Kenton Bar Estate - A Blast from the Past

Remember when you went to Kenton school and you were given your exercise books for each subject and had to take them home and 'back' them?...what was that about eh?...some link to the army and discipline and such like...(there was an army like ethos in secondary schools at that time, a legacy from WW2 and lots of teckas having been in the army and having had to do military service)but anyway why I ask you, why? us council type kids from Kenton Bar had no choice but to use horrible acrylic(?) ghastly wallpaper which at that horrible time(1970) was yellowwhite or brown(there were no other colours except yellowwhite or brown in the 70's-everything, cars, clothes, interior decor was all whiteyellow(due to fag smoke) or brown then, but I digress:bookbacking, what was it all about, eh? made your book all bumpy, hard to write in and bloody heavier to carry in your hava! ('Posh' type kids used brown parcel wrapping paper, bought specially from the post office...)

Here's the latest'badge'...in use now, 2009... again thanks to 'Kenton School Past and Present' booklet for all images. I personally dont like it, but then again, I'm an octogenarian old man... ;) 'Kenton school pupils were challenged with the task of designing a completely new logo to embrace a school for the 21st century. The final design was initially based on preliminary sketches created by year 7 and 8 pupils. The beautiful arc shapes symbolise two main concepts, bridges and rainbows. The use of rainbows has a long tradition:they are displayed in many cultures around the world as a sign of diversity, inclusivity and hope...Bridges of course, have always had great symbolic meaning. They are seen as symbols of peace and optimism and making connections. '

Now this is horrible...the changes are not subtle and the colours are vile...looks like you need to use 3D glasses to see it properly...also a castle should be drawn with stones in, not left white. 0/10 This design was introduced in 2003.

Here's badge 2, which I seem to recall coming in during my time there...I like it-it is symmetrical and the colour contrast is pleasing to the eye, and the changes are subtle. The KSS(Kenton Secondary School)italic like font has gone and is replaced by a castle(Castle Keep, High Level Bridge?) introduced in the 1980's.

And so then on to Kenton School badges! I do believe you bought them seperately to the uniform and then had to sew them on to the left breast pocket...here is badge 1...I just cant recal whether I had this badge...I sadly no longer have my 'blazer'...master, can you help? did'st thou have it? If so so did I... 'The school badge, which was designed by the college of Art and Industrial design, symbolised in it interlocking rings the unity of the three types of secondary education(Eh?...What?...anyone unravel this?...) and also provided a link between Newcastle's past and future, by incorporating the three rings from the coat of arms of Robert Rhodes from whom the beatiful lantern tower of St Nicholas's Cathederal originates'... (Thanks to Kenton School'Past, Present and Future' commemorative booklet for quote)

The school now has a uniform and a badge, unlike when I went some 30+years ago... I'm guessing the plane icon is to do with the school's proximity with the airport( Incidently, see blog post 'flat roofs on kenton bar point 1)...but what's the castle like tower thing all about?... here is the badge-note the school colours, blue and yellow and see the post 'kenton bar football team 74-5' for confirmation of the heritage...

Brothers, alas we cannot find any photos of these noble creatures, the late creators(we think) of she, the eighth wonder of the world, the kenton bar pyramid, and the oh so beautiful estate(definately)... :( Can anyone help?...

I also remember that when you went up to Kenton Comprehensive you were given a bible on the first day...it was red, hardback and written in yellow on the front were the words'The bible'...but why?...why did they give you this gift...WHY I ask you?...Kenton Comprehensive was no catholic school, so why give you a bible, eh? anyone else remember the red godman book with yellow writing?.... anyone still got it and can up a photo to the blog?

Shades posted a comment in reply to my 'Reversible PE top' post...I stand corrected by Shades and the master as to the colour being dark blue and apologise profusely... Shades goes on to mention the Kenton School tie which has machinated mien mind to recall the tie in more detail...Kenton Bar School didn't have a uniform 30 years ago, nor did any of the schools then, so there was no ties worn until when you went to Kenton Comprehensive where one had to master the art of tying a tie...initially the fashion was to have the biggest knot possible that you could get away with, but by the time I left the knot had to be the smallest knot possible, due possibly to the mod revival (Jam, Merton Parkers, Secret Affair) but I digress: My recollections of the tie are shameful and horrible...I remember all the ruffians from the bottom of Kenton Bar and their new horrible friends with nicknames ending in 'y' from Hillsview School developed a new 'game' to entert...

the blog received this email from ryder architects: 'Hi Mr Mensforth, more details on the exhibition coming soon. Stephenson quarter is next to Royal Mail buildings behind the Central Station. On the Kenton info, I'm trying to find out how much info we still hold. If any it will be very deeply filed'... I replied and asked this noble creature to dig very deeply, promising a bottle of wine...fingers crossed then oh my brothers... Incidently, the master has not ordered me to go to this exhibition,nor has he bothered to reply so I ask thou, avid readers and kind friends to decide...yea or nay: mensforth to spend time and effort to go to the RIBA exhibition in the hope of finding the holy grail?...