Charney Hall School, Grange-over-Sands

Wow! 2025 has flown by….I am convinced that the concept of time definitely changes as we age! One begins to appreciate the importance of reasonable health, firm teeth and effortless mobility. However all physical attributes are bound to have deteriorated over the years and are certainly not in the prime condition that they were in the mists of time at Charney Hall. Many brain cells have disappeared through natural wastage and the imbibing of too much alcohol - a pastime of many masters if I remember correctly.  This year we have reached the grand total of 38,650 all time hits on the blog of which 8580 were in 2025 - an amazing average of 715 per month. There were many surprises along the way….for instance 916 from China, 440 from Singapore and 523 from ‘Other’.  The latter are unscheduled in the Blogger report - it would be fascinating to learn from whence they came - some South Pacific island? the rainforests of the Congo? Or just  Ischnabagh, Co. Galway, Ireland - McCul...

When Tilak Paul first suggested a post for John McCullagh I attempted to conduct some further research about him but I have to admit that initially I failed miserably. Masters divulged very little about their personal lives and at the time it was neither considered necessary for our education nor even polite to ask. Now there is a chance to complete at least part of an unfinished picture. John’s forenames gave no clues as to who his parents were on the Ancestry site. There appeared to be no reference whatsoever about his familial connections. I was stuck straight away with no leads to follow! Then one evening, probably with that far-away, dazed look on my face that Maxwell Duncan once referred to in one of the annual reports to my parents (but which now I know probably relate to an undiagnosed touch of ADHD!), I was struck by an idea which to most people would seem all too obvious!  - Why not simply search by ‘place of birth’ and ‘surname’? Be vague rather than striving to be too p...