BIRKDALE NEWS
May 1990

A Word from the Editor

This is the third newsletter with news about Birkdale School and some of its former pupils. May I take this opportunity to thank those people who have written to me during the past year with their news. Quite a number of ex-pupils have visited the school and so were able to tell us what they had been doing. I hope that many more of you will write to me with items for inclusion in future newsletters; in fact, I would be happy to receive ideas or suggestions for later editions. The address to write to with your news and information is: Tony Wright, [address supplied].

The highlight of the year for the school has to be the Royal visit. (Report follows later.) This gave the school good publicity and an opportunity to show that deaf children can learn to talk by making full use of whatever hearing they have through their hearing aids. However, many signing deaf adults argue that schools like Birkdale are denying the children the right to be part of the deaf community by not teaching and using sign language. As former pupils, we need to stand up and challenge this statement. Because we have become talking deaf adults, thanks to the education we had at Birkdale, we claim the right to live in the hearing world. Are YOU prepared to make your voices heard and tell others of your achievements? If you are interested and wish to discuss this further, please write to Mrs Tomkinson at the school or to me at the above address.

Princess Diana Visits School

Last September the Princess of Wales came to visit the school. Mrs Tomkinson, Principal of the school, escorted the Princess on her tour of the school.

The Princess met a group of junior children reading in the library and heard a group of children singing and playing tuned percussion instruments. She also met two groups of senior children being taught in their respective lessons.

In the Audiology Room, the Princess heard about the daily hearing aid check, saw an ear mould impression being made and was shown the computerised equipment used in the testing of children's hearing.

Some former pupils came back to school to meet the Princess. Before leaving the school, Princess Diana signed the Visitors' Book and received a book and video about the work of the school. After the visit, there was fun and games in the afternoon for the children and a party in the evening. It was a day that both staff and children will remember for a long time to come.

News in Brief

John Barlow is getting married in June this year. [Congratulations John! - TW]

Keeping up with hair fashions is all in a day's work for Carolyn Brown as she is employed by 'Headlines', the hairdressers, in Southport.

Timothy Cooper is a Director in charge of West Berkshire Housing Consortium.

Paul Fellows works in the Bakery Department at Tescos supermarket near Ormskirk. He is married to Marion Marshall and they both live, with their two daughters, in Churchtown, Southport. Paul's brother, Philip Fellows, is also married, but lives in Blackpool. He is employed by a building firm and mainly does roofing work.

Peter Fisher still works for Shearings Holidays and is now engaged to an Austrian girl.

Stephanie Grimshaw has left the stables at Steeple Aston in Oxon and she is now looking after horses at a stud in York. She is getting married next year. [Best wishes for the big day, Stephanie! - TW]

Michael Lumby still enjoys his work on the mushroom farm at Ormskirk.

Joanne Parker works as a Clerk/Typist at Ormskirk and District General Hospital. In the mornings, Joanne works in the Personnel Department and in the afternoons she works on the computers over in the District as part of the hospital.

Colin Sandford has left an engineering firm in Skelmersdale and is now working in Cambridge at an aeroplane factory.

Andrew Stewart is currently working hard to renovate a house in Southport which he will eventually go and live in.

Terry White is a Sales Manager of interior design products based in Birmingham. He is married with a 6 month old baby girl.

Mervyn Williams now works at Smedleys in Southport.

Silver Jubilee for Mrs Tomkinson

Mrs Tomkinson celebrated a silver anniversary last November as it was 25 years ago when she started teaching at the school. Mrs Tomkinson originally came into the school as a supply teacher and has stayed ever since.

She became Head of the junior department in 1980 and took over the role of Principal in 1986 following Miss Clark's retirement.

Jet-setting Summer for Tony

Tony Wright has an exciting summer ahead as in July he is going to Rochester in the USA to attend a conference on the education of the deaf. After the conference closes, he will be going to Johannesburg in South Africa to see his parents.

Top of the Form

Charlotte Speak is in her second year at Birmingham Polytechnic studying for a BA Hons degree in Jewellery and Silversmithy. Charlotte says she is enjoying the course and likes the social life with the other students. Before going to Birmingham Polytechnic, Charlotte spent two years at Blackburn College of Art & Design studying BTEC in Art & Design.

After spending some time working as a chef in an hotel, Julian Nuttall has decided to study for a career as a Quantity Surveyor. He is currently on a course at Leeds University.

Congratulations to Timothy Dickinson who was awarded a place at Wadham College, Oxford, last year. Timothy is studying Mathematics, but finds time to take up bridge and chess. He won a Quickplay Chess Tournament and was invited to represent Oxford University in the Intermediate section of the National Championships. Timothy has also taken up tiddlywinks. [It seems there's more to it than meets the eye! - TW]

Keeping the Garden Pests at Bay

A letter from Michael Fahey tells us that after 15 years gardening for Wigan MBC as Craftsman in Charge, he took exams and passed in the safe use of chemicals in Agriculture. He now has a licence to use pesticides and was hoping to set up his own business last year. [I hope you were successful in starting your business, Michael - TW]

Michael got married in 1984 to Sara and they now have a three year old boy called Jonathan Matthew.

Reunion 1990

Over 100 former pupils gathered at the Queens Hotel in Southport on 12 May for another very successful reunion. Many thanks must go to Dorothy & Neil Caven for all the hard work they put into organising this event.

Weekend Breaks for Ex-pupils?

Peter Fisher sends this message for all former pupils:

"As I work for a holiday travel firm, I wondered if anyone would be interested in weekend breaks just for us. This could allow us time to spend with friends over a few days in a suitable holiday location. If anyone is interested, please reply to me with your views and comments. Depending on the response, something could be planned for 1991."

[As Peter will be working in Spain during the next six months, could all replies come to me, please, and I'll make sure Peter gets them - TW]

Newsletter Number 4

The next newsletter will be circulated in November 1990 so please remember that any news you may have for inclusion in that edition must be sent to the Editor before the end of October.

Please note: addresses originally supplied in this issue are now out of
date & are no longer valid so they have been removed

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