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Marsh Hill Girls Grammar Tech School

The Streetview I used in post #177 was, I think, the Stockland Green Bilateral school entrance, Marsh Hill Girls main entrance was opposite Bleak Hill and Marsh Hill Boys entrance was via Hampton Road, off Slade Road.

Interesting the way it has changed. Has anyone been in the school for a look around ? I’d quite like to just to see if I recognise anything still. Viv.
 
Yes, I thought your picture was from the Stockland Green entrance.

Thanks @sttudy for the up to date info on the site of the school! I knew it was the Josiah Mason 6th form college at one point but not that that had closed in 2012.

I left Birmingham in 1997 so I haven't been that way for a long time but it would be interesting to have a look round now!
 
sasha507 said:
And 6th from left is Angela Holdnall - the memories are flooding back!!
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Wow! This took me back. I don't know how I stumbled into this thread but I remember Angela Holdnall from Perry Beeches in 1964. I went to KEGS Aston so we unfortunately lost touch. I moved away from 'Brum' as we had no family connections in the area. My brother lost a good friend in the infamous 'Pub Bombings'. You've spelled Marilyn's name without a 't'. Not a sister of Ray Prichard by chance? Sad that Friends Reunited has gone. I suppose most people found their best pals and then left. Most of us had good times then but I doubt that we knew it. (David Parkinson)
 
A Sparks said:
Hi Kathleen, I remember you too!
I live in London now but I'm still in touch with Lynda P.
Give all the girls my love!
Anne Spencer x
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Hi Anne I have only just joined this forum. I was at Marsh Hill Girls' from 1960 when it opened until 1965. I have lived in London since 1976, in Wimbledon since 1983. Where do you live in London? I am finding this forum very interesting and the memories are flooding back. The reason I suddenly started reading it is that I am doing some work on a project in Birmingham - and yes at my ripe old age I am still working, full-time at that.
 
Happy Days said:
Hi Anne I have only just joined this forum. I was at Marsh Hill Girls' from 1960 when it opened until 1965. I have lived in London since 1976, in Wimbledon since 1983. Where do you live in London? I am finding this forum very interesting and the memories are flooding back. The reason I suddenly started reading it is that I am doing some work on a project in Birmingham - and yes at my ripe old age I am still working, full-time at that.
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Ah, you must have been a couple of years above me, I started in 1962 and left in 1967.

I've lived in Stamford Hill, Hackney since 2007 and a couple of other areas in north London since I moved down in 1997.

Good for you doing a project on Birmingham! I think it's often only as we get older that we start to take more interest in the history of places. This is a brilliant Forum for Brum History - I know I have learnt so much more since becoming a member.

Welcome and enjoy!
 
I’m reposting this photo here - originally posted by Jeff2087. (Thanks Jeff) on the Marsh Hill Boys’ School thread - as it shows a number of Marsh Hill Girls in dancing lessons with the boys. Some girls may recognise themselves. It was a little before my time there. Viv.

7AA5C370-DB7A-4B40-8A80-A1CE7F14D002.jpeg
FEA22EB1-F6FD-477B-9D3B-3945404A80E4.jpeg
 
That's great Viv!
Before my time too, I started in 1962. I don't recognise any of the girls - they must have been some of the first intake years. I certainly don't remember any dancing with the boys when I was there!!
 
MidlandRed said:
Wow! This took me back. I don't know how I stumbled into this thread but I remember Angela Holdnall from Perry Beeches in 1964. I went to KEGS Aston so we unfortunately lost touch. I moved away from 'Brum' as we had no family connections in the area. My brother lost a good friend in the infamous 'Pub Bombings'. You've spelled Marilyn's name without a 't'. Not a sister of Ray Prichard by chance? Sad that Friends Reunited has gone. I suppose most people found their best pals and then left. Most of us had good times then but I doubt that we knew it. (David Parkinson)
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Whilst I didn't go to Marsh Hill I was on SS Nevasa in December 1969 and I have very fond memories of Angela. It would be wonderful to get in touch
 
Welcome Richard. I was also on the 1969 Nevasa cruise. You might not have seen the photo in the link below, just before we went on the cruise. Viv.
sasha507 said:
Hi all, especially Jayne Woolaston - you were in my class at MHGS, certainly in 5H anyway. You were friends with Julie Welshman if I remember rightly. I was Barbara Basnett in those days and was friends with Gillian Yates, although we have lost touch over the years. You were talking about the Caribbean Cruise, Vivienne. I have attached a photo from the Erdington News showing some of the girls who went on it, along with two boys (don't know their names). I am in the middle of the seated row. Next to me on the right is Janet Thomas and next to her is Sandra Meacham. Sorry the photo isn't brilliant quality but it is 50 years old!View attachment 142725
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If memory serves me right, there were, I think, a couple of girls from another school in our Nevasa party. They must have been sent with our group perhaps because their school couldn’t send their own staff to supervise. Or maybe it was to make up a group of a viable number. I remember Mrs Cockbain (Head) came with us and another teacher (can’t remember who - would have been female). I also can’t remember which school the two girls came from. Maybe someone can remember.

I remember the stainless steel (?) plates sliding around the tables when we passed through the Bay of Biscay. There weren’t many pupils in the dining room for a few days after. Anyone remember playing deck hockey and quoits on the long days crossing the Atlantic ? Or the water sploshing out of the swimming pool when the Nevasa rode the crest of a wave !

I remember queuing at the Ship’s Bursars Office to draw cash. Think we had a special book with the cash deposited in it. Then withdrawals were recorded in the book.

Dormitory life was a revelation to me. Very claustrophobic, hot and noisy. I think we were somewhere near the kitchens, still at sea level as I remember the big doors which when opened were gaping holes, probably for loading/unloading stuff. We had basic, metal bunks, no frills type of dormitories for us girls. I expect the accompanying teachers had their rooms somewhere higher up and with a few luxuries, like their own toilet !

Viv.
 
Lorraine Freeth said:
I was at MHGS from 1962 to 1967. I was a bit of a rebel am embarrassed to admit. Does anyone know what happened to Pamela Smith ? She was my partner in crime.
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I remember you, we were in the same school year! I think you were in the S form though? I was in the Z and then A forms.
I remember Pamela Smith's name too but wouldn't know what happened to her.
Anne Spencer
 
Well done Marsh Hill Girls, must try harder Marsh Hill Boys ! Although you still got through to the County competition. Viv.

8BE26C38-9F50-407E-BA6A-063D2BF63127.jpeg
 
Does anyone remember being ‘debobbled” ? Like many schools, older pupils carried out little initiations on new pupils. MHGS had debobbling - this was the removal of the little pointed stalk on the navy blue beret. I don’t remember having mine removed - in fact I think I removed it myself at home once I’d latched on to what it was all about. I never did it to others either, as I think it was frowned upon (by staff). But I clearly remember it went on. In some instances the ripping off of the bobble meant a tear in the beret. Expect some parents weren’t too pleased,

Viv.
 
Anyone remember receiving any careers advice ? I don’t remember talking to any nominated teacher, but I do remember having a discussion with Mrs Cockbain (Head). Not sure if it was a formal careers advice discussion but she told me I should go into either teaching or nursing. I did neither ! Viv.
 
Yes, I think Teaching was the usual advice!
My chat was with a teacher, Miss Lownes maybe - can't really remember now. I had decided I wanted to go on to Art School so we didn't have much to discuss. I did apply to Gosta Green but didn't get in on the course in the end.
 
Quite a few girls in my year went into teaching. I’ve since wondered if many girls went into traditional male occupations like engineering. I doubt it, that sort of thinking wasn’t generally accepted at the time.
My dad wanted me to go into a scientific occupation so that I could get involved in computers. How perceptive that was. But I didn’t do it as I didn’t like science. My mum wanted me to become an air hostess, didn’t do that either.

A comment on the marsh Hill Boys thread set me thinking about this as at that school boys seem to have been nurtured if they showed a particular interest and ability. I don’t remember this at the girls’ school. I think we were to some extent still suffering the effects of women only working until they marry and have a family. Viv..
 
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Vivienne14 said:
Quite a few girls in my year went into teaching. I’ve since wondered if many girls went into traditional male occupations like engineering. I doubt it, that sort of thinking wasn’t generally accepted at the time.
My dad wanted me to go into a scientific occupation so that I could get involved in computers. How perceptive that was. But I didn’t do it as I didn’t like science. My mum wanted me to become an air hostess, didn’t do that either.

A comment on the marsh Hill Boys thread set me thinking about this as at that school boys seem to have been nurtured if they showed a particular interest and ability. I don’t remember this at the girls’ school. I think we may still have been suffering the effects of women only working until they marry and have a family. Viv..
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I got married whilst still at school in the sixth form and 3 days after leaving went into the Emergency Ambulance Control on 999 lines for 10 years, had my first child after 5 years then went part time.
 
I became a legal secretary after leaving MHGS. After a year I went to the Birmingham College of Food for three years as I had some idea of becomng a restaurant manageress and running some swanky establishment. Unfortunately I got married just after I left college and couldn't cope with the shift work. I worked in the Albany Hotel in Birmingham for a few months. Served a few celebrities whilst I was working there! I soon went back to office work, though. Bit of a waste of time, although I have always been able to cook anything after that. Eventually became an accountant. Still working, but not for much longer. Strange, really, as maths wasn't my best subject, English was.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Quite a few girls in my year went into teaching. I’ve since wondered if many girls went into traditional male occupations like engineering. I doubt it, that sort of thinking wasn’t generally accepted at the time.
My dad wanted me to go into a scientific occupation so that I could get involved in computers. How perceptive that was. But I didn’t do it as I didn’t like science. My mum wanted me to become an air hostess, didn’t do that either.

A comment on the marsh Hill Boys thread set me thinking about this as at that school boys seem to have been nurtured if they showed a particular interest and ability. I don’t remember this at the girls’ school. I think we may to some extent were still suffering the effects of women only working until they marry and have a family. Viv..
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Vivienne, I attended Marsh Hill Boy's Technical Grammar School from 1963-1968.

Regarding your wonderment whether the boys were prepared for technical trades, engineering etc. From my own personal experiences there, not so much. For the most part, our teachers were ex-university types, with few hands-on industrial technical skills, unlike Teacher Technlogy programs widely in effect today.

FWIW, metalwork, woodwork and guilded metalwork were the only non-academic lessons in the boys' school. I found my own way into engineering following in my Dad's footsteps.

There was no support from the school, or footwork to assist us with seeking employment in our desired field. "O" Levels and/or "CSEs" were prerequisites for interviews in technical fields.

There was really no encouragement or support, towards transitioning into the middle class work place of industry and technology.

I did know a couple of girls around that time who attended the girls' school and their experiences pretty much aligned with yours. As you alluded, women were more expected to manage the household and raise the family in those days.

It was pretty much the "old boys' club" trend that continues even today, where breaking into specific roles can still be challenging for females who may be equally or better trained and capable.

Because we were schooled in complete segregation, there were no real opportunities to interact and develop social skills with the opposite sex, that would serve to maximise our potential together.

Martin
 
Interesting observation that. Originally the governments plan was to have three types of schools, secondary, academic, and technical. All designed around the idea of serving the growing changes in industry to best serve the country.

As with most things’ governments do, the technical schools were never really built in the numbers required.
 
I seem to remember Technical Drawing being offered to girls with classes at the Boys’ school. And I think woodwork might have been offered on the same basis. Otherwise, the only nod given to more ‘technical’ subjects required by the emerging needs of industry that I can remember at the Girls’ school would have been via traditional sciences. And in the absence of adequate careers guidance I think girls probably missed out on potential wider opportunities.

Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
And in the absence of adequate careers guidance I think girls probably missed out on potential wider opportunities.
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I started further education early 70s, and progressed through electronics, computers, software, blah blah as a career. During training, my courses were exclusively male. When I started real work, I worked with and for males. As I progressed 'up the ladder', ladies appeared in the drawing office, and there was an expectation that they would work for me rather than with me. A bit later, girls turned up in the software field, but as 'coders' who would write software to specification (drawn up by males). A good skill, but still just turning the handle. It was even later before girls rose enough so that I could work head to head with one or two. It was a refreshing experience, I am not sexist, but girls do think differently to boys, and the result of collaboration was a much better final result. Even then, there were older colleagues who pushed back slightly against the equivalence of girls, but by then I was in a position to tell them how things were going to be done.
Just my euros worth.

Andrew.
 
Morturn said:
Interesting observation that. Originally the governments plan was to have three types of schools, secondary, academic, and technical. All designed around the idea of serving the growing changes in industry to best serve the country.

As with most things’ governments do, the technical schools were never really built in the numbers required.
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I agree on the general intent of the types of schools. I believe that at the time I entered Marsh Hill, change was already in the wind towards that direction within our school, but the timing was too soon for the intent to be fully enacted during my time. I did however, receive a good education overall.

There was a switch to Modern Mathematics as it was known at the time, which was more aligned with technical and engineering needs. Technical drawing and the mathematics did prove useful later, while working at Pressed Steel Fisher and attending Erdington Technical College.

During second year, my home room # 6 was converted to a language laboratory, where each student sat with tape recording apparatus in a relative cubicle, donning headphones and mics to interact with the teacher. There was direct questioning in French, or German for those who chose that alternative. So, that was another technical development, even for an academic topic.

I wonder what changes the girls experienced, to their curriculum.
 
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There is a photo of a girl that was in the same class as myself when she and I were at Burlington Street Infant and Junior school, Sally Smith, very brainy if I remember correctly, I am sure that I also knew a brother and sister that attend March Hill but a years or two later, David and Sally Jenkins, David was a good footballer,
 
I remember doing ‘O’ level Modern Maths at MHGS. It was, I think, a Joint Matriculation Board subject (or perhaps Welsh Joint Matriculation Board ?). Not sure if everyone did it, probably was down to which Maths set you were placed in. Viv.
 
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