Mark Campbell remembers the sports days being “legendary”
Malvern Primary School has been open for decades. Pictured: Malvern’s bus, named ‘Matilda,’ which was bought in 1965(Image: Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell/Malvern Memories)
It’s now been over 70 years since one Merseyside primary school opened its doors – and while so much has changed since, pupils past and present still claim it remains “happiest place.” Located on Willoughby Road in Huyton Malvern Primary School first opened back in the early 1950s.
Around 20 years ago, the original school was demolished to make way for a new building, which still stands on the same site today. At the time, former pupil Mark Campbell, now 63, was inspired to research the history of Malvern after he attended a public meeting to decide the fate of the school’s old building.
For years, the taxi driver would spend any spare moment in between jobs to write his book chronicling the history of his old primary school, interviewing former pupils and sourcing photos from across the town and beyond.
Now over 50 years on from his final day, Mark has remained part of the school community, seeing his son Joe become a pupil and, as part of a community interest company, has continued to visit.
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As part of the Liverpool ECHO’s How It Used To Be series, we spoke to author and taxi driver Mark about his memories of his time at Malvern and why the school still holds a special place in his heart decades on.
Mark, from Huyton, told the ECHO: “The school opened in 1952.
“It was a large sprawling building that occupied quite a number of acres of the land in the Swanside area. Before a lot of the technology that exists now, if for example somebody phoned the school and said I need to take my child to the dentist, getting them from a classroom was far to walk.
Malvern Primary School’s original building(Image: Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell/Malvern Memories)
“The original school was made from old aluminium that was recycled from old World War II planes, Blenheim aircraft. It was built by a company called the Bristol Aeroplane Company and I’ve actually still got a part of the old aluminium that one day I’d love to get a friend of mine, Mike Badger from The La’s who is an artist, to make a model of that plane, which can go back in the new school.
“It was built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company and it wasn’t built to last – it was just a temporary measure. It was a permanent structure and probably wasn’t due to last for the 50-odd years that it did.” Mark started at the primary school in the late 1960s and said it was always a “happy place”.
Decades on, he still has fond memories of the “legendary” sports days and many school trips. The dad-of-one said: “School trips, sports days, football matches, it had everything that encapsulates what a good school is about.
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“There didn’t seem to be any disruptions. Everybody seemed to be happy to be there – the teachers, the staff, my parents and all the other pupils. The school has always gone on field trips, like many schools.
“I remember trips to Chester Zoo and we went to London for four days. I was the football captain and we went to Wembley and I remember leading our school team up the famous Wembley steps to collect an imaginary trophy – and I can still see now.
Mark when he was a pupil at the school(Image: Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell/Malvern Memories)
“Then there were the sports days and they were legendary. We had four teams – Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans. I remember if you won a particular event, you’d end up with a red badge to go onto your t-shirt and you’d walk around proudly with that for days on end.”
Seeing thousands of pupils come through their doors over time, Malvern also has a number of famous faces in their alumni. This includes Mark’s brother, musician Martyn Campbell who has worked with the likes of the Lightning Seeds, Cast and Richard Ashcroft; footballers Richard Johnson Dave and Steve Bleasdale, Paul Boardman and Neil Ashton, Boys from the Blackstuff actor Gary Bleasdale, DJ Paul Bleasdale, politician Lord David Watts and more.
Author and taxi driver Mark Campbell(Image: Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell/Malvern Memories)
Mark’s son Joe, 31, also went to the primary school and is now a filmmaker and director of company Culture City. Today, a new building is on the historic Malvern site and while the school has seen much change, it still remains among the “happiest” in Merseyside.
Back in July, the Liverpool ECHO reported how Malvern had been recognised for its “outstanding” performance and a place where “kindness is lived out in every aspect of school life.”
Malvern is today led by headteacher Tony James and his sister Natalie McGorian, who is the school’s deputy head, and the assessment was delivered by a lead Ofsted official after completing an inspection, who said it is ‘one of the happiest schools’ they have ever visited.
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In 2008, Mark Campbell celebrated the Huyton school’s 50-year history with his book Malvern Memories. The book sold out and Mark donated £3,500 to the school’s funds towards the purchase of a minibus.
In recent years, Mark was approached by Mr James to ask if he would consider writing an updated version of the book.
Now, Malvern Memories (Revisited)’ contain more than 600 photographs covering many aspects of school life including sports days, drama productions, class photos, teacher and auxiliary staff profiles and the hugely successful summer-fete, Malfest.
Malvern Primary School, Huyton. Pictured Headteacher Tony James and Deputy Headteacher Natalie McGorian with pupils(Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Mark said he is proud to leave this legacy behind for future Malvern pupils. He said: “I started trying to immortalise it at first in prints and photographs from all over the country of ex-pupils, ex-members of staff.
“I was sent all the photos. I went and interviewed a whole host of people. I feel like there was a degree of responsibility to ensure that I got it right.
Mark’s new book Malvern Memories (Revisited)(Image: Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell/Malvern Memories)
“Although it’s more than half a century since I left the school, I still consider it to be my Malvern. Its been a pleasure to research and write Malvern Memories (Revisited) and I hope it is enjoyed by many former pupils and members of staff in addition to todays pupils.”
Malvern Memories (Revisited) costs £15 plus £3 post and packaging. To find out more, click here.