-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team -
HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
we are now using a backup solution
Hello Calcbird,
I discovered your message to Janet today and was surprised to read my name. I didn't know I had a secret admirer when I was at George Dixon's !
Two years ago I joined the forum in the hope of finding old friends. No luck so far.I left the school when my family moved to London in 1959. Most my
adult life I have spent in Germany where I was a teacher until I retired.
I'd be really pleased to hear from you and find out your real name !
All the best,
Norma
I
I discovered your message to Janet today and was surprised to read my name. I didn't know I had a secret admirer when I was at George Dixon's !
Two years ago I joined the forum in the hope of finding old friends. No luck so far.I left the school when my family moved to London in 1959. Most my
adult life I have spent in Germany where I was a teacher until I retired.
I'd be really pleased to hear from you and find out your real name !
All the best,
Norma
I
Hi Norma,
Are you the Norma Pugh that used the number 3A bus to the Ivy Bush on Hagley Road? You wore your school beret on the back of your head and used to stand at the railings that separated our quads at school. You used to call me Spud, I never could reason why. I thought that you were beautiful.
Christopher Bird here, I was at GD from 1953 until 1958. I was in the Normans and Mr Orrin was the housemaster. I think that the other housemasters were Mr Sandercock (Britons), Mr Trout (Danes), and it was either Dilworth or Summerton who was the Saxons housemaster. I was a rule breaker - running to the canteen, My forelock was truly tugged and shaken!
'Polly' Worthington was the maths master.
Thank you for your message. I am the girl you describe who wore her beret on the back of her head (thanks for the compliment by the way). I used to catch the 2b at the IvyBush.,
I can remember one or two names: chris Bird (that's you, I think),Soapy Hudson, Ccharles Bonsall, Stevan Friar. the last two were in my class at Bournville Primary School. Which primary school did you go to and what did you do whenyou finished school ? I can't think why you were given the nickname Spud. Several of us were given nicknames.
viele Grüße
p.s. You might get two messages because I had problems sending the first one and have just written again.
I
Moira Male
New Member
Hi Janet,
I also started at G.D. in 1953, in form 2a, Miss Green was our form mistress - she later married and became MRS. CHATWIN. I was in contact with her until about 2003. I remember Miss Saul - just about the best teacher in the school and your first form mistress. Also Miss Mason, English. Miss Ore, Geography. Miss Player, History. Miss Montgomery, Latin. Miss Streather (later), Biology. Miss Currie, R.E. Mrs. Evans, Domestic Science.
I have a photo of Janet Lewis and Linda McAndrew (from your form) taken on the playing field when they were in Lower V.b. From 2a you may remember Carol Brown, Penny Daly, Pauline Griffiths, with whom I kept in touch. Also Suzanne Gooden, Elinor Hockley , Monica Elton, Suzanne Bailey, Nesta Clarke, Geraldine Fowler, Norma Clark.
It is 50 years since I last lived in Birmingham, but did make a trip there a couple of years ago which included a visit to the school. It looked very small in comparison to my memory of it.
Happy days indeed.
Moira
I also started at G.D. in 1953, in form 2a, Miss Green was our form mistress - she later married and became MRS. CHATWIN. I was in contact with her until about 2003. I remember Miss Saul - just about the best teacher in the school and your first form mistress. Also Miss Mason, English. Miss Ore, Geography. Miss Player, History. Miss Montgomery, Latin. Miss Streather (later), Biology. Miss Currie, R.E. Mrs. Evans, Domestic Science.
I have a photo of Janet Lewis and Linda McAndrew (from your form) taken on the playing field when they were in Lower V.b. From 2a you may remember Carol Brown, Penny Daly, Pauline Griffiths, with whom I kept in touch. Also Suzanne Gooden, Elinor Hockley , Monica Elton, Suzanne Bailey, Nesta Clarke, Geraldine Fowler, Norma Clark.
It is 50 years since I last lived in Birmingham, but did make a trip there a couple of years ago which included a visit to the school. It looked very small in comparison to my memory of it.
Happy days indeed.
Moira
shoequeen43
New Member
QUOTE=the doc;86016]I have been in Australia for nearly 40 years and would love to hear from anyone from my school years in Birmingham.
I went to George Dixon Grammar School during 1955 - 1959
Would love to hear from anyone who was there around the same time or who could let me have photographs and/or history af what has happened to the buildings over the past 40 years
Thanks
Jeff Holloway[/QUOTE]
I went to George Dixon Girls Grammar School from 1954 to 1959. Miss Organ was headmistress, Miss Boyter taught Maths, Miss Mclellough (sp?) taught English and Mrs. Chatwin taught French. Miss Montgomery taught Latin and I remember Miss Ore but not what she taught. Jeff, my brother Tony Fowler went to the Boys school but I think he left in either 55 or 56.
I went to George Dixon Grammar School during 1955 - 1959
Would love to hear from anyone who was there around the same time or who could let me have photographs and/or history af what has happened to the buildings over the past 40 years
Thanks
Jeff Holloway[/QUOTE]
I went to George Dixon Girls Grammar School from 1954 to 1959. Miss Organ was headmistress, Miss Boyter taught Maths, Miss Mclellough (sp?) taught English and Mrs. Chatwin taught French. Miss Montgomery taught Latin and I remember Miss Ore but not what she taught. Jeff, my brother Tony Fowler went to the Boys school but I think he left in either 55 or 56.
red and green
Brummie babby
Hi Reggie,
We must have been in the same form - I also started in Miss Sowman's 1E in 1963, though I stayed on till 1970, eventually becoming Head Girl! I also remember Miss McColl, Mr Colley (very shy), Mrs Chatwin, then Miss Yeats for French, Miss Curry (RE),Miss Barber (music) and many others. I also remember freezing at Harbourne baths and I can't swim either!
Hello 'Arnie',
A delayed response to your post. I wandered here looking for photos for the family album. I remember GD with a mixture of fondness and regret: fondness for those I got to know (including most of the masters) and regret that I did not take enough heed of our school motto.
To our shame, our class of 1960-1967 was the only one (so far as I know) where there were no upper sixth at what should have been our leavers assembly. We had all been expelled 'en masse' by acting head Mr Trout - a miserable and embittered man to my mind. Our transgression was to have gone off-site for a farewell drink. We had clearly breached the rules but perhaps a blind eye could have been turned? Our man Trout was not one to flinch from his duty. I have wondered whether we were formally expelled (with all that must involve) or simply sent on our way.
Reading your post and the comments of others has brought back a sea of faces and a welter of memories. Who can forget 'Uncle' Les Somerton's daily announcement, which ran 'any boys who have not yet obtained their lunch ticket, report to me in the ante-hall immediately after this assembly'. Elsewhere someone has mentioned Mr Hannay aka 'Quilp' and his Latin grace at lunch, but failed to recall his dire warning when crossed that he had 'made sixth formers cry'. However, he was a good teacher. I can still conjugate latin verbs at speed and complete a noun declension. I pay my respects also to Mr Pat Hanks (Art), 'Plug' Endall (Economics), 'Jaffa' Orrin(Geography), Mr Tom Long (Spanish), Mr Sandercock (History) and Mr 'Silence!' Little (French). Others have mentioned Mr Walker aka 'the Pork'. He was teaching at GD when my father and uncle were there so he must have been a good age in our time. I remember he would patrol silently round the school looking for rowdy forms to bring to heel, or lean out of his study at the end of the day to make sure the lower years were wearing their caps to go home. I still remember some of his favourite lines such as 'mind your p's and q's Phyllis' and the challenge to give a rapid response to his question 'how many beans make five?' Any permutation was accepted but it had to be rapid or you risked having your forelock tugged.
I still haven't found any good pictures of the old school. It seems to have faded from view.
Peter Kind
Have posted on this thread before, but I was at GD from 1957 to 1962. I remember most of the teachers mentioned - most I have to say were all right, but one or two were absolute tyrants. I remember Mr Percy (FAP) who was a nice old boy if rather bumbling, and of course 'Polly' Worthington, who taught maths and always struck me as someone who felt he should have been called to higher things, rather than wasting his talents on grubby kids. Les Summerton taught physics, and was possibly the most boring human being I have ever known. I'm surprised to read that Graham Trout got all shirty when a few boys on their last day at school went for a celebratory tipple - he never struck me as being that way inclined. I last saw him in an Indian restaurant in town. One of the best teachers I recall was dear old 'Chunky' Brooks, who taught art, wore a bow-tie, and he was a very genuine and kind-hearted character, who really did try to inspire. Pat Hanks was another art teacher, and also very approachable. I remember he was trying to start a small business making products and materials for artists, but don't know if it ever worked out for him. I hope it did. Geoff Fletcher, who taught - or tried to teach - music, was another decent bloke; he was also the choir-master at St Martins-In-The-Bull Ring. I recall his owl-like features as he sat at the piano thumping out notes to 35 rapidly-maturing young men who didn't give a monkey's about music! My favourite teacher - said this before - was 'Toffee' Sharp, who taught English and English Lit. Unlike Geoff Fletcher, he could silence a class as he read Shakespeare aloud. In 1983, twenty years after I left GD, I went to one of their open days and there was old Toffee, who actually remembered me. I think he ended up as deputy head of the school. A very nice bloke.
G
G
DavidGrain
master brummie
Hi Big Gee. I was at GD 1955-1960. The open day you mentioned was probably the 100th anniversary of the City Road premises. The school had been founded in 1884 and we were told that it was the oldest state grammar school in the country. I also met Toffee Sharp at the open day. Not only did he remember me when he was my form master in my second year but he also recited the register of boys names from that year. He actually became heard of the Sixth Form on the amalgamation of the two schools. I remember Chunky Brooks teaching art.
Geoff Fletcher did not teach music in my opinion because he treated the music lessons purely as hymn practice and as a recruiting ground for the choir at St Martins. I think once a year he the taught one period of music theory and played a record of the first movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony which none of us appreciated.
I never liked Mr Trout although he never taught me. It did not surprise me to hear that he excluded a whole year of sixth form.
About 40 years ago I saw Tom Long who taught French and Spanish in Safeway's Harborne. Imagine having him for double Spanish followed by double French each Friday morning as happened to me in the fifth form.
Geoff Fletcher did not teach music in my opinion because he treated the music lessons purely as hymn practice and as a recruiting ground for the choir at St Martins. I think once a year he the taught one period of music theory and played a record of the first movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony which none of us appreciated.
I never liked Mr Trout although he never taught me. It did not surprise me to hear that he excluded a whole year of sixth form.
About 40 years ago I saw Tom Long who taught French and Spanish in Safeway's Harborne. Imagine having him for double Spanish followed by double French each Friday morning as happened to me in the fifth form.
DavidGrain
master brummie
No one seems to have posted a picture of the school on this tread. I have managed to find this old photo
https://cdn.staffordshire.gov.uk/birmingham/60/51/WaterMark/8431-0.jpg
Why it is on the Staffordshire website I do not know as this part of Birmingham was always in Warwickshire.
No traffic and a wheelbarrow in the road!
The first half of the block was the Boys Grammar School and the second half was the Girls Grammar School. Beyond the tower were the junior and infant schools
https://cdn.staffordshire.gov.uk/birmingham/60/51/WaterMark/8431-0.jpg
Why it is on the Staffordshire website I do not know as this part of Birmingham was always in Warwickshire.
No traffic and a wheelbarrow in the road!
The first half of the block was the Boys Grammar School and the second half was the Girls Grammar School. Beyond the tower were the junior and infant schools
Wow...I nearly caught my breath when I saw that picture.... The entrance to the Boys' School is the archway to the left of the photo, which led onto a corridor which in turn gave onto the 'ante-hall' and also the entrance, to the left, of the studies of Mr Rumsby (Beak) and the dreaded Mr Walker (Deputy Beak). I myself was once summonsed to the latter, following an unfortunate incident in which a picture in the Main Hall was broken. Mr Walker a.k.a. Wally a.k.a. The Pork greeted me with 'Kitty Cane' already in his pudgy hands. Fearing the worst, I confessed all, and to my amazement I was dismissed without punishment. Incredibly enough, there was a human side to The Pork, as I found out one day after school when I discovered to my horror that I'd lost my bus-fare home - and it's a long way from City Road to Perry Barr. I came across The Pork in the ante-hall, and he demanded to know why I was still on the premises. I explained my predicament, and to my lasting astonishment he asked me how much my bus-fare was, then handed me the exact amount. With a dire warning that it was repaid the following morning - which of course it was.
Anyone remember 'Butch' Winson, who taught French and was also a rugby coach? And Michael Harrison, who also taught French?
Regarding the question of whether the school was in Warwickshire or Staffordshire, I have a (very) vague memory of once reading that City Road was actually the boundary between the two counties.
I'd be very interested if someone on this Forum could confirm this, or otherwise.
G
Anyone remember 'Butch' Winson, who taught French and was also a rugby coach? And Michael Harrison, who also taught French?
Regarding the question of whether the school was in Warwickshire or Staffordshire, I have a (very) vague memory of once reading that City Road was actually the boundary between the two counties.
I'd be very interested if someone on this Forum could confirm this, or otherwise.
G
DavidGrain
master brummie
Yes Lyn, the school is still standing. The main different at the front is that the small door (know as the laundry door in my day) that you can see half way along the block in what we used to call the Front Quad has been enlarged with a porch and is now the main entrance and a break has been made in the fence for a new gate. The old entrances to the boys school on the left and the girls school on the right just before the tower are now, I presume, just fire escapes as the gates are now locked. However I cannot speak for the back of the school as a new block has been built and demolished since I was there. The primary schools have new premises on the old girls playing field higher up City Road under the Building Schools for the Future Programme .
On Big Gee's question on the city boundary. The Warwickshire/Staffordshire border ran from near the Bear at Bearwood along the Shire Brook (clue!) crossing Portland Road at the terminus of the 5A/7 bus route (which connected with the Midland Red/West Bromwich Corporation joint bus route 252 onwards into Staffordshire). The Shire Brook continued on until it joined the Hockley Brook so might have crossed the lower part of City Road. I think that there is significance in the name City Road as it could have been cut when there was a boundary change. The no.11 Outer Circle in the old days never crossed the city boundary and those of us who remember the "Funeral Service", as we called it, remember the buses crawling at walking pace up the mile long straight City Road so as not to be early at the Bundy clock at the Kings Head Bearwood.
Although the "Pork" always talked about "Kitty", his cane, he told us that in his whole career as a teacher he had only ever caned two boys. It was all talk. I was in detention once and I witnessed him as a very good teacher as he was at the same time as supervising the detention he was giving a group of prefects some extra coaching in chemistry as, in those days, we always had boys trying for Oxford.
Here is one for old Dixonians "May be grooming Oxford Scholars...Go there" is an exact anagram of "The George Dixon Grammar School for Boys". I have to say that I have my doubts nowadays.
Hello Big G,
I remember 'Butch' Winson clearly. He had a number of ways of entertaining himself during lessons. One was to take the window pole, extend it horizontally at head height and swing it across the desks. I assume this was to help us sharpen our reflexes and help us remain alert. Another of his favourite tricks was to select someone's rule (for as Mr Sharp would point out the term ruler refers to e.g. the head of a country), place it in an open sash window and subject it to the patented Winson Window Test. Sadly for the pupils concerned, their rules usually proved inadequate and snapped. Bizarrely, nobody ever complained.
Peter
DavidGrain
master brummie
I remember Mr Winson, don't remember the nickname Butch but think I remember the window pole.
Another story about Walter Walker, the Second Master, for you. During the war he used to sleep on the school premises as he was the fire watcher. I think he slept in the basement in the area we called Metro during raids but most nights he slept in Room 5. He told us that one night he climbed the tower and carried an unexploded incendry bomb down and left it in the middle of the primary school playground for the Bomb Disposal to collect.
Another story about Walter Walker, the Second Master, for you. During the war he used to sleep on the school premises as he was the fire watcher. I think he slept in the basement in the area we called Metro during raids but most nights he slept in Room 5. He told us that one night he climbed the tower and carried an unexploded incendry bomb down and left it in the middle of the primary school playground for the Bomb Disposal to collect.
Although I know nothing about this school, enjoying reading these recollections very much. Thanks all for posting and keep them coming. Viv.
'Butch' Winson was a character, no mistake, and I actually quite liked him - he had a very quirky sense of humour, and he also struck me as being totally aware that hardly anyone had the slightest interest in learning French. He had a little trick we got to know as the 'Winson Touch', when between finger and thumb he would take hold of the short hair just in front of a youth's ear and raise him irresistibly to his feet, all the while conjugating a French verb. This would invariably reduce the rest of the class to hysterics - until he did his little trick on you, that is! 'Butch' also coached rugby, and in my opinion was better at it than most of the 'specialist' sports masters. For me at least, he made life at GD a bit more bearable.
Liked the anecdote of Wally Walker and the incendiary bomb - you just had to love him....! I remember a chemistry lesson when our usual teacher was 'indisposed', and Wally took his class. Great was the fear and trepidation, but it turned out to be a brilliant "hands on" lesson, and he had the gift of involving the entire class, rather than just standing up front and waffling away in a monotone for 45 minutes. I wonder how long he'd have lasted in a 21st century school......?
G
Liked the anecdote of Wally Walker and the incendiary bomb - you just had to love him....! I remember a chemistry lesson when our usual teacher was 'indisposed', and Wally took his class. Great was the fear and trepidation, but it turned out to be a brilliant "hands on" lesson, and he had the gift of involving the entire class, rather than just standing up front and waffling away in a monotone for 45 minutes. I wonder how long he'd have lasted in a 21st century school......?
G
DavidGrain
master brummie
With reference to my comment earlier about City Road, I have just remembered that the road was built from Dudley Road to Sandon Road to commemorate the granting of City status to Birmingham in 1889. The road has an interesting range of buildings from the terraced houses at the bottom which look as if they were rather superior accommodation in their day to the "Gentleman's Residences" at the top, Edgbaston, end of the road although many of these are now multiple occupation..
'Butch' never coached my form at rugby - not even house rugby. However, I do recall vividly the occasional coaching we had from Mr Degge (inevitably he was 'Peg-Leg Degge'). His subjects were woodwork and metalwork, but he enjoyed rugby! He would run with the ball, giggling maniacally and encouraging us to tackle him. Usually, you only did that once because he would hand you off with some ferocity. I can picture him now, running with the ball with a series of schoolboys bouncing off him in all directions, giggling (there is no other way to describe it) and shouting 'tackle me, tackle me'. That aside, he was a friendly and approachable master.
Welcome BrumBrum. Hope others remember Mr Degge, sounds quite a character! Enjoy the forum. Viv.
DavidGrain
master brummie
Don't remember Mr Degge but 'Butch' as a nick name for Mr Winson is coming back to me now. Our rugby sessions were always conducted by 'Jake' Garden whose dress was always a black track suit, with a jacket over it when not actually conducting PE or games. The only time I saw him in a suit was at prize giving or the annual carol service when all the masters were in full accademicals. 'Jaffa' Orrin was also involved in rugby but was probably getting too old to coach; he was reputed to have played for Wales.
One master, I forget who it was, was made fun of for the mistakes he made refereeing a game against another school. He said that it was not his fault, he was the only one available and he was a qualified soccer referee.
While I was at GD there was a big fuss when our school captain played for English Schoolboys against Scottish Schoolboys. His England shirt was put on display in the ante-hall. In the road where I lived in those days there was a man who was an Old Dixonian who played for England.
Have to admit that I and two other boys had discovered an old shed behind the pavilion so skived off rugby. Cannot believe that we got away with it every week because Jake was not that daft but probably thought that if we were not interested there was no use forcing us.
Talking of sheds on the school field, we discovered a tattered master's black gown one day which we think the groundsman had been using as a cleaning rag. When we queried the name tag we were told not to mention that name again.
One master, I forget who it was, was made fun of for the mistakes he made refereeing a game against another school. He said that it was not his fault, he was the only one available and he was a qualified soccer referee.
While I was at GD there was a big fuss when our school captain played for English Schoolboys against Scottish Schoolboys. His England shirt was put on display in the ante-hall. In the road where I lived in those days there was a man who was an Old Dixonian who played for England.
Have to admit that I and two other boys had discovered an old shed behind the pavilion so skived off rugby. Cannot believe that we got away with it every week because Jake was not that daft but probably thought that if we were not interested there was no use forcing us.
Talking of sheds on the school field, we discovered a tattered master's black gown one day which we think the groundsman had been using as a cleaning rag. When we queried the name tag we were told not to mention that name again.
Hi David,
The only GD name that springs to mind regarding a distinguished rugby career is that of Keith Hatter, who played for Moseley. Whether he played for England at any level I wouldn't know.
Another sporty master I remember was called Pruitt, but I don't think he was at GD for very long.
Your last paragraph is very interesting..............!
G
The only GD name that springs to mind regarding a distinguished rugby career is that of Keith Hatter, who played for Moseley. Whether he played for England at any level I wouldn't know.
Another sporty master I remember was called Pruitt, but I don't think he was at GD for very long.
Your last paragraph is very interesting..............!
G
Steve Maybury
GOLF NUT
Hi Graham, I was at Five Ways until 1964, only spent the first year at City Rd. I could never understand why the "A" form had to go there, but enjoyed all the soccer and cricket in the yard. Remember having to climb over the wall to get the ball back from time to time. I certainly remember "Butch" Winson, he loved to grab anyone, who misbehaved, by the ear and lift them out of their seat!
I was member of the best cross country team that won every race in 63/64 and then in the first team at cricket in 64.
Last edited:
Hi Steven,
I think I remember you - did your parents have a shop in Rookery Road? Unlike you I was never sporty, and avoided such pastimes as rugby and cross-country, but I did sometimes subject my puny body to the rigours of athletics.
I never liked Five Ways - always seemed dull and dismal to me, and stairs everywhere. Once after school when I was getting on the bus into town one the masters - I think he taught chemistry, can see his face but can't put a name to it - sat next to me and started complaining about Five Ways. So I wasn't alone in that respect.
IIRC there was a police-station next door to Five Ways, across the wide yard.
In my latter year or so at GD Five Ways we'd walk down Broad Street for an espresso at the cafe near the Register Office - was it called The Acropolis or similar Greek name - even though this was expressly banned by Dragseye Dillworth. Only at that stage of my GD career I really didn't give a monkey's......what I did after school was my business, not his.
G
I think I remember you - did your parents have a shop in Rookery Road? Unlike you I was never sporty, and avoided such pastimes as rugby and cross-country, but I did sometimes subject my puny body to the rigours of athletics.
I never liked Five Ways - always seemed dull and dismal to me, and stairs everywhere. Once after school when I was getting on the bus into town one the masters - I think he taught chemistry, can see his face but can't put a name to it - sat next to me and started complaining about Five Ways. So I wasn't alone in that respect.
IIRC there was a police-station next door to Five Ways, across the wide yard.
In my latter year or so at GD Five Ways we'd walk down Broad Street for an espresso at the cafe near the Register Office - was it called The Acropolis or similar Greek name - even though this was expressly banned by Dragseye Dillworth. Only at that stage of my GD career I really didn't give a monkey's......what I did after school was my business, not his.
G
DavidGrain
master brummie
I was never based at Five Ways but as I have mentioned in previous posts I would sometimes go down to Five Ways. We called Dillworth, Daddy because his initials were DAD, and he was appointed Head of Five Ways. We took over KE Five Ways during my time and the policy was that all First Formers would be at City Road so that they would get to know the 'Home' school. We also took in a whole cohort of 13plus boys at that time.
Steve Maybury
GOLF NUT
you are right, we had the grocery shop at the end of Rookery rd, next to the greengrocery shop. Do you remember us collecting money for Oxfam, standing at the front door of the school out front at Five Ways? We collected a lot of money from all the folk on the way to work in the mornings. Did you take the #11 bus? I always liked the real old buses, even collected #'s, like we used to do with trains. I still have my train spotting book and get nostalgic whenever I see one of the old trains on a TV show. I have been in Canada since 1967, 50 years, this summer. Hard to believe where all the years went, going by faster each year, it seems. When we were at school, the summers seemed endless, now they flash by. I spend my summers playing golf and get away to somewhere warm for the winter, how about you?
