Melvyn & Sharron Pearson |Tandragee|Co Armagh BT62
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As time progressed and I became one of the bigger boys I came to enjoy my school
days at Mullavilly Number 1 Public Elementary School. I only had two teachers Miss
McClelland and then Mr. Brian Toms; A Welsh man who I believe taught me many life
lessons that are not given to children today. I would say that his teaching ability
had given me a sound academic knowledge for what was to come and more than that,
education about simple things now not imparted on gardening, general knowledge, nature,
sport, theatre and so on. I believe I left this school with knowledge and an understanding
not found in today’s Primary School leavers, but then that is only my humble opinion
and would be an argumentative point with today’s generation, but time will tell.
Mr.
Toms the headmaster was as is the Welsh way a songster and twice a week the class
had to take part in the radio broadcast Singing Together, as did most Primary schools
of the era. All and sundry was issued with a Song Book and we all joined in with
the radio. Songs that spring to mind are Twankidillo, Men of Harlech, which we had
to sing with great vigour, Ten Green Bottles and I am sure many, many more ballads
that were shouted rather than sung by the pride of Mullavilly. I can still recall
the radio or wireless, as we knew it by, which as far as I recall could receive no
other radio signal only school broadcasts. It was a large wooden square affair with
a central speaker. Yesteryears answer to tele-conferencing methinks.
Schoolmates I remember from those early days and through the following seven or so
years include, Kenny Greer from Laurel Park, who became a great friend and confidant
throughout the coming years. Albert Purdy, a portly lad who today has lost known
of his girth that has increased in a ratio in proportion to his age. Robert Firth
from Quality Hill, not sure where he went. Maybe he joined the forces. Mervyn Hamill,
from Ballylisk Lane, son of Billy and Ina Hamill, farmers, and still doing the agricultural
bit from the same farm we spent so much of our Sunday night youth driving tractors,
cars, operating machinery, eating mushrooms and raiding the fridge. Mervyn lived
in a new bungalow at that time which seemed massive in comparison with my abode at
Essex Ridge. Robert McMahon also tagged along know as the ‘’old man’’ for reasons
I forget although I guess it was his posture and mature thinking. Robert joined the
Royal Signals and was always going to the military from the age of about six if I
can remember right. Other schoolmates were Cyril Beattie a neighbour from Essex Ridge
and a demon centre forward and fast bowler in his Primary and Secondary school days.
John Milligan from Milligan’s Shop and his twin sister Ena. John did not get out
much as after school activity was limited due to extra curricular shop work. Gary
Upton from the Quality. Paul Irwin from Rose Park, Mullavilly. Both Gary and Paul
would be teammates throughout schooldays and in later years for Laurelvale Cricket
Club. Other children of my age ish at that time, lets think.
School activities at
Mullavilly were many and varied, for beside the three R’s we went on the much looked
forward Nature Walks down the Black Pad which ran along a school boundary and out
towards the Maddens house at Ballyworkan. Gardening also played a big part of early
school life. Between six or so pupils from the older classes, we shared a plot where
we grew radishes, lettuces, carrots and weeded and kept the grass paths clear, by
pulling it by hand I may add, no luxury of clippers or lawn mowers. The school had
a cricket team and we spent many hours at Laurelvale Cricket pitch practicing with
the outdated school equipment which had been there from the days of Gilbert Donaldson,
Uncle Ivon, Tom Irwin and other past pupils who were at that time starring for Laurelvale
first eleven. After school football was also a big and much looked forward to event
during the relevant season. I spent many enjoyable afternoons on that small tarmac
rectangle that was the school pitch. Of course during the matches all girls, smaller
scholars and those not gifted with a sporting ability had to play elsewhere and were
excluded and expelled if necessary from the our Old Trafford. Goalposts were simply
constructed from coats at one end and the width of the steps at the other. I am sure
the same activities take place today or maybe not, maybe games have progressed and
all and sundry stand about with Advanced Game Boys, Natasha my granddaughter should
be able to answer that, if she thumbs this manuscript at a later time.
Although Primary
school memories are few and erased from my memory or dropped off the end of my brain
to store more ‘’functional’’ data, times as I recall were good, non traumatic and
a hive of activities. Quizzes were a much-loved classroom endeavour hosted by Mr.
Brian Toms.
MORE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES & SCHOOL DAYS
SOME NOSTALGIC PHOTOS OF ME
