OUR look back at St Chad’s Mission brought back memories of his younger days for pensioner Gordon Driver.

Now 71, Gordon was born in Pleckgate, Blackburn, as was his mum Irene, who was better known as Renee.

She used to live in a cottage next door to the old Knowles Arms.

As well as a church, St Chad’s was a boys-only school in the late 1940s, before the pupils moved on to Lammack.

There used to be three long desks, each with 10 boys, all representing different age groups.

The teacher was Mr Sharples, a strict disciplinarian who regularly punished pupils with his cane.

He was also an enthusiastic football coach, with a keen will to win, which made for a successful school soccer team.

Remembered Gordon: “My friend John Caton and I stayed for school dinners, although we lived nearby, because then we could play football during the lunch hour on Pleckgate playing fields.

And we knew that if Mr Sharples really got into the coaching we would always miss the start of afternoon lessons, which was always appealing to two young lads.”

Gordon also went to Sunday School at St Chad’s, run by George Eastwood, and was a member of the choir. He remembers George Eastwood junior being a lay reader.

Bessie Mannel played the organ.

At the centre of the local community, there was also a youth club at the mission, run by Gordon’s mum and the Davis family, and members enjoyed table tennis, badminton and dances.

Said Gordon: “When we were at the youth club, I remember we always took the opportunity to find Mr Sharples’ canes and throw them away!”

Later, in their teens, Gordon and John founded Pleckgate Athletic football club and also played cricket.