Article contributed by Adrian Calderwood - June 05

"Mr Leech"

I now live in Australia and am a school principal. I attended Harryville Primary School between 1958 and 1963 at which time my family emigrated to Australia.

I enjoyed my time at the school but one enduring memory is being caned by Mr Leech the headmaster, because my handwriting in Mr Edmonson's class was not up to scratch. To make things worse I was then expected to redo the writing with my hands throbbing from the cane.

I well remember Mr Edmundson's classes and the way he could smack you behind the knees so that you sprawled on the floor. Another lasting memory is thawing the milk on the radiators each day during the winter.

I have twice been back to visit the school (in '97 and again last year, 2004) and found that it was still very similar to when I had attended in 1958 to 63.

I guess we remember the worst aspect but I also remember some great times.

Friends that I have now lost touch with like Alistair Wade, Quentin McFall, Jane Turtle, Sandra Bammer. It is amazing how some things stick and others disappear as I am aware that these individuals were not my closest friends. I remember sitting the '11 plus' just before leaving Ireland and then going straight into a secondary school on arrival in Portland Victoria. That was quite an experience but also quite another story.

I would love to contact some classmates from my time at Harryville.
email address: calderwood.william.wa@edumail.vic.gov.au

YOUR RESPONSES

Isobel Neill nee Rainey - March '06
I attended harryville school from 1953/1960. i also remember mrs wilson and mrs brown mr o'neill was my favouret teacher. i have two brothers roy and david rainey who also attended harryville. my name is isobel now neill. my husband and i left antrim in 1974 and went to live in canada. we also had a 2yr old son ryan. we had 2 more children in canada. in 1990 we decided to move back to ballymena and stayed for 12 yrs before moving back to canada again. my friends were peggy irons ,roberta elder. i lived on the moat rd near the craigbilly rd. the churches and adgers and grahams all lived on the same row as me before they built houses on the gypsy loaney.

Relevant weblinks:

YP&M - Harryville Primary School