First Head of St. John's Catholic Primary School Billingham
Supplied by Ann Smith
Embedded Files
Father Connell was in charge of the building of St. John's Catholic Primary School back in the day. Robert Dodds Smith (1893 - 1973) and his wife Josephine Mc Cafferty Smith (1895 - 1973) moved to the area around 1933 with his Josephine and their two children. They were both teachers born in South Shields. Robert became the head of Haughton-le-Spring school and later the Head of Thornley School.
Father Connell appointed Robert as the first Headteacher of St. John's Catholic Primary School for when it opened.
Robert's eldest son - also known as Robert - eventually became Deputyhead of Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School.
Ann South has supplied some photos which featured Robert Senior with lots of other people. Maybe people might be able to identify these other people.
What a great picture. If you know any stories about Robert the Head please tell us.
Thank you very much Ann for taking part.
You can see that Robert the Head is getting involved helping students for the up coming production. Does anyone know the three children? What was the production? Use the link below to help. This is picture 1 with Story Code A
The Head on the right with his team? Does anyone know the names of the adults? Use the link below to help. This is picture 2 with Story Code A
Our Detectives
Sister Francis Clare (Kathleen Mahan) (SFC)
The Head in the middle on the front row with his team? Does anyone know the names of the adults? Use the link below to help. This is picture 3 with Story Code A
Response from Sister Francis Clare (Kathleen Mahan):
Front Row 2nd Left is my mother, Norah Mahoney then. She was one of the initial staff at St John's, I believe. After qualifying at Fenham (in 1930 or 1931, I think), she taught at St. Mary's in Stockton and hearing of St John's opening, applied and was accepted. She had trained for senior pupils but those posts were filled so she was given an infants class and loved it. In 1942 she married Frederick Mahan (a Durham man working at Billingham ICI, met at St John's Church as they went on diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage c.1938?) and, as was then the rule, had to leave teaching. She returned for supply periods in later years.
I was born in 1944 and Mr Morrissey, who had been a colleague of my mother's at St John's and was serving in the war and for a time in the Holy Land brought me a baby's bib from Bethlehem. I did not fully appreciate this at the time! He taught elsewhere after the war, but became head at St John's later, I believe. Mr Smith was still head when I was at school there - from spring 1949 till summer 1955. I wonder if the man next to my mother (Front Row, 1st Left in picture 3) is Mr Diamond? Not sure of his first name, perhaps Leslie? The man at Back Row 3rd left is surely the younger version of Mr Leslie Joseph O'Connor? He was actually referred to as 'Jack' (perhaps because Mr Diamond was Leslie, if he was?) so I am puzzled by someone else being identified as Mr Jack O'Connor.
The Head in the middle on the front row with his team? Does anyone know the names of the adults? Use the link below to help. This is picture 4 with Story Code A
Our Detectives
Maureen Armstrong nee Mcabe (MA)
Catherine Burbage (CB)
Fr Butters (FB),
Elizabeth Bailey nee O'Connor (EB).
Back Row
1st left - Mr Gerard Bradley (CB, EB & MA),
2nd Left - Mr Joseph Leslie O'Connor MA & (EB - My father),
3rd Left - Miss Snowden (MA),
4th Left - Maureen Mcabe (Armstrong ) - (MA),
5th Left - Cathy Curren - (MA),
6th Left -Maybe C Torelli - (MA),
7th Left - Mr Hodgson (CB & MA).
Front Row
1st left Miss Marie Bewley (CB & MA),
2nd Left - Maureen Jennings (MA),
3rd Left - Margaret Eglington (MA),
5th left -Mrs Wildish (MA),
6th left - Maybe M Clifford (MA),
7th Left - MISS Josie Sleightholme - married a Dutch man and moved to Alkmaar (EB) - Maybe Babs Welsch ?
The Head in the middle on the front row with his team? Does anyone know the names of the adults? Use the link below to help. This is picture 5 with Story Code A
Our Detectives
Maureen Armstrong nee Mcabe (MA)
Fr Butters (FB),
Elizabeth Bailey nee O'Connor (EB).
Back Row
1st Left- Mrs Wildish (MA),
2nd Left - Miss Clifford (MA),
3rd Left - Mr Jack O'Connor (FB),
4th Left - G Bradley (MA),
5th Left - Mr Joseph Leslie O'Connor (EB - My father),
6th Left - Mr Jim Hodgson (FB & MA),
7th Left - Miss Sleightholme (EB).
Front Row
1st Left - Maureen Jennings (MA),
2nd Left - Babs Welsch (MA)
Middle - Mr Morrisey (EB),
4th Left - Miss Bewley (EB).
This looks interesting. What is going on in this picture? The Head is holding the lid of the bag. Use the link below to help. This is picture 6 with Story Code A
The Head in the middle on the front row with his team? Does anyone know the names of the adults? Use the link below to help. This is picture 7 with Story Code A
Our Detectives
Fr Butters (FB),
Elizabeth Bailey nee O'Connor (EB).
Back Row
1st left Miss Bewley (EB),
4th from left Joseph Leslie O'Connor (EB).
Front Row
2nd from left Miss Kathleen Scott who became Kathleen Taylor (FB).
An assembly from the past!!
Can you help identify people
If you can help identify people and/or what is happening in a particular photo please use the form below. You can use the form for each picture.
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