The woodwork and lab. classrooms at Richard Hind Senior Boys School taken in 1978. Photograph courtesy of Gordon Mann 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The woodwork and lab. classrooms at Richard Hind Senior Boys School taken in 1978. Photograph courtesy of Gordon Mann
Was there from 1951 to 1956 I quite enjoyed it. You just accepted what was dished out to you in those days. Was caned for one and only time smoking in Lavs by Mr Kear. Went to see him after finishing two long trips in Merchant Navy. We laughed about it then.
I was at Bishy from 1980 to 85/6. I remember some of these teachers as well. Always liked Ovensy – both as History teacher and football ‘coach’ (I can still recall his defence tip ‘if in doubt kick it out!’). Mrs Somerville taught me for Re – lovely teacher. I’m sure more will come back to me and I’m going to look through the rest of this thread. I actually popped up last week to what is now Outwood Academies. Got chatting with the foreman of the building works and transpired he was at the school around the same time.
I didn’t attend Richard Hind, but was at Bishopsgarth when it opened in 1977.
Teachers I remember
Mr Ovens, Darlington football fan, liked a pint in the Falcon pub at Hardwick on a lunchtime.
Miss Smith, lived on Rimswell estate I think, called the girls by first name, boys by surname.
Mr Woodhouse History teacher.
Mr Smith, PE
Miss/Mrs Hetherington PE
There was a really tall male teacher that used to drive a battered old Mini, not sure how he managed that.
Others I can picture but can’t recall their names.
I was there from around ’75 to ’78.
Great memories.
Nigel Jamison… nickname jammy?… was a mod? and into his music if it’s the same guy…. year above me, but knew my sister and her friends… Jackie Place, Maxine Todd, Diane Randall, also Kenny Shaw, John Shaw and many others that hung about in gangs.
I was at the school from 1958 to 1953. I found it, in the main, an unpleasant experience. There were decent teachers, Mr Fenny, Mr Turnbull and others. But, too much violence towards the pupils. I am now 70, and still remember it almost with disbelief. Hitting children with sticks…to help them to learn?!! One teacher used to hit boys bottoms with the edge of a ruler. This happened every lesson. When changing for PE, severe bruising was always visible on some children. Nowadays of course this man would be called to account…just imagine the smartphone evidence of this brutality. Some things have changed for the better.
I was at the Hind from the mid 70s till 78 when they closed the building and moved us all over to the Bishopsgarth site. We had such teachers as George Kear (jogger George)and Mr Hesslop, the king of the comb-over, his hair used to stand on end about a foot high in the wind.
Just talking about this school yesterday with Brian Lee who was a pupil there as well as myself. We were trying to name teachers and pupils who attended from circa 1973 to 1977 ish
I went to Richard Hind 1970-1975. Remember some of the teachers names…
Headmaster:Mr. Morley. Deputy Head:Mrs Fletcher. Head of Year:Mr Russell
Physics:Mr.Heslop.Biology:Miss Sharp.Chemistry:Mr Stockdale. Geography:Mr Russell, George Kear. English:Mrs Hall, Mrs Cowie Mr Butcher, Mr Benzies. P.E: Mrs Rawlins, Mr Smith. History: Mr Benzies, Mr Robson. French:MissHall. Music:Mr Raey. Art:Mr Humble, Mr Sanders. R.E: Mrs Butcher, Mr. Butcher.
I was also at Richard Hind from 1970 – 1975 and remember all those teachers.
Great times.
Do you still hold the record of eating 26 Manchester tarts at lunch?
Sorry, remember now it was Michael Stewart.
Mdms Legall French, Mrs Mc Dougall Biology/PE, Mrs Casey English, Mrs Davis History, Miss Griffin French, Miss Patterson Shorthand/Typing, Miss Lee Geography, Miss Somerville RE/Humanities, Mrs Ross Maths, Mr Wilkinson Maths, Mr Agar Maths, Mr Marshall Maths.
I remember them all. Mr Ovens?? youngish teacher to add. history you think. Took us on some pretty raunchy school trips
Ovensy!! Taught history at Bishopsgarth and also coached the football B team.
Quite a few of these moved to Bishopsgarth. Thanks for listing so many names.
I was there from around 1975 to 1978. Definitely remember some of the teachers mentioned below. I have an old class photo – will try and dig it out and post it here.
Are you the Phil Matson who worked at the THPA Design Office?
I certainly am Ron. From 86 to 90.
Unforgiveably, I don’t remember you.
Hope all is well.
We were the last 11+ . Went to RH Juniors then across the road to seniors. Spent 1st year there.
Went compre. with Newham Grange at the end of 1st year and 2nd year spent walking and busing to there. Came back to RH site in 3rd year.
Correct with the teachers. Also Mr’s Stockdale, Russel, Ovens, Mrs Cowie, 2ea Benzies, Fred ? (Deputy head)
In class with, Terry Blackburn, John Copping, Mark Tracey (Kes), ?Kenneth Pattinson, ? Cadwallider, John Graham, ? Hezzletine
We honed our football skills with tennis balls on the playground.
I was there as well, remember him having a thing with Miss Sharp, Biology. Karen Gowland as was then.
Miss Sharp a stern teacher but good at her job
I too went to Richard Hind but I was the Newham Grange side who did join to become Bishopsgarth. Mr Benzine, the younger brother, is now a priest! It was a treck to the dinner halls over the railway bridge in Spring Street.
Mr Fenny also had a motorcycle and sidecar, a Royal Enfield I believe, which he parked beside the metalwork building. As a coincidence, when I was working at The British Railways Board HQ in London in the early 80s, one of the secretarys was called Theresa Fenny. I mentioned to her that my Metalwork teacher was a Mr Fenny and found out that he was her uncle. As mentioned Mr Fenny was very accepting of pupils who had no metalwork skill and treated them the same as the gifted pupils. My greatest metalwork achievement was a poker forged on the anvil after being heated to red hot in the forge. A leather apron was provided for forge work, no eye protection or other PPE being thought of as required.
Mr Fenny started the metal workshop at ‘aaarichard aaaahind’ in about 1954-55. It was a purpose built building, built on spare land on the opposite corner to the boy’s school entrance. I was as useless at metalwork as at wood work and during my first lesson I managed to break a drill. Mr Fenny was possibly the most taciturn and most even tempered of all the school teachers I have known.
Yep me too Freddie, I made a key ring holder on which I stamped my address. It was awful! In woodwork Jimmy Turnbull thought doing French was a better option for me!
Nice one Ian – Mr Spence it was. Mr Fenney – another nice chap. The health & safety bods would be eating their clipboards if they went into that metalwork room now – no eye protection, kids working on drilling machines and lathes with long hair dangling and Mr Fenney sneaking out the back into the stock room for a sly fag – we knew no different – how times change!
I left Richard Hind School in 1977 (then called Bishopsgarth), to proceed as an apprentice
at Head Wrightson & co at Thornaby. But I do remember the Woodwork Teacher with a Beard
with the very loud BSA Motorcycle, his name was Mr Spence and he also used to teach
Technical Drawing. There was also a Metalwork Teacher called Mr Fenney (I think I have
spelt his name correctly).
Mr Spence taught me Woodwork, a very nice teacher
I was in the same class as Paul Fellows and witnessed the said incident, probably around the 1972/73 period and it was pretty much as Paul describes and I think probably stuck in my mind as it was the first time I’d witnessed a public ‘tickling’! However, I do agree with Colin that Mr Hall was a good teacher and I got on pretty well with him. We had another woodwork teacher about the same time, possibly a relief teacher whilst Mr Hall was away? I can’t think of his name, but he was a youngish fair haired guy with a beard and parked his ancient BSA A7 motorbike outside the woodwork room – anyone else remember him?
I have just discovered this site and was surprised to read Paul Fellows comments on Mr Hall the woodwork teacher. I was a pupil from 69 to 74 and have a vague recollection of ‘the tickler’ but only as a deterrent. In fact I thought he was a great teacher. I still remember him giving me a lift home in his Morris Minor so I wouldn’t have to carry a heavy bookcase I’d made in his class, on the bus. I think Mr Fellows must have done something a little more serious than he claims. Yes, the bookcase is still in use today.
l remember you from school Colin!
Pat is correct, the Chemistry Lab and then the Woodworking shop in my time 1940-44. The window at a right angle to the cookery room at the top of the picture was the Head Masters office. Whilst standing outside waiting for the sword of Damocles to drop on me I would knock on the pantry window and sometimes be rewarded with a jam tart or rock cake which you girls made a lot of. I married a Richard Hind Girl although we did not meet at school. That wall had a lot to answer for.
Googled in an instant, The Richard Hind Boys School Hymn! All the past we leave behind: We take up the task eternal, and the burden, and the lesson, conquering, holding, daring, venturing, so we go the unknown ways, Pioneers! O pioneers! Not for delectations sweet, not the riches safe and palling, not for us the tame enjoyment; never must you be divided, in our ranks you move united, Pioneers! O pioneers! All the pulses of the world, all the joyous, all the sorrowing, these are of us, they are with us; we today”s procession heading, we the route for travel clearing, Pioneers! O pioneers! On and on the compact ranks, with accessions ever waiting, we must never yield or falter, through the battle, through defeat, moving yet and never stopping, Pioneers! O pioneers!
The bottom three windows were the girls cookery room, because it was the only place we could look into the boys playground, apart from the gate in the wall.I was there 57 – 62 and we reached the cookery room, with Miss Stevenson teaching, by a door next to the Head, Gwen Carr”s office. The next three windows, according to my husband, were the chemistry lab, because they could also look into the girls playground on the other side. We have been married nearly 43 years so the wall did not deter us either! R. Neil W. Smith – are you the Neil Smith who lived at 324 Norton Road and then Birkdale Road? If so, I have been given another photo of you as a child by my cousin Barbara. I know you moved to Bellerby Rd but don”t know the number.
Malcolm Parnaby : If this is boys side that room was used for Chemistry when I was there. Did you dish out dinners at Nissen huts near Ropner Park ? I remember a Parnaby possibly 4th/5th Year serving food from Stainless Tureens at lunchtime. Something I later did when I was a 5th year.
I thought the room to the right ie furthest away was the girls cookery class room correct me if I am wrong because it”s a long time ago I was at Richard Hind from 59 till 63
Pioneers (The School Song) 1. all the past we leave behind; We take up the task eternal, And the burden and the lesson Conquering,holding,daring,venturing, So we go the unknown ways, Pioneers! O Pioneers! Just the first verse of 4. Believed to be a hunter”s hymn originating from the pioneering days of settlers in Canada. Adopted by Richard Hind. I have the rest courtesy of Dicky Brown ex R/H. We didn”t go very far but it”s tough enough in Stockton as it is.
From Terry Pearson, Sadly we lost Big Kitch (Brian Kitching) this Christmas. The last time we sung Pioneers was at George Chapmans funeral a few years ago. We hopefully will be singing it next week for Brian, albeit the first verse. All the past we leave behind we take up the task eternal and the Burden and the Lesson Conquering Holding Daring Venturing as we go the unknown ways. Pioneers Oh! Pioneers. (Or something like that) Brian was my oldest pal from Richard Hind, a fantastic chum for over 60 years, his old mates will miss him dearly. our thoughts are with Jackie and his family
Curious to know if Ronald W Haslock is a descendent of Hezekiah Haslock who married Alice Jane Holland 1885 in Middlesbrough. Alice Holland was the sister of my Grandfather James Edward Holland who were both in fact born Ashley-cum-Silverley, Cambs.
The school song – on the girls” side at least – was “I vow to thee my country”, still brings me out in gooseflesh when I hear it!
To Terry Pearson: out of the blue this a.m. came the first line of our school hymn (not song)”We build our school on Thee, O Lord” and I since “Googled” it because I could no longer remember all of the words. The hymn tune is well remembered, though. I noted in correspondence following another picture of the school that the main gates had been rescued from oblivion and are now somewhere in Australia, I believe. If you recall the steel gate in the wall that separated the boys yard from the girls, this was a well-attended place for peeking at the girls each day. This is where I first met the girl who was to become my wife. She had been transferred from a school in another part of Durham County when her Dad was seconded to the Stockton Police Force during the war. We celebrate both 60th wedding anniversary and 8oth birthdays this year. The Picture Stockton web-site has become a favourite since discovering it about six months ago, and I wish all former students of the Richard Hind school, especially those who add their reminiscences to this site, the best of good fortune.
Thank you for filling in some details missing from my memory. Sad to say, I cannot recall the school song, “Pioneers”. If there is any way you can provide me with details I would be extremely pleased. Perhaps the song was adopted after my time (“term”, according to one unhappy former student!)at Richard Hind? Thank you for any assistance.
The best school in Durham, I started from Freddy Nat. Norton in 1947. I remember the wood work room and with great respect Willy Turbull Pa Dee, Eggy Plummer, Pop Goodyear, Sandy Dobin, Sid Buckle, Mc Hellhatton, Ali Barber, Pop Charlton, Pop Carling not to mention The Boss Johnny Rosser. Yes I remember Ma North, Mrs Brown and Mrs Kelly. We won the Durham Co Cup at football round about then and produced some fine sportsmen and many academic confident young men. I am in regular contact with some of the old boys who still live in the area. Brian Kitching, Archie Duffie, Cliff Fowler, Dickie Brown. Could you sing the old School Song “Pioneers” we can and still do. The best School in Stockton at least. Terry Pearson (Norton)
I have just recalled bell ringing duty. I didn”t have a watch then so I had to look through a peephole into the Hall to see the time. I was dead lucky; The girls were using it for PT at one stage during the day. I am still a bell ringer although at the Parish Church now. No looking thorugh peepholes there.
Yes I can remember Bell ringing duty, a day sat doing nothing Sorry a day sat reading especially when Johnny R came past.The down side was catching up on the work missed.Didnt we have to do a preliminary ring about 2 minutes before the main ring?
Yes Richard I do remember that, but not “Ma North”, Miss Betts is high on my memory list.The bell was very heavy as I recall.
RICHARD. I REMEMBER BEING ON BELL DUTY WHEN I WAS A SECOND YEAR DURING THE WAR.MA BELL HAD JUST STARTED AND ALTHOUGH POP DEE WAS THERE WITH EGGY PLUMMER,THE WOODWORK TEACHER WAS CALLED WANFORD. POP CARLING CAME LATER AFTER BEING INVALIDID OUT OF THE ARMY AFTER LOOSING A LEG ON THE FRENCH BEACHES AT THE INVASION OF FRANCE. MANY OF THE STAFF MENTIONED ON THIS SITE STARTED AFTER I LEFT IN 1947.
Any one remember being on bell ringing duty ? Sitting at the corner of the internal passage way near Ma North”s and ringing the bell for changes of class.
R Neil W Smith I also went to Richard Hind 57 to 62 and did woodwork with Jimmy, did you not make one of his designed fruit bowls? Hardwood pieces stuck together with scotch cake glue and turned on the lathe. Mine still has pride of place on the dining table after 40 years!
The one on the left was the woodwork room. The domain of Jimmy Turnbull in the late 50″s. On the right the Chemistry lab ruled by “Daddy” Dee. I was at junior school with Jimmy Turnbulls son so I was well in there. It did me no good as I was, and still am, rubbish at wood work.
Paul,also went to Fairfield juniors and Richard Hind. Do you remember Mr Carr”s – from Fairfield, son, who taught geography at Richard Hind, he was lovely, great big ginger beard? Mr Arnison was my favourite at Fairfield, I once slipped and knocked myself out on an ice slide, and he came and picked me up, and called me 10 ton tess forever afterwards!
Mr Carr’s wife was a radiographer – I used to babysit for them. He was the geography teacher
Yes this was the Woodwork Lab which was in my day in the early 70″s, the domain of Mr Hall the woodwork teacher. I recall sawing a tennon 1 mm bigger than it should have been so I could use a chisel to neatly finish the final 1mm. Mr Hall though this was not good Richard Hind practice and I should have sawed more accurately, so introduced me to “The Tickler” which was a yard long 2×1 length of wood. Leant over the bench at the front on the woodwork shop and waiting for the clump clump of his highly polished black leather shoes descend along the entire length of the woodwork lab filled one with trepidation before it finally connected with ones derrier in a very painfull way! Followed by another 5 of the same. Mind you the coffee table I made when I was 12 is still standing solidly with not a single creaking joint 34 years later!
I was there until about 1972 and remember his tickler as being a yard long length of 2×2 formosa… and it bloody hurt! you did learn to saw or plane down to a line and not above or below it mind … he was a pretty good teacher though, I made my first electric guitar in his class when I was about 14 and I am still making them today but out of Guitarbuild bodies they have cocked up and I correct them. I have also made my own speaker cabs so I suppose I have to put it down to the Tickler LOL
God I hated this school. Was there from 1962 – 67 Good old corporal punishment! It didn”t do me any harm! A slipper across the backside for not having whiter than white plimsoles…. The poor lads who got less than 15 out of 20 for a spelling test being whacked across the fingers with the sharp end of a ruler