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Lordswood Boys' Technical School

A WOODHALL said:
Hi Ian, I remember Miss Vigart teaching German, but what subject did Steve Austin and yourself teach? Is Helen Minovi, Jean Hall, Margaret Crossland still with us.
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HI
I taught Biology with JD Beale and Steve Austin taught History. Helen still lives in Mosely the rest i do not know.
 
Hi - a bit late to the party, but my Dad went to Lordswood from 1960/61. Unsure when he left but likely 1966. I've already found him on a couple photos, so thanks for posting - amazing stuff! My dad was Clifford Toogood. Sadly he passed in 2005. Anyway, I've a number of the old 'Service' books from that period but here's a photo of the Rugby under 13 from 1961/1962. My dad is 5th from left, top row.
 

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Davetoog said:
Hi - a bit late to the party, but my Dad went to Lordswood from 1960/61. Unsure when he left but likely 1966. I've already found him on a couple photos, so thanks for posting - amazing stuff! My dad was Clifford Toogood. Sadly he passed in 2005. Anyway, I've a number of the old 'Service' books from that period but here's a photo of the Rugby under 13 from 1961/1962. My dad is 5th from left, top row.
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Welcome Davetoog and thank you for posting. If you are able to, it would be wonderful to see one of the service books.
 
Yes, welcome Dave. So sorry to hear of your dad's passing. He was a big, quiet chap. Me and your dad started Lordswood in Form 1S on the same day - here's the cast list....as best I can remember....Martin Abel, Paul Ahearn, John Bickerton, Bill Burton, Paul Cain, Keith Campbell, Richard Cherry, Mick Coates, Graham Comley, Martin Freeman, Griffith Gore, Ian Haynes, Dave Hill, Victor Hutchings, John Johnstone, David Jones, Dave Lane, Colin Lewis, Peter Moore, Nigel Moreton, Chris Newman, Tony Poulton, David Ratcliffe, David Rodgers, Mick Roe, Dennis Royston, Garry Stokes, Keith Stringer, Ken Summerfield, Cliff Toogood, Martyn Truman, Richard Turner, Colin Twigg, and John Walsh. Our form teacher was Mr R M Long. I'm in touch with Garry Stokes most days, and Graham Comley most years - they used to travel the same bus route as your dad - and called him Toggs? I know the whereabouts of 5 others but haven't really kept in touch. I still have a soft spot for the old school. Shame it's been rebuilt recently - I used to like popping back for the odd Open Day. Bill Burton.
 
Yes I will certainly post some photos of the Service Books - I've 3, to my recollection.

And thanks for the info, Bill, always great to hear tid-bits likes this. I know my dad was not a huge fan of Mr Harkness. He told a story about an altercation they had in a classroom once which say my dad push him! At least, that's the story, with perhaps some creative license.

I've been looking for photos for ages, so it was great to come across the 2 on this site. I've contacted Lordswood a couple times in the past but never heard from them. Do you have any from other form years?
 
I have the school Service magazines for 1962, 63, 64, 65, and 66. I loaned 1961 to someone and never saw it again. I'll have to have a fresh look through them now for "C. Toogood" mentions. I never had any run-ins with Mr Harkness. I did stop him in his tracks once though when he was preaching during a school assembly - I passed out and dropped to my knees with a loud crack - I was bundled into the medical room - we carried on going to school in those days even with quite serious illnesses? The only official school photos I have is the one of 1S in Post 31 and one of me later on in the short-lived school hockey team. I never did get the hang of rugby - just got damaged in the scrum nearly every time I played!
 
:D I'm with you on the rugby front. I was always left on the floor after a scrum.

I have 3 Service books and they'll be the same as you have I reckon, but I'll upload the covers shortly. My dad is mentioned in a couple of them for rugby and sprinting. Yes, so I've been looking for photos of my dad for some time. The only one I had was the rugby photo, which I found on Friends Reunited (there were quite a few old photos on that site which would have done well to be here), and I always knew there had to be more out there. So chuffed to see these 'new' ones. The search continues for more!
 
SticknCaster said:
Thank you to BillBrum, Geoff Broughton and others for kindly posting the staff photo and suggesting names and subjects. If it might help, a couple of us who were at Lordswood from 1970-77 have annotated the photo and updated the list. We would agree mid-seventies perhaps a little earlier ’73-75. Best efforts, may be mistakes.
Standing left to right:
1 man 2 Ken Woods - Physics 3 John Koppel - Science 4 Margaret Crossland – English 5 John Enefer - English & Library 6 Steve Austin - History 7 Clive White - Technical Drawing 8 man 9 Griffiths – Metalwork, Technical Drawing 10 man 11 Mytton 12 George Foley - PE 13 Sid Hart - Woodwork 14 Ron Walker 15 Mike Rhodes - Science 16 woman 17 Brenda Havercraft - Biology 18 Long - German 19 man 20 Derek Hepton - Chemistry 21 Harrington - Technical Drawing 22 Peter Pooley - RE 23 John(?) Reid - English and Deputy Head 24 John Beale - Biology 25 Frank Kirby - Maths, Accounts, Business Studies 26 Gilbert Jones – PE and Deputy Head
Sitting left to right:
27 woman 28 man 29 Terry Midworth - Maths 30 Dai George - Metalwork 31 Hans Rheinstein 32 Tim Evans - English 33 Ralph Husson - History 34 Geoff Sharrat - Geography / Geology 35 Dodgson - German 36 Betts - Metalwork 37 Chris Lee - Music 38 woman 39 man - Music 40 Helen Minovi - German? French 41 Irwen Hobbs - Art 42 Janet Morgan - Lab Technician 43 Richard Williams - Physics 44 Heath - Caretaker 45 woman - Secretary 46 woman - Secretary

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What a rogues gallery! I was at the school from Jan 70 to 1976, Telford house. some of those names I have no memory of at all.
 
Spaceman said:
It's good to know my 50+ year old memory was reasonably spot on. Fortunately, I don't recognise any of the names mentioned in the magazine but I still remember one of the team putting the original mirror under the tap and cracking it! I was keen on Astronomy when I went to LBTS and was always intrigued as to why someone had gone to the trouble of building the Observatory and then not fitting it out with a telescope. It would certainly be interesting to see a picture of the telescope that I played a hand in building?
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I recall the Physics teacher, mass of ginger Curley hair told us he had personally ground the mirror for the observatory with two slabs of glass and carborundum paste rubbing together in a circular motion to create one convex and one concave mirror, how true that was is up for some conjecture
 
Service book covers - 63, 64 and 65. A surprising amount of info in them.
 

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"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"

The above is from the film Stand By Me which is a classic and reminds me of my days at Lordswood. I made some friendships which are still going strong. I/we were the class of 65.

This morning I have sad news. My friend and Best Man “Steve
Barber” passed away last evening after a long illness bravely fought, he was 70. Steve joined the Birmingham Municipal Bank and stayed with them through the various brand names until he was 55 when he took early retirement and moved to Crete.

We saw him 2 or 3 times each year but talked every week. Today, I’m reflecting on 60 years of friendship, adventures and memories and am suddenly feeling my age. Keep safe guys.

Tom Colmey
 
hi tom...so sorry to hear about the loss of your good friend...memories are very important so hang onto them

lyn
 
Likewise Tom - I was there 1960-67 - my lifelong Lordswood friend and Best Man, Garry Stokes are now 75 and still going "strong", well more "feeble" in reality! - just about to email him to help him sort out the wiring on his grandson's model railway.
Bill Burton
 
Malvernian said:
Likewise Tom - I was there 1960-67 - my lifelong Lordswood friend and Best Man, Garry Stokes are now 75 and still going "strong", well more "feeble" in reality! - just about to email him to help him sort out the wiring on his grandson's model railway.
Bill Burton
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Thank you Bill - “feeble” about sums me up today. I remember that day Steve and I met……in the Library. Never could have thought I’d be here 60 years later crying like a baby. That he is out of pain is good but I wasn’t prepared for him going like this. Ah well, onwards and upwards I guess
 
Hello everyone. I was at LBS from 1980-the summer of '87 (2 years in the 6th form) and was in Faraday house, form master being Ralph Husson. Some great memories of this place and proof in the adage that a great tutor can inspire you for life. Helen Minovi, my once-terrifying German mistress who took us on several german exchange visits to GDR era Berlin, I spoke to not long ago on the phone, and she was still hale and hearty, and now teaching Russian!

What a cast of characters that staff photo is. However the guy sitting next to Husson's left, and labelled as 'Evans' is it not Geography master Dave Stanton?
 
In the 70’s Mrs Minovi was an inspiration who taught me the German language and sparked my interest ladies in purple knitted dresses. As a 16 year old I fell wildly in unrequited love with our favourite German mistress.
 
I'm new to this Forum, but was at Lordswood 71 to 78 - so later than many here. I have been looking at the staff photo and remember many of these teachers well. However, I am curious about the data of the picture. If is teachers who were at the school when the photo was taken, then I believe some of the names may be wrong. For instance, if that is Geoff Sharrat next to Ralph Husson, then 27 can't be Jean Hall as she joined in September 77 to replace Geoff (I was doing A level Geography at the time. The photo is definitely post 1972, as Brenda Havercraft started at the school after me - in either my second or third year. Also, I can't see Mrs Symonds (German teacher) who left after the end of my second year. Happy to be contradicted as I am remembering from a long time ago!
 
A WOODHALL said:
Hi All
I have also just come across this thread and I attended LBTGS during 1974 -1979 and was in Farrady (green band). Like many other comments it's brought back many memories especially the letter from the Headmaster to parents setting out the school requirements and subjects. I to remember Helen Minovi (lovely), Miss Vigart (German), Mr Reinstein and Mr Kirby (pink Jag), (Maths), George Foley (the Pump) PE, Mr George (Metalwork), Mr Hart and Griffiths (Woodwork), Mr Harrington (TD), Mr Beale (the Pump) Biology, Mr John Cople (Physics) Mr Derek Froggy Hepton always in a green suit (Chemistry), Miss Margaret Crossland (English), Mr Lee (Music), Janet Croft (Science Prep), Miss Susan Whitehead (geography), Mr Jones (swimming). I remember the Harborne Swimming baths and the swimming galas. I also remember the same dentist close by without anaesthetic. The pub we skived to was the Kings Head on the corner of Lordswood Road and Hagley Road. I caught No 11 bus from Handsworth Wood/Harborne and my mate the No 9 to Quinton. There was also a teacher who had long curly hair and always walked if they were falling farwards, English I think. I also remember a good looking lady teacher who taught art/pottery. She was always hanging out with the older art teacher and I thought there was a relationship going on between them.
Looking back I wish I'd tried harder at school.
The surnames I recall are Bell, Bicknell, Clark, Davidson, Evans, Fernandez, Griffiths, Jones, Knott, Lawson, Leeson, McNamara, Neil, Tierney, Vincent, Wilkes, Woodhall. We had to queue alphabetically for the school dinner and if you had a surname beginning with 'W' and your house was last in turn there was virtually nothing left. Another memory was during woodwork I'd planed of to much material and Mr Hart sent me to Mr George to get the 'putting back on plane' much amusement to everyone. Does anybody recall the RE teacher who taught very little RE but mostly gave sex education lessons. I also remember John Cople catching me out with a gentlemans magazine in my bag after a search. It was parents evening that day and was worried sick someone would tell my parents. Another story, someone put a leaping frog on Derek Heptons desk whilst he was writing on the blackboard. He turned round and the frog leapt into the air right in front of him. He immediately turned his attention to the one who was laughing the most.
fond memories
andrew woodhall
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I suspect the RE teacher you remember was the Reverend Peter Owen Pooley (POP) - as he was just the same with us!
 
Steviepeas said:
I was at LBGTS from December 69 to June 76, so a little more recent that most of the posts above, we had so many memorable teachers, some good times and some forgettable experiences mostly to do with adhoc corporal punishment which never did me any harm but stung a bit at the time, main exponents of "a good beating never hurt anyone" are listed. The english master, board rubber and large PE shoe, and also a liking for picking you up by the hair in front of the ears and uttering in a west country accent "You little rat"
A PE teacher, with rugby origins, used a large PE shoe but insisted on taking a run up and making you stand to attention for an hour in snow, I was 12 at the time along with the 120 others also shivering in their PE Kit.
Other punishment involved ritual humiliation, by numerous staff members.
Notable for their eccentricities were Mr Monty, reportedly a drinking chum of Dylan Thomas, who spoke with such a welsh accent it was sometimes tough to understand him, and he would regularly fall asleep in class and utter the EH! which was liberally distributed in chalk around the school to taunt him. The German teacher in her purple, skin tight knitted mini dress, all too much for a 14 year old trying to learn German. A master in Woodwork, he of the stiff spine who could not bend over and had us running about picking things up fo him, we all bet he would pick up a fiver if he saw one on the floor. Mr (Tat) Pearson, the plain speaking biology master, in love with his vauxhall Viva and rank clothing, Frank Kirby, Maths, an original Teddy boy with a posh Jag, Mr Follows, a good laugh and a teacher you could talk to. Mr (Fruitbowl) Harrington, TD, another nice chap, Dave Boddison, Pottery, ardent communist, set me on the road to ceramics which I still attempt today, Malcolm Hughes, Art, a nice arty type, "I spent most of my 6th form in the art room as an "Art Room Dosser" and ended up at art college as a result. Mr Lee, Music, I could never master the trumpet, but enjoyed orchestra practise. Mrs Symonds, well what could I say...... Mr Evans, Dr Who look a like, promoter of the magazine Frisket, and an all round good egg! Other good eggs... Mr Betts, metalwork, Mr Beale, geography, Mr George, Engineering....many others who fade into my distant memory, but on the whole it was a good 6 years, shame about the slip in discipline due a New Headmaster, Mr Whitehouse but as an education it served me well, comments please....
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Hi Steviepeas - interesting what you say about Mr Whitehouse as he joined just before I started in 1971 and I remember my parents being told that he was bought in specifically to improve discipline in the school
 
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