Brackenber House Uniform

If anyone reading my blog happens to have a Brackenber uniform in their possession; or could even take a photograph of it, I'd be keen to publish it here. I attended Brackenber in the early seventies.

I have checked the internet and there is scarcely any information about Brackenber or, to give the school its full name, Brackenber House Preparatory School. The school was an old, Victorian villa in Cleaver Avenue, south Belfast; and it was demolished many years ago in order to make way for a housing development.

This is the only entry which gives a little information. A past pupil has taken the trouble to publish this.

In my time, the headmaster was John Craig. Other teachers included Harvey Cross, Frank McQuoid, John Magowan, Miss Rankin, Mr Sheehan, Mr Maguire, Mr Bull, Dorothy Dunlop and Mrs Horne among others.

Two names always amused me: Mr Bull, appropriately enough, taught physical education; and guess what Mrs Horne taught? That's correct, music!

There were many fellow pupils there; however I particularly recall Patrick "Paki" Lowry, Roderick Mitchell, Paul Moffatt (furniture), Richard Pierce, Johnny Irvine (ITN), Andrew Gemmil, Howard Hastings (hotels), Alan McKelvey, Elmes, Jay Piggott (CCB headmaster), Nicholas Tougher, Nigel Coates and lots of others.

During my time at Brackenber, my prowess on the track was almost invincible, believe it or not. I won the senior 100 yards; senior hurdles; long jump; and 220 yards. These victories culminated in my being presented with the Victor Ludorum trophy in 1973. I'm blowing my own trumpet, since nobody else is offering!

The uniform consisted of long, knee-length socks which were mainly grey with red tops; grey shorts; a red blazer with white BHS insignia on the breast-pocket; a red and white striped tie; and a red school-boy's cap with white lettering insignia, too.

I'm afraid that, sadly, I can find only a mere sock - which hasn't been washed since it was last worn, 35 years ago - along with the Old Brackenbrian tie; the cap is somewhere and I imagine I'll come across it eventually. The old boys' tie is maroon, black and white striped. The uniform was scarlet in colour, like the colour of the Grenadier Guards! My House was called Hawks, and we all had little, circular enamel badges to display in our button-holes in order to identify which house well belonged to.

Once again, if there are any Old Brackenbrians out there reading this, and they could send me a photograph of the uniform - anything at all, even a photograph of the school - I shall publish it here.

First published in February, 2009.