(Left) Mr Kirk, the Principal of Preston School

(known to the pupils as the "Boss")

walking  towards the school gates on Trimgate St.

Photo c.1950s

Such was the seclusion of the place, that once inside the precincts it was impossible to imagine or believe that the metropolis which Navan then was buzzed around on every side. The seclusion may have been a key element in the discipline Mr Church succeeded in imposing, as our experience of the outside world was limited to whatever we were able to observe, as we stalked two by two up Flower Hill and out into the country on the extended walks which were an essential element of the school's agenda.

Mr Church along with Mrs Church and her sister Miss Rockingham, lived in the two rooms which overlooked the grounds; the dormitories and classrooms were at the back, the dining hall in the basement.  There too was the small yard, enclosed along one side by lavatories, and with the Stick House (where firewood was stored) to the other end. This was the only outside space to which access, unsupervised, was permitted, and it was there on Mondays that lines of navy blue knickers -each bearing the name tags of their owners, were exhibited in the breeze to dry. .. Exceptionally among Irish boarding schools at the time, Preston was coeducational.

(Potterton quotes 12 boys and 16 girls resident in Preston during his time there. )

... Preston's curriculum - English, French, Latin and Irish; algebra, geometry and trigonometry; history and geography were all taught from elementary level to university entrance, and as if that were not astonishing enough, instruction in all these subjects was provided by Mr Kirk himself, with the sole assistance of a kind and gentle Miss Dunbar.

Neither physics nor chemistry was provided for at Preston, nor indeed was Art, but these omissions were offset by the school's reputation for Scripture, while the musical accomplishment of many of the pupils, as well as their capacity for the waltz, gave Preston a renown which far exceeded, in the minds of many of the parents, the attractions and benefits of science.

(Above) Preston students 1954-5.  We have some, but not all names.

Back Row: 3rd left Jean Henry; 4th left Glennis Symmonds; far right June Hughes.

Middle Row: 2nd left Jennifer McKeever; 4th left Olwyn Onions; 2nd right Linda Tyrrell; 3rd right Mary Tyrrell.  (Names thanks to Gerald Williamson)

Miss Rockingham, who had a tenderness and warmth about her personality, was both cook and matron; but beyond all that she was the mother which all of us was missing.  She bathed us on Saturday nights, on occasion tucked us into bed, and tended our cuts and sores ...  When in the kitchen, she contrived to turn the sparce ingredients which Preston's budget permitted into meals that were sufficiently disguised as to seem like food from home.  On Sunday afternoons, she would often emerge - as though a truant herself -  to share with us the collapsing remains of a chocolate cake which she had managed to whisk from the trolly while Mr and Mrs Church were enjoying their tea.......

Preston School  - teachers and students 1969

... Miss Strong was one of those rare teachers who was so good at teaching that she acted as an inspiration to any pupil with whom she came in contact.  She brought the best out of everyone she taught, so that children like myself, who were not in any way gifted musically soon developed a proficiency that was more than reasonable, and within 2 years I had progressed to 2nd grade.  On account of Miss Strong, Preston was a musical school; almost everyone learned the piano, and many people were extremely good; the grade examinations of the Royal Irish Academy of Music were part of the annual curriculum, and singing class on Thursdays was one of the highlights of the week...."

See also:  Wilson's Hospital Past Pupil's Association http//whsppa.ie

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Preston School Navan
‘A Fitting Amalgamation – 1969’
by Liam Coyle, 2012.

Preston School, Navan founded in 1686 by John Preston, was amalgamated with Wilson’s Hospital School in 1969. On the anniversary of the closure of the Navan School, it is an appropriate occasion to remember this unique institution.

The arrival of female students from Preston, Navan to Wilson’s in 1969 would have generated great interest.  This is particularly so as the Preston girls were the first girl students to attend Wilson’s.  The Preston students arrived with the last Headmaster of their school, Mr. Len Horan, who became Deputy Principal of Wilson’s.  The Preston girls are the pioneers for all girl students that have passed through Wilson’s in the forty intervening years.

The philosophy of Preston integrated well with the Wilson’s character. Both schools had similar traditions and outlook.  In fact, the Revd. Hill Wilson Whyte who was appointed Warden in Wilson’s in 1879 came from Preston school.  The link with Preston is given visible expression in many ways in Wilson’s great assistance through Preston Navan Bursaries assist families financially with school fees.  The link is also maintained through the Board of Governor membership from the Navan area. Significantly when a new teaching block was constructed at Wilson’s in 1993 the building was officially named the Preston Building.  It is appropriate that in 2009 a fixed corridor linking the Preston building and the Wilson’s building is was constructed symbolising the total integration of the two schools.The spirit of Preston Navan was consistent with that of Wilson’s.  This is exemplified in the lines hereafter, written by the former Preston Head Girl Hazel Evans, now Hazel McKeever of Ardee, County Louth.  Hazel was a pupil of Preston in the 1940’s, at the same time as the subsequent Chairperson of Wilson’s Hospital School, Mrs Pearl Holt.

Hazel’s words capture best school life in the great Preston School:

Preston School was situated just off the main street in Navan. There was a big iron gate at the entrance and then an avenue leading up to a lovely big house in its own grounds, surrounded by flower beds.  At the rear there was a large playing field where we enjoyed hockey, tennis and cricket etc.  The school was run by the Kirk family – two maids that came in at 7 a.m. each morning and Lottie who helped rear their three children.  Mr. Kirk was a man of many parts: he taught Latin, English and other subjects and also supervised all our games and drove us to all of our hockey matches against either Dundalk, Drogheda or Carrickmacross grammar schools.  He also maintained all the grounds which were beautifully kept.  I also remember he organised a Christmas concert in which everyone took part – plays and piano recitals (a music teacher) came in once a week etc.  It was huge fun for everyone.  Another time, they ran a dance for past and present pupils – needless to say we were all kept thoroughly busy.  Saturday morning was mending time when we had to darn our socks etc., and Sunday we attended morning and evening service at the church.  If it was too cold or wet to play games, we went for a walk – two by two with the poor teacher bringing up the rear!

Mrs. Kirk supervised the domestic side of running the school and her sister, Miss. Cunningham, was matron and a very caring kind one at that.  There were two teachers also – one for the junior section and the other taught all the remaining subjects.  It was a wonderful school and very well run. It made it possible for many poor Church of Ireland children to obtain a good education.  It catered for both day pupils and boarders.  The fees were minimal, Mr. Kirk using his own salary to subsidise it.  I heard one comment from a father who maintained that he could not keep his daughter at home so cheaply!  I was very fortunate to spend six of my happiest years in Preston School and was able to reach Leaving Certificate standard – which we had to sit for at the Loreto Convent.  It was sad to see it closed and a big shopping centre in its place now.  But the school is fortunate to now be part of Wilson’s Hospital, where it offers many more facilities than would have been possible if it had remained on its own.

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Riocht na Midhe, 2015

Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham- Christopher McCormack page 88.

The amalgamation of Preston is well covered.