Birmingham Open Air Schools - Cropwood, Hunter's Hill, Marsh Hill and Skilts (excl. Haseley Hall and Uffculme)

[tina james]

I was at cropwood open air school from 1970. 1978. Head teacher was miss Clarke. A lovely lady. I enjoyed my time there and didn't wanth to go home at weekends
I will write some more later

when i went to see the school miss clark was leaving and they got the headmaster from hunters hill to be head and they put the two schools together

 

[tina james]

Hi Sandra
I was at cropwood the same time as you and i remember you my name was Wendy Cleaver back then i remember Miss Clark she was a lovely lady. Remember sister Shaw the nurse i did not like her. I used to like the house mothers to we used to have some fun times.

did you know a house parent called Gwen Rimmel think i spelled her surname right

 

[michaelwicks54]

hi my name tina i went to cropwood in the late 70s to 1985 it was ok some staffi liked it went a bit wrong when it joined up[ with hunters hill in the 80s

Hi Tina. I always thought they were always combined when I was there in the 60's. Maybe it was, but in a different way.

 

[Peter crumpton]

Hi Tina. I always thought they were always combined when I was there in the 60's. Maybe it was, but in a different way.

Hi I went to hunters hill from 1963-1966. The girls from cropwood would come over for a dance evening/youth club. The school was run like an army camp and many kids ran away. As an older pupil, I was expected to go and find the runaways and bring them back no matter what time it was. Laundry collection meant a basket on wheels for you to put your underwear in and the pupils who were not in the room.

 

[michaelwicks54]

Hi I went to hunters hill from 1963-1966. The girls from cropwood would come over for a dance evening/youth club. The school was run like an army camp and many kids ran away. As an older pupil, I was expected to go and find the runaways and bring them back no matter what time it was. Laundry collection meant a basket on wheels for you to put your underwear in and the pupils who were not in the room.

Hello Peter. You was HHOAS when I was there then, though do not remember you. I went there in 1965 & left in 69. I was one of the many who ran away when I first got there, but after spending time with Miss Buckley in her little office, I began to love it. I remember the dance nights & the film nights. Yes, it was run a bit regimental, but I suppose it was a way of making us stronger for the life after school. I also remember the laundry collection.Those baskets on wheels were difficult to push at times.Unfortunately, I have not been back to HH after I left as I wanted to forget some of the bad experiences with some of the teachers , ie: Mr Pinner & Mr Tebbitt, & the nurse. Did not like her one bit. I have only heard from one former pupil from when I was there, who was in the same dorm as me. Luckily, I do have a couple of photographs from when I was there.

 

[JoeF712]

This thread continues to be interesting to me.
I don't ever remember social events with the girls from Cropwood but, looking back, it would have been a good idea. I think we shared a coach with some of them on Sundays to go to the Catholic church service in Bromsgrove but I don't remember any socialising.
A little thing that's been pestering me and I wonder if anybody can put me out of my misery
During my time at HH (1966 - 1968) we got collected and dropped off by coach from what I think was some kind of clinic.
Where was it? Was it a clinic? That seems unlikely to me now but it is the memory that remains. What was the street name?
I vaguely recall that it was in Ladywood but I am by no means certain of that. I also seem to recall that the street it was in had a name change at some point before I started going there; or maybe the location changed.
I do remember that the last night before we went home was always strange. People tended to be excited and it was always odd to see everybody in their own clothes rather than school uniform. My mother always made me wear my "Sunday best" for going to and from but not all parents did the same.
I also remember that the atmosphere on the coach taking us home was always very excitable. There would be sing-songs (often rude) and the teachers supervising tended to be more indulgent of our behaviour than at other times. The coach always stopped at the Black Horse in Northfield. I haven't lived in Birmingham for almost 40 years but the last time I was there I treated myself to a pint in the Black Horse just to see what it was like.
Best wishes to all contributors.

 

[Peter crumpton]

This thread continues to be interesting to me.
I don't ever remember social events with the girls from Cropwood but, looking back, it would have been a good idea. I think we shared a coach with some of them on Sundays to go to the Catholic church service in Bromsgrove but I don't remember any socialising.
A little thing that's been pestering me and I wonder if anybody can put me out of my misery
During my time at HH (1966 - 1968) we got collected and dropped off by coach from what I think was some kind of clinic.
Where was it? Was it a clinic? That seems unlikely to me now but it is the memory that remains. What was the street name?
I vaguely recall that it was in Ladywood but I am by no means certain of that. I also seem to recall that the street it was in had a name change at some point before I started going there; or maybe the location changed.
I do remember that the last night before we went home was always strange. People tended to be excited and it was always odd to see everybody in their own clothes rather than school uniform. My mother always made me wear my "Sunday best" for going to and from but not all parents did the same.
I also remember that the atmosphere on the coach taking us home was always very excitable. There would be sing-songs (often rude) and the teachers supervising tended to be more indulgent of our behaviour than at other times. The coach always stopped at the Black Horse in Northfield. I haven't lived in Birmingham for almost 40 years but the last time I was there I treated myself to a pint in the Black Horse just to see what it was like.
Best wishes to all contributors.

Yeah
I think the clinic you remember was an ultraviolet therapy unit

This thread continues to be interesting to me.
I don't ever remember social events with the girls from Cropwood but, looking back, it would have been a good idea. I think we shared a coach with some of them on Sundays to go to the Catholic church service in Bromsgrove but I don't remember any socialising.
A little thing that's been pestering me and I wonder if anybody can put me out of my misery
During my time at HH (1966 - 1968) we got collected and dropped off by coach from what I think was some kind of clinic.
Where was it? Was it a clinic? That seems unlikely to me now but it is the memory that remains. What was the street name?
I vaguely recall that it was in Ladywood but I am by no means certain of that. I also seem to recall that the street it was in had a name change at some point before I started going there; or maybe the location changed.
I do remember that the last night before we went home was always strange. People tended to be excited and it was always odd to see everybody in their own clothes rather than school uniform. My mother always made me wear my "Sunday best" for going to and from but not all parents did the same.
I also remember that the atmosphere on the coach taking us home was always very excitable. There would be sing-songs (often rude) and the teachers supervising tended to be more indulgent of our behaviour than at other times. The coach always stopped at the Black Horse in Northfield. I haven't lived in Birmingham for almost 40 years but the last time I was there I treated myself to a pint in the Black Horse just to see what it was like.
Best wishes to all contributors.

Hi
Thanks for your interest. I think the clinic you are talking about was an ultraviolet therapy dept. At Dudley road hospital which was in ladywood
They used to dose with ultraviolet light in an attempt to treat asthma/general I'll health. I left in 1966(july) so maybe the dances had stopped. We also went swimming at northfield baths as well.
I also left Birmingham 40 years+ ago. I am in my 70s now and get little nostalgic from time to time.
Thanks from Peter.

 

[tina james]

This thread continues to be interesting to me.
I don't ever remember social events with the girls from Cropwood but, looking back, it would have been a good idea. I think we shared a coach with some of them on Sundays to go to the Catholic church service in Bromsgrove but I don't remember any socialising.
A little thing that's been pestering me and I wonder if anybody can put me out of my misery
During my time at HH (1966 - 1968) we got collected and dropped off by coach from what I think was some kind of clinic.
Where was it? Was it a clinic? That seems unlikely to me now but it is the memory that remains. What was the street name?
I vaguely recall that it was in Ladywood but I am by no means certain of that. I also seem to recall that the street it was in had a name change at some point before I started going there; or maybe the location changed.
I do remember that the last night before we went home was always strange. People tended to be excited and it was always odd to see everybody in their own clothes rather than school uniform. My mother always made me wear my "Sunday best" for going to and from but not all parents did the same.
I also remember that the atmosphere on the coach taking us home was always very excitable. There would be sing-songs (often rude) and the teachers supervising tended to be more indulgent of our behaviour than at other times. The coach always stopped at the Black Horse in Northfield. I haven't lived in Birmingham for almost 40 years but the last time I was there I treated myself to a pint in the Black Horse just to see what it was like.
Best wishes to all contributors.

hi was it mobrary street but it got changed to station street

 

[michaelwicks54]

Yeah
I think the clinic you remember was an ultraviolet therapy unit

Hi
Thanks for your interest. I think the clinic you are talking about was an ultraviolet therapy dept. At Dudley road hospital which was in ladywood
They used to dose with ultraviolet light in an attempt to treat asthma/general I'll health. I left in 1966(july) so maybe the dances had stopped. We also went swimming at northfield baths as well.
I also left Birmingham 40 years+ ago. I am in my 70s now and get little nostalgic from time to time.
Thanks from Peter.

I remember the ultraviolet clinic Peter. When I was at HHOAS, we used to have some of the girls come over from Cropwood for dance nights & film nights. I think this was the boys who were over the age of 13, though may b wrong. I was at HHOPAS from 1965 to 1969, when I left school I too left Birmingham 40+ years ago, though do pay the occasional visit. I can still remember the smell we got from the ulraviolet clinic. That smell is one I will never forget.

 

[michaelwicks54]

This thread continues to be interesting to me.
I don't ever remember social events with the girls from Cropwood but, looking back, it would have been a good idea. I think we shared a coach with some of them on Sundays to go to the Catholic church service in Bromsgrove but I don't remember any socialising.
A little thing that's been pestering me and I wonder if anybody can put me out of my misery
During my time at HH (1966 - 1968) we got collected and dropped off by coach from what I think was some kind of clinic.
Where was it? Was it a clinic? That seems unlikely to me now but it is the memory that remains. What was the street name?
I vaguely recall that it was in Ladywood but I am by no means certain of that. I also seem to recall that the street it was in had a name change at some point before I started going there; or maybe the location changed.
I do remember that the last night before we went home was always strange. People tended to be excited and it was always odd to see everybody in their own clothes rather than school uniform. My mother always made me wear my "Sunday best" for going to and from but not all parents did the same.
I also remember that the atmosphere on the coach taking us home was always very excitable. There would be sing-songs (often rude) and the teachers supervising tended to be more indulgent of our behaviour than at other times. The coach always stopped at the Black Horse in Northfield. I haven't lived in Birmingham for almost 40 years but the last time I was there I treated myself to a pint in the Black Horse just to see what it was like.
Best wishes to all contributors.

Hello Joe. You was at HHOAS when I was there, though do not remember anyone named Joe. It has been many years since I left & have forgotten many of the pupils from my time at HHOAS. I can remember the feeling of going home at holiday time & everyone in their normal clothes & feeling strange, as I was used to seeing everyone in uniforms. I do remember tarvelling on the coach to the catholic church with the girls from Cropwood, though only did this a couple of times as I had missed the walk to St Catherines.

 

[JoeF712]

Thanks to everyone for that information - I never would have remembered.
Yes, it makes sense. I lived in Newtown at that time and I would go to and from the clinic with my mother on the number 8 bus. I just checked the NXWM website and the same bus still runs.
Having looked at Mowbray St on StreetView there is not any trace of any buildings that may have existed in the mid-60s apart from (possibly) some maisonettes. There is a very large open space though which looks to have been cleared for development, so that may have been the site of the clinic.
Thanks again everyone.

 

[tt300]

Yes it was mobray street clinic I remember it from my Haseley Hall and Hunters Hill days. My Last memory was saying goodbye to Mr Pinner as he stood by the coach door in 71.

 

[michaelwicks54]

Yes it was mobray street clinic I remember it from my Haseley Hall and Hunters Hill days. My Last memory was saying goodbye to Mr Pinner as he stood by the coach door in 71.

Welcome to the forum tt300. Mr Pinner was a funny teacher to look at. One thing I never understood wa, Why did he get the nickname "Plug" from some of the pupils in his class. I have often thought about this, even though I left in 1969.

 

[tt300]

Welcome to the forum tt300. Mr Pinner was a funny teacher to look at. One thing I never understood wa, Why did he get the nickname "Plug" from some of the pupils in his class. I have often thought about this, even though I left in 1969.

dont remember "plug" but he'd had a very difficult life he was a refugee from germany and so wasnt a bundle of joy some of the kids played him up-sad.

 

[michaelwicks54]

Good morning tt300. Some of the pupils at HHOAS had horrible nicknames for some of the teachers, though I always respected them. I liked Mr Pinner. He helped me a lot in Geography, as I was struggling at times. I never knew he was a refugee. Another who was given a horrible nickname was Mr Powell. Kids used to call him "pudding powell" (another nice teacher whom I respected).

 

[tt300]

Good morning tt300. Some of the pupils at HHOAS had horrible nicknames for some of the teachers, though I always respected them. I liked Mr Pinner. He helped me a lot in Geography, as I was struggling at times. I never knew he was a refugee. Another who was given a horrible nickname was Mr Powell. Kids used to call him "pudding powell" (another nice teacher whom I respected).

Hello michael, Mr Pinner introduced us to many classic films hiring them to show us in the assembly hall and once took us to the top of snowdon - maybe you remember Mr powels disabled daughter Angela - I think she had spina bifida - there was a very sad story in the evening mail on oct 26th 1993, - she met a nice young man who had been her pen pal and she married him but she died, and then so did he- she was 26 - I won't go into it, but its hard to find a sadder story.

 

[michaelwicks54]

Hello michael, Mr Pinner introduced us to many classic films hiring them to show us in the assembly hall and once took us to the top of snowdon - maybe you remember Mr powels disabled daughter Angela - I think she had spina bifida - there was a very sad story in the evening mail on oct 26th 1993, - she met a nice young man who had been her pen pal and she married him but she died, and then so did he- she was 26 - I won't go into it, but its hard to find a sadder story.

Hello tt300. I remember the film nights that Mr Pinner organised. Sadly, I missed out on any trips. I would have enjoyed them. Yes, I remember Mr Powell's daughter & his son too. Such a lovely family, & so sad to hear she & her husband had pssed away at such a young age. Mr Powell & his son helped me turn the old summer house into a place for all small pets like mice & gerbils to be cared for & reared. I had some lovely dutch mice thanks to Mr Powell & his son. I had fond memories with them. Memories that will stay with me forever.

 

[tt300]

Hello tt300. I remember the film nights that Mr Pinner organised. Sadly, I missed out on any trips. I would have enjoyed them. Yes, I remember Mr Powell's daughter & his son too. Such a lovely family, & so sad to hear she & her husband had pssed away at such a young age. Mr Powell & his son helped me turn the old summer house into a place for all small pets like mice & gerbils to be cared for & reared. I had some lovely dutch mice thanks to Mr Powell & his son. I had fond memories with them. Memories that will stay with me forever.

I used to go up to the garden area to the right of the block as you exited where there was a pond with great crested newts,I was fascinated they were like small dinosaurs. You mentioned bullying that you suffered, I went into the block one quiet day late 60's and came across a really nasty scene of some one being bullied I was shocked and told the bully to stop, he punched me but I think he stopped cant remember,he apologised to me next day,he should have apologised to his victim. This kid was someone that suffered quite a lot from bullying. However I have a lot of good memories from my time there.

 

[michaelwicks54]

I used to go up to the garden area to the right of the block as you exited where there was a pond with great crested newts,I was fascinated they were like small dinosaurs. You mentioned bullying that you suffered, I went into the block one quiet day late 60's and came across a really nasty scene of some one being bullied I was shocked and told the bully to stop, he punched me but I think he stopped cant remember,he apologised to me next day,he should have apologised to his victim. This kid was someone that suffered quite a lot from bullying. However I have a lot of good memories from my time there.

Yes tt300. There was an aweful lot of bullying, though some came from teachers like the woodworking teacher, Mr Tebbitt. He used to pick on me quite often when using a saw. I think it made me a stronger person today, so can be thankful of that. My happiest memories was spending time in Miss Buckley's office, having tea & buscuits, & having a lovely chat.

 

[tina james]

i went to cropwood in the late70s i got picked on by the girls they did some awful stuff to me edited to remove distressing content * ........ chucked my bed sheets and blanket in the bath i got blamed for it it kind of affected me badley i never told anyone

*Editing of the above post. Some content has been removed referring to cruel treatment by other students. Tina’s experience was of cruelty, was unacceptable behaviour and must have been extremely distressing. The content referring to specific instances has been removed but the original will be kept in BHF records. The Moderation Team.

 

[michaelwicks54]

i went to cropwood in the late70s i got picked on by the girls they did some awful stuff to me ....

That must have been awful for you Tina. Yes, we had bullying at Hunters Hill when I was there from 1965 to 1969, but nothing on this scale.If Miss Buckley had not retired from Hunters Hill in 1969, she would have been headmistress of both schools & would certainly have taken action against that kind of bullying. She was strict but kind.

 

[tina james]

i remember some teachers from cropwood and hunters hill
cropwood teachers

Mrs. boddison
Mr. smith
miss bannister/woodward

care staff cropwood
miss rimmel
miss Parr
miss Dore
miss fisher
miss Williams/parry
miss reeves/cater
miss farmer

hunters hill teachers
Mr. I jones
Mr. walker
Mr. marshman
Mrs. Coleman
Mr. kesterton

huntershill carestaff
Mrs. p jones
Mr. pennant
miss Thompson
miss Moore
miss glindon

 

[michaelwicks54]

i remember some teachers from cropwood and hunters hill
cropwood teachers

Mrs. boddison
Mr. smith
miss bannister/woodward

care staff cropwood
miss rimmel
miss Parr
miss Dore
miss fisher
miss Williams/parry
miss reeves/cater
miss farmer

hunters hill teachers
Mr. I jones
Mr. walker
Mr. marshman
Mrs. Coleman
Mr. kesterton

huntershill carestaff
Mrs. p jones
Mr. pennant
miss Thompson
miss Moore
miss glindon

Sadly, I do not recognise any of the names from Hunters Hill open air school,Tina. IMaybe these were their after I left in the summer of 69.

 

[Jackie P.]

Hi Belinda have only got this as it was filed in spam, yes that's a true picture of both schools. I wouldn't bother with the book a breathe of fresh air as it doesn't represent what I and many others went through at all, it was said in the book they didn't want to write any negatives!!!!. Do you mind me asking how old you are? As you were at skilts the same age as I was from 5 yrs with my sister she later went to rose cottage. We both went to cropwood after skilts, when you were at skilts was the headmaster Mr Cameron or mr Mitchell?

Hi Emily, I was at Skilts when Mr Cameron was the Headmaster do you have any further memories if Skilts? I have only just read your writeup. You can private message if you prefer at........

Mod advice: it's better not to expose your private email address on open Forum, Jackie. Emily can contact you privately by "starting a conversation" - see mail icon in the top right hand corner of this page.

 

[Jackie P.]

Do you still have this cutting and would you possibly let me have a copy of it. I would be very grateful. Amanda

Hi, I also went to Skilts if you still have the cutting could you send me a copy please at.....

Mod advice: it's better not to expose your private email address on open Forum, Jackie. This member can contact you privately by "starting a conversation" - see mail icon in the top right hand corner of this page.

 

[Mel Jones]

Hello
Can anyone help, I am trying to get a photo of Hunters Hill Open Air School in the 1940's. Does anyone know where I could get this please?

 

[michaelwicks54]

Hello
Can anyone help, I am trying to get a photo of Hunters Hill Open Air School in the 1940's. Does anyone know where I could get this please?

Hello Mel. There has been photo's of Hunters Hill shared on this forum, but can not remeber where, though here is one I copied from 1943. Hope this helps.

 

[Mel Jones]

Thank you so much

 

[michaelwicks54]

Thank you so much

You are more than welcome Mel.

 

[Janet Hunt]

Open air schools were a concept to help prevent the spread of tuberculosis. Unfortunately my mother and 3 of her sisters got tuberculosis in the early 1950's. Mom ended up losing a lung her sisters recovered. Mom still went on to have 6 of us and lived to 83 years old. She met up with the surgeon when she was in her 60's and he was delighted she was still alive as it was the first time he had performed a pneumonectomy. not certain if I spelt that right.