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St Benedict's Road School Small Heath
- Thread starter carolina
- Start date
The above photos were moved to this new thread from the old "school photos" thread. This is how British History Online describes the school:
ST. BENEDICT'S ROAD COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL, Small Heath. St. Benedict's Rd. Council Sch. opened 1913 by Birm. C.B.C. Accom. 1,000 M, I. Wright St. Temporary Council Sch. closed when it opened. Reorganized 1931 for JM, I. Accom. provided here 1940–50 for 2 classes of Holy Family R.C. Primary Sch. Accom. 1961: 20 classrooms, 2 halls.
ST. BENEDICT'S ROAD COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL, Small Heath. St. Benedict's Rd. Council Sch. opened 1913 by Birm. C.B.C. Accom. 1,000 M, I. Wright St. Temporary Council Sch. closed when it opened. Reorganized 1931 for JM, I. Accom. provided here 1940–50 for 2 classes of Holy Family R.C. Primary Sch. Accom. 1961: 20 classrooms, 2 halls.
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Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
I attended St. Bens 1956 - 62, when I left to go to Bierton Rd secondary Modern. I ended up in 4C. Teachers I remember are Mr Beaumont - Headmaster, Mrs Euinson ? Mr Price, Mr Irving. In my Class that I remember, were Freddy Todd, Alan Smith, Brian ? Micheal Teague, Brenda Wilcox, Heather ? Kathrine ? possibly the Miller twins. I lived at 172 St. Benedict's Road. In summer sports were held at the small park. School trips were to Dudley Zoo and Alton Tower's. There were others, but my recall is not so good. I have returned and asked a guy on the other side of the school fence if there was an old boy's and girls group. He thought not. Through out all of Small Heath, there are many changes and the school and parks seem much smaller.
Two lovely press photos of children rehearsing for evacuation in 1939. Source: British Newspaper Archives.
Viv.
Viv.
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
Went back twice to specifically walk from both ends of St Ben's on separate occasions. Not sure how to handle the experience. So much had changed in Small Heath. Note the 28 bus no longer runs along St. Ben's. In fact it does not terminate at New Street station either. A ride - post Co-vid - I hope to make. Tend now to spend my visits in the center, or specific sites.
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
Are there any more photo's in an archive possibly held by the local educational authority? Any idea where such pic's would end up?The must have been taken every year, but I do not remember it happening. Alas, I had just started infants in 56, so have no knowledge of the kids in the pic. Tho' there might have been a girl - surname Bayse?? I seem to remember a school uniform of black/blue?? jacket, grey socks with 2 yellow/gold bands at the top and a tie striped with the same colours. Not sure what the girls wore. Can anyone confirm this and when it was introduced, or correct? Now the colours are grey and red from what I saw from my last visit.
Gary collins54
proper brummie kid
I was at st Ben in 1965/1966 mr beals class I still have my tie, I did the tape recording for the assembly Gary Collins born in Monica road
The larger on was taken in 1953 We are in fancy dress for the coronation my brother is the Elizabethan gentleman and I am the sugertree fairy on the bottom row third from the right
Gary collins54
proper brummie kid
I left st Ben in 64 to go to oldknow rd I was in mr beales class along with sometimes mr price, Gary Collins of Monica road
Brian Batson
New Member
Hi. Have just stumbled upon this forum and saw your post. My Sister Barbara would have been at that school at the time. We lived in St Benedicts road and also moved out around 1966. I was born in 1962 so wasn't old enough to start school until we had left.
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
I lived at 172 St. Ben's. Short up hill walk to school. Which class was your Sis in? I do not remember her in my stream which was C. Nor do I remember how many classes per stream. If more than one, then she may have been in one of the others. Any one help? Is she in contact with any other people that attended?
Brian Batson
New Member
Hi. Don't know what class she was in but I'll ask when I'm next in touch with her. We lived at number 83 and my grandparents lived at I think 100 which was almost opposite. I have worked on a couple of occasions with someone called Keith Barnes who claimed to have also have gone to the school but my sister couldn't remember his name when I mentioned it to her.
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
Thanks for getting back Brian. As I said in earlier posts, I did visit the area. I have just woken up to the fact that the pic showing the evacuation in 39 is the rear of the school. In winter the boys used to get the snow polished into (ice) slides because of the slope of the playground, before the start of lessons. Mainly for our use. Perhaps your sis will remember. Certainly the play ground from school wall to fence was a lot smaller than I recall.
Barbara Edwards / Batson
New Member
Barbara Edwards / Batson
New Member
Hi Audrey I was there from 1961 or 62 to 1967 when we moved to Meriden. It sounds from the dates that you may have been in the year above me. Can you remember anyone in your class?
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
Hello Barbara.
Seems we missed each other tho' may have passed you on the road to and from school. I assume you must have been in the infants section, while I was in the Junior part. Thinking back I only knew people about 3 houses either side of where I lived. Like you guys my Grandparents lived across the road but I cannot recall the house number. I am some what amused by the thought of the 28 leaving the road. There was the post office at the bottom, on the left which had a set of garages which they rented out. My Dad had one. I think a butchers on the right. Opposite that a hardware store???? Can't remember what or if there was a 4th shop. Remember the Co-op group of stores near Monica Rd. Not sure if true that apart from St. Bens., all the roads were named after family members whose land the houses were built on. And Small Heath little park....my oh my....don't go back folks. Its not what we remember.....
Seems we missed each other tho' may have passed you on the road to and from school. I assume you must have been in the infants section, while I was in the Junior part. Thinking back I only knew people about 3 houses either side of where I lived. Like you guys my Grandparents lived across the road but I cannot recall the house number. I am some what amused by the thought of the 28 leaving the road. There was the post office at the bottom, on the left which had a set of garages which they rented out. My Dad had one. I think a butchers on the right. Opposite that a hardware store???? Can't remember what or if there was a 4th shop. Remember the Co-op group of stores near Monica Rd. Not sure if true that apart from St. Bens., all the roads were named after family members whose land the houses were built on. And Small Heath little park....my oh my....don't go back folks. Its not what we remember.....
Barbara Edwards / Batson
New Member
Too late! I have been back and it’s enough to make you cry but pretty much all of our large inner city suburbs are the same now. I remember the co-op at the bottom of the hill and the fish and chip shop on the corner (where you would ask for “a six ‘o’ chips”) but not a lot else on the Somerville Road apart from the little park I used to play in - forgotten it’s name. Remember careering down the hill on our scooters when I went to the park with my friend Patricia Rooney who lived at 96. Spent my pocket money on sweets in the newsagents on the Coventry Road. I remember Richard West who lived a few doors up from my grandparents. He was a bit older than me but this must have been another Richard as you lived further down the hill?
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
Ah. Some bits of memory that have now floated to the surface so to speak.
Grandparents lived at 147. The parks were known to me as Small and Big. The other side of the Coventry Rd. The small one was where the school held its sports day in the summer.
Still remember the park keepers hut in the arts and crafts/African hut style. Got burnt down I hear. Also a building where the aged played billiards and snooker. As boys we used to roller skate down the slope towards the gate. Used to put the wind up the park keeper as he was worried we would shoot out into the road.
Use to roller skate down St. Bens too. Frightened the old folks by the speed we got upto. Problem was if grit got under your front wheels....Do you remember the gas street lamps?
Another girl I recall was Bernadette Ingam. She was in a R. Catholic family across the road from me. Anther character was Terry Smith. A little older than me.
Somewhat shocked by the state of the parks above, as other towns/Cities seem to be able to maintain them. Did my exploring by the 60 bus. 58 no longer runs. Got off at what was the Swan and walked back. Did one visit. Some years ago some one wise said about the past -'Never go back'. As the adjustment can be too much.... Looks like we both "suffered"
Grandparents lived at 147. The parks were known to me as Small and Big. The other side of the Coventry Rd. The small one was where the school held its sports day in the summer.
Still remember the park keepers hut in the arts and crafts/African hut style. Got burnt down I hear. Also a building where the aged played billiards and snooker. As boys we used to roller skate down the slope towards the gate. Used to put the wind up the park keeper as he was worried we would shoot out into the road.
Use to roller skate down St. Bens too. Frightened the old folks by the speed we got upto. Problem was if grit got under your front wheels....Do you remember the gas street lamps?
Another girl I recall was Bernadette Ingam. She was in a R. Catholic family across the road from me. Anther character was Terry Smith. A little older than me.
Somewhat shocked by the state of the parks above, as other towns/Cities seem to be able to maintain them. Did my exploring by the 60 bus. 58 no longer runs. Got off at what was the Swan and walked back. Did one visit. Some years ago some one wise said about the past -'Never go back'. As the adjustment can be too much.... Looks like we both "suffered"
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
It occurred to me the other night, that the school used to run trips near the end of the summer term to places.These included Drayton Manor park, Alton Towers and Dudley Zoo. I believe they used Eatonways Coaches based on the Coventry road. 60 years on I might need help with clarity.
was the small park Digby Park ?
Gary collins54
proper brummie kid
I was at st Ben,s 1962 to 1967 ish the on to oldknow road secondary lived in Monica rd Gary Collins
Gary collins54
proper brummie kid
Richard the Red
proper brummie kid
Interested in the question over the small park, bottom of St. Bens. Looking online the small maps that I have been able to find says it is called Digby Park. I think this was again named after a family member of the land owners which must have donated the land around late 1900's or early 1920's. Could be earlier as our house showed the remains of gas mantels/lamps on the walls. Think I remember the chippy. Don't think I ever went in. One of the comments on the state of the park is " it's not what it was' True that!
Lorraine Bennett
proper brummie kid
Wanted to make a new entry, so not sure if this is correct, anyone go to St Ben's 1957-60 ish , remember Miss Quinn, and Miss Cleesby math teacher?
Gary collins54
proper brummie kid
Miss cleesby and miss Quinn scared the life out of me! Sit up straight no talking feet together, I have a photo somewhere taken on a day trip to Stourbridge and a picture of jacquline dunkley? Who was in my class possibly taken in 1962?
Lorraine Bennett
proper brummie kid
Hi Gary,
I absolutely hated the infant school St Bens, I can't remember the pupils at the school, but who could forget Miss Quinn the Headmistress, I remember my first day being taken to her office to be introduced to her and the school, I stamped on her foot and ran for my life, leaving my poor mum flabbergasted. Finally had to go to school, under threats of the Schoolboard man. Sweet heart Miss Cleesby any person on earth would have been a better teacher of Math, she used to make me stand by her desk until I could answer a question correctly, which if the concept had been explained to me in a friendly manner, I may have been able to answer, but no she just left me staring at the book the whole lesson, what a terrible way to teach a child anything. I've learnt more since I left school at 15, then I ever did at school. I sincerely agree sit up, feet together, they didn't teach, they scared us and no child deserved that, you never forget it. I did like the free milk when it wasn't warm and Christmas making decorations and those icy slides in the playground when we had icy weather LOL
I absolutely hated the infant school St Bens, I can't remember the pupils at the school, but who could forget Miss Quinn the Headmistress, I remember my first day being taken to her office to be introduced to her and the school, I stamped on her foot and ran for my life, leaving my poor mum flabbergasted. Finally had to go to school, under threats of the Schoolboard man. Sweet heart Miss Cleesby any person on earth would have been a better teacher of Math, she used to make me stand by her desk until I could answer a question correctly, which if the concept had been explained to me in a friendly manner, I may have been able to answer, but no she just left me staring at the book the whole lesson, what a terrible way to teach a child anything. I've learnt more since I left school at 15, then I ever did at school. I sincerely agree sit up, feet together, they didn't teach, they scared us and no child deserved that, you never forget it. I did like the free milk when it wasn't warm and Christmas making decorations and those icy slides in the playground when we had icy weather LOL
