The website for ex-pupils and staff of LSPD/SPHB/BSHIC
The Champion has reported that Mrs Furness recently celebrated her 104th birthday.
Mrs Furness marked the occasion on 19 June with her daughter Rosalind and two of her grandchildren, Sarah and Anne. It was the first time that more than one named person has been able to visit her since before the coronavirus pandemic began.
We all wish Mrs Furness a very Happy Birthday!
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Edited on 4 July 2021 to correct name of granddaughter from Ruth to Anne
Yesterday former staff and pupils attended a Memorial Service for Morag Clark at Scarisbrick New Road Baptist Church in Southport. Morag’s nephew Robin Scott was also present with his wife Liz.
Led by Elizabeth Rothwell, there were a number of speeches and a slideshow which included photos of Morag in her younger years and several taken during her time at Birkdale School.
Robin recounted some of Morag’s early years with the family. Two ex-pupils, Victoria Haynes (nee Sefton) and David Walker, gave their own tributes to Miss Clark. Victoria’s father, Chris Sefton, talked about meeting Miss Clark for the first time and how reassuring she had been about his daughter attending the school.
Elizabeth gave an overview of Morag’s work at Birkdale School and around the world. So many things were learnt from this, including the moment Morag met Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Extracts from the numerous messages received from professionals in different countries were read out.
Thanks were given to the minister of the Baptist Church for allowing his church to be used for the service. Tea and coffee was served afterwards, which gave people a chance to catch-up and chat. It was nice to see among the ex-staff Mrs Janet Mulcahy (nee Morris) and her mother Mrs Morris, Mrs Margaret Dutton (nee Crowley), Miss Angela Baron, and Miss Baldwin.
Particular thanks must go to Elizabeth Rothwell for organising this lovely Memorial Service.
A condensed form of the speeches with some photos will be put online in due course for everyone to see.
Following the sad news of Miss Clark’s death in April, a Memorial Service for her has now been arranged for Sunday 21 July at Scarisbrick New Road Baptist Church in Southport at 2.30pm. (Postcode for Satnav users: PR8 6PU)
Please indicate here or by using our Contact Form if you are able to attend so that we have an idea of numbers.
The Hereford Times recently reported on Miss Clark’s career in deaf education.
A couple of staff news: some of you may remember Mrs Goodall, who was a teacher in the Junior School and organised the Brownies. When she retired she became caretaker at Glamis Castle in Scotland. Now Mrs Goodall is in a nursing home after suffering a bad stroke.
Also Mr Fyles has been in hospital for a while but is hoping to be discharged soon.
For those who were not able to attend Jack Henderson‘s funeral, and for those who were there but couldn’t follow everything said during the minister’s speech, the eulogy presented by Rev. Peter O Hughes is now available online to read. To see it, please go here.
The 1973 Horizon documentary ‘The Curtain of Silence’, which featured some pupils and staff from our school, is now available to view in full, with subtitles, on BBC iPlayer here.
News sent in today reveals our school is to feature on See Hear tomorrow (7 May) at 10.30am on BBC2. If you miss it, programme is repeated on Thursday at 12.25am on same channel. See Hear looks at a Horizon episode made 40 years ago which explored teaching methods at the time.
The BBC is looking for ex-pupils/staff who were at the school in 1973. If you’re one of those or know someone, please contact one of the following:
Mr Henderson has moved into Westcliffe Manor on Westcliffe Road in Birkdale. He has had a cataract operation and is due to have a second one later this month.
Mr Henderson is now finding it difficult to look after himself as he is suffering from dementia and is very forgetful. He will be at Westcliffe Manor for the forseeable future.
Mr Henderson has sent a message via his daughter, Christine Watkinson, on Facebook. He sends best wishes to everyone for the New Year. He is very grateful for all your Christmas cards and continued support, but is sorry to those he has not managed to send cards to. He is overcome by the numbers he continues to receive.