Professor John Gittins from the University of Toronto had written to Mr McDowell in January asking if he would be permitted to visit his old primary school and visit some of his old ‘ haunts ’. Actually John did not know Mr McDowell by name and only knew the school as ‘ Davyhulme Council School ‘ when he was pupil number 313 , admitted on 1st May 1940, on the first day the school opened .
He was joined by two of his three daughters and he was very impressed by the archives we were able to show him ,particularly the original uniform hat and blazer. During his time here he helped to plant trees in the orchard and was greatly impressed by Edgar Shaw ( first headteacher ) and two other teachers - Miss C.J. Swarbreck and Mrs Whitely “ They gave me excellent beginnings “.
From the photographs you will note John standing by our archives and also meeting Mr Reynolds who has taken on the role of ‘school historian’ as he prepares to organise events marking the school’s 80th Birthday on 1st May 2020.
John has had a very full life teaching at the University of Toronto for over 35 years so it is nice to know that his former headteacher and other teachers had such a profound influence on him that he would want to make this ‘pilgrimage ‘ - the rest of us mere mortals can only hope that we can have a similar positive effect on our pupils.
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