Glossary entry for
Orangefield School for Boys

Van attended primary school at the Elmgrove Primary School on the Beersbridge Road from 1950. In 1956 he entered the Orangefield School for Boys (shown above). Both schools were located in the same Belfast neighborhood, not far from his family home on Hyndford Street.

Steve Turner's biography Too Late to Stop Now describes the Orangefield School for Boys as being "a progressive comprehensive school that was notable for employing both Catholics and Protestants on its staff". Other Orangefield alumniinclude Georgie Best, and Brian Keenan, the author (An Evil Cradling) and former Beruit Hostage.

During the time Van was at Orangefield, he was playing gigs around Belfast, with at least four different bands, including The Javelins, and The Monarchs. Van left Orangefield in July of 1960, with no qualifications and no idea of a career beyond music.

During the time Van was at Orangefield, he was playing gigs around Belfast, with at least four different bands, including The Javelins, and The Monarchs. Van left Orangefield in July of 1960, with no qualifications and no idea of a career beyond music.

Belfast's own Maurice Kinkead sends a recent (June 26/2004) email to note that "Orangefield School is about to be demolished, along with the adjacent primary and grammar school, and replaced with brand new school buildings."

Van references in:

• "Got To Go Back" (on No Guru, No Method, No Teacher)
• "Orangefield" (on Avalon Sunset)
• "On Hyndford Street" (on Hymns To the Silence)

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