Ron Freethy recalls Hest Bank Camp School memories

I RECENTLY wrote about readers' memories concerning clogs.

I did not use the interesting letter from Mr J King, of Francis Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, because he stirred my memories on another subject.

Mr King went to school in Burnley and asked if I had any information on the Camp School at Hest Bank near Carnforth, which was owned by the Burnley Education Authority.

He goes on: " I recall going there twice. I never knew the criteria which entitled pupils to attend this place, but they were happy times.

"I seem to recall that we had lessons during the morning and the remainder of the days were spent on various activities, such as searching the foreshore and the hundreds of little pools for signs of wildlife, or watching steam trains such as the "Flying Scot" rushing through Hest Bank Station on the way to or from Scotland. "All the lads slept in wooden dormitories. There were also one or two ladies who looked after any lads who had accidents or mending any tears in our short pants or darning socks etc.

"What happened to the place? And when was it last used for that purpose?"

RON'S REPLY

I can certainly help. In the 1960s I taught at Rosegrove School for Boys in Burnley. On several occasions I took classes to the camp school and it was the teachers who selected the pupils.

Lessons went on but we tried to ensure that there were lots of walks, as well as plenty of sport.

I remember walking across the level crossing to the beach where there was often thousands of birds to watch.

This area is now the RSPB's Morecambe Bay reserve and is run as a joint enterprise with the reserve at Leighton Moss. This is now famous for its bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers. Mr King asks "What happened to the place?" Like many other amenities it eventually became too expensive to run and (in the late 1960s, I think) it was sold as valuable building land. It is now a housing estate.

I am sure that other people will have fond memories of the camp school and some may even have photographs.

It is strange that Mr King remembers the "Flying Scots" come thundering through Hest Bank Station because I too remember the days of steam.

On one day whilst at the school I surprised twenty boys, half of which were collecting train numbers and the rest were bird watching.

This was the time when teachers could watch their pupils learn. Reading and writing become easier when you are reading and writing in pursuit of a hobby!

I followed in Mr King's footsteps and although the school has gone the Railway Station, the shore and the nearby Lancaster Canal has altered very little. This letter gave me an enjoyable day out and I hope that it stirs other people to record their memories of Hest Bank's East Lancashire connection.

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