WikiWirral its great, register, enjoy and welcome.
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,352
Posts1,033,281
Members14,560
Most Online16,551
Feb 2nd, 2024
Who's Online Now
7 members (3 invisible), 8,665 guests, and 424 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,788
_Ste_ 16,345
Newest Members
Kalena1962, rattus, Lisrush, Emotecreative, ArranGirl13
14,560 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
D.I.Y. / Building Shop
by mharford91 - 3rd Mar 2024 8:53pm
1970's Murder in Central Park, Wallasey
by cutespam - 4th Aug 2018 10:28am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by Rhoobarb - 25th May 2010 5:55pm
Oleo Works
by Ducko - 14th May 2008 3:09pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
granny 14
casper 13
bri445 4
Topic Replies
What song are you listening to?
by diggingdeeper - 28th Mar 2024 6:06pm
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 3:50pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 2:33am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 5:43pm
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 3:09am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by diggingdeeper - 24th Mar 2024 5:58pm
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
March
M T W T F S S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
cools 1
Kylix 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 14
Mark 4
granny 3
casper 3
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#414518 10th Jun 2010 4:02pm
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Forum Veteran
OP Online Content
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Can anyone remember in Birkenhead where they used to serve the
free school dinners during the summer holidays for those who were on benefits
Also how much did school dinners cost if paying about mid 1950s

Last edited by derekdwc; 10th Jun 2010 4:10pm.
Google Ads
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Not sure where they went during the summer holidays, my first school in the mid 50s was Cathcart St and they had their dinner hall, if you could call it that in Brooke st, never stayed school dinners then, only lived around the corner, first time i stayed school dinners would be around 59/60 at Fender on the Woodchurch and it was five bob...25p. Even at that young age i always felt embarrassed for the kids who were on free dinners, the teacher would always shout it out so everyone knew.


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 887
Wise One
Offline
Wise One
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 887
Think it was about half a crown (12-1/2p) a week but do remember it rising to five bob. Free dinners - Well not sure one had to be on benefits but families could apply for them if on low income.

I knew lots of kids who had free dinners including myself. Could be a bit embarassing but certainly not my fault nor any other kids. Teachers were evil in those days and rarely had any compassion for the children in their care. Sadly it has gone too far the other way these days.

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 576
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 576
One of the places for free school dinners during the summer holidays was on Cleveland Street, near the junction with Lord Street.

I remember going there with my sister in the early 60s and it was some sort of communal hall behind a high wall on the left-hand side of the street as you went up from Hamilton Square. It's now long gone, but it was possibly located where the health centre was later built just past Hamilton Lane.

I remember a big queue of kids waiting to get in and everyone looking half-starved, but there were no-nonsense dinner ladies waiting on the door to make sure you behaved yourself.

When I was at primary school in the mid-50s, dinners were five shillings (25p) a week for those who could afford them and they were good value - especially if you got 'seconds' from any surplus food. But five shillings was simply beyond the means of many families, especially those with lots of school-age children.

In school, kids such as ourselves on free dinners were treated as second-class citizens and looked down upon, especially by the teachers - who had no hesitation in letting everyone know who was getting free dinners. If they did that today, you'd be in line for hefty compensation under the Human Rights Act!

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Remember the late 70s/ early 80s when they introduced 'mini' and 'maxi' dinners! The kids whose parents opted for 'mini' seemed to get bullied/ took piss out of- imagine it would be differant nowadays, opposite infact!

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
My mum told me she got free dinners in school hols-late 50s, i imagine- at the school in manor lane/ penkett road, wallasey. (Dunno name- soz) She remembers that 'they' would make you feel shit about it.

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,702
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,702
we used to get free school meals in the hols too, (1960's) we used to go to Barnston lane scout huts in Moreton. and the bullies used to wait for us after the dinner hour was up to take the piss.

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 82
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 82
I went to Cole Street primary and our 'dining hall' was over the road, just inside Birkenhead Park. We used to look through the windows while we were queuing to get in and were always delighted to see a spoon instead of a knife because it meant it was scouse with bread and butter. I seem to recall the food was pretty good, with the exception of turnips which I will not touch to this day. We all loved scouse and salads with the 'home made' mayonnaise and birds nests and custard.

I was on free meals after my dad died and I don't remember teachers being sarky in primary school but it got so bad in big school on Monday-paying-day that the girl after me on the register would go up when my name was called and quietly tell the teacher that I was on free meals to save me having to stand up and say it and get some stick back.

I've no idea of the cost of the meals but I remember in primary school when the boiler broke down and school was closed, all we pupils turned up about 11 o'clock for our milk.


~~Jeeps~~
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Forum Veteran
OP Online Content
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,210
Used to love the cheese and onion pie (none of this runny stuff they use nowadays)
Not a great lover of semoline and jam or rice pudding
Never touched cabbage for 20 odd years after junior school when someone found a caterpillar in theirs until I started going to Cammel Lairds canteens (great meals and cheap too as good as any restaurant)

Last edited by derekdwc; 24th Jun 2010 10:58am.
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 292
Addict
Offline
Addict
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 292
I can remember at Temple Rd(Prenton Secondary) we used to have meals but we had to pay for them. I don't ever remember any free meals. Once got a caterpilla in my cabbage and it was still alive(the caterpilla - not the cabbage). Generally the food was good. In primary school(Christ Church, Claughton) we use to get free milk. It generally sat outside and went all funny. I remember one day I got a bottle that had all rust in the bottom and I chucked it all up and never drank milk again for about 10 years.

#416886 26th Jun 2010 11:03am
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 250
Addict
Offline
Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 250
It was half a crown in the 60's. I loved school dinners, cheese pie was one of my favourites too, alongside scouse pie, mash, grated cheese and salad with bread. I remember the desserts moreso, blancmange with jelly and cream on top, treacle tart and custard and so many more. All tasty wholesome food back then and none of the rubbish fast food like the children have now.

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 27
Newbeee
Offline
Newbeee
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 27
In the late 40's at Grove St school New Ferry the dinner was 5d that is five old pence

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
There was a free school dinner place in Price Street, up towards Cathcart Street. Used to get a blue ticket to get the dinners, some kids who didn't want to eat would let their mates get a dinner. The tickets were quite dog eared by the end of the summer hols. Good grub to us but the kids today would probably turn up their noses at it.

Thompsons Mission was a another good place for free grub, a roll or fruit if I remember correctly.

thought on, the "dining halls" were single story buildings with corrugates roofs and were between Carthcart Street and Watson Street on the left hand side going towards the town hall.

Last edited by BandyCoot; 28th Jun 2010 12:37pm. Reason: late thought

Birkenhead........ God's own Room 101.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,990
Are you SoNutz?
Forum Master
Offline
Are you SoNutz?
Forum Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,990
School dinners where ace. Especially Chocolate Cake with Green Mint Custard ahhhh memories smile Anyone remember Toad in the Hole and that fish square pie they used to do ?? Yum happy


Lee Mills

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 82
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 82
A bit off topic from school dinners, I had a Saturday job in Woolies and ate in the canteen there. Food was great and you got a 2 course meal for 1 1/2d!!!


~~Jeeps~~
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
For Sale & Free
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 17th Mar 2024 2:37pm
Member Spotlight
TheComputerLab
TheComputerLab
Wallasey
Posts: 1,315
Joined: May 2011
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Get your Money Tree ready
by keef666 - 22nd Mar 2023 12:27pm
Restaurant/pub with outdoor seating - Bromborough
by CarterUSM - 7th Aug 2020 7:59pm
News : New Topics
Gaza
by diggingdeeper - 29th Oct 2023 9:28am
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by Excoriator - 10th Sep 2019 8:50am
New Enthusiast Forums
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Xbox
by TudorBlue - 3rd Mar 2024 8:48pm
Wiper mechanism needed
by Peter0787 - 20th Feb 2024 4:07pm
What song are you listening to?
by - 24th Jun 2007 9:06am
Popular Topics(Views)
5,069,784 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,013,878 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5