T.Beaman Letter

From:     Thomas Beaman ( 1968-72)
Subject:  School History.

Dear Sir,

I was there '68 to '72 under the command of C.R.W and Knobby Clarke as the V.I.P looking back now I think it was the best 4 years of my life.

I did the lot. Who would think that in this day and age, that a teacher would teach a 12 year old pupil to shoot a Browning 9 mill automatic handgun?; but that is what Mr Buttler did to me and many more lads in the C.C.F.

All good stuff.

Anyway, back to the point. I've been reading your web-site with interest and can not get on to your reply site.

I do have some info of the history of the school that upto now I have not read. If this e-mail reaches you, then can you reply to me and I will share with you what I know.

Thank you,

Thomas Beaman.

Hi Tom,

Thank you , very much, for your email.  It does sound as though your contribution could be quite fruitful, as far as our History information is concerned. 

I am concerned at your problems in contacting us.  The Site has various links that are intended to make it easy for members to get onto any of the Officers (Secretary, Treasurer etc), with a view to paying their subscriptions etc. :-) .  In general, the procedure is to click on a name; such as :-

This should trigger your email system to produce a window such as :-

This should facilitate your sending an email to any of our officers.  Possibly, some of your data could be sent as "Attachments" or simply as part of your text.

Cheers - Webmaster

Dear Webmaster,

Firstly can I thank you for your reply. I'm sorry, but I've only just got into the 21st century on buying this lap-top. It took me a week just to find out how to turn the bugger on. Ha Ha.

I did as you said, by clicking on the site to send an e-mail to you, but it sent my lap-top up the wall. :-)  Anyhow, now I know how to get in touch.

I'm not in the u/k at the momen, but will be back in 4 weeks when I will be joining your club.

I will give you a brief of my info of the history of the school. Some years ago I went to a parents night at my daughters school. There, I met with her French teacher and lo and behold! he was in my form at the Collegiate. Not only that but the Head was our French master there. Sorry can't remember the names. He lent me a video which was a documentary of the school and it taught me a lot. To save me the time of typing it all, can you tell me if you have already seen or know about this video? If not, I will happy to share what I remember about it to you and the members

Thank you,

Tommy Beaman.

p.s.... If John Fowler is reading this, then I want him to know that his piece on the "fire" had me in stitches. I had to read it about 10's over. Laughed my head off and by the way, that organ did look good in me mams front room she was chuffed with it.

Hi Tommy,

It appears that we do have two videos relating to the school.

One was made by John Parry which covered some athletic events.

The other was produced by a Teachers` Organisation) and we have copies of that. It relates to the School and includes interviews with Taffy Jones and Bill Pobjoy.

He thinks that the one that you have may be one of these. 

Can you identify it from this little bit of information?

I can only hope that John Fowler is reading this, on our website, at (about) the same time as you are :-)

BTW - You may be able to send us a copy of this video, using "Dropbox" - I am not sure about that - I'll make some enquiries.

Cheers - Webmaster

Hi Webmaster,

The two videos that you speak of are not what seems be the same that I saw. I'll give you an example. Do you remember at each corridor leading from the central staircase had these big iron gates which were never closed? Did you ever think to yourself "what were they for; why were they there ?". Well I do. How many times did you and the lads walk past them and think about that one?

Sorry can not forward the video because as I said in my e-mail to you that I only borrowed it and returned it to the owner. I'm sorry now that I didn't make a copy. 

I would like anyone reading this, to give me the answer of the gates.  If no one does, then I'll spill the beans on what I know (or remember) about the vid.

Regards and thank you.

Tommy Beaman.

Dear Webmaster,

Just a short note to thank Tommy Beaman for his kind remarks about my "Fire" report

As Mark Twain said " I can live for two months on a good compliment". What I will do after that, I dont know.

Regards

John Fowler

Hi John

As far as "What I will do......."; The answer is simple.  Just write another email to your Website! 

What about taking up the challenge to answer his question about "The Gates"?

Cheers - Webmaster

Hi Webmaster,

The only thing I know about the gates is that :-

I heard that a gang of Old Boys died and went to heaven. When they arrived outside the Pearly Gates, they informed St.Peter that they were from Liverpool Collegiate and could they enter into heaven.

St Peter told them to wait by the gates, as he would have to go to ask God if they could enter.

God said " I dont know, 'a gang of scousers?'. I suppose, they are grammar school lads. Go and let them in!"

Peter returned 5 minites later---"God, they've gone!"

"The scousers?" asked God

"No, the bloomin gates!".

Cheers - John Fowler

Hi John,

Nice one John; the old ones are the best as they say! :-) :-) :-)

It seems that you do not know the reason for the gates.  Tell me John, do you remember the gates or not? Up to now, it seems that nobody does. :-(

Regards - Tommy Beaman.

Hello Webmaster,

Thank for your reply. In one of my e-mails to you I did say that I will be joining the club as soon as I get back to the U/K Which will be in two weeks time.

The facts I describe are what I saw on the vidio. I don't know if you already know them or not but in case you don't I will tell you what I know.

I will carry on from where I left my last e-mail you.

IT DOES APPEAR, THAT I HAVE MANAGED TO MISLAY TOMMY'S PREVIOUS EMAIL - THIS MIGHT SPOIL THIS FOLLOWING SECTION - HOWEVER, TOMMY HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO FORWARD TO US A COPY OF HIS PREVIOUS EMAIL - WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO SIMPLY INSERT IT HERE (IN IT'S CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER) BUT TO PRINT IT (ALONG WITH A COPY OF THIS EMAIL) AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE AS ONE DOCUMENT COVERING THE COMPLETE STORY - WEBMASTER

So here goes,

I've already told you about the first three floors of the building (that would be, the ground , first and second floors). So now to the top (the third floor). Do you remember the walls dividing the form rooms were not made of bricks and mortar but with two by four and plaster boards on the rooms facing the rear of the building. The rooms facing the front of the building were divided by what I can only describe as concertina walls. There was a good reason behind the concertina walls as anyone who was in the C.C.F will know. For those who don't I'll get back to one that latter

So now back to the second part of the story. The top floor was built as one big room with no windows and the reason for this was it was designed to be an art gallery. So therefore if the top floor had windows there would nowhere to hang the paintings. Now back to the gates and the reason they were there. The art gallery was open to the public, therefore the gates were there to stop the public wondering around the school. I don't know the dates when the top floor was partitioned to be used as form rooms.

Now to the reason of the concertina walls. Every now and then we lads in the C.C.F would pull back these walls and move all the desks etc to one side and then what ? Well and behold, we have a FIRING RANGE !! Unbelievable !! We would shoot from one end of the room full length of the building using .22 rifles. Believe me, we where not using air guns. It was the real thing using live ammo. As I said we were only using the .22's as it wouldn't be safe to use the .303's we had in the armoury. We kept them for Altcar.

Now for the third and final part of the history of the school which I know you are thinking "The Hall". Yes you are right. The hall when built had two uses. One was as an assembly hall and more importantly it was a concert hall. At that time the hall was used every day for school religious assembly, as far as I recall, it was the law of the land that every school in the u/k had to start the day with a religious assembly (after the hall went up in smoke, I knew that was the demise of the building being used for education)

When it was first built it could hold approx. 2500 people and because the hall was unique as in at that time it was the only concert hall in Liverpool, I would think it put on many concerts and would be full of PAYING customers. Also the reason behind the gates, to stop concert dwellers from wondering around the school.

When built the hall had the ground floor (yes I know what your thinking but for the sake of argument we'll call it the ground floor) and two balconies. If you recall we only saw one. If you look on the net there are some sketchers of the hall showing the second balcony. I'm not shore when or why the second balcony was taken down but rumour had it in my day that there was similar concert hall somewhere in England and at some time the top balcony collapsed. So to be safe the top balcony was taken away. As I said it was a rumour not fact.

Most of what I've told is mentioned in the history of school on your web-site but only briefly. I just wanted put it in a detailed account.

That concludes my part of the school history. I hope my story may be helpful to you. If I remember anything else I will let you know.

By the way Webmaster I never saw the hall go up but one night I was driving along Low Hill and the police had blocked off Erskine Street. I could not believe what I was looking at. Yes it was the school up in flames. it was uncanny. As you know from Low Hill you have a good view of the whole school. I sat there in my car looking down at the flames pouring out of every window. Sad day all around.

Thank you Webmaster for you time and looking forward to meeting you at the next dinner.

Tommy Beaman.

Hi Tommy (& other Members)

Thank you (once again) for an interesting email - Tommy has certainly provided us with a set of facts that have impressed me.

What we would like, is for other members to contribute to this discussion  - Surely there must be other COBs who are 'History Buffs' and are aware of this missing CD or some other source of data - Are there any other members who viewed the Fire from Low Hill?

We look forward to some stimulating discussion

Webmaster

Hello Webmaster,

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry but I did not know the proper procedures you have to go through to print things on your net.

I can assure you that what I have sent to you is true in the sense of what I saw (or remember) on the video I watched so many years ago. By the looks of things some of what I've told you is maybe new to you and the rest of your members.

If you and the other members think back (as I did when I watched the video) then it stands for reason, as in "the gates^ and the "nibs on the outer wall". At the time we were there, these things we saw, but thought nothing of them. When I watched the video I thought to myself " YES ! I remember those gates" and” YES!  I remember the nibs coming of the outer wall ". In fact if I'm right then I think that the "nibs are still there. When I get a chance I will go and have a look.

You asked me what years I attended it was '68 to '72. Thank God I left when I did just before the school declined from being "Grammar”. To "Scally" if you know what I mean.

Although I haven't done well for myself since I left, I can honestly say that if I hadn't attended the "Liverpool Collegiate School" I know 100% that I would be a lot worse off than I am now. Don't get me wrong Webmaster, I'm doing O.K. and enjoying my life as it is.

For example:-
I took Latin for the first year (sorry to bring back bad memories ha ha) and then three years of (dare I say) French!!! Now, many years down the line, I can't speak a word of either. BUT!!! and the big BUT, is I have learned to speak another language. Not only speak it, but I read and write it!

There are many things I would like to tell the membership about my short time attended the school. I hope sometime I might get the honour of doing so.

Thank you for your time, Tommy Beaman.

Hi Tommy,

It seems to us that what you have provided is quite a lot of "snippets" of School History - What we need now is a for you to write a complete article covering these facets  of the subject - What about it! Tom? - Let's be 'aving you! :)

Yours, Webmaster

Hello Webmaster,

As for me doing a full piece on the subject, I don't think I have the experience to do so.

I did say to you in one of my e-mails that maybe you can read my version of "the history of the school" and put it in your own words and put on the site.

I am sorry that I have not read the book by "Curran" however when I get the chance I will buy a copy and read it but going by what you have already said I don't think it mentions anything that I have told you. Seems amazing don't you think ?

Yours, - Tommy Beaman.

Hi Tommy,

I have a feeling that the problem in publishing such a complete document is that the "Source data" has to be identified.  Possibility, other members are able to come up with some confirmation of the source of the CD.

Cheers - Webmaster

Hello Webmaster,

I said to you in my e-mails, that most of what I told you is already mentioned briefly in your own "History of the School" on your web-site.

As in :-
I said the top floor had no windows and no dividing walls; it was one big room and was designed as an art gallery.
On your web-site it was a :-
" MUSEUM, PAINTING AND SCULPTURE GALLERY" and it was "218 FEET IN LENGH" and it was "WELL LIGHTED FROM THE ROOF".

I said that the hall had two balconies.
On your web-site :-
"THE LECTURE HALL (sorry I don't like to call by that name but) .STOOD 50 FEET HIGH WITH TWO GALLERIES (balconies)"

I said the School was opened as a three tier pupil paying system.
On your web-site :-
"THE INSTITUTION COMPRISES OF THREE DISTINCT DAY SCHOOLS AT DIFFERANT RATES OF CHARGE"

I said that the different classes of fee paying pupils were segregated in every way.
On your web-site:-
"WITH SEPARATE APARTMENTS (I would think we called then form rooms) PLAYGROUNDS (the school yard) AND DIVISIONS OF THE LECTURE HALL" (I would think that it would have been, ground floor (?) low paying, first balcony medium paying and second balcony high paying) The only thing that I have added is the way that the different fee paying pupils were actually segregated.

I think it is a shame that we will probably never recover the video that I saw. Up to now I think it is the only copy that actually shows the School as it was before the fire. As far as I remember, it showed the whole School even the Heads room and included the Hall and the other "ONE OFF" the organ. I think that maybe there is a chance to find the Video. I will, of course help you in any way I can.

Again Webmaster, thank you for your time.

Tommy Beaman.

Hello Webmaster,

You say that C.O.B.A has 600 members. Can you honestly tell me that they would not be interested in what I've told you ? I think that they would.

I am at the moment making further inquiries to do with the subject I have been in touch with some well-known people whom I think can help me. At the moment I am trying to get some photos of the inside of the school (pre fire) as up to now I can't find any on any site on the web.

Tommy

AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE NOW REPEATING ONE OF TOMMY'S EMAILS ALONG WITH A (MISLAID) EMAIL, WHICH (HOPEFULLY)  SHOULD "TOUCH ALL BASES".  - WEBMASTER

HERE GOES !!! :-

Yes it's me again. I can only think that nobody has seen the video that I saw. It was over twenty years ago when I saw it. I think the French teacher was called Mr Bradbury if that's any help for you to recover the video. I doubt if he's still alive. I can let you know what I know but I'm not that good of telling you. Therefore maybe after you have read this, you can put it into your own words and add it to "The History of the School" on your website.

So here goes :-

The School was built as a three fold building (not just as a school). So lets start with number one which was of course "education" and this was taken up on the first three floors. As mentioned briefly in "The history of the school" on your website. I think it goes a little more than that. If you recall the question of the Gates I did say that the clue is in "the history of the school" in so much as the "education" part of the School was on three different classes of fee paying pupils. So for the sake of argument we'll call them "low paying" "medium paying" and "high paying".  I do not know which class of pupil used which floor.

So if you think to yourself "how do you stop a low paying pupil from sneaking off to a high paying pupil formroom" ?  Well here's the answer, yes! it was the gates. The gates had two roles to play. The first was to stop the different classes of pupils mixing with one another. They where always kept shut and locked. If you think about it, the school had three staircases to the formroms. I would think that the "high paying" pupils would have used the BELOVED central staircase and the other pupils used the staircases at each end of the school. So now you know the first reason behind the gates. As I said before Webmaster do you remember the gates?. If so, did you ever think to your self "what were they for"?

Now let's go to the school yard (A.K.A the playground). I don't know if you remember the massive wall that surrounded the schoolyard. It must have been twenty foot high and two foot thick. I didn't think anything of it but when I watched the video it mentioned and actually showed a "NIB" coming out of the wall There was actually two, one on each side of the grounds. Well it turns out that when the school was built, these were not "NIBS" but actual walls going from the outer wall to the hall. Thus stoping the different paying classes of pupils mixing with each other.

Now to the top (the third floor). Do you remember the walls dividing the form rooms were not made of bricks and mortar but with two by four and plaster boards on the rooms facing the rear of the building. The rooms facing the front of the building were divided by what I can only describe as concertina walls. There was a good reason behind the concertina walls as anyone who was in the C.C.F will know. For those who don't I'll get back to that one that latter

The top floor was built as one big room with no windows and the reason for this was it was designed to be an art gallery. So therefore if the top floor had windows there would nowhere to hang the paintings. Now back to the gates and the reason they were there. The art gallery was open to the public, therefore the gates were there to stop the public wondering around the school. I don't know the dates when the top floor was partitioned to be used as form rooms.

Now to the reason for the concertina walls. Every now and then we lads in the C.C.F would pull back these walls and move all the desks etc to one side and then what ? Well and behold, we have a FIRING RANGE !! Unbelievable !! We would shoot from one end of the room to the other end (the full length of the building) using .22 rifles. Believe me, we were not using air guns. It was the real thing using live ammo. As I said we were only using the .22's, as it wouldn't be safe to use the .303's we had in the armoury. We kept them for Altcar.

Now for the third and final part of the history of the school which I know you are thinking "The Hall". Yes you are right. The hal,l when built, had two uses. One was as an assembly hall and more importantly it was a concert hall. At that time the hall was used every day for school religious assembly, as far as I recall, it was the law of the land that every school in the u/k had to start the day with a religious assembly (after the hall went up in smoke, I knew that was the demise of the building being used for education)

When it was first built it could hold approx. 2500 people and because the hall was unique as in at that time it was the only concert hall in Liverpool, I would think it put on many concerts and would be full of PAYING customers. Also the reason behind the gates, to stop concert dwellers from wondering around the school.

When built the hall had the ground floor (yes I know what your thinking but for the sake of argument we'll call it the ground floor) and two balconies. If you recall we only saw one. If you look on the net there are some sketchers of the hall showing the second balcony. I'm not sure when or why the second balcony was taken down but rumour had it in my day that there was similar concert hall somewhere in England and at some time the top balcony collapsed. So to be safe the top balcony was taken away. As I said it was a rumour not fact.

Most of what I've told is mentioned in the history of school on your web-site but only briefly. I just wanted put it in a detailed account.

That concludes my part of the school history. I hope my story may be helpful to you. If I remember anything else I will let you know.

By the way Webmaster I never saw the hall go up but one night I was driving along Low Hill and the police had blocked off Erskine Street. I could not believe what I was looking at. Yes it was the school up in flames. it was uncanny. As you know from Low Hill you have a good view of the whole school. I sat there in my car looking down at the flames pouring out of every window. Sad day all around.

Tommy Beaman.

Hello everybody (Webmaster here)

It seems obvious that we should offer our thanks for all this data.  It strikes me that Tommy has put in quite a lot of effort, here.  We can see that the 'nitty gritty' of what he said, seems to dovetail in with the other facts that have been gleaned from (documented) sources.  What we need to be able to do is to clearly identify our source of information, so that our members can make up their mind as to the validity of this addition to our history.  Has anybody else any knowledge  of these CDs and where we might be able to obtain a copy?  This point is of particular importance, in as much as we need to identify whether the source of the CD's data (which Tommy saw) is authentic.

We can't stress this enough, that we need other COBs to contribute to this matter - Have you got some data?  -  Have you seen this video (or other videos) that can help) ? - Don't afraid of offering only 'a smidgen of info' - every little helps and, even if it seems that we are trying to build the story of the school's history, like LEGO model, try to think back to how you enjoyed similar things when you were younger :-) :-) :-)

Cheers Webmaster