Upper Thomas Street School Aston

[Hurfy1964]

That's him. Hands on knees.

 

[Astoness]

That's him. Hands on knees.

smashing photos thanks for sharing them...it was a different world back then..teachers would openly smoke ..even our doctor would offer mom a cigarette when she walked into the surgery

lyn

 

[aston lad]

This thread has gone quiet but apologies, I've only just discovered it.
Though I never attended UTS, my late father seems to be getting a few mentions. Mr Hurford. I didn't know he was "borrowing" fags off the pupils. It did him no good, it was smoking that killed him.
Mr Peter Clarke is still alive and kicking, well I saw him fairly recently. He's still keen on tennis though I'm guessing he's in his 80's now. Likes a drink!
Any memories of my father, preferably good ones, would be much appreciated.

Hi Your dad was my last form teacher at Upper Thomas Street Senior School, I left in 1968 and the school ( seniors )closed in July 1969, I never liked school teachers but some were okay, your dad fell into the okay group, he had reputation of being a hard no nonsense bloke and I think that rumour kept us all in check, I never saw him cane anyone nor having cigarettes from any of the kids, in the last term between Easter and July and after the exams he would let us go to Aston Park to play tennis, football. cricket or even walk around Aston Hall during school hours, sometimes he would come with us other times just stop in the school rest room, we all called him Harry Hurford, not sure what happened to him after the school closed and everyone were transferred to Aston Manor in Phillips st. don't know if you are on facebook, but there is a couple of groups dedicated to Upper Thomas St, the main one is Upper Thomas Street School Aston, plenty of ex-pupils on there who were in your dads class through out the late 1950's up to 1969. I also have a group on facebook that covers mainly Aston, Astonbrook through Astonmanor both worth joining if you are on there..the photo is of your dads class from 1961 before my time there.

 

[Hurfy1964]

Thanks for the reply and photo. I'm delighted he fell into your "okay" category. I know he acted as best man in the mid 70's at Patrick Broomhall's wedding, a former UTS pupil, so he must have been held in high regard by some pupils.
When UTS closed he became a head of department, Geography I think, at Handsworth Wood Secondary Modern for boys. By then we'd settled in Wylde Green, not far from Pype Hayes Park. Unfortunately he died of cancer in 1977, he was only 50. I myself was in school at KEGS Aston at the time, in the 2nd year, but we moved out of the area shortly after to be closer to my mum's family. The only consolation was that I hated KEGS, far too hothouse educationally for me! I enjoyed a bog standard, mixed sex, comprehensive in Wrexham far more.

I remember him being at Handsworth Wood quite well, but as I was born in 1964 have no real memory of UTS. I found some pictures once of a school camp in Westward Ho!, if I find them I'll post them on here. There used to be some UTS school magazines here too at one time.
Great to hear from you, and it would be nice to hear from anyone else with recollections. I only wish I had more memories of him myself. Taken too soon.