Our feature on memories of Mount Pleasant School in the 1940s prompted Examiner reader Brian Mason to provide us with these wonderful old photos.

Brian’s two older brothers, Kenneth and Dennis, were both pupils there in the early 1930s and appear on these pictures.

Ken, of Dalton, was 83 when he died some time ago while Dennis was 96 when he passed away last year. Dennis lived in Lockwood and Brian came across the photos when he was sorting out his keepsakes.

The family originally lived on St Thomas Road which is why Kenneth and Dennis attended Mount Pleasant but they moved to Dalton which meant Brian and his other brother, Colin, both went to Moldgreen Council School.

Colin served with the Green Howards in the Second World War and was wounded during the Allied invasion of France in June 1944.

He went back to the frontline a short time later and was killed at Caen. His death was certified in a field hospital.

Brian, 80, of Ayton Road in Longwood, says his family moved down from Newcastle when his father Sydney came here to find work. Mum Sarah Ellen was busy bringing up the four boys.

Sydney was a painter and decorator and did some of the intricate work on the ceilings inside Huddersfield Town Hall.

And, to bring even more memories back, Brian has also provided old photos from Dennis’ collection of Dalton Carnival processions through Dalton but doesn’t know the year. He thinks they were taken from right outside the family’s front door on Long Lane as they lived opposite the old Grove pub.

Copy photographs of Dalton Carnival from Brian Mason of Longwood showing the band marching past the old Grove pub.
Copy photographs of Dalton Carnival from Brian Mason of Longwood showing the band marching past the old Grove pub.

* Retired teacher Robert Ward from Lindley also has affectionate memories of his time at Mount Pleasant ... and believes without the teachers’ help he wouldn’t have joined the profession.

Robert was born in 1941, lived on Bentley Street in Lockwood and went to the infant school with his friend Melvyn Bawn but illness caused him to miss out on his early education at junior school.

He said: “Mrs Calvert taught me to read – much of it in her own time – and Mr Dalton taught me art. I failed my 11 plus and moved into the senior school. Mr Birkbeck was my music teacher

He started the school orchestra and taught me to play the flute.”

Robert became head boy and went on to pass exams at Huddersfield Technical College and trained as a teacher at Sheffield City Teacher Training College, eventually becoming Head of Music at Royds Hall Secondary School.

He said: “Looking back, if it hadn’t been for the kindness and dedication of the teachers at Mount Pleasant I would not have had my career in education.

I am reaching my 74th year and Melvyn Bawn is still my friend.”

Mount Pleasant School in 1954