Peter Ward 1952 to 1957

St Mary’s old boy Peter Ward celebrating his 80th birthday

Peter Ward, from St Paul’s Cray, started at St Mary’s in 1952, when the school was still a college and situated next to St Lawrence’s Church on Main Road.

Peter started at the same time as the much-admired Fr Leo McIver, the Lancastrian, football-playing Marist who was headmaster for ten years.

As well as Fr McIver, Peter recalls Frs McKeown, Norton, Stoyle, Howarth and Fr McShane whose party trick was to throw a tennis ball underarm on to the church roof. He also recalls the Canadian Maths and Science Master Paul Bailey and a young ‘Spike’ Wilkinson, who arrived in 1953.

Among Peter’s classmates were Martin Merson, Eddie Small, Mick Huntley, Terry Russell, Colin Walsgrove, Mick Casey, Michael Taylor, Michael Bell, Michael Brown, Michael Madigan and Stephen Barnes.

Peter made the move to the new school on Chislehurst Road at the beginning of 1957 but left that summer. Before retiring in 2010, aged 69, Peter held a number of different jobs including an Apprentice Marine Engineer with the Merchant Navy, a computer operator and, from 1976 until his retirement, a local government registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages.

He is married with one son and still lives in St Paul’s Cray.

Peter would love to hear from anyone who remembers him and can be contacted via email on pward1977@hotmail.co.uk or mobile 07837 247586.