LARCHES PRIMARY SCHOOL

Larches County Primary School was located on the south side of Starrgate Drive on the Larches housing estate. The land was turned over to housing after the school was demolished in the 80s. The new homes that now occupy the erstwhile location of the school are very distinct from the surrounding homes that were built in the early 50s.

"I attended L.C.P.S. from ’54 ish to 1960. I remember every class I was in. Mr Rigby’s beehives (looked after by Roy Elliott and much studied by his class of 1960!) and his lovely black Labrador dog called Turk. I still tell tales of Mr. Rigby sometimes having to stand in for absent teachers. He’d start the lesson as planned by the teacher and then ramble off onto another more interesting subject. He once came into a class in a teacher’s absence and for no obvious reason told us how arches were built and how they could stand up even without being cemented. I was fascinated and he pushed me to enjoy learning… Turk, his dog would parade up and down the aisles of desks and each child would pat his head as he passed. I was in the ‘gymnastic’ team for the 1960 Rose Queen Festival and also managed to make the Maypole dancing team though I don’t readily broadcast that!"

Rod Williamson

I, too, was a pupil between 1954-1959. I remember Rodney Williamson, Carol Catterall and Christine Gore. I remember with affection Roy Elliott and to me the tallest man in the world Mr Rigby. I was never ever taken to school by my parents but walked across Ashton Park with others from my first day to last. Great safe days. I was a latch key kid and also remember going back to school during the holidays for dinner which was laid on. I remember, too the beehives, Turk, maypole days, The Spinney wood at the back and remember setting the fire alarms off with my gym shoe bag. The whole school was evacuated. Fantastic. Who said ‘Things can only get better?' Not true.

Neil Lansom