I too remember sliding in Bilson School yard,perfecting the collier squat was one of our favourites.Mr Gowman,our headmaster in my days would very often joined in.Another favourite pastime was playing 'chariots'.I often tell people who ask where we played,that as I lived in Heywood our playground was from there through to Mitcheldean.What a playground that was.Looking back now I wonder how we survived some of the risky things we did,but it was all part of a learning curve and made us more self reliant.
Maurice