Before the days of the Board Schools, education in and around
Ingrow was centred at Wesley Place school chapel, and at the White House which
stood in the grounds of The Whins and was demolished when Whins Wood park was
laid out in 1926.
The last schoolmaster at Wesley Place school chapel was a Mr.
William Shaw who had succeeded Mr. A. J. Proud in July 1868 and who stayed for
fourteen years.
When the board schools were formed, Wesley Place day school,
situated on Halifax Road at the end of Damems Road, was opened on 4 October
1879, and the aforesaid William Shaw moved from the school chapel and became the
first schoolmaster.
Wesley Place Primary School closed its doors at the end of the
school year in 1967 and was demolished in the early 1980's. I attended the
school between 1961 and 1967 and made many friends, some of which I am still in
contact despite me now living on the other side of the world.
Ex students of Wesley Place should check the photographs and see
if they recognise any familiar faces. I would love to hear from anyone featured
and expand the contact point for them and other friends.
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Early History
-1890's. Photographs and historical detail kindly supplied by Mr.
Allan Smith
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Class
Photos. Photographs
taken in the early to mid 1960's
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Demolition Day.
Photo and data as published in the Keighley News in 1978.
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Where Are They Now? I would like place your story and contact details here to
enable old friends to contact you. Send me your information and I will add it
to the site.
If you have any other pictures that could
be added to the site, why not send them to me? I would particularly like any old
pictures of the school as it is no longer able to be photographed.
David Feather
After leaving school I did an apprenticeship in
textiles. Emigrated to Australia in 1978 and joined the Victoria
Police Force, where I have been ever since. Married Joan in 1981 and have two
boys Matthew (1984) and Andrew (1987). In 1998 we all came back to the UK for a
holiday and spent 6 weeks touring the country, naturally we visited all the old
haunts and caught up with a few old friends but not as many as I would have
liked to - maybe next time.
e-mail
David Feather
Richard Gaukrodger
Richard Joined the Merchant Navy after leaving school and
travelled the world eventually becoming a Captain with Cable & Wireless. He
left the sea in 2000 and is now a Deputy Harbourmaster at Hull. He has one son
Andrew.
e-mail Richard Gaukrodger
David Jones
David married Martine in 1980, and they
have twin boys, who were born in 1984. He is the director of a small engineering
company and still lives in the area, at Cross Roads.
e-mail David Jones
Wendy Parish
Left Oakbank 75ish and trained as a Tax Officer. Met Neil
Ashford on a blind date and got married July 77. 25 years on we're still
together with 2 children, Russell 18 and Jessie 16. Have spent all my married
life constantly on the move due to Neil being in the army, both children born in
Germany where we spent 10 years. Very fortunate to have had the opportunity to
do a whole variety of jobs from aerobic instructor, health and beauty advisor,
credit controller to presently working in the teaching profession working with
children with learning difficulties. Have been living in Wiltshire for almost 3
years but will probably be on the move again next year. Due to this have lost
contact with almost everyone, although I recently caught up with Caron Ferguson
nee Wormald and Janette Thomson nee Baker. Very rarely get to Keighley but feel
nostalgic when the opportunity arises.
Note: Neil Ashford went to Bronte and
Oakbank with other ex Wesley Place Students.
e-mail Wendy and Neil
Ann
and Christine Storey
After leaving school Ann trained as a teacher
at the City of Leeds and Carnegie College, starting work at Holycroft Primary
School in 1978 with Mr. Whalley and other teachers from Wesley Place. She
married Gary Murgatroyd in 1974 and they have two children.
Christine married Keith Riley in 1981 and
they have three children. She trained as an Occupational Therapist
in Liverpool and worked in Edinburgh and Bury before returning to live in
Keighley. She now works in the community for both Bradford and North
Yorkshire Social Services.
e-mail
Ann and Christine.
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