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Greet Primary School
- Thread starter KDGreet
- Start date
Thanks. Wow, it really has changed since 1959- there have been a multitude of changes in the 15 years I've worked there! I've had a look at some of the information already on here, I'm keen to know more as the history of the school and surrounding area is really interesting. Do you have anything from your time there? We have the original "punishment books" which make for interesting reading!
Hi there
I attended Greet school from 1967-1973
In my last year there I went on my first foreign holiday and it was the best school trip ever, we went on a two week cruise of the Mediterranean and it cost my parents a whole £77 Which was a lot in those days.
I can’t really remember the teachers names but
The headmaster was Mr Carroll and the caretaker was Mr Painter and I think you may find my name a few times in those punishment books.
BrummieGeoff
Sparkhill Lad
KDGreet : this response is probably too late for your history project, but ....
I went to Greet School 1960-67. I lived in Thornhill Road, at the other end of Percy Road.
The headteacher was Mr Baynes for most of that time, but Mr Carroll took over c1967.
Here's a few photos ....
#1 Aerial view 1935 (Credit English Heritage) : the nextdoor building on Percy Road was an old Mission Hall where we ate school dinners, that were also cooked there. The school site was much smaller than it is now.
#2 School Cricket Team 1967 : Headteacher Tom Carroll wearing glasses.
#3 Mr Harbird's Class 1963
#4 May Queen c1960
#5 Sports Day 1961
#6 Attendance Certificate 1907
I went to Greet School 1960-67. I lived in Thornhill Road, at the other end of Percy Road.
The headteacher was Mr Baynes for most of that time, but Mr Carroll took over c1967.
Here's a few photos ....
#1 Aerial view 1935 (Credit English Heritage) : the nextdoor building on Percy Road was an old Mission Hall where we ate school dinners, that were also cooked there. The school site was much smaller than it is now.
#2 School Cricket Team 1967 : Headteacher Tom Carroll wearing glasses.
#3 Mr Harbird's Class 1963
#4 May Queen c1960
#5 Sports Day 1961
#6 Attendance Certificate 1907
David Greet
Brummie babby
My mother, Lilian Powers, attended Greet School from 1912 to 1918. The attached picture is of her class from around 1915. (She is front row, third from left). She always told me that the girls on the front row were there because they had shoes or boots, many of the other children didn't. (She was was a working family but had two older sisters working in armaments and they spoiled her, hence the fancy boots). The teachers name is Miss Mason. When she was in her late 80's, Mom was asked to visit the school on a couple of occasions to talk to the pupils about school life in the 1910s which they found fascinating despite sounding a little horrific. Mom died in 2011 at the age of 103.
I followed her to Greet School in 1949 (nursery), I remember class 3 with Miss Meadows 1953/4, a strict Victorian style but a brilliant teacher. From there to Class 1 in 1954/5 where Mr Carroll was then a teacher. Again, a brilliant but strict teacher who I remember teaching us Irish Dancing.
One other memory, although I was never in his class, class 2 was the province of Mr Dingley. He wore glasses and could see reflections of the class whilst he was writing at the board. Seeing any bad behaviour, he would swing around from the board and aim his solid wood board rubber at the offender and was an excellent shot. You could see the offenders for the rest of the day sporting a chalk oblong on their clothes.
David Law.
I followed her to Greet School in 1949 (nursery), I remember class 3 with Miss Meadows 1953/4, a strict Victorian style but a brilliant teacher. From there to Class 1 in 1954/5 where Mr Carroll was then a teacher. Again, a brilliant but strict teacher who I remember teaching us Irish Dancing.
One other memory, although I was never in his class, class 2 was the province of Mr Dingley. He wore glasses and could see reflections of the class whilst he was writing at the board. Seeing any bad behaviour, he would swing around from the board and aim his solid wood board rubber at the offender and was an excellent shot. You could see the offenders for the rest of the day sporting a chalk oblong on their clothes.
David Law.
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David Greet
Brummie babby
I've only recently found the site. Brings back memories
BrummieGeoff
Sparkhill Lad
It's interesting that the 1915 class photo shows about 50 girls, and no boys. I wonder if children were divided into single-sex classes then ?
David Greet
Brummie babby
I have a (not brilliant) picture of the nursery class from around 1911 in which there are both boys and girls but they are separated. Mom never mentioned having been in class with boys. Certainly when I attended in 1949, classes were mixed, but each year had two classes then, I seem to remember based on 'ability'.
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Oldgreetboy2
proper brummie kid
Hi KDGreet, I attended the school between 1962 - 1968 and have nothing but very fond memories of my time at Greet. I have two Certificates of Regular Attendance (found them on eBay) the same as that pictured in image number 6 above. I would like to donate them to the school, so if you would like them, drop me a line and I will post them to you (I live in Devon). Best wishes.
BrummieGeoff
Sparkhill Lad
Yes Eustace .... and Astro's brother is shown in the 1967 cricket team in Post #5 Photo #2 above.
Hi there
I can throw some other teachers names into the mix here for Greet. Although I have to say my time at the school was a not an enjoyable experience! Around 1968-1970.
They say you never forget a good teacher unfortunately the first couple of these ‘educationalists’ don’t fall into that category for me Yes Mr Carol was the head whilst I attended with Miss Reynolds as his deputy head, (whom he guarded very loyally), and my teacher for a while.
Nicest teacher was Miss Lines (I got transferred to her as the former obviously had a problem with me).
I also recall Mr Burgoyne, who I think did art and PE?
I recall a really good friend I made from those days who I sadly lost touch with after we went to different secondary schools Lloyd Simpson, he lived very close to Greet, Fearnley Rd I think? (I do hope he went on to great things as I remember him as a great friend and lovely lad).
I can throw some other teachers names into the mix here for Greet. Although I have to say my time at the school was a not an enjoyable experience! Around 1968-1970.
They say you never forget a good teacher unfortunately the first couple of these ‘educationalists’ don’t fall into that category for me Yes Mr Carol was the head whilst I attended with Miss Reynolds as his deputy head, (whom he guarded very loyally), and my teacher for a while.
Nicest teacher was Miss Lines (I got transferred to her as the former obviously had a problem with me).
I also recall Mr Burgoyne, who I think did art and PE?
I recall a really good friend I made from those days who I sadly lost touch with after we went to different secondary schools Lloyd Simpson, he lived very close to Greet, Fearnley Rd I think? (I do hope he went on to great things as I remember him as a great friend and lovely lad).
Brummie Geoff also mentioned Astros (UB40), brother Alvin who I knew for many years until he joined the army and went on to very great exciting things in the police etc which I’m sure he wouldn’t want me to elaborate on. I was spending some time in Spain when I sadly heard that Astro (Terry), had died.
I remember many pupils names as they were very supportive to me in those days.
So at the age of 62 now and looking back a big thank you to those who helped me get through those formative years (yes even only 8 years old), even though you probably didn’t realise at the time!
Lloyd, Zilcarnian, Linda, Serise, Silvanus, Ian, Coral, Steven, Amrit, and of course the wonderful Gillian Chadwick.
I remember many pupils names as they were very supportive to me in those days.
So at the age of 62 now and looking back a big thank you to those who helped me get through those formative years (yes even only 8 years old), even though you probably didn’t realise at the time!
Lloyd, Zilcarnian, Linda, Serise, Silvanus, Ian, Coral, Steven, Amrit, and of course the wonderful Gillian Chadwick.
I attended from 1949 to1955. Attached photo of children and mothers prior to coach trip, usually Welsh coast or Drayton Manor Park.
Attachments
Hope you don't mind asking...I am a teacher at a secondary school and our pupils have all picked projects they want to do... one has picked up research Greet Primary. Could I send you some questions they have about what it was like when you were there? Kind regards, John
Hi everyone, I am a secondary history teacher in Birmingham. Our pupils are working on History projects about their local history and one wants to look at Greet Primary as they went there. They have got lots on information so far but wondered if anyone would be willing to answer some questions they have about what the school was like when they went there. All the very best, John
Hi JLW , although its been close to 70 years if i can be of any help i'm happy to help.
BrummieGeoff
Sparkhill Lad
A photo of the replica Great War Roll of Honour from Greet School.
The original Roll of Honour has not been seen since the school was bombed in December 1940. In 1992 a copy of the Roll was made by a former pupil for the school's centennial celebrations .... based on a postcard image of the original.
The original Roll Of Honour was unveiled at the school by Sir William Bowater on the 22nd October 1920. It was 8 feet wide and 5 feet 9 inches high, and made from 14 gauge copper sheet mounted on oak.
The Roll contains the names of 526 Greet Old Boys who joined His Majesty's Forces, including 48 killed of which 3 were members of staff .... zoom in to read the names.
The central part of the memorial lists the 45 "old boys" and 3 teachers who gave their lives in WW1, and also shows the name of the headmaster at the time .... W. Roe.
The headmaster was William Roe who lived in Woodlands Road, Moseley .... and both of his sons are listed as old boys who died :
1. William Harold Roe died on 13 June 1918 aged 26 when his ship Patia was sunk by a submarine in the Bristol Channel.
2. Frederick Hubert Roe died on 30 July 1916 aged 20 in France whilst serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
The other Roe old boy listed was Reginald George Roe from Wake Green Road, Moseley who died on 8 August 1916 aged 18 in France whilst serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
I consider myself very lucky to have avoided direct involvement in war.
The original Roll of Honour has not been seen since the school was bombed in December 1940. In 1992 a copy of the Roll was made by a former pupil for the school's centennial celebrations .... based on a postcard image of the original.
The original Roll Of Honour was unveiled at the school by Sir William Bowater on the 22nd October 1920. It was 8 feet wide and 5 feet 9 inches high, and made from 14 gauge copper sheet mounted on oak.
The Roll contains the names of 526 Greet Old Boys who joined His Majesty's Forces, including 48 killed of which 3 were members of staff .... zoom in to read the names.
The central part of the memorial lists the 45 "old boys" and 3 teachers who gave their lives in WW1, and also shows the name of the headmaster at the time .... W. Roe.
The headmaster was William Roe who lived in Woodlands Road, Moseley .... and both of his sons are listed as old boys who died :
1. William Harold Roe died on 13 June 1918 aged 26 when his ship Patia was sunk by a submarine in the Bristol Channel.
2. Frederick Hubert Roe died on 30 July 1916 aged 20 in France whilst serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
The other Roe old boy listed was Reginald George Roe from Wake Green Road, Moseley who died on 8 August 1916 aged 18 in France whilst serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
I consider myself very lucky to have avoided direct involvement in war.