View Full Version : Old school headmasters & their nicknames
during my time at colley from 80 to 85 our head was mr jagger the sheepsha@@er , it didnt help him that we had a farm on the school site with several sheep! we also had a deputy by the name of miss bennett also known as battleship Come on folks you can sound off now without getting the cane!
Plain Talker 13-02-2009, 22:42 oh dear!
The headmistress at Abbeydale Grange Lower School was Miss Williams in the 70's, her nickname was "Frog". Her Deputy was Mr Longley, known as "Daddy Longlegs"
Headmaster of the City Grammar School in the 1950s was Mr Northeast, Nicknamed "Windy".
At All Saints the headmaster rarely had a cigarette out of his mouth and being over 6 feet tall the kids nicknamed him 'The Towering Inferno'.
I thought this was one of the best nicknames I've come across.
PopT
Antijammer 15-02-2009, 12:04 Headmaster of Carfield Intermediate School in the 1940's ,"Old man Yak" (Mr.Kay).
Not very original, but there you are ! He was certainly one of the fairest men I've ever
met,a real gentle man and there were some tough kids at that school.
Mr Barron at Prince Edwards, AKA Barron Greenback, after the toad in the Dangermouse cartoons.
tasha_78 15-02-2009, 16:06 Mr Vernon Cross at Prince Edwards was known as "Very Cross"
Dr Florence Mary Green at Abbeydale Girls Grammar was just known as "Flo"
shanes teeth 15-02-2009, 18:21 Mr Biggins at Silverdale was just known as George and the deputy head,Charlie Shooter, was Known as Pop.
hennypenny 15-02-2009, 18:25 Mr Hook head of Wisewood school in the 1970's was known as The Frog simply because he looked like one.
hillsbro 15-02-2009, 19:25 Nathaniel Langford Clapton (1903-1967), headmaster of King Ted's from 1950 to 1965 was known, appropriately, as "Fat Nat" (among other things....)
kerleytops 16-02-2009, 17:58 William ( or was it Walter? ) Humpstone, head of Chaucer School, aka Batman because he wore an academic gown...
oh dear!
The headmistress at Abbeydale Grange Lower School was Miss Williams in the 70's, her nickname was "Frog". Her Deputy was Mr Longley, known as "Daddy Longlegs"
:hihi: & Cooper Man at the upper school.
geoffusa 17-02-2009, 00:49 Mr Hook head of Wisewood school in the 1970's was known as The Frog simply because he looked like one.
A little off the theme, Hennypenny, but did you know a teacher called Frank Brooham at Wisewood?
hennypenny 17-02-2009, 11:27 A little off the theme, Hennypenny, but did you know a teacher called Frank Brooham at Wisewood?
I don't think so. There was a teacher called Mr Brewer, unless I am remembering incorrectly and they are one and the same. The teacher I am thinking of had a son called Simon, and did the library duty. I was a librarian so spent a lot of time in there.
What subject did Frank Brooham teach and when was he there?
hillsbro 17-02-2009, 14:40 A teacher called Frank Brooham taught at Malin Bridge Junior in the 1950s and early 1960s. He left Malin Bridge in c. 1964 and might perhaps have gone on to Wisewood, though I understood that he was going to teach handicapped children. He lived near my aunt on Goodison Crescent (Stannington) and died aged 90 in 2005.
Hartley Brook Sec Mod late 50's/early 60's - 'Pop' Allen.
LoopyLou 18-02-2009, 08:09 mr goddard at thornbridge/birley school - was called 'little ern' - he was the spitting image of ernie wise !
In the 1960's Carfield Secondary School had a maths teacher named Mr.Cartwright who was quite a large chap and, as Bonanza was on the TV at that time, he was nick-named "Hoss" as in Hoss Cartwright in the programme.
There was also a geography teacher who was nick-named "Dobbin" because he looked like a horse!
The headmaster Mr.Edlington was nick-named "Pop" as I believe most heads were though I've no idea why.
geoffusa 18-02-2009, 14:40 A teacher called Frank Brooham taught at Malin Bridge Junior in the 1950s and early 1960s. He left Malin Bridge in c. 1964 and might perhaps have gone on to Wisewood, though I understood that he was going to teach handicapped children. He lived near my aunt on Goodison Crescent (Stannington) and died aged 90 in 2005.
Thanks Hillsboro, that's him. His wife my auty Iris died last year. They were a lovely couple. I still speak to their daughter Julia occassionally. I lived on Hollins Lane, not far from Goodison Cres as a boy with mum and dad Kath and Steve Worth. Did you know them also?
Geoff
hillsbro 18-02-2009, 16:17 Hi Geoff - glad to know that we are referring to the same Frank Brooham. I was never taught by him (I had Mrs Potter in J1/J2 and Lewis Hawley in J3/J4) but everyone spoke very highly of him. I don't recall your parents but (having been born on Low Road) I knew a number of people in the area apart from old school friends. Here is a Malin Bridge Junior staff photo of c. 1955 http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/MalinBridgeTeachersc1955.jpg On the front row, left to right, are Mrs Dean, Miss Winkworth, Lewis Hawley, Frank Courage (headteacher), Mrs Thorpe, Frank Brooham and Mrs Potter. Back row: Mr Martin, (?), Stella Preece, (?), Mr Binney.
geoffusa 18-02-2009, 17:40 Thank you very much for the photo. I am going to try and send it to his daughter. Living on Low Road, you will remember The Howcrofts at the Off License on the corner and maybe the Loosemoors at the Off License further down Stannington Road. Arnold and Audrey Loosemoor were also my relations and my mum used to help them in the shop on occasions
Regards
Geoff
geoffusa 20-02-2009, 13:47 Hi Geoff - glad to know that we are referring to the same Frank Brooham. I was never taught by him (I had Mrs Potter in J1/J2 and Lewis Hawley in J3/J4) but everyone spoke very highly of him. I don't recall your parents but (having been born on Low Road) I knew a number of people in the area apart from old school friends. Here is a Malin Bridge Junior staff photo of c. 1955 http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/MalinBridgeTeachersc1955.jpg On the front row, left to right, are Mrs Dean, Miss Winkworth, Lewis Hawley, Frank Courage (headteacher), Mrs Thorpe, Frank Brooham and Mrs Potter. Back row: Mr Martin, (?), Stella Preece, (?), Mr Binney.
Hi Hillsbro
I passed your info to Frank's daughter. She is delighted and didn't know about the Forum -- She does now.
Geoff
Blackburnrod 20-02-2009, 14:57 Anyone remember Alan Goodfellow,head of Wisewood from late 50s to 67 and if so did he have a nickname?
George Mack, headmaster at High Storrs Grammar school for Boys. '50s to early '60s. He commanded respect. When he entered a room everyone had to stand.
hillsbro 20-02-2009, 18:23 Hi Hillsbro
I passed your info to Frank's daughter. She is delighted and didn't know about the Forum -- She does now.
Geoff
Glad to hear that Frank’s daughter is so pleased. I’ve been trying to remember if the headteacher of Malin Bridge Junior, Frank Courage, had a nickname - I seem to recall that he was known as "Pop" but really, nicknames for teachers were more common in secondary schools. The surnames Courage and Brooham are both quite rare; Courage is a Dorset/Hampshire name - Frank Courage was born in Weymouth in 1903.
Mr Sharrock - headmaster at King Edwards - commonly known as "Batman" because he always wore mortar board and black gown....!! :) :)
Mr Edwards the headmaster of Owler Lane intermediate and later Hinde House comprehensive was known as Jim by those of us who knew and didn't love him.The nickname came from the comedian Jimmy Edwards but it didn't seem to stick beyond the sixties.His later pupils had more interesting names for him.Read the thread 'Mr Edwards,headmaster of Hinde House.
smartmart 21-02-2009, 11:39 Hartley Brook Sec Mod late 50's/early 60's - 'Pop' Allen.
REMEMBER him well got the cane once for hanging toilet paper on the flag pole me and David Nash:)
smartmart 21-02-2009, 11:45 hi mickr> my form teachers were Inman both Hutchinsons Gallagher and Webster ring any bells oh i was in wentworth
Tangerine 21-02-2009, 22:39 I went to Hatfield House round about the same time as you guys but my late husband went to Hartley Brook and used to tell me about Pop Allen and others. My husband used to be good at athletics I think - his name was Barrie Wilson, anyone remember him? When we were kids we went to Huntsmans Gardens and lived on Titterton Street.
Plain Talker 22-02-2009, 08:50 I went to Hatfield House round about the same time as you guys but my late husband went to Hartley Brook and used to tell me about Pop Allen and others. My husband used to be good at athletics I think - his name was Barrie Wilson, anyone remember him? When we were kids we went to Huntsmans Gardens and lived on Titterton Street.
I wonder where "Pop" comes from, in relation to the surname "Allen"? (is it like "Dusty" Millers and "Chalky" Whites?)
The headmaster at Sharrow Lane School when I was there in the early 1970s was a Mr Allen, (A lovely chap) and he was known to all and sundry as "Pop" Allen.
REMEMBER him well got the cane once for hanging toilet paper on the flag pole me and David Nash:)i were a bad lad at skool, never got the cain although i was threatened with it several times in the juniors then they banned it just as i entered the senior skool in 81:hihi:
One headmaster who was considered useless at his job by the staff was nicknamed,
Castleton-Beyond Hope.
I cannot name him as he is still stealing money for impersonating a headmaster.
mickdalewood 22-02-2009, 11:53 oh dear!
The headmistress at Abbeydale Grange Lower School was Miss Williams in the 70's, her nickname was "Frog". Her Deputy was Mr Longley, known as "Daddy Longlegs"
I remember Miss Williams but not Mr Longley i think when i was there the deputy was either Mr Dunn or Mr Jepsen i was there 1970-75 though and Mr Cooper of the Upper School was known by his name Vince
smartmart 24-02-2009, 22:49 I went to Hatfield House round about the same time as you guys but my late husband went to Hartley Brook and used to tell me about Pop Allen and others. My husband used to be good at athletics I think - his name was Barrie Wilson, anyone remember him? When we were kids we went to Huntsmans Gardens and lived on Titterton Street.
Hi Tangerine no sorry can't think of a Barrie Wilson it was 40 years ago though may be you know my aunt Valerie Chesterton she went to Hatfield House as did my sister Susan Rodgers.
during my time at colley from 80 to 85 our head was mr jagger the sheepsha@@er , it didnt help him that we had a farm on the school site with several sheep! we also had a deputy by the name of miss bennett also known as battleship Come on folks you can sound off now without getting the cane!
was mrs baker still doing cookery when you where there ?
was mrs baker still doing cookery when you where there ?mrs baker was my form teacher 4 several years! when i could be bothered to attend that was lol mrs upton was in the class below us, she were pretty fit for a chef lol
Plain Talker 25-02-2009, 09:38 I remember Miss Williams but not Mr Longley i think when i was there the deputy was either Mr Dunn or Mr Jepsen i was there 1970-75 though and Mr Cooper of the Upper School was known by his name Vince
II remember him, but can't remember whether Mr Jepson was head of all AGS or just Upper School.
Miss Williams was a maths mistress, and Mr Longley was the History master.
Mr Barron at Prince Edwards, AKA Barron Greenback, after the toad in the Dangermouse cartoons.
I was going to put this too.. :D
Not a head teacher, but my form teacher, Mr Jenkins, was nicknamed Dobber Jenkins..
No idea who gave him that nickname and why.. :D
Warwick122 18-05-2010, 21:07 Frank Brooham was the son of my grandmother's cousin. Emily Bacon, i.e. his grandmother, Sarah Jane Clark, was the sister of my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Clark. My late uncle Walter Warwick (Emily's son) remembered visiting the family in the 1930s and we might have the odd photo, but they are not labelled so I don't know.
sycamore66j 18-05-2010, 22:01 when i was at ecclesfield comp our metalwork teacher mr hudson had a goatee type beard so he got the nickname chinny hudson. and our games teacher mr moss was about 4ft 6in tall so he got named mighty moss. ( horrible little man )
geoffusa 19-05-2010, 02:25 Frank Brooham was the son of my grandmother's cousin. Emily Bacon, i.e. his grandmother, Sarah Jane Clark, was the sister of my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Clark. My late uncle Walter Warwick (Emily's son) remembered visiting the family in the 1930s and we might have the odd photo, but they are not labelled so I don't know.
Thanks for this. I have forwarded it on to Julia, Franks Daughter.
Warwick122 20-05-2010, 18:19 Thanks Geoff - I haven't yet made enough posts to reply to you directly. The lady's name was Edith Morton.
I will have to make another one or two and then I'll get back to you!
when i was at ecclesfield comp our metalwork teacher mr hudson had a goatee type beard so he got the nickname chinny hudson. and our games teacher mr moss was about 4ft 6in tall so he got named mighty moss. ( horrible little man )
There was also "Muff" Potter, "Wingnut" Beeley, "Oggy" Jennett and "Oggy" Jennings as well as "Big Dan" Williams. Mighty Moss once took two penalties at me, apparently I moved for the first one which I saved by sticking my leg out, I let the next one in, it was just like the scene out of Kes.
shedevil 21-05-2010, 13:27 Bullie Bullivant Earl marshall lololololol
A teacher called Frank Brooham taught at Malin Bridge Junior in the 1950s and early 1960s. He left Malin Bridge in c. 1964 and might perhaps have gone on to Wisewood, though I understood that he was going to teach handicapped children. He lived near my aunt on Goodison Crescent (Stannington) and died aged 90 in 2005.
Remember Frank Brooham, was in his class at Malin Bridge late 40s
He used to accompany us on the walk to Hillsborough baths,
Except he didn't walk very often.
He rode his motorbike and sidecar keeping pace with us down Oakland Rd.
Don't think that would happen these days.
A. Woodward 22-05-2010, 22:37 I remember Miss Williams but not Mr Longley i think when i was there the deputy was either Mr Dunn or Mr Jepsen i was there 1970-75 though and Mr Cooper of the Upper School was known by his name Vince
Correct, it was mr jepson also recall a a granville massey who was head at lower school too (He llooked like giraffe) vince head at upper
geoffusa 23-05-2010, 17:07 Remember Frank Brooham, was in his class at Malin Bridge late 40s
He used to accompany us on the walk to Hillsborough baths,
Except he didn't walk very often.
He rode his motorbike and sidecar keeping pace with us down Oakland Rd.
Don't think that would happen these days.
Hillsboro is perfectly correct. Uncle Frank did go on to teach at the School for the Blind and was very respected there.
I remember when we went on our frequent fishing holidays to Welney in Cambridgeshire his wit was tremendous. Although not a big man, he possessed a booming voice which certainly got the swans away from his fishing hole. We used to meet up with other teachers - Peter Lee who taught at Ashleigh and I believe and is the subject of another thread and his teacher pals. What I would give for those times again!!
Dr Green was head at Abbeydale Girls School in the 60's. Just looked like grandma in Beverley Hillbillies and wore the same tweed suit every day. I always remember her looking at me over her glasses and asking 'Have you got make-up on?????' Shock horror !!!!
[QUOTE=geoffusa;4693593]Thanks Hillsboro, that's him. His wife my auty Iris died last year. They were a lovely couple. I still speak to their daughter Julia occassionally. I lived on Hollins Lane, not far from Goodison Cres as a boy with mum and dad Kath and Steve Worth. Did you know them also?
Geoff
Frank Brooham was my grandad and Iris my grandma. I am the daughter of their son Stephen Brooham. It is so nice to hear that people thought highly of them. They were a lovely and unassuming couple. If there were more people like them the world would be a much better place!!!!
Apart from my dad, mum and brother and myself (i am getting married in April and will lose the Brooham name) i can't seem to find any more Brooham's. My auntie Julie has been trying to find our family tree but failing. You seem to know a lot about the BROOHAM's do you know if there are any left apart from us left?! Many thanks Donna.
Mr Massey..never really knew him but never really forgot him.
geoffusa 18-12-2011, 15:20 [QUOTE=geoffusa;4693593]Thanks Hillsboro, that's him. His wife my auty Iris died last year. They were a lovely couple. I still speak to their daughter Julia occassionally. I lived on Hollins Lane, not far from Goodison Cres as a boy with mum and dad Kath and Steve Worth. Did you know them also?
Geoff
Frank Brooham was my grandad and Iris my grandma. I am the daughter of their son Stephen Brooham. It is so nice to hear that people thought highly of them. They were a lovely and unassuming couple. If there were more people like them the world would be a much better place!!!!
Apart from my dad, mum and brother and myself (i am getting married in April and will lose the Brooham name) i can't seem to find any more Brooham's. My auntie Julie has been trying to find our family tree but failing. You seem to know a lot about the BROOHAM's do you know if there are any left apart from us left?! Many thanks Donna.
Hi Donna
Sorry if this is a little late in reply.I don't know any more about your grandad and granma and the only contact I have now is with your auntie Julia.
I do wish you every happiness in the future and please give my best regards to your Dad.
Geoff
Anyone remember Head Master b**mmer Bernard Cross Westfield comp in the 80's?
okismoki 18-12-2011, 16:54 William ( or was it Walter? ) Humpstone, head of Chaucer School, aka Batman because he wore an academic gown...
Thats what we called Metcalfe(same school,73-76) for the same reason,his deputy,Mr Dower,was nicknamed Napoleon ,because he looked like old Boney.
Bullie Bullivant Earl marshall lololololol
ALL THEM LETTERS AFTER HIS NAME ??? MA CANTAB ECT. MAN FRANCIS MAN DOWSON AND MRS DRIVER :thumbsup:
Shirecliffe Junior 1950's Mrs Halifax... Mrs Battleaxe
Undeserved, a lovely lady.
911wasalie 19-12-2011, 17:40 The Head at Meersbrook Bank on Derbyshire lane was named Pool.
Oh! Mr Pool
He was a fool
he goes to church on Sunday
he prays to god to give him strength
to cane the lads on Monday.
1938 - 1945
Hi Romust - are we talking Abbeydale Grammmar with Mr. Massey? He was known as 'Kas' in 1960 -1965. After Quasimodo. The hunchback of Notredamus. During that time he was the head of all the School. I see in another reply there is talk of 'Vince'. Cooper. He was just a viciouse PE teacher in my day. Buz was the deputy head - Kept bees. Rowdy Yates - after the cowboy. Caveman Thomas who was reputed to have been a wrestler by that name. I was later to become the manager of MFI in Wadsley Bridge and had Messers Massy & Cooper as customers. Very strange...
Anyone remember Alan Goodfellow,head of Wisewood from late 50s to 67 and if so did he have a nickname?
I dont think mr goodfellow had a nickname,at least I never heard one. What a splendid headmaster he was.In fact Wisewood was a lovely school to attend.
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