St Joseph's Society
As a late acceptance, I knew nobody when I arrived on 15th September, 1956.
I immediately loved the architectural delights of the Higher Line Dormitory and the occasional kind word from the Dormitory Minor, Fr. Joe Weston, was sufficient to integrate this quiet 15 year old.
Fr. Bas Walker introduced me to maintenance work on the grounds, which I preferred to football.
Dr. Ellison brought my Latin up to Upholland speed with private tuition, and for the first time, English Grammar began to make sense through the medium of Latin.
Morning meditation was a mystery which is still developing, thanks to many Spiritual Directors’ inputs over the years.
The menu suited my constitution, except for Sunday Night Suppers!
I came to appreciate the many paintings on display, and now delight in frequent visits to the Walker, Lady Lever and Sudley House Galleries, where many artists represented at Upholland are hung.
My interest in Local and Recusant History has developed with easy access to so much material on the open shelves of the Gradwell Library.
The quality of our Gregorian Chant under Mgr. Turner was eye watering and was supplemented by such delights as the ‘Missa ad Praesaepe’ at Christmas and excerpts from ‘The Messiah’ sung by Michael O’Donoghue.
Walks, another welcome alternative for the non-sportsman, introduced me to that first ridge of high land for this denizen of the SW Lancashire plain. The range of stone built yeoman’s houses in the district has witnessed to the former economic strength of the area, which predates the traditional Industrial Revolution expansion. A particular delight, when required to play on Scott’s Field or allocated to a Senior House outside room, was the view over Rivington.
Ten years as a student culminated in Ordination in the College Chapel, the last class ordinations there in 1966. It was followed by 21 years in various capacities as a Staff Member. Those years were filled with hard work, rapid changes, many tears and much laughter.
There were tears when Francis Calderbank died naturally, but suddenly, on the football field on February 25, 1982.
There was joy in 1983, when the Centenary Tree was planted by the President, Bishop John Rawsthorne, from a Californian Redwood sapling raised by Fr. Fred Callon.
There were ‘goodbyes’ to the Senior Seminary and the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1975, and ‘hellos’ to the Junior Seminarians and Lay Students from St. Michael’s, Underley Hall, and St. Cuthbert’s, Ushaw, in stages from 1972-1975.
It was ‘goodbye’ to them in 1987, and ‘hello’ to St. Joseph’s House, in the same year.
And finally, it was ‘hello and goodbye’ to the Upholland Northern Institute between 1975 and 1990.