Corpus Christi School As It Was
When I think back about the years I spent at Corpus Christi, from nursery to senior school, from the mid 50s to the mid 60s, a flood of memories come rushing back. The school itself was a huge two-story building and it was divided in two. One half for girls, the other for boys. (Until the age of 7, boys and girls were taught together).
My teachers in the boys department were as follows; Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Mowbray, Mrs. Kiernan, Mr. Lazery, Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Travis. The headmaster at that time was Mr. Corbert. My favourite teacher was Mr. Travis, the science teacher.
The school itself was well contained. Pupils started in the school nursery at the age of four, and then moved over to the infant and junior department then up to the second floor to the senior department. (Unless of course you were lucky enough to pass the 11plus exam, then you attended a grammar school). It seemed to be a good set-up for a child, because friendships were made in the nursery and they could still be with you, all the way through school.
The church and the school, were built close together. The whole Corpus Christi complex ran from Lewis Street entrance, along Nelson Street down William Street and along Varley Street, where the main door to the church was situated.
An unsung hero of our school, was Mr. Ralph Wilkinson the school caretaker. I've never seen a man running around a school that size the way he did. If he wasn't in the boiler house, he was carrying crates of milk round to all the classrooms, or in his den under the stairs repairing something. Even at dinnertime he would be out in the schoolyard, playing cricket with the boys, who like me, stayed for school dinners. Wednesday nights he'd be in school running the flute band, of which I was a member, and still have very fond memories.
I was an altar boy at Corpus Christi Church and served at Mass every morning with my best mate Terry Taylor. I wasn't keen on serving at the early morning masses, I preferred serving at the nine o clock mass, because I could then go in school late and be excused!
The priests at the Church at that time were, Father Cross, Father Zyervelt, Father DeClerk and Father Gallagher who used to take charge of the school choir, of which I was also a member.
Corpus Christi being a Roman Catholic school, pupils had to attend 9-00am Mass on Sundays; this was the mass where at least two teachers were in attendance. If you weren't there, the teacher would quiz you the next morning as to which mass you attended, which priest served the mass, what colour vestments did the priest wear etc. So there wasn't much chance of telling fibs!
I think it's a shame that the old school was pulled down, the new buildings aren't as strong or as full of character as the old stately looking buildings. The new buildings are only given a 25-30 year lifespan. Even now after more than forty years the old Corpus Christi school gateposts are still in place and of course the Church is still standing tall on Varley Street. Though sadly, empty and boarded up at the moment.