ANDREW Billington thoroughly enjoyed his time at Brownlow Fold School for Boys where his father, Derek Billington taught.

Derek was a well known historian — instrumental in setting up the still well attended Halliwell Local History Society — and a prolific author on all things Bolton.

The school did not have a uniform, he recalls, although the boys did wear a regulation blazer.

The building had two floors with the lower part being occupied by junior pupils and upper for the secondary school.

In the North East corner of the yard was “The Hut” where Dennis Oakes the PE and maths teacher taught.

The School had four “houses” which were said to be named after notable historical figures and these were Crompton — of course named after Samuel Crompton who invented the spinning mule — Barlow — does anyone know who Barlow was asks Andrew? — Chadwick House — presumably after the English doctor and philanthropist whose statue stands in Victoria Square — and Leverhulme after William Hesketh Lever or Lord Leverhulme the soap magnate who built Rivington estate.

Each year, says Andrew who is now in his sixties, the classes moved form room and he always looked forward to being in room two which was Bill Ashworth’s class.

“That is where the year five pupils went for the morning roll calls.

“They were mature, smart young men and carried brief cases. I always aspired to be one day that fifth year student carrying my own brief case as it seemed so grown up,” he says.

Room three, which was the science room, also doubled up as the tuck shop where the fifth year pupils sold biscuits, chocolate and crisps.

Breaks gave the youngsters time to go to the pie shop in Eskrick Street where they enjoyed meat and potato pies or meat pies or barm cake butties he says.

They would buy Coltsfoot Rock, bon bons or Benson’s blackberry and licorice sweets from the sweet shop which was also in Eskrick Street.

Sometimes during the lunch break Andrew and his pal Alan Taylor would cycle down to Len Tobutt’s sports’ shop to buy pellets for their air rifles.

In the yard Andrew and his pals would play “headers” with tennis balls during breaks and before school started.

“With four playing, two on each side, the ball would be headed backwards and forwards until it hit the floor.

“The team that missed the head would lose a point to the other team.

“The playing area was defined by the joints in the concrete slabs of the yard.

“These competitions were usually played along the wall bordering Mort Street where Mr Hall, the headteacher parked his Morris 1000 and John Brown his Reliant Robin,” he explains.

Room four at the school was where Derek Billington — “dad” to Andrew — taught arts and crafts.

“I think Derek was one of the most memorable teachers at Brownlow Fold during his time.

“He was firm but fair and I do recall him laying into a few of the troublesome students when the situation presented itself.

“It wouldn’t be unusual to see him walking around with a slipper in his back pocket.”

For more of Andrew’s Brownlow Fold memories see next week’s Looking Back.

Please contact Gayle McBain gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk with your school memories.