This photograph shows children of Hardwick secondary modern school on prize day in the mid 60’s. It was taken outside the original building, which later became the girls school and, when the school changed to ’Sheraton Comprehensive’ in 1973, became the lower school. Courtesy of Peter Jordison.
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A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Is anyone familiar with the years up to 1958 as my mother and grandmother attended Hardwick.
Went to Hardwick sec modern 1967-1972 teachers I remember are Mr White headmaster, Mr Brown deputy liked telling us stories, Mr Pinchin Tec drawing, Mr Nelist, Mr Lawson he married Miss Dodds, Mr Bromley, Mr Phil West, Mr Foster taught RE, Mr Allender taught English, Mr Shaw Mr Bopper West, Mr Buckle Metalwork, Mr Mahony, Mr Stephens Music there was a chap who used to look after the kids at lunchtime we called him Al Capone he wore a Fedora hat with a pinstripe double breasted suit. can anyone remember him ?.
Yes I remember him Terry, he claimed he played for Spurs back in the day
Went to Hardwick Secondary Modern school when Mill Lane closed around 1967 until 1971 when I went to Billingham Tech.
Pauline Leeming.
Does anyone remember big sidd a thought sedgdswick
Hi Karen did you live in Chilton Close?
Yes I did
Yes I did
Karen….I remember you….I was best mates with your John….I’m billy….me n John went thru infants, juniors, seniors together….your brother Kenny n sister julie….mam Kathy n dad Kenny….wow….memories…lol
Remembered juniors school and secondary great times.
Lived in Dinsdale Road, Hardwick. My mam and dad Gladys and Sonny. My name is Paul Jennings. Brothers Derek, John, Kevin and my late brother Craig. Great memories and friends both at school and where we lived. Would be nice to hear from old colleagues and friends from past days.
Paul – There is a Hardwick Sec/Sheraton comp group on facebook with plenty of members along with many photographs
Hi Paul, I remember you. Frank May now living in South Africa, how are you my friend? Would be good to hear from our old schools friends.
Trying to find out exam results from sheraton comprehensive school in 1976 I left. Can anyone help?
Peter
There was another family close by also called Blackburn. There was a girl called Sandra the same age as me and a lad called Trevor. He would be a little younger but no relation to me.
Peter, I’m not sure if it was 1973 or 1974 that I left. The school was new and just opened when I entred 1st year and stayed on for the 5th year which at that time wasn’t compulsory.
Alan, did you have a twin sister or am I thinking of someone else ?
I attended Hardwick secondary modern from 1969 to 1973, I agree with a lot of the comments from other people about the teachers. I think how you remember them is dependant on how you had been treated. To me Mr White was Ok, a little aloof but the deputy head Mr Brown was great always had stories to tell. After a few years you had heard them all before. My view of Mr Lawson was coloured by a bad experience, I remember him as a bully. The stars for me were Mr Longstaff (woodwork), Mr Buckle (metalwork) and Mr Shaw (Art) they treated me well. I also remember Mr Malony the history teacher, he was good and held my intrest. Times were very different then and it could be a rough place, some of the teachers didn’t mind dishing it out to maintain order. Was it a good way to maintain order? Depends on your point of view.
Alan, I also remember all the teachers you mention and Mr Lawson was a bully but when we reached the age of 13 or so he seemed to leave us alone and concentrate on the younger ones, would’nt you have left in 1974 along with the rest of us that started in 1969 ?
Great teachers included Mr. Brown, Mr. Cotter, Mr. Shaw, Sid Wadell, Mr. Angus and, the occasionally terrifying Bopper West.
I was Karen Shaw were you little Dan who hung around with sidda?
That’s right. Still don’t know why everyone called me Dan. All the mams called me Danny, even the teachers took to calling me Daniel!
Geoff I remember you, you were in the year below me are you still living local?
‘Fraid not Peter. Moved away 40yrs ago. still visit Stockton and have a deep interest in local history. Am deeply proud of Stocktons heritage and place in world history. Unfortunately this counts for nothing to successive councils and planning departments. Always leave town feeling depressed!
Is that you little Dan?
Certainly is princess! I don’t know where big Sid is though. Peter Watson has been posting on this site somewhere and he may know his whereabouts, or maybe Glen Davies might know. Nice hearing from you Karen, I don’t get up to Stockton much but still have relatives on Hardwick, Christine Elstob (nee Marshall), used to live near Marys shop, think she lives in Whessoe road now. Still kind of in touch with Paul Turnbull,he now lives in Shildon. Lost touch with everybody else, Paul (Luggy) Collins, Pete Watson , Sidda, Alan Hogarth, Snowy etc.
So did I when I moved to Middlesbrough xx
Mr Lawson was a bully, he stepped on my brothers hand and my older brother went to see him he ran out of the school, as all bullies he picked on those who he thought would not be a threat.
Mr Buckle was my Cousin
Hi Alan, I thought I recognized your name. I was at Hardwick at the same time as you. I remember Mr Longstaff with fond memories. Spent many a happy hour in the woodwork department. Also remember Mr Shaw, Mr Buckle, I cant remember the name of the maths teacher, He was tall with a beard. Mr Lawson rings a bell, but can’t remember what he looked like. Was he the very strict one who was a bit free and easy with the cane? If he was, he taught my father at Mill Lane, he didn’t have a good word to say about him either. Do you still live in the Stockton area?
I still keep in touch with Alex Patterson.
Regards Paul Branson
Maths teacher Mr Foster
Lawson might have been a bit young to have taught your dad. Story was he used to be a racing car driver and got injured so had to retire. Free and easy with the cane may have been Phil West. Maths teacher Mr Foster, known as the rabbi. Great teacher and had lots of patience for those who were a bit slow with sums i.e. me!
I also attended Hardwick Secondary school from 1969 to 1973 they were good time and bad.
I remember Sandra Blackburn they lived near Mary’s shop and over the road from Lesley Gooder.
I loved Mr Williams I was in that school from 1972 till 1976. My name was Karen Shaw.
Was Mr Williams the English teacher from ‘down south’. Had long hair, beard, motorbike?
Yes He was also our form teacher in 4ws that’s when me and sidda played badminton together, still love him for that. Where is he now?
Not seen ‘Sid’ since leaving school. I have a picture of him, Peter Watson (he lives in Australia) and Paul Hotson (otter), +1 other lad who lived Roseworth but can’t remember his name.
Its of when they met up for funeral of Pete’s brother, Vince. We all hung out together during senior school years.
I was chatting for a while with Pete who moved to Australia and for a while had a sports / leisure centre business.
He had his hair cut and joined the TA Paras in Norton.
I went to this school from 1966 to1970 I remember Mr white Mr brown Mr west and Mr lawson
Hi Malcolm it’s good to see your comment we had some hard times at school and some good times, Lawson was a bully mine was the hand he stamped on, I remember it well. What are you doing these days? Garry
I was there 1966/70. I remember a teacher called Lawson.
Lawson, Dodds, Foster, Burnett, Shaw, Loather, West and Mr P.E.J West. Mr White made me stand outside his office for the best part of a year, with no lessons once, so I don’t hold him in such high esteem as some of you on here, sorry. Saying that some of the teachers were great, as were lots of the pupils.
I was also there 66/70 my best mates were Kevin Taylor and Peter Mains
Well long time no speak Malcolm Allenden, its Titchy Taylor, we had a blast at school… of cause we got the cane nearly every day for oggie raiding, me you peter, and don’t forget Alan Dixson.
What a name from the past “Titchy Taylor”. Remember me mate Alan Maidman?
We went to school together at Bailey St and Hardwick, I moved to Australia in 1965. I’ve been back to Stockton a few times in recent years and met up with Tommy Puggmurr and Geoff Wright.
It’d be great to have a pint or two on my next trip mate..
Titchy Taylor I remember you as Alvin Stardust my coocachoo remember the concert at the Hardwick Community Center?
Remember Alvin Stardust and doing a concert at the community center, I was Gary Glitter.
This brings back a few memories. Gosh the main thing I remember from this school, is winning the school football league in our last year of school. Playing, Sunday league football is also a fond memory for a team which was run by Anthony Sedgwick. Those where the days…
Titchy you must remember Alvin stardust and Gary glitter at the community centre.
You must remember Anthony Sedgewick
I have just come across this piece once again and on reading one comment I have to agree that the school opened in the September of 1963 I remember this because those of us who left school in the July of that year who wanted to stay on(we did not have jobs) moved up there from Bailey Street and other schools in the borough which had been closed. I think I stayed for the first term at which time I had found a job so I left.
The Riots started because we got an headmaster from Roseworth. The school went on Strike and the Police came. It was my first year at the school…
Susan Steyn (nee Klimitis) did you live on Piperknowle Road, the new section? I remember your family, your sister Linda and even your dog Chico! I lived in the end house next to the school and then there was Waites/Hamilton/Your family/Crooks/Docherty/Duncan/not sure about the opposite end house and then the Stokelds (think that’s how you spell their name). Quite a few of us kids used to play out ‘the back’. Happy days!
Well I never, Judith Vettas. My dad thought you were the nicest kid he had ever met! I am in South Africa now and my sister Linda is coming here for Christmas this year 2012. Do you remember that riot at the school?
I’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to get in touch, my email address is available through the Picture Stockton site. PS-You wrote this comment on my birthday! How cool is that 🙂
Judith Vettas chrystal tips my friend Karen Shaw
I left in 1972 and we HAD to wear school uniform, it was a yellow shirt, drk blue skirt and the tie was dark blue with a yellow stripe. My mom worked in the kitchens in the boys school. I remember there was some type of strike by the pupils, I also remember all the pupils outside singing ‘we shall not be moved’ can’t remember why though.
The girl third from left is Susan Malcolm.
Steve- This photo is the original school which (I think )opened in 1963 as a mixed school, the boys school opened in september 1967 and the original school became the girls school. As you probably remember the schools reverted to mixed again in september 1973 when the school changed its name to Sheraton Comprehensive when the boys school became upper and the girls school lower. I also cannot remember anyone wearing uniform in our time there (maybe the odd tie) which I seem to remember was light blue with orange and red stripes, this was also the official tie of Harrowgate and (I think) Hardwick junior schools. I have no idea why the uniform was abolished maybe someone can help us with that one?
Lived opposite Mary’s shop. You must remember Judith Vettas
Karen were you Karen Shaw ?
I was Karen Shaw and I remember you and Anthony sedgewick or big sidda to me
Yes I was Karen Shaw
I remember your name, but cannot place you or conjure up any memories. Btw I definitely remember ‘Sid’ as we hung out together, especially out of school – Me, Sid, Paul Hotson (Otter), Pete Watson.
The school “uniform” when I was in the boys school, after two years mixed, was the parka. Everyone had a khaki parka with fur around the hood. My year was the first that could stay on to the fifth to take CSE’s. The same year girls were allowed to take either CSE’s or GCE’s but the boys were limited to CSE. The year after we’re allowed to go for GCE’s.
When I left Harrowgate junior school to attend Hardwick Secondary modern senior school in 1967, the new scool was just opening and we were the first in. The two schools were then turned single sex apart from a small group of boys who were classed as GCE stream. The boys school studied up to CSE level. Yes Steve is quite right, school uniforms were almost non- existent when I was there from 1967 to 1972.
Hi Alan, John Sutton here – I was in the same class as you then and remember it well.
I know Peter as ever will be able to answer your questions, my contributions are: I started there in 1967, I think it was the first year as separate boys and girls schools. My big brother Mike left in 1965 and it was mixed then. In 1967 there were no school uniforms for boys. The tie looks quite similar to Hardwick Junior School.
Hi Peter, my name is Alan Maidman, I went to school with your brother Mike.
I don’t know if he’ll remember me, I lived in Dawdon Close and emigrated with my family to Australia in 1965. If you could pass on my regards to him I’d love to catch up with Mike and find out how he’s doing.
Hi Steve its Martin Huitson we where in the same class do you remember me?
The above photograph brings up a few questions. When was Hardwick Secondary Modern opened? When did it change to single sex for each block ? Also, in the picture the pupils are wearing school uniform, which is something that never happened in my day. When and why did pupils stop wearing school uniform. I know that it was reintroduced around 1973/74 (but at that time only to the first year, I think). In addition the school tie seems different to what I remember. Peter, I’m relying on you for some answers 🙂
Luke White, the Head Teacher at Hardwick Sec Mod is far right in this photograph and he was formerly my Head Teacher at Mill Lane Boys’ School. Mr White was one of the finest persons I’ve ever met and I can’t speak more highly of him as both tutor and for the quality of his management skills regarding both staff and pupils.
He was a good head teacher, so was Mr Brown the deputy…
When are a few of us going to meet up ? Alan Rose
Ken Foxhe girls I remember are right to left f/r Angela McHale, Valerie Bowman, Susan Malcolm,? Barbara Storey. Behind Barbara Anna Cuthbert.
When are a few of us going to meet up?
Not sure but is the girl third from left Susan Malcolm?
Boys names fron L-R are Robin Godfry, Ian Johnstone, Paul Goodwin, John Thomas and Colin Jones.
The girl stood in between two boys [partly hidden] in the front row is Jeanette Mclone, who lived in Inskip Walk at the time this photo wes taken.
This photo was given to me by another Hardwick sec old boy, Jeff cooke, who can name Headmaster Luke White as well as Paul Goodwin and Angela McHale amongst the pupils in the pic.