Handsworth Grammar School 1950--1960 and beyond

[JLB]

Charlie Peck was Mr G. M. Hilbourne BSc. He is shown as the Second Master [aka deputy headmaster] in my old and badly marked copy of the School Calendar for 1956-57. I have no idea why he was called Charlie Peck. I believe he retired in 1959 or 1960. I think there is a biography of him in the book published to mark the HGS centenary in 1963.

 

[RobT]

I remember the caning from Joe,I had a grocery delivery boy job on Friday evening and Saturdays at Wrensons at Beggars Bush. If I had a detention to serve I elected to receive 6 of the best from Joe instead I even wore my gym shorts under my regular trousers to mitigate the discomfort somewhat. Thanks JLB for the aerial shot of the shooting range in the 'play' area, the second long range shooting range was at our sports field me thinks?. The school photo that I have a copy of was taken in 1957 and found it when clearing out my mothers house upon her passing in 2016.
In 1967 I accepted a job offer from Canada and departed the UK March 3rd that year. I met a nurse on a blind date three weeks later and we married and still are on September 18 1968. The reason for mentioning this, as part of our honeymoon I brought her to the UK to meet friends and relatives here, I also took her see HGS and was shocked to find the entry double doors locked. One of the custodians came and when I explained the reason for our being there he allowed us in,as we passed Pecks office he took us in and they had the 1957 school photo displayed on the wall, I picked out my photo and the custodian relaxed enough to allow us to wander around. I indicated what each room was and found that a couple or so had changed. When we entered the Biology lab,the familiar smell hit my nostrils and a memory flashed into my brain of when we were being taught "human reproduction", the Master showed a slide? of a female breast and a kid named MacAndrew had not been paying attention until that is he saw that picture and blurted out "a tit". The Master heard it and ordered MacAndrew to give him three alternate names instead. I was 80 yesterday and still vividly remember that episode.
Would anyone on the forum have any photos of us students dressed in our CCF or OTC uniforms, as I am writing a book using www,storywise.com for my kids and grand-kids and would love to add it to my High School article.
Stay safe. Robin.

Robin, These were put on Facebook by David Mumford, who also wrote
"Here is a blast from the past. I attended HGS from 1949 to 1954. Whilst there I joined the School Combined Cadet Corps. We had two Sections when I joined, Army and Air Force. Everyone went into the Army Section to start with and when you gained your Cert A Part 1 you could choose to carry on in the Army or move over into the Air Force Section. By a stoke of sheer luck, when I got my Cert A Part 1 in March 1954 we had a new Master join the Staff and he was a Sub/Lt in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Sub/Lt West promptly founded a Royal Naval Section and I promptly joined it.
He arranged for us to have an Annual Camp and I attended the very first one in 1954 when we were attached to HMS Scorpion a Weapon Class Destroyer docked in Portsmouth at that time. We spent time visiting other Ships in the Docks at that time including, HMS Verelum, HMS Dido, HMS Cleopatra, HMS Albion ( the very first angle deck Aircraft Carrier) and the highlight of the camp, the UK's most famous Battleship, HMS Vanguard. Ashore we spent time at HMS Phoenix (Firefighting School), HMS Dolphin (Submarine Base - with time on Submarine HMS Auriga) and Whale Island Gunnery School. It was one of the most exciting times in my life. When it was time for my National Service unfortunately, they were sacking Sailors and breaking up the old War Ships so I was drafted into the Army and spent my two years as a Sergeant Drill Instructor in the Royal Army Medical Corps and it became two of the happiest years of my life. I truly valued my time in the Combined Cadet Corps at school, without which, I may well have ended up in a much more mundane job during my National Service."
Going ashore from HMS Scorpion - I am the one at the front 1954.
Sgt. Dave Mumford RAMC 1956 to 1958

 

[RobT]

Who remembers Keith Morris?

 

[Michael_Ingram]

I joined the navel CCF and remember the trip to Portsmouth, a great few days. My plan for National Service was the airforce, I loved jet planes then. However, National Service was ended 18 months before I would have been due.
I remember once in CCF there had been a threat of IRA issues and all of our weapon store had been raided and dismantled by the police. Our CCF afternoon was spent reassembling rifles

 

[Richard Ross]

I was at Handsworth Grammar between 1959 and 1966. These photos sure bring back some memories. I can add my name to the thread having been caned by JJ Walton. He caught us playing snooker in the snooker hall on Soho Road when we should have been in class. Busted again! Anyone know if there is an old boys society?

 

[Michael_Ingram]

There is an old boys Facebook page9

 

[Richard Ross]

Thanks Michael. I'll check it out.

 

[RobinCanada]

I'm having trouble with my maths and term times! Would someone born in September 1940 be on your photo please? My cousin, David Woolley, went to Handsworth Grammar but may have left for Uni by the time of your photo.

Hi Lady Penelope; I remember David Wooley from my years at HGS 1952-1958 so he should be on the 2 photos that are posted by 'Enzothebaker', David was one year ahead of me as I was born in April of 1941.

 

[davids]

Hello. I was at HGS during the fifties when Holy Joe was the head. The teachers I most remember were Mr West who took us for English in the Sixth Form and who left me with a lasting love of Jane Austen and Mr Page who took us for music. I also remember a physics teacher, whose name escapes me, who if we misbehaved made us chew chalk. Can you imagine what would happen to a teacher who tried that today. And does anybody remember the CCF? I was in the naval section and had a great time going on various courses and messing about in boats. Incidentally, the Mr West mentioned above was in charge of the naval section.

 

[davids]

I hope you are the Bryan Summers who I was at school with in the 1950s. How are you going on?

 

[Lady Penelope]

Hi Lady Penelope; I remember David Wooley from my years at HGS 1952-1958 so he should be on the 2 photos that are posted by 'Enzothebaker', David was one year ahead of me as I was born in April of 1941.

Sorry for the delay Robin. I still haven't found David but will keep looking.
I was talking to Dave Reeves last Sunday who lived quite near to you in Court Lane and remembers your family well. The name Quentin Blower came up and apparently he went to Handsworth Grammar. He would have been around your age so do you remember him?

 

[chrisdavies]

Charlie Peck was Mr G. M. Hilbourne BSc. He is shown as the Second Master [aka deputy headmaster] in my old and badly marked copy of the School Calendar for 1956-57. I have no idea why he was called Charlie Peck. I believe he retired in 1959 or 1960. I think there is a biography of him in the book published to mark the HGS centenary in 1963.View attachment 156616

I am Chris Davies, & I attended HGS from 1952-57. The names shown bring back a lot of memories. Can't find me
on the school pics. Attached is a copy of the front inside page of my copy of The Bridge when I left in 57. Anyone recognise any of the signatures?

Charlie Peck was Mr G. M. Hilbourne BSc. He is shown as the Second Master [aka deputy headmaster] in my old and badly marked copy of the School Calendar for 1956-57. I have no idea why he was called Charlie Peck. I believe he retired in 1959 or 1960. I think there is a biography of him in the book published to mark the HGS centenary in 1963.View attachment 156616

 

[RobT]

I am Chris Davies, & I attended HGS from 1952-57. The names shown bring back a lot of memories. Can't find me
on the school pics. Attached is a copy of the front inside page of my copy of The Bridge when I left in 57. Anyone recognise any of the signatures?

Chris, Have a look at this 1957 photo, see if you can see yourself? I have a higher resolution but I don't think the forum would go that high. Perhaps look for friends in the same form.

 

[RobT]

I am Chris Davies, & I attended HGS from 1952-57. The names shown bring back a lot of memories. Can't find me
on the school pics. Attached is a copy of the front inside page of my copy of The Bridge when I left in 57. Anyone recognise any of the signatures?

I have no idea why he was called Charlie Peck, perhaps his first name was Gregory.
He retired in 1957, and died in 1960 see attached from Centenary Book

 

[RobT]

Sir Mark Rowley has been named as the new commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, taking over the role vacated by Dame Cressida Dick.
At Handsworth Grammar School 1976-1983

 

[Vivienne14]

The School had a successful football history with their various teams. Viv.



Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[JLB]

If my memory at 80 is still active, didn't Spooners also sell donuts out of the rear window of the dining room at a penny each?? Reading Mr. Darby's name [ Frenchie???] brought back painful memories as he suffered from 'small manitus' and used a gym pump to administer his choice of punishment. For some reason, I received 6 slaps, later that night I had a bath and my Dad, a mounted policeman based in Handsworth Police Stn, 'walked into the bathroom and saw the welts on my backside. He asked me where they had come from, I told him and I found out a couple of years later that my Dad had visited 'Joe W' headmaster and had a chat with him about severe abuse of a child, which came with an official warning.

Robin tentatively referred to Mr Darby as "Frenchie".
When I was at HGS (1951-1959) we called him "Arthur". I don't know why - his initials were R B Darby.
I have no recollection of anyone being beaten by him.
John Ball
1A (1951-52), 2A (1952-53), 3A (1953-54), 4A (1954-55), 5A (1955-56), VI Science i (1956-57), VI Science ii (1957-58), VI Science iii (1958-59)

 

[matelot]

I have a damaged shooting Cup awarded to my late Father in Law John Goodall in 1939, it was for the Rifle brigade I guess the final year on the cup is significant, there are other names going back until 1930, John Goodall like many went on to see in the Army, eventually being attached to DOGRA Regiment in India, when I can I will endeavour to post an image of the cup but as mentioned it is damage.

 

[bjpjp]

Robin Searle, I certainly remember that name. Where are you in the photo?
As for me when I saw the two side photos I was totally puzzled - where am I? They couldn'tView attachment 153183 Photoshop me out in those days although they might have tried. I am surprised that they let me into the photo session (my shirt).
Anyway after searching through my stuff I realised that there was still a bit of the photo missing - between the centre and the left hand side. See attached.

I am in that photo, 3 along on your left. To be honest,I cannot say that I enjoyed my time there..I ended up in 5Q but sadly that ended up as a wasted year. I did manage to get a job with Birmingham Council which went some way to make my parents happier. Two boys I do remember were Dawkins and Bates and I seem to remember they were 2 fullbacks in the school football team. Two quite silly things I do remember was a sequence of numbers 5 2 10 the initials ppjkb which a prefect signed on our homework. This is my first contribution so I won't ramble on for too long Brian Parkes

 

[Astoness]

thanks brian and welcome...please keep your memories coming...its what this forum is all about

lyn

 

[bjpjp]

That gap area between the ^th form room on the left and the classrooms on the right triggered my memory again, one of the teachers ?? owned a Bond Minicar and he used to park there, during one of the breaks a group of students picked up the car and turned it so that it was the width of the gap. When I was at HGS the milk was stacked in crates on that corner.

I hope that my memory is not playing tricks but thete was an event on the last day of my 4th year.
One of the teachers, I think he taught chemistry, was going off on a cycling holiday straight after school finished. The lads in the year ahead of me, ie the leavers, found his bike and took off all the nuts bolts etc and threw them away. They obviously thought this was very very funny.
This reply assumes that my memory is reliable.

 

[SPO]

It wasn't my attention to add to this thread, as my time at HGS was some time later than the 1950's, and I didn't want to dilute your (very interesting) reminiscences with my later ones (1976-1983).

However, having seen (above) the obituary of Mr Morris, my geography teacher, I felt I had to contribute.
He was a lovely, calm chap - a teacher that boys didn't fear, but wouldn't cheek too much, just because he was so likeable.

He would use the phrase "inclement weather" (which was new to my young self) often (I've no idea why I remember that!).

And, if you were first into his classroom, you would often find him practising his cricket swing, with an "air bat" (which is in accord with his being such an avid player, as evidenced in the obituary). I had no idea he was so involved with the school and the Old Boys of the school. I'm both pleased to have found this thread and the information about him, and saddened that he has died.

 

[Astoness]

It wasn't my attention to add to this thread, as my time at HGS was some time later than the 1950's, and I didn't want to dilute your (very interesting) reminiscences with my later ones (1976-1983).

However, having seen (above) the obituary of Mr Morris, my geography teacher, I felt I had to contribute.
He was a lovely, calm chap - a teacher that boys didn't fear, but wouldn't cheek too much, just because he was so likeable.

He would use the phrase "inclement weather" (which was new to my young self) often (I've no idea why I remember that!).

And, if you were first into his classroom, you would often find him practising his cricket swing, with an "air bat" (which is in accord with his being such an avid player, as evidenced in the obituary). I had no idea he was so involved with the school and the Old Boys of the school. I'm both pleased to have found this thread and the information about him, and saddened that he has died.

hi SPO and welcome..your memories are most welcome look forward to reading more of them i have edited the title of thread to include all years

lyn