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Perry Common Comprehensive School 1964 to 1969
- Thread starter hunty
- Start date
These Birmingham Post images might be of interest if you were there in 1967. Viv.
The launching of "Ribble" must have been before 1967, as I left the school in 1966 and it had been launched before that. I remember being at Witton on launch day and the boat fouling and getting stuck on the rubbish at the bottom of the entrance to the basin where it was kept.
David Willmett
New Member
Rippl's first launch was in 1965 to new bridge Wolverhampton. I know because i was their. Mr Neal was head master. For every hour you worked on the boat, you had a hour on the boat as a holiday. When I left school i started as a apprenticeship as a coppersmith. I made a trumpet for the school to use on the narrow boat. Last i heard someone dropped it in the canal.
You are correct David i was there as well. I spent many happy hours helping to build it, usually on a saturday. I was also there when the ITV came to film us building it. Hello Dave been a long time remember me (bob) Robert Smith we were good friends along with Keith Hodgkins
Mal Oliver
Brummie babby
I taught at Perry Common as a newly qualified pe teacher from 1970 until 1973. I remember taking a group of children on the ribble. I also remember helping to renovate a Welsh chapel as a hostel for school groups. Good fun!!
Yes ME! Name Margaret Leatherbarrow I was in Mr Gee's Class~ Green Team.
I'm still in touch with Pauline Randles who was also in my Class.
Haven't seen anyone else from our school in years.
Hi our Class 4G went onto the narrowboat and did some wallpapering! painting etc. it was a fun day out for us!
Doubt we got much work done. I was Margaret Leatherbarrow, Pauline Randles and Christina Huddleston, was there too and some of the lads, maybe Tony Hickenbottom? lovely lady teacher we had, but I can't think of her name. Seems ages ago....oh it was lol Mx
Mr Gee was a really good teacher and a nice chap Margo 54. I had him for Economics and History during the early 70s. I remember seeing him in his front garden in Streetly, when I was in my 20's. I said hallo Mr Gee and he replied, "what are you doing here John?" I said that I lived here, rather than answering with the obvious "walking my labrador". 
I understand that he later became headmaster at the comp and that was a well merited promotion, in my opinion.
I understand that he later became headmaster at the comp and that was a well merited promotion, in my opinion.Hi John, I too saw Mr Gee in his front Garden, around '72 He lived by my Sister in Hundred Acre Streetly and I popped to fetch my niece from one of his kids parties, he was very friendly, I'd been very shy at school, but he always called me and 2 pals 'members of the chin waggers club' said it that many times that he even shortened it to CWC. He took us for History too, he used to charge around the classroom with his window pole and his black 'cape' flowing.... so funny but always made the lesson interesting, if it weren't for him no way would I remember 'the battle of Banockburn' or Hastings 1066. Lol
He was our Form Teacher too, he was one of the nicest in the School. Mrs Swain was nice too (Cookery) My Sister's Teacher and Mr Bates? (P.E) was my Brothers. I remember he was seen 'smooching' with Miss Titch? (also P.E) I never liked them. When ever I said what School I was at, people were not nice about it, but it was New, we had a pool etc, I think it went downhill over the years maybe. We moved area, so didn't hear much after i left and started work in '69. Nice to have a walk down memory lane isn't it! M.
He was our Form Teacher too, he was one of the nicest in the School. Mrs Swain was nice too (Cookery) My Sister's Teacher and Mr Bates? (P.E) was my Brothers. I remember he was seen 'smooching' with Miss Titch? (also P.E) I never liked them. When ever I said what School I was at, people were not nice about it, but it was New, we had a pool etc, I think it went downhill over the years maybe. We moved area, so didn't hear much after i left and started work in '69. Nice to have a walk down memory lane isn't it! M.
Meant to comment not copy the post sorry. I was on what was probably the last trip the Ribble took as we went under a bridge too far over and scraped the roof. That must have been about 1975. The hostal was Corris. The head was Mr Neal, deputy Mr Conker and Mr Gee was there for many years…such a character. I can see the faces of many other teachers but names are harder…Miss Howe our lovely form teacher who taught art and took us to Germany, Mr Lapworth, Mrs Sperrin. It had incredible facilities for its day and most of the teachers were committed to giving the children experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise had.
I remember The Ribble too Alwin. I've still got the scar on my right ankle from where i tried to start it's engine ! Some more teachers names that come to mind, that you might recall are: Miss Hampshire, Mr "Teddy" Twynhome (History), Mr Mackett (History), Mr McInally (Lower Head), Mr Iddles (Upper Head), Mr Rhodes (Geography), Mr Palmer (Geography), Mr Williams (Rugby), Mr Herbert (Music), Mr Jones (German), Mr Jackson (Chemistry), Mr Broughton, Mr Beale, Mr Leadbetter (Physics), Miss Rankin (Games) and Mr Hawkins (Maths).
! Some more teachers names that come to mind, that you might recall are: Miss Hampshire, Mr "Teddy" Twynhome (History), Mr Mackett (History), Mr McInally (Lower Head), Mr Iddles (Upper Head), Mr Rhodes (Geography), Mr Palmer (Geography), Mr Williams (Rugby), Mr Herbert (Music), Mr Jones (German), Mr Jackson (Chemistry), Mr Broughton, Mr Beale, Mr Leadbetter (Physics), Miss Rankin (Games) and Mr Hawkins (Maths).Oh wow! That great…as soon as I saw the names I could see all the faces. The Ribble got stuck in mud once and a couple of us had to pull it but then we couldn’t get back on and had to walk for miles . Remembering more now…there was Mrs Vacher and Miss Fitch (German)…we went to her wedding! Some kids were mean to Mr Velu (Music) so when we were in the 6th form we formed a choir with him as we felt he deserved a bit of job satisfaction. Miss Hampshire used to yawn all the time and taught us about the Romans. Mr Mackett taught us to make notes, which was really useful, and used to sway back and forth from foot to foot. Mr Jackson had a boil or something on his lip. Mr Donnelly became the head of Upper school I think…he encouraged us to apply for university. What was the physics teacher called. Little bloke with a beard. Never marked our homework but got detention if it was late. Made the girls sit at the back and could only do CSE not O level…outrageous! Mr Neal took me aside and said I shouldn’t do English, French and German A levels as no one can do two language A levels without their heads exploding. I don’t think they were his exact words . Feel very lucky to have had support of some of the lovely teachers.I remember The Ribble too Alwin. I've still got the scar on my right ankle from where i tried to start it's engine
Great to read your post…thank you!
It was a boil as I recall it, that led to him making a sucking sound as he finished speaking, but it didn't stop him making loud speaker announcements at the annual swimming gala. Mr Leadbetter was the physics teacher, who was known as "Noggin" and was rather adept at throwing chalk rubbers or pieces of chalk, at members of his class. Mr Neal took me aside a couple of times too (for other reasons
).I know the name Alwin, there were a few of them at the school and Alan may have been in our year (it's been a long time). You mentioned studying languages earlier (my son passed two of them at A Level & his head didn't explode, as Mr Neal had suggested would happen (although he didn't go to PCCS ). Do you remember using the Language Lab (the one below is an example)? It was a great forward thinking idea to use headphones and to have teachers listen in on individual's speaking exercises, but quite a few pupils and dare I suggest the odd teacher, might have used it as an opportunity to have a somewhat "relaxed period".
). Do you remember using the Language Lab (the one below is an example)? It was a great forward thinking idea to use headphones and to have teachers listen in on individual's speaking exercises, but quite a few pupils and dare I suggest the odd teacher, might have used it as an opportunity to have a somewhat "relaxed period".The language lab was brilliant and very good for children who wanted to have a go but were too shy to speak up in class. I didn’t listen to Mr Neal and, like your son, didn’t have any problems in the head exploding department . I think the younger generations are more open to the idea of learning another language. I went on to be a languages teacher and would have loved to have had the occasional doss while the kids were plugged into the language lab but unfortunately never came across one after PCC. Thanks for the reminders!
biffohistory
Brummie babby
Hello
my name is Aflred Phillips and i went to Perry Common 1966 to 1973
my group tutor was Mr Eastwood-he taught maths
history was with Mr Gee and Mr Mackett
happy times and I learned a great deal from both teachers
i understand that Mr Mackett retired and openned a Post office in th country some where
I bumped into Mr Newton -in the late 1980's in Birmingham centre - he took me for English and ran the drama at school in the evening-not seen since
When i was doing my Open University degree in 1976 -I ran into Mr Palmer who was also taking a degree at the same time- i donot remeber whether i was actually in one of his classes or not
For gym there was Mr Beal- in the mid 1990's i was passing near to the school and popped into see the old place and i spoke to Mr Beal then -not seen since that time
I was shocked to discover that they demolished the school buildings -fairely recently -what a waste of buildings and resources
I had an excellent relationship with Mr Conker Deputy Head- he would steer me clear of the bad influences and individuals at school
my name is Aflred Phillips and i went to Perry Common 1966 to 1973
my group tutor was Mr Eastwood-he taught maths
history was with Mr Gee and Mr Mackett
happy times and I learned a great deal from both teachers
i understand that Mr Mackett retired and openned a Post office in th country some where
I bumped into Mr Newton -in the late 1980's in Birmingham centre - he took me for English and ran the drama at school in the evening-not seen since
When i was doing my Open University degree in 1976 -I ran into Mr Palmer who was also taking a degree at the same time- i donot remeber whether i was actually in one of his classes or not
For gym there was Mr Beal- in the mid 1990's i was passing near to the school and popped into see the old place and i spoke to Mr Beal then -not seen since that time
I was shocked to discover that they demolished the school buildings -fairely recently -what a waste of buildings and resources
I had an excellent relationship with Mr Conker Deputy Head- he would steer me clear of the bad influences and individuals at school
Tony B
master brummie
Hi Alf...
I passed my 11 plus and was persuaded to attend Perry Common Comp...
That was in 1969/70... I remember Mr Beale and Mr Conker....
I could not settle at the Comp , at the time my excuses were it was to far to walk and they didn't play football.... After several months there , I got transferred to Warren Farm Secondary..
On reflection, I excelled at Warren Farm , but I never really gave the Comp a chance..
Did I miss out ? probably with my Education... But I became Headboy and represented Birmingham at County level... So we make our choices....
We did eventually get to play football at Perry Common Tony, although it didn't really start to be played until 1971/1972 and we reached the Birmingham Schools Final in 1972, which was played at St Andrews. Rugby was always the main game though and most of the football team were also in the school rugby team. It seems from the photograph below, that football was even played on the high field near the College Road, some years after I had left. That had always been kept for rugby during the winter and for athletics/cricket during the summer, in my time. As I recall, there were two rugby pitches, two football pitches, two cricket nets, two cricket squares and the two or three tennis courts, available in the school fields, in the early 70's.
biffohistory
Brummie babby
Hello
Great to hear from John L and Tony B- I actually asked the headmaster Mr Neal why we played rugby rather than football
He said that there were two reasons-firstly he wanted to establish the school(comprehensive education had just started to get going) Grammer schools played Rugby and at that time they looked down their noses at Perry Common(I remember a neighbour who went to King Edwards grammer stating that Perry Common was a glorified secondary modern -full of no hopers!!-he did not remain a chum after that ). Playing rugby put Perry Common to the fore and i remember attending rugby games against local grammer schools where the headmaster had to walk on the pitch and shout through a megphone that Perry Common was not a grammer school as stated
The second reason was there was supposedly a greater availability of rugby pitches to play against other schools -as football was of course more popular. Alot of the grammer schools at that time were inner city with no sports pitches in the school grounds.
i hated rugby -never any good -was always called a "big girls blouse" by my team mates. My former chum who went to King Edwards ended up leaving with not many "O" levels and was always going into different employments( his mum kept in contact with my mum). I ended up with a law degree and qualified as a barrister and soliciotr before retiring. Just goes to show
Great to hear from former pupils of Perry Common it is sad how the school seems to almost vanish from history. The photo of th football pitch with the school in the background was grea to see -brought back memories
Great to hear from John L and Tony B- I actually asked the headmaster Mr Neal why we played rugby rather than football
He said that there were two reasons-firstly he wanted to establish the school(comprehensive education had just started to get going) Grammer schools played Rugby and at that time they looked down their noses at Perry Common(I remember a neighbour who went to King Edwards grammer stating that Perry Common was a glorified secondary modern -full of no hopers!!-he did not remain a chum after that ). Playing rugby put Perry Common to the fore and i remember attending rugby games against local grammer schools where the headmaster had to walk on the pitch and shout through a megphone that Perry Common was not a grammer school as stated
The second reason was there was supposedly a greater availability of rugby pitches to play against other schools -as football was of course more popular. Alot of the grammer schools at that time were inner city with no sports pitches in the school grounds.
i hated rugby -never any good -was always called a "big girls blouse" by my team mates. My former chum who went to King Edwards ended up leaving with not many "O" levels and was always going into different employments( his mum kept in contact with my mum). I ended up with a law degree and qualified as a barrister and soliciotr before retiring. Just goes to show
Great to hear from former pupils of Perry Common it is sad how the school seems to almost vanish from history. The photo of th football pitch with the school in the background was grea to see -brought back memories
We certainly had some "feisty games" against those Grammar Schools, as well as a few against local Comprehensive and High Schools. Mr Neal was often on the side of the rugby pitch during the big games, I still recall him standing with the Headmaster of King Edwards and wincing as I (a prop forward) tackled their diminutive scrum half, in the Midlands Schools quarter-final
.Sorry but I don't remember him that way (perhaps he didn't like me specifically)Mr Gee was a really good teacher and a nice chap Margo 54. I had him for Economics and History during the early 70s. I remember seeing him in his front garden in Streetly, when I was in my 20's. I said hallo Mr Gee and he replied, "what are you doing here John?" I said that I lived here, rather than answering with the obvious "walking my labrador".
Perhaps he did, he just hid it well.
