These photographs show the beginning of the demolition work at Bede Sixth Form College in Billingham, which was better known as Stephenson Hall, Campus School. The pictures were taken by Peter Newell on 25th Sept 2007. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Dave Birrell, I attended 1964 – 1969, lots of fond memories, most of the staff were really good teachers, Alan Coates was exceptional, Mr Summers head, Mr Chapman Mrs Harrison deputies and Mrs Bassett, Messers, Lonsdale, Jones, Bingham, Carr, Weallan, Bassett, Jackson, Heron.
Sadly some of the pupils from my year have died, Steve Sowerby, Frank Wilson and quite a while ago Ron Wassell to who was a lovely lad at school
Certainly a good education at Stephenson in lots of ways.
Good luck to all.
I have been looking through all these posts but don’t see any comments from people that were at Stephenson Hall between 1969 and 1974. I am trying to get in touch with 2 friends from that time. Karen and Lorraine Doyle, they also used to stay in the same street as me. Hope somebody can help
Hello Marion this is Denise Ward… you used to hang around with me when I lived in Teesdale Ave? I believe Karen died and Lorraine moved to Australia. Sadly Susan died a few years ago.
Went to Stephenson hall about 1965. Theresa Rafferty, Sandra Horseman, Elaine
I was in F3 Colman’s class, Jacki Snowdon.
Former pupils of Billingham North (1951 – 1957), Billingham South Seniors (1957 – 1958) and Billingham Campus Stephenson Hall (1958 – 1961) are trying to organise a reunion of former pupils for sometime in November 2015, I have been contacting people in various places such as Canada and Australia in the search for school photos, I have collected 7 in total, two of which I bought from The Picture Stockton website a couple of years ago.
I am trying to locate as many former pupils as possible for this our third reunion, if anybody knows of people that attended those schools at those times I shall be grateful if they can get in touch with me via Picture Stockton, if you do contact me I can email a list of names of people we are trying to contact, all of these people will be celebrating their 70th birthday over the next twelve months and some will be Grandparents or even Great Grandparents.
Our last reunion was in 2011 and there were over 30 pupils and 2 former teachers who came, it was an excellent night.
I am attending and will be travelling up that week. Jim Muir
The domestic science teachers were Miss Fletcher (not the art mistress) and Miss Moutrey.
Felt I had to add something
I went to Stephenson Hall after a year at Billingham South Modern Secondary.
Loved it. Even though Ron Cowperthwaite caned me more than once. Laurie Tomlinson was a tyrant I still enjoyed my term. Loved English with Geoff Boddy, History with Martin Wing and Science with Fred Chapman etc. etc.
When I decided to become a teacher I did a year there as an unqualified teacher before going to college. Loved the reversal and working with John Heron (saw on TV recently, immaculate as ever at WW11 memorial service), Alan Coates, Alan Weallens, Ken Foster et al. Taught me an enormous amount about things. Still teaching now at 69 – must have some positive effect!!!
Would that be the Brian Storey who taught English at Sheraton?
Yes Ian – that was me.
I remember you.
Your dad was a policeman if I remember correctly – forgive if I am wrong
You were a dark curly haired cheerful character
You came on a number of my hikes also
Hope all is well
Brian Storey
Hi Brian
Dark haired, yes – although it’s a bit grey now!! Dad wasn’t a policeman though. I was there 1978 – 1983. I can remember listening to Bobby Thompson records in your English class, would have been in my 1st year I think! Good to know you’re still teaching. I’m now living in Cornwall having spent 16 years or so living and working in London and the South East, but occasionally get back to Stockton – how it’s changed!
I’ve looked through all of the above and see no mention of “Fanny” Fletcher the art teacher. She made you sit with your hands behind the back of your chair and her favourite pastime was sending you to be caned at the slightest excuse. Tomlinson, the P.E. teacher, would slipper you on a regular basis and Crozier, the geography teacher, had a cane called “Moses” which he kept on top of the blackboard. I learnt little but how to cower!
Hello Jim. John Booth here. I also remember Tommo who took me for swimming – yes Crozier whacked me a couple of times haha.
Just got the computer back. Will you be at the reunion? I’m staying with Pauline Jones who was at Stephenson Hall 1958-1962. She’s the only fellow student with whom I’ve kept in touch. If you’re there it’s your round!
Would that be the same Pauline Jones who moved to Hartlepool back in the sixties? I think she also went to Stephenson Hall.
Hi Jim. just researching and came across your text.
Fanny Fletcher terrified everyone including the staff, I could do no wrong as I could draw pretty well!
I remember Pauline nice looking girl, she moved back to Hartlepool?
I was in Stephenson hall, started in 1961 for a year but the school was overcrowded so they sent a lot over to Faraday. I hated it and asked to be sent back, loved Stephenson Hall and stayed there until I left in 1965. My teacher was Mr Heron. Does anyone have any school group photos of 1961-1965? Linda Owens
Hi I went to Stephenson back in 1962 then transferred to Davy in 64 I think (long time ago). Left the area for donkeys years and now live in Redmarshall. I’ll try and find some photos from my Mum’s but she’s 98 so it may take a while! Linda Parmella
Hi, just found this information it’s brought back loads of memories good and bad, I was part of L1 I think we were better known as Hell One, 69/70 Mr Summers and Big Dick Chapman used to punish me, and a few others on a regular basis, probably why my hands are the way they feel now. Others from what I can remember, Mr Whelans woodwork Mrs Bassett-Library Miss Nicholson English Mr Coleman Music Mr Heron PE Mr Mcourt ?
Mr Oconnor Metalwork Mr Coates? Mr Lonsdale Science Mr Jones? And a few others, the good old days, if I had a choice I probably wouldn’t have changed a thing, enjoyed every minute, well worth remembering,
Hedley, you missed me out, Miss Jackson English teacher and form teacher…. And I remember you, Peter Newell , lived at the end of Cheviot with your Gran?? I was at the other end with my mum.. I married Jack Orchel who taught at the school for a year or so. We have lived in London since 1972…
Can you let me know what years you worked there as I remember my English teacher but not her name!
Hi, Howard Race here, went to s/ hall 68 / 72′ Miss Nicholas & Miss Jackson were my English teachers, Mr Coleman used to play the death march on the piano as he summoned you to him, lol, then he would grab one of your side burns and pull your head up and down. Miss Nicholas was a great cricket player, her brother played for Yorkshire, and is well remembered as a great player. I was saddened of the passing of Mrs Connerley she was the art teacher, great lady. Miss Adult was the history teacher, a doll.
Hi, I also remember a Miss English as an English teacher, she left in 72 and went to Grangefield Grammar. There was a Mr Elliot, he took tech drawing, a Miss Hugill she took maths, Mr car took French he left in 70, great teacher.
Hi, Just came across this site. I was at ‘Stevo’ leaving in ’72’ to go to Northfield. I remember all the teacher names you mention plus Mrs Butcher, Miss Ault & Miss Till.
I also was in the first intake transferring from South Modern, it was only a short walk from the new Estate being built. Yes, Mr. Tomlinson the PE teacher was not one to cross he used to use a large Plimsole shoe to wallop those not trying and especially the smokers behind the Gym Wall. Mr. Golightly, the Head Master disliked anyone walking over the grass verges, it was the cane if caught… I left in 1961.
I think that I was in the same year as you Alan.
Mr Boddy also had a size 100 slipper and examined your shoes for grass. If there was grass on them you were whacked on stage in front of everyone
Sad to see. It is hard to look at these without an odd tear. I was immediately drawn to the doorways where we congregated with our haversacks of books and the early stirrings of crushes on girls! I was only there for most of my 1st Year in ’66 before me dad (ICI Nylon at Billingham) was transfered to Ayrshire. I enjoyed the time I did spend.
I was in the second intake,September 1959. I remember all those teachers, Bruce, and like you I can’t remember the domestic science teacher. Did we have one? There is a couple of female teachers you have missed out, perhaps one of these may have taught the subject, but not full time. Miss Petty and Miss Fielding(later Mrs Miles). Miss Petty was my form teacher in the 2nd year. Miss Landells must have been very young when she was at Stephenson because I saw her in the 1970’s. She didn’t appear much older than me. She recognised me even though Biology(her subject) was not my favourite. I always thought the official opening was in April 1959. When I was at Billingham north the pupils who would have left at summer 1958 actually were taught alongside my class for a while at Billingham North,until Stephenson Hall was ready. Why they did’nt go to the South Modern is a mystery.
I was a member of the first intake in 1958 and can remember most of the teachers from that year – Mr Wood, Mr Barker, Mr Wilkinson Snr, Mr Wilkinson Jr, Mr Cowperthwaite, Mrs Gasgoigne, Miss Braithwaite, Mr Boddy, Mr Wing, Miss Landells, Mr Tomlinson, Miss Round, Mr Jack, Mr Coates, Mrs Bassett, Miss Fletcher, Mr Chapman and Mr Shepherd. The only name I can’t remeber is that of the Domestic Science teacher. The Headmaster was Mr Golightly. It opened in September and was officially opened by The Queen and Prince Philip in October. I was filmed that day for the Tyne Tees news in Mr Barkers woodwork class inexpertly planing a piece of wood.
I too was part of the first intake, and to be frank I hated the place. A group of us reunited back in 2004 and Messrs. Baker, Wood, Crozier and Fred Chapman were there. Crozier went on to a headship in Derbyshire and Fred Chapman was still handing out mints. Unfortunately he died around four years ago. I left in 1962 having learned precious little other than a hatred of education. It took me nine years to re-enter the system and obtain my degree. Don’t let anyone kid you that chalk & talk schooling underlined by a fear of corporal punishment was an asset to our country.
Even after all these years i thought it was just me that hated that school but you have summed up my feelings exactly. Thanks.
I seem to remember Mr Tomlinson the PE teacher, not a person you wanted to get on the wrong side of…
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I’m still around, with many fond memories of Stephenson and of the first few years of Northfield which I left in 1976. Sad to see some of the names on the deceased list – some I didn’t know about.
Thanks Alan for telling me who is still alive, mind you I did cringe when I seen Mr Colemans name there. I remember him very well as he broke two of my fingers in his music class when he cought me playing on his piano he slammed the lid down! Rodger Atkinson was my form teacher for about 3 years, he used to play rugby for Stockton and he used to go to the school on his pushbike, but the teacher that I did admire and respect was Jim McCourt he learnt me the true meaning of life when he gave me a lesson of judo in the gym one day, here was me thinking I was a jack the lad but half hour later I changed my mind (no one told me he was a judo expert)
Tony Smith –
Yes you will have heard about those teachers who Alan mentioned as after Stephenson Hall Closed they Moved over to Northfield School along with 1,2,3 year pupils
I know McCourt, I was at Northfield 77-82, some of those other teachers sound familiar from there too, if they are the same(Chapman, Coates)
Out of retirement? I bet they wish it could happen, or at least their families wish that Peter.
Here is the list of those who taught you who are no longer with us in the land of the living. I’ll list only surnames to save time etc.
Summers, Chapman, Harrison, Coates, Lonsdale, Foster, Nicholson, Thompson, McCourt, Coleman, Binney, Bassett.
Still going as far as I know :- Wealleans, O’Connor, Jones, Atkinson & a few more I’m not aware of.
I think it was called firm but fairly friendly in the Sixties and Seventies.
As soon as I saw them starting to knock it down Alan, I had to get the camera as it brought back many memories – good and bad. The first thing knocked down was your woodwork/metal work room followed by Jim McCourts art room/Biology room, and I must admit that I had a few tears. As you were saying about walloping a few, they should bring a few of you old teachers back out of retirement to teach a few of the young fellows manners and respect. It’s good to see you’re still keeping well Alan, I can remember my first time meeting you in September 1967.
Peter, What a shock to the system seeing the old place in the process of demolition!
I had some great times there as I’m sure you did also.
Mind you I would never fit into teaching nowadays, I’d be hauled before the courts for walloping the little charmers.
As the man said, “spare the rod, spoil the child!” sadly the armchair psychologists have ruined the England with their attitude.
Left in 1966 I thought I was Jack the lad what a pollock. Joined the army and had it all to do again, enjoyed every minute of it just show what a waste the previous 10 years were. Had immense respect for Mr Chapman And Mr Lonsdale who didn’t think I was a comple lost cause. Tom Edmunds.