Spirit of Birkenhead Institute

I was a pupil at the Birkenhead Institute from 1940 to 1944.  Having lost several houses to bombs and nearly being hit by a landmine I survived and  left at the age of 16 and went to work at Lever Brothers for 2 years.  I was then called up into National Service with the RAF for the next three years.  This should have been for only 2 years, but the Berlin Airlift unfortunately delayed my leaving for another year.  I went on to work as an industrial chemist at Shell Oil Refinery for 12 years before leaving the North to work for British American Tobacco in Southampton.  I worked there until given voluntary retirement in 1983.  Since then I have been happily retired living in Southbourne in Bournemouth with my wife.  I have two children now aged 53 and 49 and six grandchildren.

I have many fond memories of the BI and can distinctly remember some of the characterful teachers that helped me pass my School Certificate.  Leading among these are Fizzy Whimps the physics teacher, Bummy Jones my Chemistry teacher and Hetty Rosenbloom the art teacher.  I thought that these teachers were especially talented and made my school days a fond memory.

I would love to hear stories/memories from others who were at school during these years. 

Cyril Martin