Women at Joe's  

Joe's was an exclusively male and misogynist community but there were some women there. Here are all the ones we know.

 

Old Ma Coackley

Derek Chadwick (Joe's 1958/1965) writes: Her food was unimaginably awful! Particularly 'memorable' were the tapioca balls (frog-spawn) which, according to Wikipedia, are of 'little nutritional value'! She also produced custard of quite extraordinarily peculiar colours but utterly lacking in any flavour whatsoever. The supply of potatoes was often inadequate whereupon we would be presented with a slice of bread soaked in gravy.

Ged Schofield (Joe's 1958/1965) writes: Seeing the picture of Ma Coakley certainly brought back memories for me. I can still hear her now barking out in a slightly grumpy voice as we queued with our lunch plates, "Peas or beans?", before dolloping your indicated choice on your plate.

Phil Dowling (Joe's 1964/1972) writes: Dinner lady Old Ma Coackley had a strange way with the boys. Whether or not you received seconds of 'concrete' and custard depended on your appearance. In particular, your hairstyle. So if you had fashionable long locks, like a Beatle cut, flowing curls, or even a mullet, she'd put her head on one side and coo fetchingly. Once, I heard her say: "Ah, look at the boy with the hair!" Not to me, I hasten to add. If you had a bristle cut, or, like me, short back and sides, she took it personally, and would slop your food onto the plate with a scowl. Suffice to say, I preferred the latter reaction. The idea of being cooed at fetchingly by someone who looked about eighty would have surely arrested my already stunted social development.

Nik Jorgensen (Joe's 1952/1961) writes: Fond memories of the redoubtable 'Ma' Coackley, strong Irish accent, folk wisdom "the acid in Rhubarb and custard on Fridays neutralises the fat in fish and chips". Asking for batter bits (very unhealthy in these enlightened times!). Using a spoon like a chisel to break into the Concrete pastry, stirring jam into semolina to make it pink, sago (frog spawn), tapioca.

Madame Saint-Pere
Madame Saint-Pere was married to Monsieur Saint-Pere and they had a son called Louis Saint-Pere who was at Joe's. Does anybody know anything about her?

Matron
Who was matron? What was her name? Does anybody know anything about her?

Secretary
Who is the secretary? Is this the wife of Hassie Hasset?

Unknown Woman
Who is this woman. Can somebody let me know?!

Three (or Four) Little Maids from School
In the Sixties there were some Irish maids employed for cleaning and serving duties. Can anybody tell me anything about them?
If you have any reminiscences of women at Joe's, please contact me at: jvward2003@yahoo.com

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