BLUE COAT TALES

CAULFIELD ON THE RUN

  When Mr Caulfield ran the Tuck Shop he used to collar the first non-prefect passing and send him down to the staff room to collect his tea during morning break. One individual in my year, who shall remain nameless, got his hands on some phnelphthaline laxative capsules from Spain (not licensed over here - they're too strong!) He picked a day when we were finishing early so there could be a staff meeting. Mr Caulfield was supposed to be in the meeting all afternoon. The lad made sure he was picked for "tea duty" and popped a number (!) of capsules' contents in the pot. We hung around a bit to see how fast Mr Caulfield could run! Nothing was said by us, but I'm pretty sure that he and the culprit had serious words the next day.

The next story was sent to me by J D C Jones, now safely out of danger of retribution in Pocahontas, Arkansas, USA. He passed through the school twenty years before me.

The lad who sent me the next tale has fled even further - to Queensland, Australia. Alex Copeland was a border from 1943 to 1948 - for part of this time the school was evacuated to Beaumaris, Anglesey, due to the Second World War, when large areas of Liverpool were bombed. Alex is currently writing a book about his time at the Blue Coat School and has a page on this website.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

  Tommy Hughes and I were in the long covered way in North Wales, me with a broom knocking down apples from the espaliered apple trees and Tommy picking them up behind. Along came Mr Crebbin in the opposite direction - we were caught out. He invited us to join him in his study and gave me the choice of six of the best on the hands or the backside. I decided to face my accuser and received six of the best on the hands. He said, "There, that didn't hurt did it, Copeland?" I, of course, replied "No, Sir!" So he said, "Bend over," and gave me six hearty whacks on the rear. We deserved it.

  Mr Unwin returned from his war as an officer in the Air Force and I believe he became Deputy Head later on - a well-liked and respected teacher. I have many other memories of my time in North Wales and back in Liverpool, but you will have to wait for me to complete my book.