WHAT do comedian Dave Spikey and millionaire Fil Adams-Mercer have in common?

They were both born in Bolton but they also both enjoyed an early years education at Oxford Grove School.

They were educated at the Bolton school as tots and former nursery nurse there. Edna Dean — who is now aged 79 — has fond memories of teaching them.

Who would have thought that the little boy who would have an afternoon nap in Edna’s classroom would turn into a top comedian?

“Dave was a shy little boy. He was lovely,” says Edna, who has equally fond memories of Fil — the founder of Parcel2Go.

Edna has a photograph album filled with memories of the little school and she would WHAT do comedian Dave Spikey and millionaire Fil Adams-Mercer have in common?

They were both born in Bolton but they also both enjoyed an early years education at Oxford Grove School.

They were educated at the Bolton school as tots and former nursery nurse there. Edna Dean — who is now aged 79 — has fond memories of teaching them.

Who would have thought that the little boy who would have an afternoon nap in Edna’s classroom would turn into a top comedian?

“Dave was a shy little boy. He was lovely,” says Edna, who has equally fond memories of Fil — the founder of Parcel2Go.

Edna has a photograph album filled with memories of the little school and she would love to find appreciative homes for the images.

“I have been trying to find some of the children on the photographs — of course they are adults now — as I am sure they would want to have them. I have managed to find some of the children but there are plenty of others I haven’t tracked down,” she explains.

The photographs provide a fascinating glimpse into life at the school where money was in short supply so teachers had to be inventive when it came to play equipment.

Old beer barrels, tyres and tea boxes were utilised for children to have fun — toys were not on the curriculum. “We just didn’t have any money,” says Edna.

This was 1950s Bolton. The war was over but people were still reeling from the after effects of the long, hard six years of austerity.

Rationing was still in force and many families were struggling to make ends meet — schools were no exception.

In school party hats would be artistically created out of newspapers and would then be painted. The children revelled in playing in a home-made sand pit and sailing toy ducks in an old tin bath.

But by 1954 things had started to look up for children at Oxford Grove when a seesaw and climbing frame were delivered to the playground.

Afternoons, as Dave remembered in a recent Looking Back feature on the Bolton funny man, were dominated by a nap for the nursery children. “We had 30 beds and the children would all go for an afternoon nap and this went on until they were aged four,” says Edna.

Each child would have his or her own grey blanket with a special symbol on it so they recognised their own.

Children would learn to wash their hands and face with small bowls placed before them on a table.

It was a very nurturing environment for the tiny tots who would learn through play and enjoy trips away from school.

In 1954 a group of youngsters from Oxford Grove went out into Deansgate in Bolton town centre to see the Queen when she visited the town.

They waved flags and cheered as she went by and enjoyed a break from their school work. Harvest festivals were a time of great fun for the children and the May Queen processions involved dressing up in costume and home-made hats.

“They were wonderful times and I loved every minute of my job,” says Edna.

Caretaker John Cowell was a popular member of staff — with colleagues and the children. He was a very kind man who was also a referee for rounders and hockey.”

John had a box camera and took dozens of photographs at the school and they are in the album Edna has.

“Many of the children in the photographs will never have seen the pictures. I am sure they will bring back some memories for children and staff at the school,” she adds.