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Spotted UK

Local News Reports

Things everyone who went to Carmel College will remember

BySpotted UK

Mar 18, 2023

Many of us have fond memories of our years spent at college.

Carmel College, despite being located in St Helens, pulls in teenagers from all over Merseyside- meaning former students across our region will look back at times spent at the Prescot Road institution.

From legendary café staff, to neighbouring rugby clubs who sell chicken nuggets that taste exactly like McDonald's, the ECHO looked at some things everyone who studied at Carmel will remember.

READ MORE: Blood, sweat and survival for pubs in a time of change for St Helens

Bazza's Breakfast Bar

Gaining legendary status among students, Bazza's Breakfast Bar sits just outside Carmel grounds, as part of West Park Rugby Club. Countless free periods have been spent in the social club area-which operates as a canteen for students through the day.

Wendy behind the counter serves up an array of reasonably priced meals- with some highlights being the zinger burgers, strip barm, and chicken nuggets that "taste exactly like McDonald's". The only issue was bringing yourself to leave Bazza's and drag yourself to your next lesson.

Carmel College, St Helens

Sue and Val

Those who opted to spend their free periods and lunches in the college canteen, rather than Bazza's, will be very familiar with two legendary café staff- Sue and Val. Serving up lattes and sausage rolls with a smile, the pair are well remembered by everyone who was lucky enough to cross paths with them.

Former student Holly Gill said: "I remember Sue and Val from the café, they were always so lovely at lunch and it made my day."

Another ex-student Megan McClymont said: "Sue and Val were great, I remember the sausage rolls being amazing."

Carmel Radio

Friday lunchtimes at Carmel were made a lot more interesting by Carmel Radio, a student-ran radio service, taking requests via Twitter, and playing songs through the college tannoy system. By its nature of taking student requests, the service would receive some rather strange requests- often resulting in a large scale reaction in the canteen when played.

One Carmel alumni said: "Friday afternoons were always made by the absolute bangers they would play on Carmel Radio."

Wintry smoking shelter

For those who started smoking while at college- or were friends with someone who did- some of the less rose-tinted memories might have involved stood at the smoking area behind the college. Offered little protection from the elements, it often felt like coldest place on earth.

One ex-student who asked not to be named said: "I swear the smoking shelter was the coldest place ever in winter, it's like they somehow made it colder there to discourage us from smoking."

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