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Ilmington road school, Weoley castle

I do remember Barns hill looking like this photo and actually climbed over those hill mounds when the road widening took place in the 50's. great photo of the WOB.
paul
 
Thanks everyone a great thread.

I am a bit older and went to Ilmington 1951-1955. It seems some of the tyrants lasted a little longer, teachers I mean. My memories of Mr Small and Marcus Marcassun will last forever. I hated the gym. The torture chamber.
Luckily my final two years were spent with a Mr Price more civilised than most.

I have lived in Australia since emigrating in 1965 and really like the references to places I knew so well. The dump by the duck pond, we had a cycle, speedway type track and used to race around on our bikes with the speedway type handlebars. When not doing that it was into the orchard climbing trees. The photos of the square, Faulkes sweet shop where I worked part time after school doing the physical things he couldn't. Not sure how much he paid, but he wasn',t bad, free sweets friday night. He gave me a bag and I filled from where I liked and no sickness. As I left in 1955 I don't know any of you, but I did live in Perton Grove and our house backed onto the house in Oxley grove so it was nice to hear of that and Gregory Ave., Spernal grove etc.

Good stuff, keep it going and more photos please.

You can blame the teachers for my poor spelling and grammar!!! They were too busy handing out punishments. I used to hide at the back of the class and hope they wouldn't pick on me.

David Walters
 
Hi David,
glad you enjoyed the thread and reliving some of things you did there back then, the kids today don't know they're born with the way things have gone with the nanny state over here but I wouldn't wish the likes of Marcusson on anyone.
I lived at number 6 Oxley grove so maybe your garden was at the bottom of ours. I guess you did national service? our lot that left school in 1961 were the first to escape it when it was abolished.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread I got food poisoning presumably from Faulkes's, at least that was the only thing in common with some other kids that that went down with it according to the specialist doctor that visited every week for the three months I was off school.
 
I lived at No 4 Perton and so would have backed onto the house opposite yours. I looked it up on Google Earth,haven't the houses changed, strange to see all the cars parked in the front gardens. My generation also missed out on National Service or maybe it was because I was an apprentice. I seem to remember there was some sort of threat if you didn't attend night school. It was certainly abolished by the time I had finished. Sorry about the food poisoning.

Were you living in Oxley grove in the late forties into the fifties?
 
We lived in Oxley grove from about 1955 -1961, we exchanged our prefab at Kings Norton because it only had 2 bedrooms, when I arrived in Oxley grove aged about nine I was totally innocent of anything regarding bad behaviour, the local kids took me on a tour of the castle square where they broke open a chewing gum machine and then took me to a school near the cemetary where they got in via the boiler house coal shoot and proceeded to ransack all the desks! There was an older boy who was like Fagin and got us kids doing all sorts. Makes me cringe now when I think about it
 
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Fortunately I was able to keep away from the more undesirables that Weoley Castle (unjustifiably) became infamous for. Sorry you were led astray Izzy at such a tender age. The name doing the rounds when I was at school was the Stonehouse gang.The kids in our grove seemed to stay there and the other groves were almost out of bounds. The most I ever saw of Oxley and Spernal was when I too did a paper round., Yes the same problem dawdling along reading the comics, didn't do it for long. Then I went to work for Faulks until I left school. I suppose I was out of the street thing in 1955 as I started work, 15 years of age. I look at some 15yr. olds today and shake my head. I don't think they would have survived what we went through. Having said that I don't feel it did me much harm except for the three r's. Still I was able to catch up on those later when I had different attitude to learning.
 
at ilmo older lads would sell cars and motor bikes nicked at the weekend for 10/- or you could get a flick knife for 2/-, the gangsters mainly came from upper end of alwald road and towards the flats in shenley fields, there was't any sort of violence you see now though and apart from alittle bit of petty larceney or shop lifting that was about it really.
paul
 
Hi Paul do you remember Steven, Stella Painting who lived opposite your family. Steve went out with your sister i think. We all went to ilmington.
 
Hello stev yes I remember your family stella, tony and margret your mom, you lived across the road from us my mom gave you all my dinky toys when I went into the army, I believe my mom was a good friend to your mom when you first moved in, I am not sure but I think your dad had passed on? anyway kind regards
paul
 
Hi Paul, yes I remember you going into the army. Dorothy was mum's name, but you are right your mom was very good to my mum when things were a bit tough. Tony has emergrated to New Zealand so we don't see him. He is married with three boys. Steve is married with three sons and I am married with a son and daughter and a grandson. Where do you live now? love to hear what happend to you and your family. How Marilyn. What happend to your brother Peter??? Its really interesting finding this site. Steve put me onto it. It brings back a lot of memories about the square and the bluebell woods. Mum is still with us but she has dementia but she is well cared for. Love to hear from you again. Stella.
 
hello stella, nice of you to get in touch, I am sorry to hear about your mom dorothy, I went into the army in 1962 so it is many,many years since we spoke, where to start, mom and dad are both dead now as is our dear peter,(dad,1998,pete2002,mom2003), marilyn lives in worthing near brighton and has 4 boys and 1 girl, I live in Cambridge (36yrs) and had a import/export business, I have 2 boys christopher who lives in canterbury and is a B&Q manager, and william who is in the RE parachute regt, maralyn lived in florence italy for 26 yrs, her husband was italian and they had a big resturant/spigetteria business, her youngest son has just joined the police, I am retired now and am a military pensioner, my dear wife anne, we are married 40yrs has terminal cancer but is a great fighter, I only have a cousin and auntie left in Brum now, do you still live in weoley castle?, I called back to visit, when dad passed, Ilmington school was a big hole in the ground, and I only met pam talbot, and than lad Derek with a piece of white hair,no one else. well I hope you stay in touch I will tel marilyn you sent an e-mail to me kind regards paul stacey.
 
Hi Linda, I went to Ilmington Girls School between 1963 -1967 but you have bought back all the memories of the same teachers I had when I was there. I was in the Gymn club with Miss wall, and Miss Mclaughlin was such a firm head. I remember it as though it was yesterday. I had a few smacks from her. Do you remember the different houses we had Argent (mine) red, Valiant, Yellow, vigalant Green and Steadfast Blue. I remember hairy mary her lessons were so boring to me. I was sorry to see the school demonlished as I always liked the smell of wood from it. My name then would be Stella Painting,
 
Hi Paul, very interested to see which paths you and Maralyn followed. You must have had a good life in the army, how much of the world did you see?? I was sad to hear you mum and dad and brother have passed away. I have very clear memories of them. How sad for you that after 40yrs you are seeing you wife go through a difficult period. Its good that she is a great fighter it does help. How lovely for Maralyn to live in Florance for so much of her early married life. Is she a bubbly as I remember her. It would be great to get in touch with her. You must be very proud of you son's.
I live in a small village in Staffordshire and have done for over thrity years. I moved out of Weoley Castle when I was 21yrs. That's when I first got married. We lost dad some time ago he had a very bad driving accident which changed him as a person as he had brain damage. Sad end to a very strong person. When dad died mum when back packing around New Zealand and Australia, then she lived out there for some time. Shame she can't remember now though.
I love the thread it takes me back to some really good times. It was a different world then. Life seemed more simple then and there appeared more time in the day!!
I remeber Pam Talbot and her mum Rose, always a lovely family dispite there ups and downs. Do you remeber the Brookes family, lived further down Milcote, and the Welsh family lived next door to us. Would love to stay in touch all the best Stella
 
hi stella, thanks for your message, I have told marilyn and if you use face book you can get in touch to marilyn russo, I do remember maxine brookes who used to play with my sister jane, and I cannot remember the welshe's but do remember the stronges and thachers. I did travel the world extensivley and have been to nearly all the continents, and yes the world did seem a simpler happier place then, my wifes mother peggy has altizimers and so I understand the trauma this causes to many familys, I wish you and your family all the best and say hello to steven for me. regards paul
 
I remember Miss Kirk (history) I was in her class when she was in her first year of teaching.. Cant work out what year that was. Do you know the name of the teacher was a Miss who she play the piano and put on the production of Gilbert and Sullivans Pirates of Penzance. Our headmistress was Miss McLaughlin. , Miss Peake (English) did she teach typing. The Home Economics teacher when I was there I think was a Miss Davis small and blond and and bossy, Can you rember who taught French.? Yes the school was run on strick grounds. I work at a school and its nothing like the fear I used to feel at times and God help you if you had been sent to stand out side the class and someone else saw you.. (was only just asking something of one of my classmates sitting next to me) Hard to believe we where taught to write with a ink nib pen on a stick that you had to dip into the ink well.. Untill some time later you could have a fountain pen.. I moved out of Brum in the late 60's and heard that the school had been burnt down. Yes I rember the bike shed and the outside toilets that smelt awful just of the play ground.. and the old gym and showers..Arh....lol
 
Oh ment to add. My brother also went to Ilminton Boys..and Marccuson worked at the square club at night time.. My brother said he was hard on the boys and liked to use the slipper.
 
My name was Pat Rose, Mr Squires was my teacher in Princethorpe Road Infant and Junior school, around 1953, he taught there before moving to Ilmington.
 
You are right Mr Squires was not black, he was rather short and a bit overweight. He used to thro the board rubber or chalk at you if he caught you takling, I remember having to explain to my mum why I had chalk markes down my gymslip, then a clought of her for talking in class . Pat Rose
 
Hi Pamerla, What was your maiden name, I may have been in your class. I was there at the same time as you. My Name was Pat Rose, and I lived in Harvington Rd
 
Hi Tony,

Do you remember me? My name was Pat Rose,Lived in Harvington Rd. Weoley castle, We were a big family, Elder Brother was Alf, My next sister down Was Janet she married Derek Deakin.
 
Hi There,

I went to Princethorpe School 1946 till 1952, then on to Ilmington Girls School. Remember Mr Squires in Princethorpe, he used to throw the Blackboard rubber at you if you were talking.
 
I remeber the 'Dump' well, we were always in trouble for playing there, and making dens. We were th 'Rose' Family from Harvington Road.
 
I am searching for my friends sister her name is Mary Teresa nee Johnson (Tess) born Birmingham 1945 and was in Shenley Fields Childrens Home in the 1950's we think she may have gone to Ilmington Rd School. Mary hasnt used her NHS number since 1961 so we think she may have gone abroad but where ??
 
Hi, I am desperatly searching for a mary teresa nee johnson born birmingham 1945 and was in shenley fields childrens home in the 1950's, her family are searching for her, we think she may have gone abroad as a teenager as her NHS hasnt been used since 1961, Can you help at all ? thankyou christine
 
With out realising it yes Illmington churned out workers for Cadbury the Austin or shopworkers or clerical. no higher expectations of us fodder other than that. I was at Illmington girls when for the first time in the history of the school a girl had been accepted for a uni ..how things have changed and yet lots of us in latter life went on to get uni qaulifications or started business ourselves as we wanted better. so maybe there was something taught us..survival..? lol
 
cmusgrave said:
I remember Miss Kirk (history) I was in her class when she was in her first year of teaching.. Cant work out what year that was. Do you know the name of the teacher was a Miss who she play the piano and put on the production of Gilbert and Sullivans Pirates of Penzance. Our headmistress was Miss McLaughlin. , Miss Peake (English) did she teach typing. The Home Economics teacher when I was there I think was a Miss Davis small and blond and and bossy, Can you rember who taught French.? Yes the school was run on strick grounds. I work at a school and its nothing like the fear I used to feel at times and God help you if you had been sent to stand out side the class and someone else saw you.. (was only just asking something of one of my classmates sitting next to me) Hard to believe we where taught to write with a ink nib pen on a stick that you had to dip into the ink well.. Untill some time later you could have a fountain pen.. I moved out of Brum in the late 60's and heard that the school had been burnt down. Yes I rember the bike shed and the outside toilets that smelt awful just of the play ground.. and the old gym and showers..Arh....lol
Click to expand...
i was in mrs masons class in my last year my friend and i did thestage curtains for the pirates of penzance.miss gledhill was a teacher of ours think she left to south africa.miss powell was the science teacher and she kept watch while we had a smoke in the store room.mrs karim was there.
 
i remember mr barnfield as a small child i fetched wisky for him from the outdoor on the square.when i was 14 looked after his grandaughters pony her mom was rhoda barnfield.
 
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