my name is Harold Cook, I went to Freddy Natt from my first day of school to my last day at school, I left in the summer of 69 (theres a song there somewere ) I remember Miss Baldwin very well, she taught us Maths. I thought she looked 80 years old.
I can still remember going back to school after the Christmas of 1959 and writing the date of the new year at the top of the page 1960 seems a long way off now.
Also a teacher I think was Mrs Gill, she used to read books to us ,it must have been english class , I remember a book called the Little Grey Men , and Down the Bright Stream, both books were about a group of elfs and their adventures.
In junior school I was quite athletic and loved the gym, football and swimming.
Senior school was even better , there was myself ,Brian Lightowler, Johny Hindmarsh, Kenny griffiths , (he is now my Postman).
I am now a member of Stockton Cricket Club and have renewed my aquaintence with Gorden Lake ,a man I have great respect for, lots more in my memory box if only some one can jog my memeory from time to time.
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I started at FN infants in 1942 and Miss Baldwin was a teacher there then. I’m regarded as old so when you say she looked as though she was in her 80’s I can believe you.
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Miss Baldwin taught in the Juniors. Remembering she always had a pupil for the best one each week. It was a points system where 1st thing on a morning she had us all lined up at the front of the class. It could be cleanest finger nails, best hair, clean knees, shiniest shoes/boots anything but you didn’t know what would be next. Then it came to behavior and attention in class subjects spelling tests and arithmetic. The prizes were kept in a cupboard and the winner for the week could choose what they liked most. I won it once but she did help me to get into the top class.
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Just read your comment, I went to freddy natt school up until we went comprehensive around 1972 or so. I remember the 2 books you mentioned vividly, in fact I enjoyed them so much I bought copies and still have them.
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I have read with interest the many comments posted and would like to add that Roy Canning – Headteacher – retired yesterday afer some 24 years at the school. I am sure those that remember him would like to express their wishes for a long and happy retirement.
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I remember Mr Naismith he taught Science at Newham Grange, I remember him once telling us in 1950 that he had witnessed the first Television transmission in the early thirties. He was also reputed to have played in Goal for Hamilton Academicals Football team in Scotland in his younger days. I remember on experiment with Mr Naismith when he sent a glass jar around the class with some liquid in for us to observe, and by the tin me it arrived back at Mr Naismith”s desk it held twice as much liquid in the jar as it held when it started its journey around the class. A real Gentleman and caring teacher.
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Any one remember MR Naismith what a great teacher he was. I remember when he took me under his wing when I had trouble with my maths. A real Gentleman only teacher I can remember wasnt at FN long. moved back to Newham Grange and Tojo Atkinson.
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Hi Ian Campbell. Yes Gordon is locally renowned for his jazz clarinet, alto sax and flute and is getting lots of gigs. He is in fact playing in the Swale Valley jazz band today somewhere in N.Yorks. He was I think much influenced by the Stockton Grammar school art teacher who played drums himself.
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To all ex “Freddy-Nat” I learned to-day Thursday 15th of March that after 21 years service as Headmaster Mr Roy Canning is retiring at the end of this term (29th March) Ive had the great pleasure of working with him , through Local -History connections for most of this period and can truthfully say he”ll be sadly missed by all , his empathy with all his children was a pleasure to behold Its been a great privilege to know him
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Hi, Ken McGregor. I was at Freddy Natt from 1945 to 1948, when I went off to Stockton Grammar. I remember your brother Gordon very well…I think he was a year, or maybe two, ahead of me. I think we briefly met up again some years later when a gang of us helped to start a jazz club in an old Buff”s club premises just off Yarm Lane. That would have been about 1958. I hope he is still hale and hearty.
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Hey, I used to go to this school in 2002, I am 14 now In year 6 we had to do duty such as crush cans and do random jobs etc and sometimes wehad to go uptairs to put the crushed cans up there and there was this loft thing and it was really creepy and it had a big pathway going through the school. There was all sorts of creepy stuff. Nearly all my family attended that school. Does anyone know what that passage through the top of the school was for ?
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I attended FN 1944-49, my brother Gordon 1941-46. Blue Hall boys both. Gordon went off to Stockton Grammar School, I to Richard Hind. I don”t remember any teachers to be honest but I remember being sick when forced to eat gristle in my school dinner. I remeber caterpillars in my cabbage as well. However I thought FN was a great school to be in during the war and have very fond memories of it. Oh I forgot to mention the nit niurse,what a sore head she left us with.
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The Ragworth Open Air School was years ahead of its time. It was built when money was short to provide a careing school for children who had health problems. I can speak with some authority on this matter. In about 1941-42 I was sent there by the school Doctor because of heart and chest problems. At that time Miss Evens was the Head Teacher and two of the teachers were Miss Nicolson and Miss Grey, I was in MIss Grey”s class and for the first time since leaving the Frederick Natttress to go to Holy Trinity in 1935-36 enjoyed being at school. Mornings were normal School followed by lunch (a proper one) certainly not crisps, then a capulsary rest period on beds on the veranda”s. Then some more schoolwork. It was a very fine school run be careing people. They were a credit to the teaching profession.
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I think this was the Mr Barnette who came from Freddy Natt to teach the top Class at Ragworth Primary about 1955. Drove a Bedford Dormobile and came with a fearful reputation, which was to prove unfounded, he must have mellowed by teaching younger pupils. We ended up with a very good teacher, helped me get to Richard Hind.
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Teachers from Freddy Natt when I atteneded 1949-1953 Patchy Wardell,Stan Jones. Mr Brain, Stan Potter.Bob Fordy,Piggy Porter, Mr. Rowntree, Mr Hale.But by far the best and most feared was Mr.Stan Barnette the bee keeper.By the way Mr.Welch did not leave he passed away while still headmaster great teacher, after him came Mr. Florence.Who can remember Mr.Wardells school bike rides to Crimdon Dean.Now them were the days Bill Davies
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With reference to Richard McLoughlin”s comments, I left Frederick Nattrass between 1957/58 and remember well even in those days Charlie Buckle, I seem to recall he had an index finger missing and was known to throw the odd blackboard rubber to wake you up, or me, and Mr (egghead) Easby the woodwork teacher, would think nothing of chucking the odd lump of wood in your direction if your attention waned, although woodwork I did enjoy, Monty Hale (science) he was there, as was Mr Liddell (metalwork) also there was George Wardell(art and anything else)a well liked teacher, served for a short while as head after Taffy Welsh left. I recall on a visit to Billingham baths one of the class getting into trouble in the water and was struggling well out of his depth, without hesitation George Wardell dived in fully clothed and pulled him to safety, he received a rapturous and greatly deserved applause from the onlookers. I believe he was also an area commissioner for the local Boy Scout groups. Great days?
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Also went to “Freddy Nat” from 1956 (Infants & Juniors) up until the 11+ Exam (1963). Mrs. Gill was my last teacher in junior school, and if memory serves me right, Mrs Bullman used to teach in the prefabs at the back of the junior school. Mrs. Nicholson was our Headmistress of the junior school and I think it was Miss Carr in the Infants.
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Some Frederick Nattrass Junior School teachers from the 1960s, Mrs or Ms Bulmer, Bulman, Mc Queen, Crisby, Gill, Mr Cross, and Mr Thompson. Mrs Gill and Mr Thompson at Darlington Lane end and Mrs Crisby in new block.
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With reference to Alex Davis”s post. I left Freddy Natt Sec. in 1970, I was there from the infants school, where I remember Miss Carr and Mrs Nicholson, the Head Mistress, who”s catchphrase was “it hurt”s me more than it hurts you” when administering punishment. I remember Mrs Gill from Junior school. I too remember Charlie Buckle and his collection of canes. He was one of (if not the) most feared teachers there. I remember Monty Hale the chemistry teaher, Mr Easby (Egghead) the woodwork teacher, Mr Liddel the metalwork teacher and Mr Ross the maths teacher. I remember a Mr Ogden but not sure of his subject, similarily a Mr McQueen.
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I went to FN from 1986 till 1994 when i left to go to The Norton School. I have really good memories of the place and it would be fantastic if people who attended my year would get in touch as sadly i have lost touch with everyone bar Andrew Evans and Darren Hirlam. The teachers who taught me were: Mrs Dodsworth (Nursery) Mrs Thompson Mrs Gray Mrs McLaren Mrs Elvis Mrs Clarke Mrs Storey Mr Watson Mr Canning was always the headmaster whilst i was there. My Grandmother Mary Dixon was also a dinner lady there while i attended the school. Going there on her bike from Greta Rd up to the school. Recently my brother David left the school in 2002 and my cousin Craig Dixon also attended the school leaving in 1999. In my opinion FN is one the most attractive schools in the area and has a good standard of teaching and will always be special, not only to my family, but also to the many people who attended the school.
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F.N.S For more info on Norton Schools fredericknattrass.org.uk click About Us stjosephsnorton.org. uk click History
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F.N School Correct Tim . The Open -Air School was in Ragworth Road Norton from the early 1930s till 1985. It set an example of child-care and health that saw delegations from Europe following the model. The credit to this fine work was Dr McGonegle , Medical Officer of Health for Stockton, who was appalled at the malnutrision and disease of children of the “Depression”, it later took children requiring a healthy background for recovery from many childhood illness”s. There has been a number of contributors to this site who attended this “ground-breaking” school.
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I attended both the Freddie Natt and the open air school. Born in 1933 and still alive – the open air school must have done me good.
trevor adams
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Sophie Morris, I was at “Freddy Nat” at about the same time as your father and I remember all of the teachers you mention. What is your father”s christian name? I was sent there in 1966 when the Holy Trinity school in Yarm Lane closed for the new (juniors only) school in Fairfield. The contrst between the two schools was quite striking. My parents attended the Natrass, probably late 1920″s when it was a brand new building. To Alex Davis, I think you may be confusing Frederick Natrass with the “open air” school which is a little further along Darlington Lane near Norton Green. Perhaps Mr. Harbron can confirm.
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F.N.School Mr Frederick Nattrass Born St Johns Chapel, Upper Weardale 1871 Stockton Council 1903. Justice of the Peace 1912 Alderman 1916 Chief Magistrate 1929 Mayor 1929 and 1930 Chairman of Transport 1931. General Manager of Tees Conservancy 1935 On the Education side Stockton Education 1905 Chairman of Stockton Education 1925-1931. Govenor of Stockton Secondary School. Chairman of N.E Federation of Education . President of England and Wales Education Commitee 1928 He died May 20tht 1942 age 71 at his home “Arleswick” in Hartburn Village North East Evening Gazette Obituary During his connection with the administration of education in Stockton , the Commitee have put up a lasting memorial to his sterling work , by naming , in 1934 their new school in Norton the Frederick Nattrass
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Hello, did anyone know that Fred Natrass school in the mid 60s was a open air school for those with polio and other ailments…I attended this school
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hiya i used to go to this school about 2 years ago and it was a great school to me and this school has been there for a long time because my dad used to go before it became a comprehensive and my brothers have went there so it is a good school to me, and my family and i would like to see more pictures of it if you could please, and my dad remembers charlie buckle r.e teacher monty the science teacher mr liddell metal wotrk teacher and mr boyle who used to teach english and also used to wright novels. a good teacher to me was mr Bob Harbron he has known that school for many years and is a great inspiration to me p.s my dad would like to hear from other former pupils and to know some storys, and me especially ghost ones 🙂
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Hello Maureen and Bob, Do you remember Miss Bulmer”s name was always pronounced BulMERR, so as not to be easily confused with Miss Bulman? She lived in Norton High Street, not far from Norton Board School. I have a vague memory that she had previously taught me at the little old Redmarshall School in the early 1940″s. I lived on Letch Lane, Nr Carlton, at that time. Keith, Bob, George and myself went to Stockton Grammar together in 1948. The year before Peter Bell, Eric Clayton and Jim Betts also went on to SGS. Other names from our year that spring to mind are Barry Hodgson, Barry Lloyd, Barry Kitching, Marie Smith, and Jean Geddes.
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I thought I recognised the name. I was in your year at the FN when Miss Dowse was the teacher. You were in the top section and I was at the other end. I remember Anne Reeve very well. She lived at 110. Other children in that class that I remember were Marion Clarke, Margaret Shepherd, Marion Wray, Cath Dale (my cousin), Keith Madden, Bob Jones, Ian Campbell, George Davies and many more. I remember you as the brightest in the class and probably would have passed the 11+ as an 8 year old. My wife Pat Hepple worked at the Norton Library and probably was in your year at The Secondary School.
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I attended “Freddie Nat” primary school from 1943 to 1949, and moved on to Stockton Secondary girls” School after passing the scholarship. I remember Miss White as the reception class teacher and Miss Atkinson as top infants. On Friday afternoons while she was busy with the register and milk balances, I and my friend Anne Reeve used to take turns to sit up at the teacher”s desk and read to the rest of the class. Both Anne and I lived in Norton Avenue. I remember Mr Knowles and Mr Brown coming to the Junior School after the war. Other teachers names were Misses Dowse, Bulmer and Bulman.
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Visit http://www.fredericknattrass.org.uk/ and see the school website
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Frederick Nattrass was Mayor of Stockton (1929-30) and chairman of the Stockton-on-Tees Education Committee. An inscribed tablet in the school read “As a tribute to the long and earnest service in the cause of education rendered by Alderman F T Nattrass JP, Chairman of the Education Committee, President of the National Association of Education Committees 1928-29 and Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees 1929-30, the Borough Education Authority resolved that these schools be named The Frederick Nattrass Schools.”
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I passed the school every day on my way to St. John the Baptist school. But I never got the answer to the question – who was Frederick Nattrass?
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Frederick Nattrass School Norton As a pupil in both infant and boys in the 1930s I”ve memories of the teachers – Mr Moreland the Head , whose very shadow scattered everybody, Mr Porter, “Piggy”, the wood-Work teacher keeping discipline with a piece of 2 x 1 lath. “Patchy” Wardell, Chief scout of Stockton-Thornaby Boy-Scout association The bain of Mr Lumley a farmer who had an orchard opposite the school until Mr Morland introduced “Apple-Monitors”, if caught it was a caning from the Head. We lost 5 of our pupils due to bombing of Norton Ave Aug 1941 . The school ground still has a 1940s surface shelter in-situ, visible from Darlington lane.
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Shelley McConnell nee Miller unfortunatley I don’t remember very much of my childhood as I say but others say I know too much only that I was at FN in 1971 I remember Mr Cross and Mr Buckle and Mr gr egg. BUt I do so remember Mrs Farnaby and Mrs Powell the joys of dancing at Norton green duck pond loved it I was with the Potts family the Potts family were my friends Mandy, Tracy, Lisa and David I remember on the bank of the school from juniors to infants I used to sit on the wall of the school and chatter to my friends waiting for nursery or infants kids to come out my sister was also there when I went into juniors then take her home and I would return I loved it was a great school use to always take us up the village for a day out on the green I use to take my dinner money to natwest and save up for the wade piggies the butchers on the corner had great pork pies with jelly in them… Freddie Natt was a great school even though I got the ruler across the knuckles for bringing in tennis balls and playing them on the school hall wall. Names I don’t remember very well maybe faces but I know I was there along time until I went into seniors Blakeston then St Michaels my parents moved around a lot because of work… If you want to get in touch please do so.
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