July 4th 2010 - Calderstones School (Quarry Bank)

Inspired by watching the film, 'Nowhere Boy' last night, which documents the teenage years of John Lennon, I wandered along to his old school, Quarry Bank, now named Calderstones School. Although he named his first band after the school, John was said to have frequently been in trouble whilst studying at Quarry Bank. My wife, an ex-pupil of the school when it was still Quarry Bank and during the period after it changed its name to Calderstones in the 1980's (as part of the school re-organisation programme), had a much more positive experience and loved her time there. She tells an amusing tale about the opening of the Beatles Museum. Word got out that curators had been told there was a desk at the school which John had carved his name into and they were keen to acquire for their collection. Over the days that followed just about every wooden desk in the school had 'John Lennon Woz 'Ere' etched into the surface! John Lennon was just one of many of the 'famous sons' of Quarry Bank; from politicians and actors, to the comedian Les Dennis! Calderstones is now one of the largest and most popular comprehensive schools in the city. Set in stunning surroundings, this photograph shows the original Quarry Bank wing, a sandstone listed building, formerly the home of John Bland, a wealthy Liverpool timber merchant.