Charney Hall School, Grange-over-Sands

Here I post the School’s Chronology from establishment to closure. The dates are as accurate as I can ascertain at this time.  There are some anomalies….for instance it is not clear how many old boys were killed in WWI. The whereabouts of the WWI memorial plaque still appears uncertain. Some dates are approximate until further confirmation. Any suggestions regarding the inclusion of specific milestones, and/or dates will be gratefully received! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WvbZ53VAX4C7Pnqi2IXRm0DgqWzGwcYZ/view?usp=drivesdk

Cedric Robinson, former Queen’s Guide to the Sands, died on 19th November 2021 aged 88. Forever part of the folklore of Morecambe Bay. In the mid 1950s, at the age of 21, he was the saviour of the non-swimmers of Charney Hall in the Grange Lido open-air baths and the perverse who challenged the might of the tidal bore without supervision… He raised millions of pounds for charity whilst being paid the princely sum of £15 a year for his services as guide.  See post :  Charney Hall Cedric Robinson   https://charneyhall.blogspot.com/2021/09/charney-hall-cedric-robinson.html

  The Twain Met!   Well it had to happen and now it has! This first inaugural unofficial Old Boys at Charney Hall “CH” Gathering or Get Together has taken place!   Unfortunately there were just two attendees and due to Covid Restrictions there was no “hugging or kissing” and “we did not bring the house down” nor “did we paint the town red afterwards” and whilst we two made a lot of noise we did behave ourselves and there was no need for the Police to be called and Bouncers to be in attendance.   John Mathers 1967-1971 and Tilak Paul 1967-1971 Charney Hall Old Boys after 18 months of communication by email eventually met for drinks and lunch at a “Pub” in Covent Garden Central London in August of this year. You will notice in the attached and annotated circled School Pictures and in one particular picture John and Tilak are at the opposite end of the back row hence the title of this little ditty being called “The Twain Met” eventually.   The pictures will show that the years hav

Friends at state schools couldn’t understand why I had so many more days holiday than they did. Neither did I. But what I did believe was that I deserved them. Why? Because I needed the emotional break and the space away from school! No doubt the masters and headmasters, if pressed, would have agreed too…however with friends back at local schools and days to spare, generous school holidays could lose their appeal. Conversely in the Charney term there didn’t seem to be much spare time. Everything took place in strict accordance with the school curriculum but somehow we managed to have some opportunities for recreation. Perhaps there were specific times of the day set aside, but I can’t remember? Of necessity, pastimes, if ‘hardware’ was involved, had to be space efficient. I don’t recall having a locker or safe place to store personal possessions except under the lovingly carved sloping desk top in the classroom. Hence favourite games were for example pocket chess and Owzthat. I n the 1

Post updated 6 March 2023 : Photo of D Johnson removed - D R Johnson credited. Mr Fawcett’s Humber confirmed as registered ‘PUP…’ Here are the many old boys’ comments generated by Louis’ comprehensive blog ‘ Cumbrian War Memorials’, in particular with reference to the Charney Hall Memorial Hall. http://cumbrianwarmemorials.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-this-in-grange-over-sands.html I’m posting them here (in no particular order) so that they form a valuable, more prominent record of the observations of life at Charney Hall in this blog. Thank you Louis for including these in your blog to which I give full credit. I attach photographs sourced from the Cumbrian Archive (Barrow), previously posted, but included here to provide some visual reference. The Scholarship Board is mounted over the stove The Podmores’ Butterfly and Moth Collection can be seen between the two windows on the side elevation Tim Hindle John Cranna                   Roger Beaumont - a digimation until we find an accurate p