Perry Beeches Secondary School

[Maryd]

Hello Graham, ahh, yes, what a great teacher. As you say, strict, but fair. Wow, M.A....Wonder why he took the post. So, so glad he did.

 

[Graham John Jones]

Hello Graham, ahh, yes, what a great teacher. As you say, strict, but fair. Wow, M.A....Wonder why he took the post. So, so glad he did.

Hi, Maryd, I was at Beeches Secondary between 1954 and 1959. Mr. McShane was, I believe, the only MA in the school at that time. Do you recognize any of the children in the photos?

 

[Graham John Jones]

In 1956 Beeches Secondary held a collection (money) event to help raise funds for the Hungarian refugees, following the failed attempt by Hungary to exit the Communist bloc. The highest collection was made by my friend, Howard Fox, who raised about 1000 pounds. A lot of money for that time. He was awarded a radio by the school for his efforts. I remember he tried to test it, without a plug, in the science lab, and shorted out the socket, causing blown fuses in the school!!

 

[Graham John Jones]

Hi Mary, you are right It was infants, my friend Craig because of his size was sent by Mr McShane regularly to cottage stores to get his capstan full strength cigarettes and to put a bet on the horses, can you imagine that today, Miss Lloyd singing lessons, Mr Linnell for geography, Jones and Evans science and Mr Varty for art, Mr Cauldicot used to strike fear with his liberal use of the cane, what memories that brings back. Best wishes, Graham.

Hello, I was in Mr.McShane's class during the '50s. I remember everyone you mention. Yes...on several occasions Mr McShane would ask me to get him his "Capstan Full Strength" cigarettes. On one occasion there was none of his favourite brand in stock and because I was "scared" to go back empty handed, I brought him a different kind. Back at school, I handed him the ciggies and explained the situation. He replied, "Blinkin' Senior Service. I hate those!" He took them anyway!

 

[Graham John Jones]

Hi Simmo, I remember the hot cocoa, but I thought that was Junior school. Maybe not then. Don't remember Mr Francis, I can't have been taught by him,but strangely I do remember the saying you mention. Teachers who taught me were: Miss Doogood, Mr Linnell, Mr Everleigh, Miss Crawford,Mr Newell, Mr Cauldicott, Miss Lloyd, Mr Jones, Mr Evans, Mr Varty, and the fantastic Mr P J McShane. Can't remember the D.S. or P.E names. Oh yes, and there was a horrible needlework teacher called Baker I think.

Best wishes
Mary

One of the P.E teachers for a while was Mr. John Kennedy. He apparently played cricket for Warwickshire. One day, in the gym, we were doing leaps over the "horse". When it was my turn to be a supporter, I accidentally let go of the leaping kid's arm (can't remember who he was) and he fell. Ohhh. Mr. Kennedy was so annoyed with me, he made me bend down and he kicked my backside in front of the gym class !!

 

[Graham John Jones]

I remember miss doogood , I was in miss Best`s class and do you remember the large enamel jugs and plastic cups for our hot cocoa in the mornings, my later class was with mr Francis who`s catchphrase was " you have been warned you will be warmed "reference to being caned .

Yes...I remember that warning too. Another version, "You have been warned. Next time you will be warmed!" - Mr. Francis again!

 

[Graham John Jones]

Welcome Harry and Pash. Harry, a quick guide to uploading photos to the site from Phil posted today is below. Viv.

View attachment 107174

If your photos are to big to upload, make a copy and reduce the size in a program like paint. Check the size of the "photo file" by right-clicking on the photo, and see what memory it uses. This should do the trick.

 

[Maryd]

Hi Graham, I don't recognize anyone in your photos, but then I didn't get there until '62. Did Mr McShane have a bit of a head shake when you knew him? I wondered if it was onset Parkinsons - or maybe it was just the ciggies! Will be offline for a few days now.
Mary

 

[Graham John Jones]

Hi Graham, I don't recognize anyone in your photos, but then I didn't get there until '62. Did Mr McShane have a bit of a head shake when you knew him? I wondered if it was onset Parkinsons - or maybe it was just the ciggies! Will be offline for a few days now.
Mary

Yes, if I remember, he did have trembling/tremors. I believe it was as a result of his involvement in WW2, like so many others, of course.
There were rumors at the time I was there, that he had to have surgery on his lower jaw.

 

[Maryd]

He looked so old - could have been WW1! bless him. You must have been over the pond a while - your spelling's gone to pot - don't know what he'd have thought! Tremors - Rumors indeed!!

 

[nickcc101]

It's strange how your memory can play tricks. I was at Beeches road from 57 to 60 and can only remember the 4th year, Miss Lloyd was our teacher, slow learners class as I missed 3rd year. Our class was quite unruly and I can remember our history teacher, Mr Brown, being on the verge of a nervous breakdown before he left.

 

[Doug baker]

 

[Doug baker]

Hi everyone, I can name a few on this group photo, it's me top far left, next to me is Watson (can't remember his first name ) we called him Vatson, 5th from the top left is Len ?? think he went on to be a hairdresser in Witton, on top row last on right is Hawkins, the teacher in the middle is Mr Wyatt, he was form teacher and woodwork, also very strict. front row 2nd left think he's David Baker whose mother was school secretary, and on the front row on the right is Clive. I recognise all the faces but the names escape me.Can anyone else identify or confirm these people.cheers Doug Baker

 

[nickcc101]

Hi everyone, I can name a few on this group photo, it's me top far left, next to me is Watson (can't remember his first name ) we called him Vatson, 5th from the top left is Len ?? think he went on to be a hairdresser in Witton, on top row last on right is Hawkins, the teacher in the middle is Mr Wyatt, he was form teacher and woodwork, also very strict. front row 2nd left think he's David Baker whose mother was school secretary, and on the front row on the right is Clive. I recognise all the faces but the names escape me.Can anyone else identify or confirm these people.cheers Doug Baker

Hello Doug. What year and class would this be ?

 

[WendyB]

Just catching up on these posts. So interesting. Mr McShane took a group of us to the theatre one Saturday afternoon. Prunella Scales was one of the actors in a Shakespearean play. I was mesmerized. My family were not the type to go to the theatre. I loved it. He was a bit scary but a good teacher. On a school outing, my friend Dorothy drew a face on the back of his head while he was asleep.

 

[Maryd]

Just catching up on these posts. So interesting. Mr McShane took a group of us to the theatre one Saturday afternoon. Prunella Scales was one of the actors in a Shakespearean play. I was mesmerized. My family were not the type to go to the theatre. I loved it. He was a bit scary but a good teacher. On a school outing, my friend Dorothy drew a face on the back of his head while he was asleep.

Hi Wendy,
I was in that group he took to the Birmingham Rep as well! It was A Winter's Tale, and if you remember, Prunella Scales was the statue of the wife who comes to life at the end. That was my first visit to the theatre and I must admit it all went rather over my head, but I went again a couple of years later and really got switched on to drama and after that did loads of theatre stuff, mostly amateur (some at The Crescent Theatre) and even ended up doing some semi-professional. We had a girl called Dorothy in our class who was very tall but I can't remember her surname, I wonder if it was the same one?

Mary

 

[Maryd]

Mary[/QUOTE]
Hi Wendy, Sorry, can't work out how to message you. No luck with the photo upload then? Shame. Were you in the Brownies as well? I only remember I was a 2nder Gnome, and I think every so often the troupe would gather at the top of Dorrington Road by the shops and march around with one carrying a large flag! No idea why, but I remember I always wanted to carry the big flag but never got the chance (Just like the maypole at school, never got to prance around that either... Oh, and in the "band" at primary school I was always given a triangle or a castanet type thing instead of the drum I really wanted....Marked for life I am!

 

[JeannetteM]

Hi Mary and Wendy, I was searching for Birmingham History when I came across entries for Perry Beeches School. I was so surprised to see my name in the posts. It was lovely to go down memory lane. I can remember a few names, Alan Glover, John Greaves, Celelia Pitt and Gillian Brown. It was my intention to stay on at school. I did actually complete about 4 months in the class but due to family changes I left without completing my time in the class and without taking the appropriate exams. Ah well, thanks for stirring those memories in me.
Jenny (Jeannette McDonald)

 

[Maryd]

Well hello, Jenny, nice to hear from you. My memory had told me that it was Jeannette Bird from the B stream that had stayed on and she was to be given the medical room for a classroom! Maybe I got it wrong and it was you, or maybe there were the two of you - it was a very very long time ago!!
Regards

Mary

 

[JeannetteM]

Hi Mary, yes it was a long time ago, I had forgotten so many names but could soon visualise the faces behind the names once I saw them through this thread. Like you I enjoyed being taught by Mr McShane, fantastic teacher, can see him now with a cigarette between his fingers. I was placed in the slow learners class just before I was due to leave, I left at the Easter holidays when I was 15years old. I bumped into Alan Glover a few years later and I also bumped into Gillian Brown. Lovely to have your reply. Jenny.

 

[nickcc101]

Another slow learner class student but I was there with Miss Lloyd in 1960, used to often see her with the Head when we came back from lunch sitting on her desk with a long cigarette holder puffing away, seemed acceptable in those days.

 

[JeannetteM]

Hi Nick,
I remember Miss Lloyd. She was always very neat in her appearance and I think she used to drive what we called a ‘Bubble Car’, quite a novelty in the 60’s.

 

[nickcc101]

Hello Jeannette. Yes she was always very smart, think her husband was disabled as he was in a wheelchair. She spent most of her time teaching music apart from being our form tutor, she also sang at the town hall when we went as a choir. Can't remember her car but the headmaster had a Standard Vanguard who one of our classmates used to service for him as he helped his Brother who managed/owned a garage near the local college.

 

[Out in the sticks Brummy]

I was a Perry Beeches scholar I was there from 1969- 1974 I remember Mr Edge, Mr Caldicot Miss Lloyd Mr Newel, Arty Varty, Mr Jefferson P.J.McShane Mr Evans Mr Jones Hr Hall Mr Ford a few more whose names escape me. My brother Clifford Commander went there as well 7 years before me and my cousins Linda Salt Jill Gregory and Lynn Gregory

 

[Out in the sticks Brummy]

Hi,

What a great photo to have. It looks to me as though the children were a bit younger than I was. I would have been in 4th year at the time. I have a vague recollection of the production being rehearsed, but better recollections of "H.M.S. Pinafore", in which some of my class certainly performed. Funny, because I wasn't interested at the time, - then a few months later I went to see Edward II at Birmingham Rep on a free ticket and went into acting myself after that. Mostly amateur, but I did do some semi-professional as well, so at least I knew I was all right at it. I was talked into doing a scene from "Twelfth Night" on the main stage, in which I played Olivia and was awful I expect, but I don't remember any photos being taken - luckily!
Maryd

My Brother was in the H.M.S Pinafore I went to see him act in it so funny

 

[JeannetteM]

My Brother was in the H.M.S Pinafore I went to see him act in it so funny

Hello,
Clifford must have been there at the same time as me, 1962. I started in 1A, I can’t recall his name. It was funny you saying Arty Varty, that came back to me in a flash. I remember most of the teachers names that you mention.

 

[Out in the sticks Brummy]

Hello,
Clifford must have been there at the same time as me, 1962. I started in 1A, I can’t recall his name. It was funny you saying Arty Varty, that came back to me in a flash. I remember most of the teachers names that you mention.

I will see if I can rummage a photo out of him at near to that age
Photo me (Jan) Gran and Cliff in our back garden Derrydown road

 

[Out in the sticks Brummy]

I was a Perry Beeches scholar I was there from 1969- 1974 I remember Mr Edge, Mr Caldicot Miss Lloyd Mr Newel, Arty Varty, Mr Jefferson P.J.McShane Mr Evans Mr Jones Hr Hall Mr Ford a few more whose names escape me. My brother Clifford Commander went there as well 7 years before me and my cousins Linda Salt Jill Gregory and Lynn Gregory

Molly Crawford History Mr Bloxham french Mr West Woodwork Mr Waddley boys P.E who I met again at Christopher Whiteheads in Worcester when my middle daughter was there

 

[nickcc101]

I was at Beeches road until 1960 and have to say they were the worst years of my life. I lived in the Grove that shared the right of way with Derrydown and have great memories of my 25 years living there especially my time at Dorrington road infants and juniors.

 

[Out in the sticks Brummy]

I was at Beeches road until 1960 and have to say they were the worst years of my life. I lived in the Grove that shared the right of way with Derrydown and have great memories of my 25 years living there especially my time at Dorrington road infants and juniors.

I terrorised the right of way with my old moggy 1000 I learnt to drive in I bought for £4 but it saved me loads in driving lessons My second car was the escort and I always wanted a mini all taken on the right of way