De La Salle Memories

If you have any memories or pictures you would like to share of your time at De La Salle College on Scott Road or of times at the De La Salle Old Boys Club at Beauchief please e-mail them to dlssheffield@hotmail.co.uk

My memories of De la Salle are mostly good. I was forced into a female role in one of Gertrude Stockhill's notorious speech day productions at the City Hall ( the Wicked Queen in Snow White!!) and as a punishment for misbehaving was denied the opportunity of playing Buttercup in the following years 'HMS Pinafore'. How little she understood young boys! Of all the staff, Bro. Serenus remains firmly in my memory bank. I don't think he cared for the younger boyss, but was a huge, supportive presence as important exams, university and careers loomed. Mind you, I was good at History - he had little patience for those that weren't.

My name is Anthony Barber,I was a De La Salle pupil from 1956 to 1961 and would love to hear from any one who remembers me . My main claim to fame was at my last Sports Day as the anchor of the Ludlum House tug o war team I turned 180 degrees and dragged every body over the line in the final ,I got to keep the cup until the following year.

I'm Ted Johnson, used to travel to school using the Maltby to Sheffield service, then, either the tram or the Nether Edge bus from the Wicker to Scott Rd. where a quick "donning" of the "cap and tie" was crucial, otherwise an entry in the prefects book was fatal, resulting in a few sore hands later.
A bit "long in the tooth" nowadays, but still have distinct memories of my time at the Scott Rd.campus, 1949 - 1954.
I remember when the miners boarded our Sheff. to Maltby bus at Canklow, on our way home, some "live-wires" dropped conkers on their helmets from the top deck. The disapproving conductress said, "Lets have all you "Catlics" down here".
Can vividly remember Bro. Leonard, headteacher, (forgot the year), giving us the afternoon off to watch England v France at Hillsboro, (in the fog), featuring the Owls own Albert Quixall.
During my time there, we seem to alternate between Peter Doherty, (Doncaster), whose son, Paul,(goalie), started in my class, and Jimmy Hagan, (Blades), both Irish internationals,to present Sports days trophies.
I never had a gift for languages and soon had to drop Latin. I didn't regret having to do that because I had to recourse to copying someone elses homework, (in the front bay of the tram), and if he got it wrong, we both got the strap. Me for copying, and him for letting me.
I remember at the end of play-times having to assemble in the "Tank".
Some names are still quite vivid. Mr. O'Sullivan,(Joss), History, Mr. Hopkinson, (Hoppo), Chemistry, Mr. Harper, (Flash), Physics,, Mr. Bladen,(Sid), Art, Miss Stockill,(Gertrude), Singing, Miss Eakin,(Winnie), French, Bros.Clements,( maths & cycling club), Cyril, (geography), Wilfrid,( ace cricketer), McCarten, (French), Robert, Capt. Wall, (P.E.)
I wonder if anyone else of this period has any more memories and would like to share them with us.
I also remember Mr. Cleary, (Jim), English, and Bro. Maximus as deputy to Bro. Leonard, Bro. Camillas,(Arch-Confraternity of the Divine Child). Also Bro. Christopher, French.
Does anyone remember a big, centenary, open-air mass in Norfolk Park carried out by the then Diocesan Bishop of Leeds, John Carmel ???, round about 1949 or 1950?
I also remember filing down to several services at nearby St. Catherines, opposite a previously bombed-out church.
Some characters I remember in my classes were; Georgie Corker, Vincent Burke, Paul Fagan, Kevin Horan, Terry Cotterill, Robin Smith, Kevin Donlan, Brian Cavanagh, Brian Chappel, Anthony Steel. I found Concord Park a most inhospitable freezing place to play football. The ball was always running off down the slope. I was never picked to play and couldn't wait to sneak off, run down the hill into the wood and go off train-spotting, which I still follow, only steam, of course.
Did anyone like me have to do National Service?