Cross Country Run Hollins School late 70's

[Strategic Reserve]

Who remembers slogging up this hill on the Hollins Cross Country course. This was back in the late 70's when I did it. We used to run down from Hollins into the Priestly Clough and up this steep embankment. This sorted the men from the boys. Some kids would hide under the old railway bridge before here and have a crafty fag. The teachers soon sussed this and one of them would wait further up the embankment to count everyone through.

[Margaret Pilkington]

This is nothing new.
We used to do this run in the late fifties.
The secret place to have a quick puff then was at the back of Farmer Nelson's Barn.
Mrs Whittaker, our sports teacher used to be on King George's playing field equipped with binoculars and would collar those who took too long to pass behind it.....She would smell them for cigarette smoke and any who failed her 'nose' were given detention and a note to take home for their parents.
We did this run in all weathers and in Winter just thin gym blouse and navy blue knickers...I hated every frozen minute of it.....but my best friend loved it and she would drag me along with her.

[Strategic Reserve]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

This is nothing new.
We used to do this run in the late fifties.
The secret place to have a quick puff then was at the back of Farmer Nelson's Barn.
Mrs Whittaker, our sports teacher used to be on King George's playing field equipped with binoculars and would collar those who took too long to pass behind it.....She would smell them for cigarette smoke and any who failed her 'nose' were given detention and a note to take home for their parents.
We did this run in all weathers and in Winter just thin gym blouse and navy blue knickers...I hated every frozen minute of it.....but my best friend loved it and she would drag me along with her.

I remember doing it in snow, rain, etc. We used to do sports in all weathers. I remember playing football in the snow at Hollins I also remember the teachers sometimes waited at the top end of Bullough Park near Willows Lane to count people through on the cross country. I also remember sometimes if you didn't bring a towel for a shower afterwards you got the pump. Kids have it easier nowadays.

[landhusweg]

Hi,
Sorry for the late reply, but only just seen this thread now.
Yes we would do the same mid 50’s i.e. have a cig under the railway bridge just before coming up to the playing fields.
We would hide 1 cig and 1 match in one of our socks, but you were up the famous creek if your match went out!