Harry Dack Class, 1954

This photograph was taken in a classroom in Harry Dack Infant School in the mid fifties.  The school was opened in 1954, so everything would still be fresh and new for these children.  David Morris is the boy in the dark jacket, sitting at the front desk.  We asked ”Who are the other children and the teacher?”  Kathleen Oyediran tells us: ”I am the sister of David Morris in this picture. The name of the teacher was Mrs Gornall. She used to teach all the girls Sewing.” However we were advised by Barbara McBurney: ”Mrs Gornall taught  sewing at Loftus County Modern School and later Rosecroft, I attended Harry Dack Infant School from Christmas 1955, Mrs Gornall was not teaching there then.” Kathleen further advised us: ”My brother David, in this picture, was born in 1947. Therefore he would be 5 in 1952 and 7 in 1954, so he would have been in Infant school from 1952 to 1954, moving into Harry Dack after it opened in 1954. This picture must have been taken during this period. I agree Mrs Gornall taught Sewing at Loftus County Modern School during my time at the school.” Ann Jackson has also told us: ”I remember both Mr and Mrs Gornall. They both taught at Loftus School but were based at Carlin How as was Mrs Wheatman who taught cookery for the first 2 years I was there then they all transferred to the new school. Mrs Gornall as Barbara says taught sewing and Mr  Gornall  taught woodwork.” Eric Johnson can also remember Mr Gornall teaching woodwork at Carlin How.

Image courtesy of David Morris and thanks to Kathleen Margaret Oyediran (nee Morris), Eric Johnson, Barbara McBurney and Ann Jackson for the updates.