Hi All, I went to Hope Street School from 1954 to 1966. Mr. Clements was the Headteacher in the Infant & Junior Part of the School. Mr. Drayton was head of Senior School, we called him 'Hitler' because of his Hitler style mustache. Mr. Benson took over from him because of illness, Mr. Green became temporary Head in 1964. Mr. Green moved to a brand new school in King Norton, Primrose Hill School. He retired from primrose about 15 years ago.
There was a Jean Shakespeare, Jean Williams, Robert Bashford, in my class, 2.1 (number of class) when Mr. Wilson was the teacher. I remember Miss Houghton, she came to see me when I was in West Heath Hospital. There was a Tony Deeming in class also. I was caned by Mr. Wilson many times. Mrs. Chancellor was the History and Geography teacher when I was in class 3.1. Mr. Burgess was the Art teacher as was Mr. Evans, a big huge Welshman. Mr. Dave Crocket was my teacher in class 1.1 My. dad had a shop at 247, Gooch Street which backed on the The Hebrew School in St. Lukes Road, I lived at 281 Sherlock Street from 1954 to 1959. One of the girls I had a crush on, Christine Addis lived virtually next door to the school in St. Luke Road. Her best friend was Beryl Stanford, her dad had a scrap metal yard in Sherlock Street. Also in my class were Mahmood Shemson who was a mixed race Arab. I remember Brian Davis and his sister who lived on corner of Belgrave Road and Varna Road. I met up with his ister a few years ago. Brian is now a millionaire with a successful engineering business. I also remember Jobe's newsagents shop on Sherlock street. Class 2.1 'borrowed' a cop a copy of a book banned by Parliament called 'Fanny Hill', because we were too young to buy it. (We did put it back after most of the class had read it).
I have a 8 mm film of the class of 3.1 1963 playing a cricket match against the school staff at pebble mill playing fields if anyone is interested. It was taken by Mrs. Chancellor. She gave it to me before she left and took up a headteachers post in Coventry in 1964/5.
I remember, vividly the Triangle Cinema next to Woolworths on Gooch Street. Mr. Freeman had the clothes shop on the bend near Belgrave Road lights. He sold teddy boys metal ties which had string on a metal skull & cross bones. Mr. Freeman is still alive because I met him a couple of years back. (I am 67 years old now). Anyone wants to have anatter call me on 0121 475 7874 office hours. regards to all, Ali