Alderley Edge Primary School in the 1950s

The above photos have kindly been sent to us by Roger Birch who was born just three months after his parents moved into Beech Road, on the 'new estate', in January 1947.

Roger went to Alderley Edge County Primary (now known as Alderley Edge Community Primary School) from 1951 to 1958 and is pretty sure the two photos above were taken in 1954 and 1956.

Roger told me "In the 1954 photo, Miss Fletcher was the headmistress and the teacher was Mr Pope.

"I'm second from the left on the back row and the people I remember (at least I 'think' I remember notwithstanding 42 years of Australian sun in the meantime!) are Peter Doherty (third from left back row), John (?) McMahon (fourth boy from left on the second row from the back) and David Pell on the right of that row (next to Mr Pope).

On the next row (3rd from back), Joan Aymes (?) and Margaret Oakes are 7th and 8th from left. On the second row from the front, Barbara (?) Smith and Barbara Bancroft are 7th and 8th from the left. The front row, left to right, is Frank Thornley, Ian Batty, Barbara Glossop, ?, Ian Miller and John Parsons."

Roger added "In the 1956 photo, Miss Fletcher was still headmistress and Mrs Boyle was the teacher.

"I'm second from the right on the back row. On the row infront, Ian Miller, Chris Welton and Frank Thornley are 6th, 7th and 8th from left. On the third row from the back, Joan Aymes and Barbara Glossop are 5th and 8th from the left. On the second row from the front, Rosemary Shillinglaw is 6th from the left and on the front row, John (?) McMahon is on the left.

"I'd be very interested to know if anyone can identify the rest of the people in the two classes (or correct my memory!)."

Do let us know if you recognise anyone else in the photo via the comment box below.

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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Christine Munro
Sunday 29th September 2013 at 9:14 am
Gosh that brings back so many memories. I left Alderley Edge Primary School in 1949 but I remember Mr Pope and Miss Fletcher. Lovely to look back, thank you Roger
John Parsons
Sunday 29th September 2013 at 1:19 pm
Nice to see the photos again Roger. Brings back lots of memories. I can name most of the pupils names on Mr Pope's picture but not quite as many on the picture with Mrs Boyle.
Happy days!!
David Blackshaw
Tuesday 1st October 2013 at 3:38 pm
On the same row as Frank Thornley,standing next to the Headmistress is my uncle, Alan Fletcher (teachers pet).
Can anyone confirm this?
John Parsons
Tuesday 1st October 2013 at 8:51 pm
Yes David that is your uncle Alan Fletcher standing next to the headmistress.
Anne Hinds nee Hunt
Wednesday 2nd October 2013 at 9:37 am
Great to see the pictures. Next to Barbara Bancroft is Belinda Smith (not Barbara). She lived in Oakfield Close, her father was Jack Smith. My Auntie Dot became her stepmum.
Ian Miller
Wednesday 2nd October 2013 at 2:20 pm
Roger, welcome back and you are right that is me in both pictures. Also in the first picture 7th from left on the second row I think that is Keith Fossie (?) and next to him 6th from left on the second row is Peter Whitelegg. On the back row 4th from left is Peter Randles. I think you mean Michael Batty on the front row, not Ian.

In the second picture John Perrin is on the right of the front row seated and John McMahon on the left seated. On the far right of the back row next to you is Philip Hammersley. On the second row second from left is Harry Williams (?) 4th from left is Gerald McClachan (?) and next to him 5th from left is Keith Fossie then me, Chris Welton and Frank Thornley. Jennifer Ford is 2nd from left on the second row.

David, that is your uncle Alan Fletcher ("Flec") in the first picture next to Miss Fletcher. What happened to Alan? I seem to remember him moving to Spain and, if I go back a really long way, his dad having a shoe repair shop on Brown Street (behind where the Alderley Rose is/was) or did I imagine that?

Ian Miller
John Parsons
Wednesday 2nd October 2013 at 3:39 pm
Sorry Ann you are wrong the girl on the left of Barbara Bancroft is Barbara Smith who lived on Beech Road when she was at Alderley school.
John Parsons
Wednesday 2nd October 2013 at 3:59 pm
Here are the names as I remember them, of pupils in Mr Pope's class.

Back row (L-R) David Brown Roger Birch Peter Doherty Peter Randles Robert Lunt John Perrin 2nd row Alan Fletcher Alan Fletcher Chris Fiddaman John Prosser John McMahon ? Harrop Pete Whitelegg Keith Fossey Howard Middleton Dave Pell 3rd row Ann Beattie Diana Burgess Veronica Winderlynx Carol Smith Barbara Burgess Sandra Shackleton Joan Aymes Margaret Oakes Hazel Roberts Carol Watkins 4th row Christine Almond Jane Austin Gillian Pass Pamela Warren Gillian Holding Mervina Ridgeway Barbara Smith Barbara Bancroft Elaine South front row Frank Thornley Mike Batty Barbara Glossop Maureen Hancock Ian Miller John Parsons (Me)
Roger Birch
Thursday 3rd October 2013 at 9:51 am
Many thanks, John
I'm impressed by your memory - far better than mine!

Like John, I remember Barbara Smith living on the corner house in Beech Road (No 7). Her brother, Tony, used to play football with us.
Carol Casey
Tuesday 8th October 2013 at 2:38 pm
Nice to hear all your memories the girl on the right of Barbara Bancroft is indeed Barbara Smith my sister on the left I believe is Elaine South . We Smiths lived opposite Rodger and his family Bobby and an elder brother . Next door to the left lived the Simms and on the right the Bowkers . Does anyone remember the school centenary ? There was a big party in the playground , I also remember watching the queens coronation in Royals garage in the village all the local children were invited and all the shopkeeper s donated sweets and mr Fitchett the fruit it poured down all day .