Nostalgia: It is all change at school

Speaking at the official opening of Lydgate Primary School, chief education officer Sir Alec Clegg said children from the age of five would be taught everything about decimalisation while their parents would be still trying to work it all out.

“They will learn in a matter of weeks what will take the parents months and even years to learn,” he told the News.

Sir Alec used this point to illustrate the changes which had occurred in primary education around 1970.

He said education taught in schools was far removed from the days when arithmetic was taught from the Bible and spelling from little cards on which were written phrases such as “it is not a sin to sit on a sod and nod”.

Gone were the days when children were required to learn the rivers of Yorkshire and the capitals of countries.

Sir Alec said the emphasis was on children playing a much more active part in their education, which was a growing trend in schools.

The school was formally opened by County Aid L I Fitzpatrick and the prayer of dedication was given by the vicar of Hanging Heaton, Rev K C Grain.

Little Graham Marston was given a new lease of life after undergoing surgery to have a hole in her heart repaired.

The brave 10-year-old was diagnosed with the condition when he was just three months old and also had a faulty value.

Since the condition was discovered, his life consisted of an endless trail to specialists and doctors.

Graham, of Enfield Drive, Carlinghow, found difficulty in breathing and several times he passed out in shops and at friends’ homes.

As a result, his mother, Hazel Marston, had to constantly carry a bottle of brandy around with her for reviving Graham.

The youngster had also never been able to participate in his favourite sport of football.

Graham was first operated on when he was just five-years-old. Shortly afterwards however, his lung collapsed and a tube had to be inserted to draw off the excess fluid.

Because of this, the doctors were unwilling to operate until he was older and were forced to wait another five years.

The operation was unique in British medical history in that one of his heart valves was replaced by an artificial one made from part of his thigh muscle.

The hole in his heart was also patched up and he was expected to be able to carry out a full and active life.

Mr Marston told the News: “My husband and I do not own a car but thanks to our wonderful neighbours and friends, we were able to visit Leeds Infirmary twice a day for five weeks.

“Several times we almost gave up hope for Graham, but the surgeons did a really wonderful job.

“Prayers were said for him in many churches and we received so many letters and cards wishing him well.”

Denim flares, big sunglasses and glam rock fashion. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a retro night but in 1970, students at the Batley School of Art and Design were showcasing the top trends of their time.

Around 16 girls and one boy strutted their stuff on the catwalk as they staged their first fashion show from the textile and fashions department.

“We made the clothes during college hours,” said student Nancy Riach.

“We made our own blocks, so the clothes fit perfectly and formed our own patterns as some of the designs are entirely original.”

Materials were supplied by seven local firms after an idea by head of the department Barry Howgate.

He said: “It struck me that local industries were not supporting the college enough.

“They always had plenty of exotic and new fabrics but we never saw any of them.”

Manufacturers who supplied materials included Newsome’s George Hirst and Fenton and Bradley.

At their first show, the audience was restricted to chosen guests and representatives of the manufacturers, but the students planned to hold a second show which would be open to the public.

A special feature of the show was a bag, designed by student Nigel Lister, of the graphic design department.

His design had been chosen as the official design for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, the first World Cup tournament to be staged in North America.

Mr Lister had received more than 2,000 orders for the bag and featured the cup placed between a globe and a football.