Burnley Grammar School

I take the point about innocent memories and hope others will get back to posting and discussing theirs.

I remember gym classes just like this and loved every minute of it. What we wore or didn't wear was secondary to the challenges that were put to us by the PE teachers who in the 1960s had all done national service and the head of PE had been an army PTI. These guys were demanding and required that we did no less than our best and more.

To a point I think we were being prepared for WW3 which fortunately never happened back then (take a deep breath about that today though) and as such fitness and strength were to be developed and worked at.

We had three PE sessions a week one of which was at lunch time and that was always cross country running. Then there was one of team games, usually rugby in season and cricket or softball in the summer. The third session was in the gym so gymnastics, circuit training and sometimes it was turned into a game like pirates which I loved.

Our kit for rugby was shorts, socks, boots and shirt, for cricket, whites and for everything else, just like the lads in the picture, white shorts and plimsolls. When changing we had to take off our underpants and go commando. After each class there were showers which were compulsory, communal and cold, possibly preparation for life in the military.

The PE teachers always encouraged us and worked with us, demonstrating and helping us to achieve - their kit was normally just black shorts and plimsolls so no shirts for them either so bare chests all round was normal - it was a boys school.

Discipline was strict, there might be a warning but breaking a laid down rule, forgetting kit or doing anything deemed dangerous or stupid led to a minimum of six very hard whacks with an ever ready large plimsoll which left you with a very red, very sore bottom lasting a couple of days. I don't think any of us escaped a few doses of that over the years but the approach from all the masters was consistent and fair. A repeat offender would sometimes get the cane, I got it once after forgetting my kit for two consecutive sessions and six over a pair of shorts from the spares box that were very thin made sure I never forgot my kit again.

Happy days - absolutely, I really enjoyed my time at school and PE was a great part of it.

The memories on here are, for the most part, credible and I think many of us can identify with them. I think we can all reccognise the contributions which are fictional. and they are best ignored.

However, one aspect of the site does bother me and that is the contribution of women. If such a site existed where women reminisced about their PE classes, wouldn't it be strange for men to show an interest and post comments?

I post here and read here for the innocent, almost all, happy memories not for the fantasies which I find quite sick, so I'll join with TimH, James and Andy and decline to respond to the post by Robert.

Like James, Andy & probably others I will continue to call out what seems to be bullying of people whose views you disagree with.

Also: I won't be answering your questions because it is in the realms of fantasy land rather than an innocent memory.

James on 26th February 2022 at 15:44

+1

Robert on 26th February 2022 at 09:42

Interesting question however I think some needed to call out the bad behaviour that has tainted this board for some time and no doubt will again. I think it should continue to be called out too so that anyone stopping by should see it's not what this place is about which is innocent memories, not fantasies about things that never happened.

On the same basis, I won't be answering your questions because it is in the realms of fantasy land rather than an innocent memory.

All this sniping doesn't make good reading guys. William, Tim, Andy, Andrea, Philip and rest can we get back to some more positive comments. How about if I ask a question to you all.

If you were the headteacher/owner of a fully independent private prep-school (let's say 9 to 12 year olds) what would your policy be for boys indoor PE. Dress, lesson content and hours per week. Ideally justify your decisions.

I should begin. I think I would emphesise practicality over modesty and encourage a more serious approach to PE and physical fitness. My preference would be for just shorts allowing tops only for those boys with a good reason such has birthmarks, obesity and the like. Barefeet are easily preferably for indoor work. For content I would begin with fitness training and calasthetics in the first term , move onto gymnastics in the second term after the boys have achieved some conditioning, and only move to team games like basketball and volleyball in the third term. I would schedule two, two hour lessons per week so PE makes a real difference to the boys attitude and actual phyisical fitness and also allow them to truly learn a team sport and become accomplished in it so they have the oppotunity to enjoy the satisfaction that brings.

I hope you will all take me up on this and I look forward to reading your replies.

Matt, Andrea, Philip, Tim, James and David - I too agree. We really don't need to be attacked over our memories and views.

DavidG, James, Philip, TimH, Matt, the voices of reason at last.

I'm sure the disturbed trolls will continue to post but we must just leave them alone and not react to their posts. I think people do that with Dando but Alan is a bit more devious, just don't react to him.

James I fully agree with your comments.

Philip, TimH, Matt and I'm sure the list will grow.

+1. I'm with you. This place is about innocent childhood memories for the majority who post here. Others need help.

I agree with Matt.

Philip, TimH and other like minded people,

I'm with you. Best not to feed Dando and Alan, the page trolls, everywhere has some and they are best ignored. They will jump up and down for a while seeking attention as children do. It's a pity earlier times have past, both should just have their bottoms caned for misbehaviour, repeated when necessary until it works and they get the message.

Tim H: I am not surprised you agree with Philip. You seem to be birds of a feather. If 1950 ever comes back, we will let you know.

Have a nice day.

Just to say that I agree with Philip's comment of 09.26 this morning.

Yes, there are fantasists on this board, and many of us have identified them.

I could say more ... better not ... don't feed the trolls ...

Alan on 23rd February 2022 at 12:03


More fantasy including you thinking you know what I think and hope for. I simply post about what I remember and experienced, you wish to twist everything. I swam naked at school too, it was no big deal but no doubt you would wish to make it one.

Seek some help. Please.

Philip: Thank you for your insulting post. FYI I do not post fantasy. Those things I say happened to me DID happen, but I suppose you would find some excuse for it in your strict disciplinarian mind - talking of your mind set you don't belong in the 21st century, your views accord more with the 1940s and 50s.

I take it you don't regard William's constant remarks about boys swimming naked as in any way dubious?. Can I suggest therefore that you ignore what I write if it bothers you so much.

You are hoping for a time that will never return, but please keep your holier-than-thou remarks to those who appreciate them. You could do with a few lessons in common courtesy

There are two people who post here and display a disturbing attitude.

One is addicted to search school uniform lists and decrying what is found there. That to me demonstrates a very sick mind set and an obsession with what children are or are not wearing. The posts are totally inappropriate.

The second is Alan, always posting fantasy and put down of people who are simply recalling their memories of earlier years and more innocent times before we had misguided things like 'stranger danger' and 'every adult is a potential abuser' instilled into the mindset of children who in reality are not at anything like the risk those initiatives claim they were but Alan would like that to be true and in his fantasies applied retrospectively to every innocent memory.

I think both the guilty parties should be seeking treatment for their addictions, not posting here.

Tim & Phillip: I only respond when somebody says something disturbing. William's gratuitous remarks about naked boys swimming does genuinely concern me. I didn't start those remarks, he did. He often does exhibit this rather unhealthy interest. If commenting on something many would consider indecent in 2022 is "trolling" than I am, but sadly this particular thread seems to have been taken over by fantasists who like to air matters of this sort.

Like Philip I have to raise my eyebrows at the irony of Alan's comment regarding trolls.

Alan on 22nd February 2022 at 06:49

Oh, the irony of your remark. If anyone is trolling....

William (in particular) and Shaw, with respect you both seem to be trolling as there have been very few posts on this thread of late. Naked schoolboys swimming might interest you. It disgusts me that teachers could be so blatant not that many years ago, and it is reassuring to know now that anyone who promoted it would quickly find themselves on the Sex Offenders Register , and however much you regret it the so-called "good old days" will never return because kids are far more savvy in 2022. Other than that, I have nothing to say.

Alan, another child sex slavery gang being uncovered is weekly news at this point, how would schoolboys swimming naked be of any significance in such environment?

Simon D and Philips posts ring true especially that firsi lesson where you discovered what "skins" meant having just stripped to the waist. My PE teachers at middle and high school were very keen to enforce barechested culture both inside and outdoors. It was a very regular sight to look out of classroom windows and see either a whole PE group or half dropping their vests depending on the activity. Running around the field was done with each lad stripped down whilst xcountry had teams of skins and vests. Running barechested in the rain actually made sense instead of wearing a soaking wet vest. There were different sports from basketball which could be either indoors or on the painted netball courts through to football/rugby which the teachers still found a way to get lads to drop vests on the sidelines. Noone would deny it was easy and the girls were quick to say "can't believe you were stripped off in that" in the winter. Would it say it's worth it? Yes Today's boys could definitely do with it instead of being cossetted and show them how to be confident about how they look, especially to the girls. You'd find the so called body issues would reduce too

From his post earlier in this thread, "Sandy Pools" was in high-school in the USA in the 1960s. So probably no chance of things like this happening these days.
Incidentally, this is a verbatim copy of a post appearing in Quora a year or so ago, not the first time material of this nature has been lifted and reposted here.

I have no idea when this happened but if it had been any time in the last 15 years I am not surprised it only happened one (I am surprised it happened at all). Such behaviour from a games master, if the head got to hear about it, would, I should hope, have horrified him or her. The teacher, whether innocent or not would have laid him/herself open to a charge of child abuse - just imagine the local paper, still more, the nationals, if they had got hold of the story "Schoolboys forced to swim naked".

It never ceases to amaze me how brazen some teachers were. This is the reason I think there needs to be full vetting before teachers are placed in a position where they can force their whims on boys (or girls)

Sandy Pools' wife's swimming experience is similar to mine. Occasionally outdoor PE lessons would be cancelled and because the girls were occupying the gym, this would convert to an impromptu swim lesson. As many would not have brought costumes we simply wore our PE shorts as substitutes and all was ok.
One cancelled lesson was diverted to the pool, but as many of us had muddy shorts on were told to take them off and we had to head down the corridor with nothing but a towel wrapped around ourselves much to our surprise and horror!
Once in the water it was far better than we had feared and actually became enjoyable, but it only ever happened the once in the end and never repeated sadly.

Mr Dando

Aside from flooding these discussions with off-topic regurgitations of school uniform clothing lists, what are you ACTUALLY DOING to further your interminable crusade against basic hygiene in schools?

I think any PE Teacher or Educational Institution that requires a child to shower is depraved and debased. Here is another UK school that thinks compulsion in this day and age is acceptable.

https://www.castlehill.stockport.sch.uk/Information/Uniforms/

Clothing for PE

The following are required for PE:

T-shirt, shorts & trainers (any colour)

PE classes take place both indoors and outdoors and therefore students should bring clothing as appropriate for weather conditions. Students are required to shower after PE and should bring a towel. On Wednesdays, at certain times of the year, Year 7 students will need to bring a swimming kit for swimming lessons.

It is time for this forum to speak truth to power and end compulsory PE and showers.

Philip. Forgive me if I "whinge and whine" again, but you never went to my school, or other schools where there were such teachers, so you are ignorant of what can happen.

You were clearly a good little boy who never got the cane because he didn't deserve it - well done you, however whatever monument to purity you attended, they didn't teach you very good manners to dismiss other people's views based on their experiences, in such condescending terms. I can assure you we did have such teachers, because 40+ years ago, creeps like this didn't have to undergo CRB checks.