George Dixons Grammar School

[DavidGrain]

George Dixon 1820-1898 Mayor of Birmingham 1866-67 Member of Parliament 1867-1876 and 1885-1898.
Founded Bridge Street School at his own expense in 1884 which in 1888 moved to new premises being renamed to George Dixon School before moving to City Road in 1906.

 

[Clive Howarth]

View attachment 192128
George Dixon 1820-1898 Mayor of Birmingham 1866-67 Member of Parliament 1867-1876 and 1885-1898.
Founded Bridge Street School at his own expense in 1884 which in 1888 moved to new premises being renamed to George Dixon School before moving to City Road in 1906.

I was at GD from 1952 to 1957 my name is Clive Howarth. Does anyone remember a well-liked English teacher John Hodgson (I think). He missed a term because he was sent to prison for being gay. It was illegal then. But Tom Rumsby the head had him back a school. A brave thing to do then. My sister, Jenny Howarth (now Jenny Howe), wrote a radio play about the incident which was performed on the BBC

 

[Andreas_Pryce]

I started George Dixon's in form 2D, in 1962. I then was in 3D, 4D & 5D and left in 1965. My name in those days was Clive Price.

I do not remember a teacher called Walker.

T W Rumsby was headmaster, Dilworth was deputy head, and Trout was the deputy head at the Five Ways site.

I remember at Five Ways there sandstone parts of the building and there were sash windows which we used to climb out of. There were outside toilets with a coke brazier in winter to stop it freezing up.

At City Road site I remember the large hall where we had morning assembly.

"Daddy" Giblin was my form master and he taught us English. Dilworth (who we called Dragseye) taught us Geography. Rumsby taught us Divinity (Christian Religious Education). "Noddy" Wetters taught us Biology and we used to secretly do our Geography homework in his lesson. Lawty taught us Metalwork, and used to punish us across the backside with a strip of spring steel - he used to ride a motorbike and also taught us Rugby. We had Cross Country Running round Edgbaston Reservoir and I used to lag behind, then walk the opposite way and hide till the others came running round, and then join in.

In swimming a gang tried to hold me underwater, I held onto the rail and they were punching my back to try and make me lose grip, till the teacher saw them and called them off. I got out of the water and refused to get back in. It was the last lesson of term. The next term when they called out the names for swimming I heard a couple of boys say they were permanently excused swimming and there was a letter from their parents in the Office, so I said the same (although I didn't have a letter, they never checked) and so I did private study in the library instead.

In the 5th year we had a choice of sports lessons on Wednesday afternoon and you had to register for Rugby, Table Tennis etc. I didn't register for any sports and after registration instead of going to a Sports lesson I went out in the direction of the Sports field, through a gate into the Vicar's garden, out through the Church yard and walked down City Road and caught a bus home, lying down on the back seat upstairs till the bus was past the school.

There was a lot of bullying at the school and I hated fighting which meant I got picked on a lot. Eventually I had to fight back and that solved the problem.

I used to get the cane quite often. It wasn't too painful when administered by Rumsby but it was horrible if it was from Dilworth! I couldn't sit down properly afterwards and had to sit on my hands to ease the pain.

I did love my Old Dixonians tie but sadly I lost it and haven't been able to get a replacement.

 

[ex red and green]

Hi I started at George Dixon Girls Grammar 1962. My name then was Judith Russell. Miss Organ was Headmistress but due to illness was replaced by Miss Ore. Can't remember many of the teacher's names except for Mr. Colley who taught us Latin. But definitely remember the school song - 'On the edge of the City......'. Was friends with Margaret Cottrell (her Sister Cynthia was also at GD), Joy Cleaver, Sandra Baker, Janette ...., Janet .... and Jane ..... (Jane and I queued all night for tickets for The Beatles Concert at the Odeon). Lost contact with everyone when I left school as I lived an hour's bus ride away from Edgbaston. Live in Spain now must rummage in the storage area for the old school photos.

 

[DavidGrain]

Welcome to the Forum. As you will see this thread has been very popular over the years and I think of all the Birmingham schools this is the most popular thread amongst those relating to schools. Enjoy reading through it.
I was at GD Boys Grammar and later my sister was at GD Girls Grammar School

 

[Bob Hollier]

Hi,
I'm Bob Hollier - GD for boys from 1958-1964. I did my first 4 years at City Road, jumped my more normal 5th year, and then did my 2 final years in the sixth at Five Ways. Then, following a furious row with Rumsby (my father did most of the rowing) I left to go to Brum University. Rumsby wanted me to stay on for a 3rd year in the sixth, take 'S' levels and try for Oxford.

Does anybody have contact for Paul Howard or Stan Hartill - I lost contact when I left the 4th for the 6th.

For those who might remember me, I was the one of the 3 with polio.

Bob

P.S. Now age 78 and I live in Thailand but still follow Aston Villa. A lot of memories in the names in a lot of the posts in this forum. I am contactable on [email protected]

 

[Morturn]

Hi,
I'm Bob Hollier - GD for boys from 1958-1964. I did my first 4 years at City Road, jumped my more normal 5th year, and then did my 2 final years in the sixth at Five Ways. Then, following a furious row with Rumsby (my father did most of the rowing) I left to go to Brum University. Rumsby wanted me to stay on for a 3rd year in the sixth, take 'S' levels and try for Oxford.

Does anybody have contact for Paul Howard or Stan Hartill - I lost contact when I left the 4th for the 6th.

For those who might remember me, I was the one of the 3 with polio.

Bob

P.S. Now age 78 and I live in Thailand but still follow Aston Villa. A lot of memories in the names in a lot of the posts in this forum. I am contactable on [email protected]

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[Doug Masterton]

I was at GF 1964-71. I remember Mr Rumsby the Headmaster and Mr Dilworth was his deputy. Rumsby was small but kind with round glasses. I liked him. Dilworth was a disciplinarian and usually somber and difficult. I always remember he had a large dimple in the centre of his chin.
Les Summerton was Head of physics with trousers an inch below his neck! He always sold dinner tickets in the ante hall after the morning assembly. Masterton was the junior physics master and very pleasant.
Robertson taught biology and Siddle chemistry. I knew Cecil Fisher well. He taught English and conducted the school orchestra which I played in throughout my time there. He used to walk with me each morning from the King’s Head to school. Sandercock used to play the piano in the orchestra and Lisle Sharp and Terry Giblin we’re also in the orchestra as was Harrison and Olver.
i remember Mr Hannay, a small fat man with a shrill voice who taught me Spanish. Mr Orrin taught Geography succeeded by Mr Madison. Hayes taught metalwork and Prowse Woodwork. Then there was Les Paul who did engineering drawing.
Later I remember Mr Gibson who succeeded Dilworth as deputy Head. He was also a disciplinarian.
I vaguely remember Caplin but remember Mr Proctor with his yellow nicotine-stained fingers.

In my last year 1970-71 I was Head Boy of the school and it was great. On leaving in summer 1971 I went on a W.H Rhodes Educational Trust Trip for 3 weeks to Canada having been nominated by the then Headmaster Mr Mends. It was to be my leaving present!!

Hi David, I have just found the Birmingham History Forum Web site and found your memories of GD. Yes, happily I am still around but have just passed 80. I guess you are not that far behind as you must have been only a few years younger than me when I taught you. I cherish many happy memories of GD which allowed me to accomplish everything I ever dreamed of in terms of being a physics teacher. I also still treasure the signed copy of the book your mother gave me after the time when I had taught both you and your brother Peter. John Endall, the former Geography teacher is still going strong at 86 and I am in touch with him. Many other colleagues have died. You should look on the George Dixon Grammar School Facebook site and see many other memories and photographs - including some from me. With my best wishes.