T
the doc
Guest
G'day and greetings from "down under".
I'm Jeff Holloway and I was born in Brookfields in 1943. We lived in College Street until around 1961 when the Council cleared the area for redevelopment (the standing joke was that they didn't have to knock the houses down, they just had to tear off the wallpaper !!) and we were "relocated" to Kings Norton.
I have been living in Australia (Melbourne) for almost 40 years and although I have made quite a few business trips to England over those years, I never had the opportunity to walk down memory lane back in Brum. I would like to try to fill in some of the gaps from my past and perhaps share a few memories with old friends.
I went to Camden Street Primary School from around 1948 to 1954. I think Miss Bagley was the Headmistress, Miss Cartwright taught the "littlies", Miss Roberts and Mrs Morgan taught mid-school and Mr Davis (he always took off his watch before he hit you !!) taught Class 8. I was in Class 9E with Mr Hickman and my closest friends were John Howard and Roy Jones, both of whom lived in New Spring Street. I also found my first true love with Pat Morgan, the daughter of Mrs Morgan, the teacher. I think they owned a shoe shop just up from "The Flat" in Hockley. Pat passed the 11+ and I think went on to King Edwards Grammar and then to read classics at University.
I went on to George Dixon's Grammar School from around 1954 to 1959 (one of the red badge "Britons" house). I have a photograph of the entire school on the wall of the study taken in 1957 and it brings back so many memories. Mr Rumsey, was the Headmaster and his 2IC, Mr Walker, had a unique and rather brutal form of punishment - he would wrap the front of your hair around his fingers and shake your head from side to side, a pracitrce he referred to as "raising your forelock". I'm sure many ex-students suffered premature baldness after a session with Mr Walker. I played rugby throughout the years at GD. Mike Reynolds was School Captain and also played rugby for England Schoolboys. My closest friend was Mike ("Mickey") Cooper who lived up by Monument Road Baths (cannot remember the name of the street - Vine Street ???). Quite often we used to catch the bus back to his house at lunchtime for a slice of toast and a Park Drive.
I went to Ladywood Boy's Club (Roy Breakwell?) and started a band that had more name changes than I can remember. I think our original name was The Mysterians and we went through the major part of our "illustrious" musical career as The Impacts. Stalwarts of the group were Alan Davis (drums), Clive Davis (rhythm guitar) and Mike Southern (lead guitar).
Ah, those memories.
And so I would really love to hear from anyone from the past or know their whereabouts.
I would also like to learn what happened to College Street, Camden Street Primary School and George Dixons Grammar School and any photographs anyone might have.
Thanks for your indulgence in sharing some of my memories and I hope that I can reach a few of the people through your terrific site.
I'm Jeff Holloway and I was born in Brookfields in 1943. We lived in College Street until around 1961 when the Council cleared the area for redevelopment (the standing joke was that they didn't have to knock the houses down, they just had to tear off the wallpaper !!) and we were "relocated" to Kings Norton.
I have been living in Australia (Melbourne) for almost 40 years and although I have made quite a few business trips to England over those years, I never had the opportunity to walk down memory lane back in Brum. I would like to try to fill in some of the gaps from my past and perhaps share a few memories with old friends.
I went to Camden Street Primary School from around 1948 to 1954. I think Miss Bagley was the Headmistress, Miss Cartwright taught the "littlies", Miss Roberts and Mrs Morgan taught mid-school and Mr Davis (he always took off his watch before he hit you !!) taught Class 8. I was in Class 9E with Mr Hickman and my closest friends were John Howard and Roy Jones, both of whom lived in New Spring Street. I also found my first true love with Pat Morgan, the daughter of Mrs Morgan, the teacher. I think they owned a shoe shop just up from "The Flat" in Hockley. Pat passed the 11+ and I think went on to King Edwards Grammar and then to read classics at University.
I went on to George Dixon's Grammar School from around 1954 to 1959 (one of the red badge "Britons" house). I have a photograph of the entire school on the wall of the study taken in 1957 and it brings back so many memories. Mr Rumsey, was the Headmaster and his 2IC, Mr Walker, had a unique and rather brutal form of punishment - he would wrap the front of your hair around his fingers and shake your head from side to side, a pracitrce he referred to as "raising your forelock". I'm sure many ex-students suffered premature baldness after a session with Mr Walker. I played rugby throughout the years at GD. Mike Reynolds was School Captain and also played rugby for England Schoolboys. My closest friend was Mike ("Mickey") Cooper who lived up by Monument Road Baths (cannot remember the name of the street - Vine Street ???). Quite often we used to catch the bus back to his house at lunchtime for a slice of toast and a Park Drive.
I went to Ladywood Boy's Club (Roy Breakwell?) and started a band that had more name changes than I can remember. I think our original name was The Mysterians and we went through the major part of our "illustrious" musical career as The Impacts. Stalwarts of the group were Alan Davis (drums), Clive Davis (rhythm guitar) and Mike Southern (lead guitar).
Ah, those memories.
And so I would really love to hear from anyone from the past or know their whereabouts.
I would also like to learn what happened to College Street, Camden Street Primary School and George Dixons Grammar School and any photographs anyone might have.
Thanks for your indulgence in sharing some of my memories and I hope that I can reach a few of the people through your terrific site.
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