Dennis Road Secondary Modern Boys School

[bobsummers]

Just a few photos to start it off, have you any memories, Famous pupils Alan Deakin the Villa player and Capt. and Pike the actor out of Dads Army* Please go to my new post on 243 to see all lost photos

Edit. Please see post #258.

 

[Graham]

Hi Bob,

I was at Dennis Road with Alan Deakin and another good footballer named Hudson.

I was quite good and famous in my sport too, cycling, do you remember me? [ame="https://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=FA7YLJSaMaE"]YouTube - Graham Webb world cycling champion 1967[/ame] and https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/Gener...6&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=14822&EXPAND=15 Im also on FR.

Thanks for sharing the photos. Here's one class photo of 1956, how many can you recognize? I'm standing under the letter 'C' with a light polo jumper on.

Graham.

 

[Jill]

Great achievements Graham - well done. Jill.

 

[frederick]

hi Bob,

another one that went to Dennis rd school i am on the I.O.M photo front row left hand side, whot years were you at the school.

 

[Phil]

I too am a graduate of the Dennis Road academy for misfits. Bounders and budding tea leafs.

I did my time from 1958 to 1962, classes 1.1 Mr Owen, 2.1 Mr Biddle 3.1 Mr Jones and the last year 4.1 Mr Tebbut.

I see old Bertie Biddle in your photo’s. he was a grand old man, and he knew his history, and often talked to us about WW1 when he was gassed in the trenches. And why not? He was there and he had lived through it loosing many of his friends in the process, so why shouldn’t he talk about it? I'm afraid he would be thought not very PC today.

I also recognise some of the faces in the 62/63 fifth year. It was voluntary then, you could stay on from 15-16 for an extra year if you wished. I think there is about a half a dozen there on the right that I recognise.

Mr Griffin on the one photo was head teacher during my sojourn at this seat of learning.

Phil

 

[bobsummers]

well guys I'm gobsmacked that you have all responded to my new thread. PMC1947 you must have been in the same class as me, and Graham you were a superstar in Balsall Heath and Spakhill/brooke. You really stand out in the holiday camp picture. The bad news I'm affraid is that Mr Jones the teacher of 3a and also took Geography behind you to the right, died last year of a stroke in his home town in Wales. He did a lot for us kids at school and Carneige Boys clubs in Moseley, where a lot of the delinquents of Dennis Rd went for recreation. Mr Jones was one of the best people I have ever met in my life. Graham why don't you post all your school photos on Friends United site as theres a few of the old school there too. I'm on the 1st fith year class & cricket photos ( no one had whites on as we could not afford the outlay) and was the capt. of the football team, yes me in the bottom middle with the continental V neck shirt, the others where realy p'ed off that I had this special shirt to ware. graham do you remember Alan Perry who was also a good cyclist fom our school but was 3 years younger than you? Fredrick I can't recall you as my 1st year was 1958/9.

 

[mike-g]

I was also at Dennis Road and the Carniege boys club but a bit before you others. I rember going on a trip to the Festival of Brittain in about 1951 with the school and with the club riding on the open back of a lorry for a week at a camp at Tenbury Wells. HSE would love it today.

 

[Graham]

Hi Bob,

I've been called many things in many languages but super star is about the best yet, you can come again!

Sorry I didn't like Taffy Jones he gave a zero for PE on my rapport with the comment "very weak"! I wonder if he ever found out that I won 25 championships in the toughest sport going? Bad judge that.

 

[Darby]

I went to the Isle of Man with the school c 1951, possibly the first of what was to become an annual outing.

Having caught the train at New Street we arrived at Liverpool with time to spare before catching the ferry so were treated to a ride on the overhead railway, now demolished.

All this and a week at the holiday camp for the sum of eight pounds, doesn't sound a lot now but I remember we had to take so much a week to school to pay for it.

On a separate note, was the Mr Jones referred to the same one that married a lady teacher from the junior school.

 

[frederick]

how old would mr Jones have been do you know i remember him at school if he had trouble in class with any hard nut he would say to them i will see you after school for a fight there was never anyone waiting for him and the kids in question would be quieter the next day.

another photo of the lads on the I.O.M trip.

 

[Graham]

Great photo again Fred; I forgot to mention that my holiday camp photo came from your collection.

You can see from this photo that Dennis Road School and its inmates, makes Guantánamo Bay look like a pleasure resort!

 

[Darby]

Talking about being scared of teachers does anyone remember Mr Oldham, he would soon sort todays kids out.

 

[Graham]

I too am a graduate of the Dennis Road academy for misfits. Bounders and budding tea leafs.

I also recognise some of the faces in the 62/63 fifth year. It was voluntary then, you could stay on from 15-16 for an extra year if you wished.

Phil,

great stuff! I had served my time and was due to be released at the age of 14 in 1958, but I volunteered to stay on. I was in the ATC, 492 squadron, Hall Green, and I'd been accepted as an RAF apprentice, Halton. But the day I became of age for Halton my mum wouldn't sign the necessary paper work. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I remember Dennis Road as a school of life, not as a seat of learning. Talking about seats of learning; anyone remember the Technical Drawing teacher that used to cane our bare bums with a Rotan Charlie Chaplin cane?

ps, sorry for the double wording, Rotan & cane; Rotan is of course Malaysian for 'cane'.

 

[Phil]

well guys I'm gobsmacked that you have all responded to my new thread. PMC1947 you must have been in the same class as me.

Bob,

I have to be honest I do not recogsise your name or your photo so its possible that you were in the year above or below me. As I said I recognise a couple of lads from the 62/63 original fifth year photo. The Stringer cousins and Alan Jevons, so if they were in your class, you knew me. I agree with you about Mr Jones he was a good man. He stuck to the rules and as far as I can remember was the only teacher who entered your name in the punishment book when he gave you the cane, I remember having to fetch the book from Mr Griffin the headmasters office many times.

Do you remember he evening films shows he used to run in the school hall, films like The Blob and Tarantula. I went to many of those the only trouble was you couldn't have a smoke and there wasn't much chance of meeting any girls.

Phil

 

[Graham]

I agree with you about Mr Jones he was a good man. He stuck to the rules

In PT I used to vault my a*** off for Taffy Jones and one day I landed very badly, dislocating the fingers on my right hand. They were pointing in all directions and had gone jet black, I showed my hand to Jones (no Mr.) and he smiled saying "rub it man, it'll get better", and walked away. I reset my fingers myself and vowed never to work for that man(?) again. If he had 'stuck to the rules' Phil then he should have taken me to hospital! Like most bad teachers he had his favourite (sheep) and the rest were muck in his eyes.

 

[frederick]

i was speaking to Malcomb Jeferies front row of the I.O.M photo right hand side he said that he had been to the I.O.M a few years ago and we wouldn't recognize the the holiday camp now it is all derelicte and over grown.

 

[bobsummers]

Cadeau
Mentioned you to the hard man at school Jonnie Powel from Brunswick Road today at my golf glub, who also remembers your exploites and sends his regards, But if MR yes MR taffy Jones had it in for you or you ruffeled his feathers he always gave you dagger look's for the rest of your time at school. Taffy used to take us Rock Climing and was the patron of the duke of Edingborough Award scheam. That took over from the IOM holiday where you lot wore funny hats and what are the guys holding in the photo? Wheres the chics?

Hi Bob,

I've been called many things in many languages but super star is about the best yet, you can come again!

Sorry I didn't like Taffy Jones he gave a zero for PE on my rapport with the comment "very weak"! I wonder if he ever found out that I won 25 championships in the toughest sport going? Bad judge that.

 

[bobsummers]

No he was a bachealor not the singing type, nice to meet you Darby. Its amazing how many guys on this site went to this learned school, didnt' do much for our spelling what? Ha Ha

I went to the Isle of Man with the school c 1951, possibly the first of what was to become an annual outing.

Having caught the train at New Street we arrived at Liverpool with time to spare before catching the ferry so were treated to a ride on the overhead railway, now demolished.

All this and a week at the holiday camp for the sum of eight pounds, doesn't sound a lot now but I remember we had to take so much a week to school to pay for it.

On a separate note, was the Mr Jones referred to the same one that married a lady teacher from the junior school.

 

[bobsummers]

pmc I was born Oct 1947 and was probably in the year below you as you noticed Alan Jevons. Who were the Stringers. Yes thats me at the end of the line right back row in the 5ths. I was in the 1st 5ths if you see what i mean? do you know the other guys and can you name some like Lenny Cox on the back row who played for the famouse 60,s band "The King Bees" See brum bands history site "Brumbeat". I do remember the film nights with no chics, that was the only problem with Dennis Road no girls didnt do anything for our chat up lines. They even stopped the dance lesons at conway Road School in my last year, I'm sure I could tast Bromide in the small bottles of milk.

Bob,

I have to be honest I do not recogsise your name or your photo so its possible that you were in the year above or below me. As I said I recognise a couple of lads from the 62/63 original fifth year photo. The Stringer cousins and Alan Jevons, so if they were in your class, you knew me. I agree with you about Mr Jones he was a good man. He stuck to the rules and as far as I can remember was the only teacher who entered your name in the punishment book when he gave you the cane, I remember having to fetch the book from Mr Griffin the headmasters office many times.

Do you remember he evening films shows he used to run in the school hall, films like The Blob and Tarantula. I went to many of those the only trouble was you couldn't have a smoke and there wasn't much chance of meeting any girls.

Phil

 

[Graham]

Bob, he took us hill climbing and I was first to the top he struggled up some 20 mins behind me, he never uttered a word, like 'well done' just gave me the daggers. I guess he was just jealous of my physique.

Spelling at Dennis Road? The teachers didn't have a clue so how could they teach us spelling! Never learnt a thing there, I now can speak and write several languages, English still isn't my strongest!

Say hallo to Jonnie Powel for me.

 

[Phil]

Bob

The Stringer cousins (perhaps I have the name wrong) were the two lads behind AJ. The only other I recognise is the lad next to him, but I am unable to put a name to him. Those four were in the same class as me all through the school. I even sat next to Alan Jevons throughout the one year So if you were in the same class as those, you were in the same class as me, but I didn't stay on for the extra year. As I am 4 months older than you perhaps that would have made a difference in school years.

Phil

 

[Darby]

Bob, he took us hill climbing and I was first to the top he struggled up some 20 mins behind me, he never uttered a word, like 'well done' just gave me the daggers. I guess he was just jealous of my physique.

Spelling at Dennis Road? The teachers didn't have a clue so how could they teach us spelling! Never learnt a thing there, I now can speak and write several languages, English still isn't my strongest!

Say hallo to Jonnie Powel for me.

I'll second that with a bit added, they really couldn't teach you anything.
They were fine with the kids who could pick things up straight away but if you couldn't you were left behind and classed as factory fodder, fortunately there were enough factories around to employ us.
these days I reckon you could sue them for not giving you a decent education.

 

[Phil]

My impression of Dennis Rd was it was no different than any other state run school at the time. I also think that this modern Comprehensive system is not a patch on the old Secondary Modern system. In today’s system they tend to try to keep all the pupils to the same level of education, at least in the old three tiered system you had the chance to shine through.

Many did who attended Dennis Rd. Throughout the years you were given many chances by way of various entrance examinations to advance yourself to better seats of learning and many did.

I know of some ex pupils who did very well for themselves and have now retired from high powered executive positions. I know of others still working who have held a hum drum job all of their lives, but have been happy at it. I know others who have never held a job for any length of time and wasted their lives on Social Security. Then there are the ones who have spent their lives in and out of prison.

As I say just a typical school, I suppose we can all put it down as a bad school, but I don’t. It gave me the grounding of which I used as the foundation of the self education regime I started for myself when I realised I would get nowhere in business with only my basic education skills.

I will thank Dennis Rd for my knowledge of math, which I found invaluable over the years. There is only one thing I have never found a use for, and that is algebra. I have never used it since solving my last algebra problem at school.

Phil

 

[Graham]

Many did who attended Dennis Rd. Throughout the years you were given many chances by way of various entrance examinations to advance yourself to better seats of learning and many did.

Phil,

I didn't know that there were two Dennis Road schools! At the one I went to I was never given the chance of an entrance exam to anything. I was always near the top of my class and every year in the 'A' stream. As for the maths, one year they got an outside specialist in, only that once for a few hours. I learnt more about maths in those few hours than I ever learnt in years at that dump, and even today I still use the math rules that I learnt that day! The fact that they had to get this bloke in from outside is proof that they were useless. I never got into trouble at school, never played truant but was often beaten to the bare bone by those sadists just for their sick pleasure.

 

[frederick]

the Jonnie Powel i know lived on Stoney Lane between Leamington rd and Colville rd and his house backed on to grahams house if that is the same Jonnie Powel he was a bit on the wild side we used to have some fun with him at home and at Stourport on Seven.

 

[bobsummers]

Fredrick the Jonnie Powel of those days are totaly differant to John today. He,s now polite and a very warm type of guy. Thats what golf does for you, etiquete without breading!! ah ah!!Totally differant as if you saw him walking up the Stoney lane of the early 60's, You would have to move to the other side of the road or be thumped and hard. What has Stourport involved?? John is in the Football 2 X1,s photo with his anckle socks, Ah dear child looks like butter wouldnt melt.

the Jonnie Powel i know lived on Stoney Lane between Leamington rd and Colville rd and his house backed on to grahams house if that is the same Jonnie Powel he was a bit on the wild side we used to have some fun with him at home and at Stourport on Seven.

 

[bobsummers]

You lot better beware just spoken to Jonnie Powel and he's comming on line to see this thread. Your more likely to get a hug and a kiss now and not a thump! My how things change!!

 

[frederick]

in the photo football 2x1,s that looks like the John Powel i know if you are in contact with him see if he remembers me we used to get upto all manner of things like digging a big hole in his back garden and making an under ground den.

 

[Darby]

My impression of Dennis Rd was it was no different than any other state run school at the time. I also think that this modern Comprehensive system is not a patch on the old Secondary Modern system. In today’s system they tend to try to keep all the pupils to the same level of education, at least in the old three tiered system you had the chance to shine through.

Many did who attended Dennis Rd. Throughout the years you were given many chances by way of various entrance examinations to advance yourself to better seats of learning and many did.

I know of some ex pupils who did very well for themselves and have now retired from high powered executive positions. I know of others still working who have held a hum drum job all of their lives, but have been happy at it. I know others who have never held a job for any length of time and wasted their lives on Social Security. Then there are the ones who have spent their lives in and out of prison.

As I say just a typical school, I suppose we can all put it down as a bad school, but I don’t. It gave me the grounding of which I used as the foundation of the self education regime I started for myself when I realised I would get nowhere in business with only my basic education skills.

I will thank Dennis Rd for my knowledge of math, which I found invaluable over the years. There is only one thing I have never found a use for, and that is algebra. I have never used it since solving my last algebra problem at school.

Phil

Actually Phil you are probably right when you say it was no better or worse than many other schools, the standard of teachers in those days left a lot to be desired.

The point I am trying to make is, that pupils like myself and there were a lot of them, needed a better standard of teaching than they could provide, the fact is they were paid to do a job and with many pupils they failed miserably.

I left in June 1953 and enrolled in the university of life and did rather well, but that was in spite of Dennis Road not because of it.

Believe me I am in no way bitter about my time at DR I am just stating a fact.

 

[bobsummers]

Well guys its sounds like we all excelled after we left DR, so it must have had an influence on our lives. On my CV it says I went to Waverley Grammer School, don't tell Sugar !!

We lived in a school era when we had holes in our summer and winter wellies and had the ring of no confidance around our legs. Also made our fixed wheel bikes from parts we found on Bomb building sites. We all seem to remember our form teachers, so they must have had an impact on the way we turned ourselves around?