I grew up in Chandler’s Ford in the 1950s and 1960s.
When I was about 12 years old, I started my first (part-time) job.
This was as a Saturday van-boy for Mr Smith, a greengrocer, who had a shop opposite “The Hut” on Bournemouth Road. (not to be confused with Mr Smith who had a grocers shop in Hursley Road, opposite the Railway Station.)
This Mr Smith, for whom I worked, originated from the Romsey area, was known to my step-mother, and had an old green Jowett Bradford van, powered by a two-cylinder engine. He carried potatoes, greens, carrots etc., and had an established round of customers, on whom we called each week.
My job was to weigh out the items and “fetch & carry”, also collect the money on occasions too. I cannot remember how much he paid me, but probably 5/- (Five shillings = 25p).
My next move, after a few months, was to apply to “Mac” for a paper boy’s job, as I wanted more money!
Mac, was Major C.L.V. MacMahon, who, with his wife, ran a newsagent’s shop on Hursley Road, where the accounts company is now, by the corner with Park Road and Mead Road, and facing what is now the shops alongside The Co-op (previously Station Garage).
Mac always had a cigarette (fag) dangling from his mouth, and wore a jacket over a pullover, upon which the “fag ash” fell!
Christmas tips
I was lucky to obtain a ‘plum’ round – Hursley Road, from the top of Valley Road, including our own home, and up to and including Hiltonbury Farm. This was accessed by a long, rough, stony track, but was made better at Christmas Time, as the farmer, John Vining, always gave a most generous “Christmas tip” (£5 from Mr Vining each year)!
Christmas tips varied from 2/- (two bob = 10p) to £1, and were a most welcome form of extra income.
I did morning and evening rounds, six days a week, but not Sundays.
The wages were 13/- a week (= 65p). I used to ride down the mile to the shop with my “Daily Express” paper bag, and return up, delivering, then home for breakfast before riding off to school.
By this time I was at Secondary School – North End, in Leigh Road, Eastleigh.
I failed my ’11+’ exam and went to North End
My father had wanted me to go to Grammar School (Barton Peveril in Eastleigh), but I was not of the required standard academically, due to my lack of ability at maths! (I loved English, History and Geography, but figure work mystified me!)
I therefore failed my ’11+’ exam, and went to the Secondary Modern School instead, much to Dad’s disappointment.
The paper rounds meant that you had to get up early, and back home after school “on time”, so I think it must have been around that time that “Dad” bought me my first watch!
Sometimes my bike needed work doing, and I called in at Mr Beckett’s bike shop on Bournemouth Road, near Kebel Road Corner, (where the Curtis Plumbing shop is now).
Mr Beckett would fix my bike for me while I was at school, and I picked it up on my way home – what service, for just a few shillings!
I often took longer than I should on the morning round, as I have always been keen to learn of the daily news.
I often read people’s papers while walking up their drives or paths, and on more than one occasion was caught reading their newspaper by the householder! (all in good humour though!)
The move from Junior School to Secondary was, probably like now, a bit ‘scary’ for us first years.
Rivalry at North End Secondary School
North End had a reputation as a tough school. There were pupils from the “Bird Estate” in Eastleigh, then all council houses, and there was much rivalry between those from Eastleigh and those from ‘posh’ Chandler’s Ford.
There were social differences, often exploited, and those whose families owned their own home often ‘looked down’ on those living in council houses.
This was just a part of life then, and although, over time, we all mixed in, some still thought themselves better than others, it seemed. (Is it still this way? We always called those who attended Sherborne House Private School The Sherborne Mouse as a derogatory term!)
North End School had separate boys and girls playgrounds, and most of us still ate the school lunch (called dinner then). Your “Dinner Money” was collected on a Monday morning for the week ahead.
The regime was probably best described as sometimes brutal.
Fights in the playground were frequent, but if you were caught by a teacher fighting, there was only one result, for both parties, and that was a visit to Mr Cooke. Mr Cooke was the deputy Head Master, and dispensed justice to the boys, with one of a selection of canes.
School uniform and punishment
This extended to school uniform too. The uniform for boys and girls was a maroon blazer, shirt and school tie, with grey trousers, or shorts for first year pupils, & grey skirts for the girls.
Woe betide anyone who came to school in jeans (which were just becoming popular then).
We had to line up in form rows after each playground break, and before afternoon school.
Prefects were sent round the rows to spot and pull out anyone in jeans, several times a week.
Wearing jeans warranted a few cuts of the cane from Mr Cooke, and if such checks were carried out twice in one day, you were punished twice that day, unless you lived close enough to school to go home and change!
North End School had been built in the 1930s.
Its Head Master when I was there (1958 – 1963) was Mr Judd. We called him Jack Judd, (but not to his face), and he lived between Otterbourne and Compton. He drove a Standard Vanguard type car I remember.
The classes were mixed, except for “PE”, where boys and girls had separate lessons of course.
PE lessons – cheating did not pay
If you were athletic or good at sport, you were encouraged to try for one of the school teams, football, cricket, or athletics.
Otherwise the games masters did not seem to have much time for you.
I was no good at field sports (I tried golf at school, but only succeeded in digging out divots from the cricket square, which was roped off each summer!).
I could run a little, and we had, in the winter, cross country running. The route was usually out of school, starting from the gate, down Leigh Road to The Leigh Hotel traffic lights and left into Woodside Avenue.
This was a no-through road then, but one could follow the track under a much smaller bridge under the railway than now, and turn left up another track to come out on Oakmount Road. Then left, and left again to school, plus another, second lap.
The Games Master, Mr Woodward, waited outside school to count everyone through. Those who thought they could “skive off” a lap by hiding in the hedge the other side of the railway line were of course found out.
Mr Woodward dispensed his own form of justice in the boys’ changing rooms, with a large “slipper” (plimsole) across one’s backside, bent over in front of one’s classmates, to show that cheating “did not pay”!
I found out that talking in the changing rooms did not pay either on one occasion, too!
However, the lessons were, in view of the great numbers of pupils, very good.
The teachers I remember
Several of us, before our voices “broke”, joined the school choir, under Mr (Charlie) Tryhorn. He had been the organist at Romsey Abbey, but later left there under a cloud, I heard.
As a member of the choir, one had certain privileges, so it was worth while being a member.
Mr Tryhorn, however, had a certain way of keeping order in his music classes (not for nothing did we call him “Charlie Chair Chucker”)!
I remember several of the teachers: Miss Kinerley who taught Geography, Mr Parry and Mr Lambert (art), Mr (Dag) Phillips, who was our form master in the fourth year, and Mr McGregor, the Woodwork Master. Mr Smart who taught us English at one time was another, Mr (Robot) Smith – Science, and Mr Goodwin who taught us about (or tried to) gardening.
I will tell the stories about our adventures in the school garden soon.
What’s next: Chandler’s Ford Fun Fair and Bonfire Night
Note: Don’t miss Martin Napier’s article series: Part 3, on Monday 29th June 2015.
Related Posts:
- Hazel Bateman: An Interactive Local History Talk by Martin Napier
Article Series by Martin Napier
- Part 1: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s
- Part 2: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Paper Boy; North End School
- Part 3: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s Bonfire Night
- Part 4: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: North End School
- Part 5: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bicycle, Bicycle!
- Part 6: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: A Summer of Hope and Sorrow
- Part 7: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Big Freeze in 1963
- Part 8: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Breaking Free from North End School
- Part 9: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: My Passions with Bikes and Boats
- Part 10: Martin Napier: Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bikes, Boats, and Adventures
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Related posts:
Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s (Part 1)
Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Central Precinct; Bonfire Night (Part 3)
Chandler’s Ford School Days: 1970s – 1980s by Betty Brooking
Hutments
Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: My Passions with Bikes and Boats (Part 9)
Great article. Looking forward to the next one.
What a memory jerker the article Martin Napier has written on North End is . We moved back to England after 8 years in Northern Ireland ( Dad was in H M Customs & Excise ) and we lived at 57 Chalvington Road, Chandler’s Ford from 1957.
I went first to school for a couple terms in Kings Road, and not being academic at all then on to North End. I once used the athletics running track white line marking machine to do a 100 yard dash and needless to say the line was not at all straight. Mr Hammett made we stay after school and wash the whole white erratic line off with sponge and water – sports day was looming apparently !
I recall the name Martin Napier from that period and believe we went to school at the same time. However just as I was preparing for my GCE’s my parents decided to move to Basset and I left at about 15 years old and went to Southampton Technical College leaving my friends behind at North End.
Then on to a career in Shipping & Forwarding starting as what was called a “Dock Runner” – a messenger boy with a bike and eventually starting my own business with a friend which we ran very successfully for 25 years with offices in Southampton, Poole, Portsmouth, London and Portugal. So North End Secondary Modern School with its eccentric teachers must have done some good for me – even with no academic qualifications.
Thoroughly enjoying your stories, so much similar to mine. Great musical interludes, specially Joe Brown and the ‘bruvvers’. Thank you and keep it going!
Hello
I really enjoyed your memories of North End, very similar to mine. Although as you mention the school had a tough reputation, the teachers and curriculum were great. My father went to school with Jack Judd at Chamberlayne Road, he lived his whole life in Eastleigh/Chandler’s Ford until we emigrated to Canada in 1956.
I will be following your future articles. Thank you
Cheers,
Joanna
Thank you Joanna for your comment. Martin’s stories have inspired many people sharing their own stories. It’s wonderful that we get to share these stories and celebrate remarkable teachers on this website.
It’s great to know that we have readers from Australia and Canada reading Martin’s stories.
I wish you and your family all the best.
I was very interested to read the various memories of Chandlers Ford and North End School. As Joanna Marsh Blacklock was a good friend dating back to Junior School days at Cranbury Road School, those memories were particularly nostalgic. As I have only just come across it – posted in 2015 – and it is now 2019, perhaps my post is too late? I remember French lessons with Mr Tyrell. I particularly liked French. However one lesson when I was describing, in French, a drive, on ho!iday, across France to Switzerland, he made me say I had been to ‘Lyon’, when I was actually saying ‘Laon’. I was very frustrated! ( North End 1950 to 1956). Mr Judd was Head (and his daughter was a girl guide – as I was – at the Methodist Company – under Mrs Dore.) 3rd February 2019
Hello,
I came across your blog by accident. Even though I’ve lived in Devon for nearly 40 years I still remember with affection my teenage years growing up in Chandler’s Ford.
I too went to Northend School, only from 1969 -1971. A bit later than you. I remember my English teacher, Mr Geoff Broomhall as an inspiring teacher and mentor. A bit of a coincidence but I also was a paper boy at this time, I did a morning round from Fourbouys and I also worked for Mac on the evening round up Hursley Road and Cuckoo Bushes Lane and Hiltingbury Road.
On Sundays I did a double round from Macs of Valley Road and the areas near Hiltingbury Lake.
Cheers,
Dave.
I too grew up in Chandler’s Ford in the 60s and 70s, moving to Hamble in 1974. We lived in Kingsway a concrete air raid shelter in the back garden – such fun. Around 1967, we went to a Kindergarten also in Kingsway – if my memory serves me right, the headmistress was Mrs Hebbs. We then went to Kings Road Infant School (where they had a large concrete pipe in the playground to replicate a steam train), then onto Merdon Avenue Junior School. My primary memories include the Fryern Arcade, The Lake and Mrs Tomkeys, my piano teacher.
It brought back happy memories of my childhood growing up in Chandler’s Ford, attending Kings Road primary followed by Merdon Avenue Junior, and finally North End secondary modern. Many happy thoughts of days gone by.
I went to school with you Martin and remember all the things you write about I particularly remember Mr Mann and he didn’t like me as I started off at ‘private’ school. oak Cottage school, Pine Road.
I had lots of Polish friends there. I then went to North End too same time as you did. My best year at school was in 5th Commercial class with the lovely Miss Tate. She taught us life skill that helped me through my working life, and she was so strict about how to behave as a lady We had one lad in the class Louis S. Great times and hard times too
I went to school with you, Mrs Steel was my teacher, I moved to Merdon Avenue, the day it opened walking in a line from Kings Road to new school, and also went to North End. My best time at school was final year in 5Commercial with the lovely strict Miss Tate, she taught us how to behave like ladies (except Louis S the only boy in the class). Which Certainly helped me through my working life. My parents moved to Malcolm Road 1950 building there own ‘hut’ as we called it. Until they build their own house 6 years later..great times to be a kid, hard times too. Lovely to read your memories Martin .
Thank you Josie.
Those were the days, weren’t they?
We had such freedom it seemed, compared to today.
M.
Very true the woods were short cuts, and places to play, not dangerous places like nowadays J
I have recently read with interest memories of Northend Secondary. I was there in 1951/53 and was a prefect along with Brian Davies, Brian Cox, Ian Stitt (Head Prefect) Cooper, Don Broomfield, to name a few.
I lived in Pine Road at the top of Park St. and when I left Northend went to work for Eastleigh Borough Council in the Engineers Dept.
I have tried in vain to contact some of the pupils who attended the school during that period as I would love to share those memories.
A wonderful time. I am now living in New Zealand.
I lived in the first house in Falkland Rd. next to Leigh Road, moved into it brand new in 1958, so North End was a no brainer for me. Chandlersford started at Monks brook back then but although I joined the Boys Scouts and the Army Cadets in Chandlersford I never felt that we at Velmore were ever more than a peripheral council estate.
1959 went to North End. Form Masters were Mr Hammet, Mr Gould, Mr Smith and I believe a Mr Martin, but I hate to admit this but I loved it, I always thought my Mum could cook until I tried the home made dinners at school.
I played football for the school and was also selected for Eastleigh & District but my biggest regret was that I started to smoke and the place us rebels used was behind Mr Larry the Lamb (RE) teacher’s Prefab, which also led to me making the acquaintance of a certain Mr Cook Deputy Head …. Most of the real Chandlersford boys were quite middle class and it all came initially as a shock to the system for most of them, firstly dealing with their parents’ disappointment on them not making Grammar, and then having to put up with us uncouth oiks, but hand on heart they were a bloody good bunch… (…edited by editor).
I attended north end school between 1967-1972, when we moved from Chandler’s Ford to Swansea. The music teacher was Wendy Davies, the geography teacher was Frank Pearson, Mrs D’Eye was parent craft teacher and I can’t remember the Home Economics teachers names. One of them had trained in Bath and the other one married Mr Cooke the Deputy Heads son!!! Would love to hear from anyone who was there at the same time.