Court Farm Primary Tedbury Crescent School Erdington

[D Sh.]

Hello Lady P,

I'll ask my sister Dianne if she can add any names to the photo. She is in it but not 'the pretty blonde girl', only by virtue of not being blonde I hasten to add (she'll be reading this!).

I'm not sure where in Goosemoor lane they lived but the sisters were Denise (b.1951) & Lynne Harris; Lynne becoming our son's mother in law. Denise I am assuming was in the class below mine.

I remember the pre-fabs and the fulltime 'parkie' Mr Mitchell; uniform and all. In those days the park was fenced and closed at night. And a belated apology for the times our football may have ended up in your garden!

 

[Morturn]

I remember Mr Mitchell too, he was a real kind gentleman.

He seemed to do a lot of work in the park. There was this amazing lawn outside his office, the gardens opposite, the bowling green and an allotment garden at the Goosemore End of the park.

He seemed to look after all of it and have time to sick a plaster on your knee if needed.

 

[D Sh.]

Morturn, yes, I'd forgotten the gardens (roses - yes?) and bowling green which was eventually absorbed into the rest of the park. There was a natural deference to even minor officials in those days. Can't see one nice old fella keeping order and telling kids not to ride their bikes in the park these days! More's the pity.

I used to wish Court Farm played football on the pitches at the Court Lane park, just at the end of our road Jerrys Lane. When I went to Marsh Hill Tech. that's where they did play, although it seemed miles away from the school.

Lady P. Denise & Lynne Harris and family lived in Topcroft off Goosemoor Lane. But I have now found out before that the family lived at 14 Flackwell road, opposite The Leopard. This would put them literally round the corner from us, as I say, small world.

 

[Morturn]

The Park keepers did wear a uniform in those days, so I imagine it gave them an element of authority. Saying that, Mr Mitchell was just a very nice man, so we respected him for that.

Yes, Court Farm School used Short Heath Playing Fields. It was only a short distance from the school and did have a ceader wood pavilion and loos to change in. I recall there was also a running pitch marked out and a long and high jump area.

Which side of Jerrys Lane did you live on? I did know most of the locals around that area. I remember the Easthope family on Flackwell Road almost opposite the Leopard.

 

[Lady Penelope]

I was going to post these two pictures on 'Pubs of the Past' but in view of the Leopard being mentioned in the last two posts I'll put them here instead. There was a bad fire at the pub some years ago but just look what they've done to it now. Even kept the pub sign!

 

[Lady Penelope]

The park keeper was always 'Parkie' Mitchell to us. Forbidden to play in the nets the boys would be shooed off with 'out them nets' to which the reply was 'worn't me Mitch'.

 

[D Sh.]

Morturn,
We lived in the first pair of semi's after The Leopard. You can see the end wall of the first house in Lady P's photo, ours was the adjoining house, 'two doors down' from the Leopard. The two semis formed a temporary fire station during the war, on the back wall you could see the inverted 'V' from the interior paintwork from when there was a wooden extension housing the fire engine built on the back, the entrance must have been from Flackwell before The Leopard was built. During decorating we came across the old two-tone green and brown paintwork on the walls with some racing some starting prices written in pencil.

When our son's mother-in-law lived in Flackwell road, they must have walked past our house to go to the shops and when they lived off Goosemoor, past our house every day to go to school. The Harris's lived at 14 Flackwell road, Lynne says almost opposite The Leopard and looking at looking at Google Maps satellite image that could be the first pair of semis after the old peoples bungalows, which for several years was a derelict site - former nursery?

Lady P,
Thanks, great photo, I had imagined the pub had been demolished so it's nice to see the old place spruced up. The sign was never there in my day though. BUT, it looks like they've kept the old concrete pillars that used to skirt the car park. We used to use them for leapfrog and they got progressively higher, or so it seemed to a 5 year old. Oh many's the time I returned home with the backs of my legs grazed 'cos I didn't clear the last one successfully!

 

[Morturn]

I was at Court farm with a girl calls Hazel who live in one of those semies. I had been told a story that the site of old people bungalows were once a prisoner of war camp.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Morturn,
We lived in the first pair of semi's after The Leopard. You can see the end wall of the first house in Lady P's photo, ours was the adjoining house, 'two doors down' from the Leopard. The two semis formed a temporary fire station during the war, on the back wall you could see the inverted 'V' from the interior paintwork from when there was a wooden extension housing the fire engine built on the back, the entrance must have been from Flackwell before The Leopard was built. During decorating we came across the old two-tone green and brown paintwork on the walls with some racing some starting prices written in pencil.

When our son's mother-in-law lived in Flackwell road, they must have walked past our house to go to the shops and when they lived off Goosemoor, past our house every day to go to school. The Harris's lived at 14 Flackwell road, Lynne says almost opposite The Leopard and looking at looking at Google Maps satellite image that could be the first pair of semis after the old peoples bungalows, which for several years was a derelict site - former nursery?

Lady P,
Thanks, great photo, I had imagined the pub had been demolished so it's nice to see the old place spruced up. The sign was never there in my day though. BUT, it looks like they've kept the old concrete pillars that used to skirt the car park. We used to use them for leapfrog and they got progressively higher, or so it seemed to a 5 year old. Oh many's the time I returned home with the backs of my legs grazed 'cos I didn't clear the last one successfully!

The nursery buildings were still there when I was at school. Not sure whether they were being used. I understood the nursery was for the mothers who were working during the war.

Talking of racing, I remember the old (probably younger than me now) chap who stood in the doorway with his black oilcloth bag. Men walked past and surreptitiously dropped a little package into the bag. Money wrapped in their bets I suppose. Mom was always a bit iffy about what went on there.

 

[D Sh.]

That's right Lady P, amazing what comes back to mind with a little prompting. I can picture him; old long raincoat and flat cap.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Who was your sister dressed as in the earlier picture Dsh (Post #32)? I'm hoping to see my brother in May, if all goes according to plan and try to name a few more. Can she name any of the others? It would really help if she can. These youngsters were two years ahead of me but I remember most of their faces. Another name came up the other day, either from John or Rick, Colin Newey - but he didn't say which boy he was (frustrating!!).

 

[D Sh.]

Lady P, It doesn't look like Dianne (Shelley) was in fancy dress. She's towards the left hand side, as you look at it, second row in the cardigan with horizontal stripes, just in front of Little Bo Peep. The only additional one she can name is Hazel Soden, end of second row, standing in front of Mr Keeping. Turns out they've been living around the corner from each other in Streetly for years without knowing until recently.
Hope this helps.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Thank you D Sh - so your sister isn't on the picture then? I'm getting confused (which happens a lot these days....). I shall have to re-write my cast list for the photo as I have three names for one person. Hazel must be right so I'll have a look and see where I've gone wrong. Everything helps though. My brother lives in London now but it will be something to discuss when we next (?) meet up. Thanks again.

 

[D Sh.]

Lady P., yes she's there, just not in fancy dress. If you look at the boy at the end of the front row with his arms folded, LHS as you look at it, my pretty sister is just behind his left shoulder in the cardigan with horizontal stripes. Then behind Dianne is (one of the) BO Peeps. Hope that helps.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Thanks Dsh. I think I had a senior moment somewhere along the way (happens a lot...) I now realise you said that in your previous post! Sorry.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Not really about Tedbury Crescent but earlier on this thread the swings at the park were mentioned. I took this photo the other day and was going to call it 'Death of a Playground'.

 

[Morturn]

That looks like the spot where the swings and roundabouts were

 

[Dill]

Hello, my first posting on this thread - be gentle with me!

I just wanted to share one of those 'small world innit' coincidences but first my Court Farm credentials. Started in 1955 and my teachers in more or less the right order were: (Miss/Mrs/Mr) Keeping, Gilbert, Jones - lovely lady, wooden classrooms - Griffiths, Sinclair (twice). Also notable, Mr Hill, and Mr Mortiboys who ran the sports teams. Mr Wildgoose was the head for my first year only which was also the year my sister Dianne left to go to Waverly grammar. Dianne Shelley, she get's a mention earlier on the thread. Miss Codling was then the head for the duration of my very happy stay. The caretakers were Mr Barrow(s) and then Mr Gumley: how can I remember this stuff and not know what I came downstairs for?!!!

Anyway, my wife and I left Birmingham in 1975 never to return except for family and the Villa - not necessarily in that order! Our junior son was born and raised in Reading and moved to Brighton where he met his now wife. Early on word came back that her mother came originally from Birmingham but we couldn't get any more information out of the kids. So, when we eventually met the in-laws the conversation went something like this:

'I understand you come from Birmingham',- 'Yes, Erdington',

'Whereabouts in Erdington', - 'Goosemoor Lane',

Hair starts to prickle on the back of the neck!

'You didn't go to Court Farm Primary did you?' Well, you can guess the rest, turns out she and her older sister would walk past our house (two doors down from the Leopard) every day on their way to school. The Mother in Law is a few years younger than me so our paths would not have crossed but I've just found out her elder sister who sadly died , I think in her thirties, was born in 1951, the same year as me. She wasn't in my year so I’m pretty sure she would have been in the class below. As I say, small world isn’t it!

David Shelley

Hi Lady P, here’s my attempt to put names to faces/characters. Again, apologies for spelling errors!
Stanley Povey - Policeman, Roy Francis - next to jockey, Susan Patten - Florence Nightingale, next to me,
Roy Brannigan - front row extreme left, Pat Butler - front row extreme right, Roger Ralph - next to her (In blazer and tie), there are 3 girls in front of Mr Keeping.... the smallest to the left is Linda Barstow and the middle one is (?) Harris. I have a copy of this old photo too! And another one taken at the same time... just of me!
I am attaching another photo 1953-54 of the school football team. I‘m in the middle row, sitting on the outside next to Head, Mr. Wildgoose, the other teacher is Mr Jones. Sadly I can’t recall the names of the boys as I was one of the youngest!

Hi,
I have just come across this photo and can confirm that the one dressed as Sir Walter Raleigh is me Dave Illingworth. The photo was taken in 1953 as many of us had the costumes made for street parties held for the Coronation (a very wet day). The photo was taken I think as a Christmas production of a play written by a teacher (cannot remember whom) titled 'The Wax Works', we where the exhibits that came to life. The wonder of our production was that every participant had words to say. My words where to Pauline Hacket who is Queen Elizabeth, I said 'Tread on my cape your majesty to stop your feet getting wet'. The policeman I Believe is Stanley Povey and the runner is Roy Goulden. I am trying to remember names of all the class members I have 20 names at present.
Dave Illingworth

 

[Villa-man]

Hi,
I have just come across this photo and can confirm that the one dressed as Sir Walter Raleigh is me Dave Illingworth. The photo was taken in 1953 as many of us had the costumes made for street parties held for the Coronation (a very wet day). The photo was taken I think as a Christmas production of a play written by a teacher (cannot remember whom) titled 'The Wax Works', we where the exhibits that came to life. The wonder of our production was that every participant had words to say. My words where to Pauline Hacket who is Queen Elizabeth, I said 'Tread on my cape your majesty to stop your feet getting wet'. The policeman I Believe is Stanley Povey and the runner is Roy Goulden. I am trying to remember names of all the class members I have 20 names at present.
Dave Illingworth

Hi Dave,
Well impressed with all your memories of that photo and details of performing in the Town Hall! I do remember that! Very happy memories of time at Court Farm and Stockland Green School. I know you went to George Dixon’s (next door neighbours in Glendon Road) and we did meet up a couple of times when we lived in Mere Green. I’ve been in Devon for the last 45 years... where are you?
Good to hear from you! Best Wishes. Barry Hart.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Hi Dill, long time no see! I'm replying to your private message rather than here.

 

[Dill]

Hi Again
Here is a list of names, of pupils that I remember where in our class ( I Think )

Ginnet Spencer, Hazel Soden, Roger Ralph, Dave Smith, Dave Illingworth, John Hurdman, Brian Arthur, Brenda Smith, Carol McGeown, Pauline Hacket, Dianne Shelly, Jim Foley, Roy Brannigan, Jim Bailey, Joey Brain, Pat Scrivens, Stanley Povey, Roy Goulden, Roger Ralph, Barry Hart, Linda Barstow, Pat Butler, Roy Francis, Susan Patten, Alaric Bennett. There are 24 names here I will let you to allocate names to the photo.
If there are more names that can be added please put on the forum and try for a full class.
Dill

 

[Lady Penelope]

Thanks for the names David but I'm afraid I can't put names to faces as I'm 2 years younger. There are quite a number of names on your list we didn't have before so I'm hoping Barry Hart can help us here. If not I'll have to wait for John.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Just on the phone to Rick and and he came up with the names Sheila Thornley and Roger Biggin.

 

[RobinCanada]

I went to Tedbury Crescent school from 1945-48, we lived on Cout Lane opposite the Greyhound Pub. I can remember the sweet shop on ? Court Farm Road and in my day if you were lucky you could buy a bruised apple for a Farthing !!
I can still remember where my classroom was situated the end room in the main school area, not the wooden building across from it. This is where I learned to read and my first book was Old Lob about a farmer.
My Mum continued to live on Court Lane from 1939 up until 2011 when we had to move her into a nursing home which was built on the land where the Pavillion Cinema stood. I left TC in 1948 and went to Sir Josia Masons on Chester Road, had to walk all the way down Sycamore Rd to catch the #28 bus to the school. I am now 80 years young and have lived in Canada for the past 55 years

 

[Bob Davis]

I went to Tedbury Crescent school from 1945-48, we lived on Cout Lane opposite the Greyhound Pub. I can remember the sweet shop on ? Court Farm Road and in my day if you were lucky you could buy a bruised apple for a Farthing !!
I can still remember where my classroom was situated the end room in the main school area, not the wooden building across from it. This is where I learned to read and my first book was Old Lob about a farmer.
My Mum continued to live on Court Lane from 1939 up until 2011 when we had to move her into a nursing home which was built on the land where the Pavillion Cinema stood. I left TC in 1948 and went to Sir Josia Masons on Chester Road, had to walk all the way down Sycamore Rd to catch the #28 bus to the school. I am now 80 years young and have lived in Canada for the past 55 years

Robin
I lived up the road at 396 from 39 to 59 and Mum and Dad left about 61, I went to Green Lanes and BVGS, the boy Edwards whose Dad ran the Greyhound also went to BVGS. The only names of Children were John and Jill Milner, Barry and Susan Gray and the Glendon or Glendenning boys who lived just below you. The only other name was Barry Maddock whose Dad owned the shop by the bus stop.
Bob

 

[Dill]

Hi Dave,
Well impressed with all your memories of that photo and details of performing in the Town Hall! I do remember that! Very happy memories of time at Court Farm and Stockland Green School. I know you went to George Dixon’s (next door neighbours in Glendon Road) and we did meet up a couple of times when we lived in Mere Green. I’ve been in Devon for the last 45 years... where are you?
Good to hear from you! Best Wishes. Barry Hart.

Hi Barry
I have been living in Newcastle upon Tyne since 1975, moved the family up here ( Elaine, Mark & Scott ) with my work as the steel tube representative for TI., looking over the interests of the Steel Tube Division who where supplying steel tubing to the power industries, fossil and nuclear mining, shipbuilding and general engineering and civil engineering companies. After 3 years I left and started with a new tube company 'Tyne Tube Services' which I with another director purchased as a management buy out in 1986.
When Mrs. Thatcher announced the closure of 32 pits in 1993 our bank panicked and immediately called in the overdraft ( we had the national contract for all the British Mines pipework requirements ), putting the company into receivership and within 7 days most of the workforce where on the dole, I was retained for a while to answer questions raised by the receivers. Started a new company in mid 1993 from my front room, 'Linden Fabrication & Engineering Ltd.' built it up and changed the name to 'Castle Fabrication & Engineering Ltd.' and retired on my 65th Birthday after working a 3 day week for a few years in semi- retirement. Castle Fabrication is still doing well I'm glad to say.
Now I am doing what I want to do, Playing mandolin and lap-streel guitar in our band 'The Dead Skunks Skiffle & Blues Orchestra' see U-Tube. Starting rehearsals soon for our next CD.
I have just resigned from being an international photographic judge after 15 years of doing it so that I can concentrate more on my own photos. I could go on for much longer but I have given a potted history of what I have done. How about you looking forward to hearing from you
Dave from number 47

 

[RobinCanada]

Robin
I lived up the road at 396 from 39 to 59 and Mum and Dad left about 61, I went to Green Lanes and BVGS, the boy Edwards whose Dad ran the Greyhound also went to BVGS. The only names of Children were John and Jill Milner, Barry and Susan Gray and the Glendon or Glendenning boys who lived just below you. The only other name was Barry Maddock whose Dad owned the shop by the bus stop.
Bob

Hi Bob,
I think you will find that the shop was owned by the Moor family, it was the newsagents next door that was owned by the Maddock family. He started a weekly payment schedule when purchasing items that he was selling as he sold me my first transistor radio and divided the cost by 10 and that was the amount you paid him weekly for 10 weeks. My parents lived next door to the Glendon's @364, later by the Sorleys 366 was owned by Bill & Marjorie Gray, 368 by the Kiffs, 374 by the Griffiths, 376 Bailys, and 380 by the Ponters with Gary and Glenys, the Woods were at 384?
Linda Gray @ 366 and I were very close friends and still keep in touch with her and her husband Richard when they got married moved to Australia to be joined by her mother "aunty Marj" a few years later. My wife and I on our first trip to Australia stayed with Linda & Richard for a few days, when we met Linda's Mum she took one look at me and said "it is little Robin' and hugged me. Linda & Richard are now back in the UK and live in Devon. Barry Gray and Susan Gray are now deceased. Just remembered that I walked down Goosemore Lane, not Sycamore to catch the #28 bus to Sir Josia Masons.
Across the road from you lived the Jenks and opposite the College entry gate, the Lawsons lived above the gate, was a pig farm where all of the green bin contents went to.

 

[Bob Davis]

Hi Bob,
I think you will find that the shop was owned by the Moor family, it was the newsagents next door that was owned by the Maddock family. He started a weekly payment schedule when purchasing items that he was selling as he sold me my first transistor radio and divided the cost by 10 and that was the amount you paid him weekly for 10 weeks. My parents lived next door to the Glendon's @364, later by the Sorleys 366 was owned by Bill & Marjorie Gray, 368 by the Kiffs, 374 by the Griffiths, 376 Bailys, and 380 by the Ponters with Gary and Glenys, the Woods were at 384?
Linda Gray @ 366 and I were very close friends and still keep in touch with her and her husband Richard when they got married moved to Australia to be joined by her mother "aunty Marj" a few years later. My wife and I on our first trip to Australia stayed with Linda & Richard for a few days, when we met Linda's Mum she took one look at me and said "it is little Robin' and hugged me. Linda & Richard are now back in the UK and live in Devon. Barry Gray and hou Susan Gray are now deceased. Just remembered that I walked down Goosemore Lane, not Sycamore to catch the #28 bus to Sir Josia Masons.
Across the road from you lived the Jenks and opposite the College entry gate, the Lawsons lived above the gate, was a pig farm where all of the green bin contents went toKiffs and the Ponreß.

Many thanks, remember the Kiffs and the Ponters, at 392 were the Dudleys, 394 the Millers, at 398 the Grays, 400 the Greenhouses. Last of the older pre war houses lived Mr Wall the bus inspector. I live in North Devon now, retired last Thursday..

Bob

 

[TorontoBrummie]

I went to Tedbury Crescent school from 1945-48, we lived on Cout Lane opposite the Greyhound Pub. I can remember the sweet shop on ? Court Farm Road and in my day if you were lucky you could buy a bruised apple for a Farthing !!
I can still remember where my classroom was situated the end room in the main school area, not the wooden building across from it. This is where I learned to read and my first book was Old Lob about a farmer.
My Mum continued to live on Court Lane from 1939 up until 2011 when we had to move her into a nursing home which was built on the land where the Pavillion Cinema stood. I left TC in 1948 and went to Sir Josia Masons on Chester Road, had to walk all the way down Sycamore Rd to catch the #28 bus to the school. I am now 80 years young and have lived in Canada for the past 55 years

Hi, I'm a new member and was delighted to find the Tedbury Crescent thread. We too lived on Court Lane, but in the council houses opposite the park. Our names were Andrew (1943), Lesley (1944) and Linda Davies (1946). There was a girl called Suzanne Gray who lived down your end, in the private houses. A neighbour of ours was Veronica Mold. Those are the only Court Lane names I remember. I too moved to Canada in my late 20s and am now almost 75 and living in Toronto.

 

[TorontoBrummie]

This photo came to light the other day (when Robinson Crusoe came round to see us) and oldMohawk and Frothblower very kindly restored it for me (thank you chaps).

I remember my brother (the highwayman) taking part and Mom making his costume but I can't remember what year it was. Probably mid-50's.

Here are the ones I can identify: Robinson Crusoe - John Hurdman, Highwayman - Alaric Bennett, Teacher - Mr Keeping, Queen Elizabeth I - Pauline Hackett, Runner - Roy Goulden, Jockey - David Smith, Mary Queen of Scots - Veronica Mold, Girl on Jockey's right - Brenda Smith, Sir Walter Raleigh - David Illingworth, middle elf - Brian Arthur, Man in bowler hat - Barry Hart. The young people in the photo are about 74 now.

Hi Lady P. I'm still searching for that other photo with Mr. Wildgoose and Mr. Jones. Failed so far....but I see that you have named Veronica Mold as Mary Queen of Scots. She lived next door but 2 to us, the Davies family, on Court Lane. I remember she came on a rare, little holiday to Bournemouth (I think) with us and cried all the time. Mom phoned her dad to come and get her. I remember he had a motor bike and sidecar. We didn't have a vehicle. Come to that, we didn't have a phone.