Class of 1970 go back to school for anniversary celebrations

Former Head Girl Janet Edwards and Sports Captain John Bennett, the Class of 1970, visited Priory as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations as well as to meet the new Head Prefects. 

Janet is believed to be one of the first pupils from Priory to go to university and enjoyed a successful career as a midwife. She stayed in touch with John, who was Sports Captain for Croft House and went on to be a Geography teacher, inspired by his teacher at Priory. 

Janet (nee Clough), now 69, said: “Priory has changed a lot but there are some things which are still the same such as the same reception.
 
“I remember one of my jobs as Head Girl was to follow our then Headteacher Mr Summers, in his back gown, onto the stage for assemblies. We had to stand there while he spoke. 

“I also remember organising the collection for the Poppy Appeal and, as prefects, we also had to stop pupils coming through the main entrance at break and lunch time but we were allowed to! 

“I went onto Liverpool University to study Geography, inspired by our then Geography teacher Ernest Reynolds, his blackboard skills were incredible. 

“I remember, pupils who wanted to go to university went to Penwortham Girls or Hutton Grammar School. I had done my O’Levels, as they were then, and I went to Penwortham Girls to talk about wanting to do three A-Levels as I wanted to go to university. I wanted to do History, Geography and Literature. As I had come ...Continued from front page. 

from Priory, they didn’t think I was capable of doing three but I stood my ground and did all three!” 

John said: “As Sports Captain, I had to organise all the team events and internal competitions. I was inspired by Mr Reynolds as I went on to be a Geography teacher at St Albans, now Albany High, and Stanley High School in Southport. 

“I remember a trip to Hothersall Lodge at Priory and also not taking time over my homework and Mr Reynolds saying: “That was not worth wetting your pen for.”  I wasn't the most studious!

“Priory has changed beyond recognition but in a good way. My children came here and they have gone into the police and teaching.” 

Janet added: “It’s superb that children in South Ribble have the chance to come to such a vibrant school.” 

Both had a tour around the school with our current Head Prefects Martha, Alex, Lewis and Cameron and laughed about the how punishments had changed. 

John said: “We used to get the slipper if we had done something wrong and the girls were rapped on their knuckles with a ruler or had to write lines.” 

Janet had presented the school with her yellow summer dress, lovingly made by her mum. 

“You could buy them but we didn’t have a lot of money so my mum made it from a pattern and there was also a straw boater to go with it.” 

Following on from the visit, Janet wrote, 

"Thank you for inviting John and I to come to Priory to meet the new head prefects. I was very impressed with Martha, Lewis, Alex and Cameron they showed a genuine interest in our experiences and engaged with us one hundred per cent. Their enthusiasm for the school was very apparent hence needing more time to show us all areas that they were so proud of. Without being patronising they showed maturity and respect .

"I was a little apprehensive ahead of the visit as to how they were find two individuals from a different era approaching their seventieth birthdays, my apprehension was unfounded!"

We would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the Head Boy of Class of 1970, Trevor Rainford, who sadly passed away earlier this year.