As I’m in back-to-school mode and recalling those long gone days of carefree youth, I thought now would be an opportune moment to share some photos from a significant event in my primary school days. Before my tenure at Willows, I spent my junior years attending Stacey Road Primary School, which was right at the opposite end of my street (handy that!)
Back in 1982, the school was celebrating its centenary, and us pupils were all involved in the celebrations. I was in my last but one year back then, what we now call Year 5, and was trusted with my parent’s Kodak Instamatic camera on several occasions such as school trips and special days. There was one big celebration day that I remember for the school’s 100-year-old birthday, and as it happens, I had my camera on that day and took some photos which I will share with you here.
There was a big day where we all dressed up in Victorian style clothes, and some dignitaries came to the school to look at us and the displays we’d made about the school’s history. The most famous visitor was James Callaghan MP, the ex-Labour Prime Minister whom I think was still practising as an MP back then. I think most of us didn’t really know who he was, although I remembered seeing him on the news lot as a smaller child. We were also joined by the Lord Mayor (possibly Philip Dunleavy) and other council bigwigs. Naturally, we all wanted to have our photos taken with these ‘famous’ people, and that’s what most of these photos are focused on.
I think I took roughly half of them, being the ones I am not in! Either my parents or fellow pupils took the others below. However, the first photo was taken by an official photographer on the day. I think everyone in that photo had a copy presented in the ubiquitous (for school photographs at least!) brown and gold card frame. I don’t really remember much about the day to be honest, other than it being a lot of fun.
2 years ahead of my. I had Mr Baxter 85 and 86. Think that was the year my friends had older siblings in. Was that Matthew Lloyd in a pic, he was my year but also Derren would be Derren Hubbard.
Yeah, it is my brother Matthew – and Derren – correct on both.
Ha thought so, I’ve a few class pics but were my year and the one above. Think the one photo outside the infants has my mum in the background also Andrew Fowler who passed away when he was young.
Saw Mr Baxter with his family in my pub a few years ago. They new he worked at secondary schools in Barry but didn’t know he was at Stacey Road
Visited my mum
Today. She was shocked when I showed her this photo. Defo my mum in green behind Jim Callaghan. My mum said he often drank in the Roath Labour club.
Hi Neil, my name is John Stevens . In about 1942 Arthur my twin brother started going to Stacey Road School. As far as I remember, Miss Lombidini was the Headmistress. at the time……such a long time ago. Stacey Road School was the best school ever, and to go from Spring Gardens Terrace to the school at Stacey Road, passing bombed buildings at Richards Terrace and there being taught prepared me for all that life threw at us. Many thanks, John Stevens.
I went to stacey road primary school in 82 was in there with david Lloyd. James Green
I remember Mr Baxter throwing some kid at the piano during assembly. Good times.