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| Ancestor Gateway Forum - STAMFORD MEMORIES GATEWAY (Lincolnshire England) used as PRIDE and PREJUDICE FILM SET | New Topic | Search |
| Peter Bowman |
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I have just come across this super forum and am now making my first posting. Does anyone recall Northfields School? I lived in Stamford between 1952 and 1959, from the age of 4 to 11. I remember Stamford as an idyllic place to grow up in. My father was manager of Boots in the High Street, and we moved on to Kings Lynn at the end of the 50s. I would have gone to Northfields between 1952 and 1956, when I took the entrance exam for Stamford School and passed. Northfields was popularly known as 'Miss Green's' after the Headmistress (and presumably, proprietor). Her second in command, and, perhaps 'companion', was Miss Smith. The school, of which I have very happy memories, was in New Cross Road.From studying Google street view, I think it was about No16. There were only about 40 pupils and I guess it was private. The uniform was grey and the badge was a large inverted triangle. I have never found any online reference to the school - for instance it is not registered on Friends Re-united. Did anyone attend, or better still, remember me? Anyone know when the school opened and how long it continued into the 1960s and beyond? Kate: Thanks very much for that Peter and welcome to the Forum. Yes, I remember "Miss Green's", though I must confess until your reference to it I had clean forgotten it! I can visualise those pupils (looking so smart) up in the New Cross Road area - you must have been one of them. I am sure others on here will remember Northfields School. Do you have any school photos Peter? I would be very happy to publish them on the site and forum members would enjoy looking at those faces. Also some might remember the Boots connection. I think Boots was a much smaller shop then, being one of the premises nearer to the Square(? Savers Health and Beauty) and was like 2 rooms? Anyone else a pupil at Northfields? |
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| Dave Leishman |
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Hello Peter, It's the Boots connection that caught my eye. As Kate said it was just up the High st a bit from Red Lion Sq, on the right hand side. That is where I used to get my photos processed. A neighbour of mine in the village of Ryhall used to work there at that time his name was Mr Slaymaker and I always thought that he was a manager of some sort, he used to deal with the photo processing ( we are talking of the period late 50's early 60's) I wonder if you were aquainted with him? Boots was located exactly opposite to the Stamford billiard hall and it being on the upper level looked straight in to the Boots staff room, so a lot of flirting took place between the smartly dressed Boots young ladies and the lads in the billiard hall. Happy days. Regards. David. |
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| Christine Pattinson |
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Hi Peter I worked in Boot's the chemists when I left school in 1955 until 1959. Your father was manager at this time, moving to another branch a few months before I left. Thought you might like to see the photo taken at a Christmas celebration.Mr Rolfe Joyce Suttcliffe Diane Fawkes Sidney Bowman.  |
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| Peter Bowman |
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Two great responses from Christine and David! In the 1950s, Boots was nearer to Red Lion Square than I understand it is now. We lived in a wonderful rambling flat over the shop, so the family and the branch shared the same postal address, 70 High Street.From memory, between us and St John's church was a wonderful traditional tobacconist, which I read from other posts was Hunting & Orlands, and then a ladies outfitters run by a family called Nathan, and then Currys. Dolby's was on the other side. David, I do remember Peter Slaymaker very well. He did run the photographic counter, which was just inside the door. Other personnel I remember were Ernie Rolfe, who ran Farms and Gardens, and, Christine, he features in your wonderful photograph - also Taffy Doughty, the porter. He was a hero to me, having played in his youth for the Daniels. I would go with him to see Stamford Town on Saturday afternoons, and a lifelong love of football resulted. Miss Shipman managed 'surgical', Miss Stubbs ran cosmetics and Miss Toon was a dispenser. All these people were very kind to me, and living over the shop was rather exciting. Christine....I am very moved to see a picture of my Dad, Sidney Bowman at a Christmas party, although that picture he also kept in an album for years. He managed Boots Kings Lynn 1959-1967 and then Boots Bath 1967-1977. He died in 2005. That picture seems to sum up the fun he had with his great staff members, in Stamford and elsewhere. |
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| christine pattinson |
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Great memories about the people I worked with in Boots the chemist Branch 110.I remember your Dad, he was always so smart with his laundered collars, Persil white and starched so stiff. I had forgotten about Phyllis Shipman,she lived in Ryhall and cycled in and home again each evening on her very old bike, with her belongings tied to the back. This journey she did in all weathers, often on dark unlit roads.In winter she wore a sheepskin flying hat and a long sheepskin leather coat. Taffy Doughty another name from the past.One of my jobs was to check off all the incoming goods which was done in the freezing cold sheds at the back of the shop.Then all the goods were carried through the shop and up the narrow wooden stairs to the stock room.Taffy was the shop porter, and if we asked him nicely he would do some of the lifting, but the female counter staff also carried great heavy boxes.No health and safety in those days. Flo Toon and Iris Richards both worked in the Dipensary.Diane Fawkes worked in the office in charge of banking,book keeping and wages.Dorothy Green was our boss on the chemist's counter and Grace Stubbs was in charge of the cosmetic area. Scott's Emulsion.Syrup of Figs. Cod Liver Oil and Malt. Owbridges Linctus. Doc.Williams Pink Pills for Pale People.Collis Browns Chlorodene.(which contained morphine and was very addictive)Doans Back and Kidney Pills.(when we were given free samples of these tablets for customers to try, the boys from Stamford School found when taken turned urine blue, they had lots of fun with their friends.) Just some of the past medicines we used to sell. Kate: Two great posts about Boots. Anyone else remember these characters? |
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| Pete Leatherbarrow |
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I was at Northfields too, but a bit later than you Peter, I left when sent to prep school when I was 8 yrs old in 1961. Were you there with Peter Froment, his sister Jennifer was in my class. |
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| Peter Bowman |
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Hi Pete, At last a Northfields pupil! I don't remember the person you mention. Can you or anybody tell me what happened to 'Miss Green's'? Did it carry on as a school with a different name later in the 1960s? How long did the marvellous Miss Green and Miss Smith carry on? Pupils I do remember (and they would be in their 60s now) include my good friends Christopher Jarvis and Peter Liddle. Chris became a GP and was medical officer to the British cycling team. Peter became a rock musician. I know Chris has posted on this site before about the Stamford 60s music scene. Other names I recall are Bobby Storey, Philip Sindell, Pat Cook, Margaret Newton, Jenny Baines, Terry Kemp. Also I remember the Wrangham twins, Catharine and Richard. I see that Richard became one of the leading authorities on apes and gorillas, and taught at Harvard. |
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| Richard Rollings |
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I used to live next door to Miss Green and Miss Smith on New Cross Road from about 1974 to 1978 I think. They were still there when we left. Kate: Hi Richard, good to have your input to the Forum. |
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| Christopher Bird |
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My Great Aunt Betty lived at Queens Street just around the corner from Ms S & Ms G and they were good friends - I had much tea and cake with them all as a boy during the '70's in New Cros Road. I remember an Afghan hound and dachshunds, one of whom was called Tara? Sadly my dear Great Aunt died at the same my family fell apart and my ties with Stamford are not strong any more - still love the place and the memories of these wonderful ladies from my childhood - did anyone know/remember Betty Hendy? Or a Mrs Yarnell? Best wishes. |
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| Gillian Hendy |
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I remember Northfields School very well indeed. My Aunty Betty used to be good friends with Miss Smith and Miss Green and would help out at the school. During the school holidays when I was probably about 10/11 I would have extra lessons with Miss Smith - French and Maths from what I can remember. The school was in their house and I can remember a large room at the back of the house that had a wooden rocking horse in it that I used to love to play on. The Afghan dog they had was called Sultana (Tana for short) - they had other dogs too, but smaller ones from what I can recall. Miss Smith and Miss Green also ran the local Girl Guides too. I moved away from Stamford in the mid 70s but I know that I often used to see Miss Smith in the 80s and early 90s I'm sure when I would be walking up Recreation Ground Road. Incidentally, Mr Bird who posted above is my Nephew. |
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| judy |
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i used to go to miss greens school before new cross rd miss green lived with her parents in conduit rd opposite where i lived she had her school in the guide hut which was sectioned of so the evacuees could have their school there in part of it this was about 1941-1943 |
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| Gillian Hendy |
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Oh that is very interesting to hear. Both Miss Smith and Miss Green ran the local Girl Guides and Brownies too (I think). |
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| Peter Leatherbarrow |
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If Kate or someone, wants to email me I have a B & W photo of Miss Smith's class in Summer 1961 I can send as an attachment you can post here. It was taken in the rear garden with the changing room behind us. Miss G & S were very friendly with another spinster who lived in St Georges Square, Miss Doreen Blackstone who was related to the Blackstone family that owned , er, Blackstones! Also another younger spinster knew them all, Miss Pat Newton who was Head Dental Receptionist for my dad, Mr Leatherbarrow, the Dental Surgeon. Kate: Hi Peter. Thanks for your postings. If you send the photo to me kate@stamfordtown.com I will see if I can add to this and Flickr. Please send as PDF if poss. Thanks again K 
Back row (L to R): Hugh Perkins, Peter Leatherbarrow, Nick Rowe, Caroline Warren, Stephen Parrish, Front row (L to R): John Cross, Alison Nunn, Anthea Kettle, Christine ?, Rafe (?) Harley, Robert Moody, Ashley Miles. |
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| Judy Boxall née Sweetnam |
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Hi, I was a pupil at Northfields School from about 1964- 1966/67. Having very recently been reunited with my best friend , Sara Froment, who I had at the time & hearing that this forum existed, I was really pleased that I managed to find it. I have memories of Mrs Hayward, Miss Smith & Miss Green & I think Miss Mc Kenzie, who taught maths. My brother David attended the school too; he rushed to protect me when I was forced to eat cabbage that I didn't like & On another occasion when crying after being smacked on my hand with the ruler, Miss Smith said I should be as brave as my brother was when he got the cane! I also remember drying up after meals around a large table, this was where I first learnt to hold a tea towel properly in order to do so. Perhaps seniors ate around this table as I remember eating downstairs when younger. I remember break times in the playground & a steel climbing frame on the grass. Sometimes we went over the road to play in the park. A lovely older girl called Diana Walker looked after us. It's interesting Peter that you moved to Kings Lynn, I trained as a nurse there & have been living in Clenchwarton for nearly 30 years! |
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| Judy Boxall (née Sweetnam) |
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Hi Pete, I was at Northfields from about 1965-1967/68. I was interested in your comment about Peter & Jennifer Froment because I have just been reunited with their sister Sara, who was my best friend when I was at Northfiields! My husband & I were in Stamford to see my late mother's solicitor ( we live in Norfolk) & decided to walk to Easton on the hill. I then began wondering if the Froment family still lived there as I had completely lost touch with Sara. To my surprise & delight I found out that Peter still lived in the family home & although Sara lives in Gloucestershire now, she was visiting that very day! How amazing is that, it was a real blast from the past! |
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| Jill |
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Caroline warren went on to norland college to become a norland nurse in the 70's, studied there in the set below me. |
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| Peter Leatherbarrow |
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Alas I understand from her younger sister Kitty, Caroline Warren was killed in a car accident along with her father some years ago. |
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| Patricia Blacklock was Cook |
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Gosh, where have all those years gone! It's just by absolute chance that I came across he reference to Northfields School. I was wondering what had happened to it and did a Google search. Hence my reply. My single name was Pat Cook and I attended Northfields approximately between 1954 and 1958. I remember Peter Froment, Peter Leatherbarrow whose dad was my dentist. Also the Baines girls, Judy and can't remember the name of her older sister. Also Catherine and Richard? Wakeling who were twins. Philip whose mum was the cook. Suzanne and I think her brother Bruce who lived at Uffington and came from a farming family. Another girl was Rosemary? she was quite tall and slim and had fair hair. My time at Northfields wasn't an entirely happy one, mainly due to the fact that I couldn't eat macaroni cheese and Miss Green was quite forceful in her attempts to get me to eat it.What wasn't known at that time was that I wasn't able to digest it, and I was reacting to this. Heyho, time moves on. It's lovely seeing those familiar names again. I would love to know what happened to the Baines girls, Judy was my best friend and I even got my mum to name my younger sister after her! I have lots of names and faces in my head but I'm having a job sorting them out at the moment! Also I have several photos, one of a trip to London, a couple of us doing a play in the garden for parents. Unfortunately I haven't got a scanner so can't forward them on. It's lovely recalling the people I knew at Northfields, I hope the years have treated them well |
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| Jill Matthews |
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Sad to hear about Caroline rip. |
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| Peter Leatherbarrow |
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I remember I was part of the school trip when we went to the Royal Albert Hall in London to present some money to the then Princess Margaret (the Queen's sister), though what the charity was I forget. Also some of you may remember Anne Perkins who I think was at Northfields, an older sister of Hugh Perkins. She is now a reporter on the Guardian, writing under her maiden name. |
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| Pat Blacklock nee COOK |
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Just been reading the posts again, I think Phillip Sindill's mum was the cook, the thought of the macaroni cheese, hated it! Margaret Newton was a pal of mine, I think, I may be getting 2 Margaret's mixed up. My friend was a daughter from a farming family from Tinwell. |
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| Donald Clegg |
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Great to read about people and places I'd totally forgotten about! I was at Northfield's from about May 1950 for about a year I while I prepared for Stamford School along with others some of who's names look very familiar when mentioned here. My memories of the school and Misses Green and Smith are very hazy now but I know I must have had a problem fitting in after a very rural village school in Devon. Do remember thinking it was very strange we were supposed to have an afternoon nap on a mat in the garden! |
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| sandra brown |
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I remember Alison Nunn we grew up together at Witham on the hill. My maiden name was Lock.. |
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| sandra brown |
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I remember Alison Nunn we grew up together at Witham on the hill. My maiden name was Lock.. |
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| sandra brown |
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I remember Alison Nunn we grew up together at Witham on the hill. My maiden name was Lock.. |
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| Peter Bowman |
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Hi Pat. I haven't visited this forum for some while and had rather forgotten this thread which I started in 2010. I certainly remember you from Miss Greens/Northfields. I mentioned your name in a posting on 7/12/10. I think the Baines sisters were Jenny & Judy. The brother & sister we both remember were Katherine & Richard Wrangham and they lived in Wakerly. Also I recall Margaret Newton - lived in Tinwell, I think. My family had wonderful pictures, but they were mislaid when my father died. I'm always up for hearing memories of what I recall as a pretty happy childhood. My family (with me) left Stamford in 1959, but I love to get back as often as I can. |
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| Roger Partridge |
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I remember Alison Nunn living in Ermine Way during the late 1950s/early 1960s, we went to the same Sunday School, her father was called Lance. Co-incidentally the house she lived in is currently up for sale. |
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| chris jarvis |
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Hi Peter Have some photographs of Northfields School circa 1952-55 era I recognise a few faces - suspect others will add more names How do I upload photos to the site ? Best wishes - Chris Jarvis |
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| Chris Jarvis |
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Sent earlier email which appears to have gone gone awol. I have 3 photographs from school circa 1952-55. How do I upload them ? email to kate@stamfordtown.net |
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