School wars

stevief · Post by **stevief** » Tue 02 Oct, 2007 10:39 pm

It went on in the late '60s.We'd heard(St.Benedicts)that Gotts Parkwere coming over to 'sort us out' on a given day.Some of our hardest lads stayed back to see what was going to happen.I caught the first and fastest bus home(West Yorkshire-those boys could gallop!) And sure enough there they were,about 20 of 'emwalking up Leeds/Bradford Rd. Looking suitably attired and carrying a sizeable length of chain!

carrotol · Post by **carrotol** » Tue 02 Oct, 2007 10:48 pm

Simon. I wouldn't call it 'a bit testy'. The Wortley lads were throwing anything they could get there hands on. And, obviously the West Leeds lot were trying to get out to get back at them. As for all the kids being together in 2009, that is not what staff have been told. As I said, the plan at the mo is to integrate them over a couple of years after the new school opens in 2009. Keeping year 7 & 8 at Wortley and the rest in the new school.So, just confuse, If a child started in year 7 in 2008 at West Leeds they could then find themselves being sent to Wortley in 2009 as a year 8. Possibly to go back to West Leeds (new building) in 2010 as a year 9.Confused? You will be, cos we all are

carrotol · Post by **carrotol** » Tue 02 Oct, 2007 10:49 pm

[[[[[ The Wortley lads were throwing anything they could get there hands on. ]]]]]OOPs! Poor spelling. I mean 'their' not 'there'

carrotol · Post by **carrotol** » Tue 02 Oct, 2007 10:56 pm

And, while I'm rambling on, when I went to West Leeds Girls School we also used to have the odd run in with Silveroyd Girls (now Wortley High). It's a tradition that goes back to my mothers day when even they used to think that they were better than Silveroyd (something to do with the 11 plus whatever that was).And don't you think it's funny that even kids who hate school will still stick up for their own school against any others.

stevief · Post by **stevief** » Tue 02 Oct, 2007 11:16 pm

There were several individual challenges thrown out by 'champions'from other schools.The 'cock' of our 2nd year was challenged by hisoppo from Kirkstall Rd.I can't remember the outcome.Many years later,the former Kirkstall Road champion was,until recently,landlord of the Cardigan Arms!

Clankylad · Post by **Clankylad** » Wed 03 Oct, 2007 12:07 pm

FarnleyBloke wrote: I used to live on the street next to Abbey Grange and remember that the lad who got killed was listening to his walkman while walking home to the Hawksworth estate and couldn't hear the train coming. I used to work with a lad who knew the guy and apparently he'd walked on ahead of the others and was listening to his walkman when the train approached behind him - his mates all shouted but obviously, he couldn't hear them. The lad I worked with was given the walkman by the guy who died's mother. Out of morbid curiosity, I asked what track had been playing when he was hit - it was 'In the Flesh' by Blondie.

Geordi · Post by **Geordi** » Wed 03 Oct, 2007 2:30 pm

wasn't just Leeds that this happened in. In my days up norf, we had two middle schools in the town. They were 50feet apart, we would walk to schoo togther in the morning with no problems, but come kicking out time all hell was let loose, it got so bad we ended up having staggered finishing times. We were the lucky ones, we got out 35 mins before the other school.So scraps only used to take place at the end of terms with the really big hoo ha at year end.But you were mates again next morning or so. Now a days it takes you 7 days to get out of hospital with knive wounds and stiches!!!

gbdlufc · Post by **gbdlufc** » Thu 04 Oct, 2007 2:45 pm

Ha, I remember around 1980ish we all use to go down to Stainbeck from Cardinal Heenan and have a bit of a crack dont think anyone won though, more of a show of stength and numbers. One time walking back we got rounded up by our teachers and we had to do detention for a week- apparantley we were the worst pupils the school had ever had, 'ooops sorry!' Kids will be kids, honest sir didnt mean it.I also remember going to Allerton High at dinner time as me and a mate (Peter) had a couple of birds that went there, remember even going in to the school, us in our grey and them in green, Pete was a local and was quite Handy so no-one dare say owt. If I remember rightly though we would often have to leg it up Tongue Lane when we got the odd nutter wanting a dig ha ha, see it now great times- bloody fools.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 05 Oct, 2007 10:26 pm

Ah happy days...I went to Foxwood, who apparently, had a deadly rivalry with John Smeatons and with Oakwood High (I think, on the Fairway Hill?).The school abounded with tales of carnage either on Fearnville Fields or the footy pitches at the top of South Parkway depending with whom battle had commenced.Obviously I never took part in anything of the sort, being the type of quiet lad who got home and did his homework before tea, but there was seldom any evidence of the riots that I could see...lots of lads stood either side of a football pitch glowering and shouting at each other before getting bored and sloping off home was more the extent of it.

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Sun 07 Oct, 2007 10:33 pm

raveydavey wrote: Ah happy days...I went to Foxwood, who apparently, had a deadly rivalry with John Smeatons and with Oakwood High (I think, on the Fairway Hill?).The school abounded with tales of carnage either on Fearnville Fields or the footy pitches at the top of South Parkway depending with whom battle had commenced.Obviously I never took part in anything of the sort, being the type of quiet lad who got home and did his homework before tea, but there was seldom any evidence of the riots that I could see...lots of lads stood either side of a football pitch glowering and shouting at each other before getting bored and sloping off home was more the extent of it. not oakwood high,oaktree was a middle school on the fairway hill(oaktree drive)before that it was known as coldcotes senior boys.