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Handsworth Park Victoria Park Handsworth
- Thread starter Oisin
- Start date
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Brummieboy56
Guest
Oh yes, Mal, that certainly strikes a chord with me - I'm actually a musician, so I was involved in choir, G&S shows at school with Lyndon Page - I was with the Erdington Operatic Society which he ran. Joe's 2nd in command was Hutchinson (known as "Pot") and he was followed by A P Lawrence. I was in Killer Keeling's form in 59/60 and she taught me maths. Friz also taught me Maths, and I'm currently in touch with his daughter, Sue, who lives in Hampshire. Ken Yeates was strange - I seem to remember he was a petrol head, and spent some our art lessons repairing the steering wheel from the car in which Mike Hawthorn, the F1 driver died. How macabre is that?
Hi Brummieboy,yes you're right about Ken Yeates,I remember he had an Austin Healey Sprite, the 'frog-eye' one,when they first came out,about 1956 I think.Every morning, whilst assembly was in progress,and Joe was giving us all the word of God,Ken Yeates would make a tyre-schreeching entrance into the staff car park.We would all whisper to each other,'here's yo-yo'.I think Charlie Peck retired about 1955 or 56,I remember him breaking down in tears ,quite surprised me,as I had never seen him show any emotion.Keep in touch,I'd love to reminisce about the school,I wonder if discipline is as strict now,somehow I doubt it,we used to get detention for not wearing your cap ! Mal.
M
MartinH
Guest
Wow,
As a newbie to the site this is my first post but I just have to say how impressed I am with Handsworth Park.
I lived in Grove Lane until leaving Handsworth Grammar in the mid-1960's and only saw the boundary of the park after that on the very rare times I may have driven through Handsworth to get to somewhere else.
About 5 years ago I stopped on such a journey on a whim and walked through the Park. It was dreadful! sad, neglected and vandalised - and it felt pretty unsafe as well; even to a fifteen stone six foot Bloke.
So when I read about the Boathouse redevelopment etc I decided to drive over today for a Sunday morning walk and was absolutely enthralled. I spent a great couple of hours strolling around with the Dog, including breakfast at the Boathouse. The park (and the cafe!) was welcoming, clean, neat and tidy. In fact, probably better than I remember it from the 1960's. There were people of all ages and colours strolling around obviously enjoying it as much as I was and it was most unusual not to get a cheery 'good morning' or at least a smile and a nod from people you passed.
Well done to everbody involved in this restoration, it is obviously the result of a huge effort. Long may it continue as it is today, it was a pleasure to visit.
Regards,
Martin Harvey
As a newbie to the site this is my first post but I just have to say how impressed I am with Handsworth Park.
I lived in Grove Lane until leaving Handsworth Grammar in the mid-1960's and only saw the boundary of the park after that on the very rare times I may have driven through Handsworth to get to somewhere else.
About 5 years ago I stopped on such a journey on a whim and walked through the Park. It was dreadful! sad, neglected and vandalised - and it felt pretty unsafe as well; even to a fifteen stone six foot Bloke.
So when I read about the Boathouse redevelopment etc I decided to drive over today for a Sunday morning walk and was absolutely enthralled. I spent a great couple of hours strolling around with the Dog, including breakfast at the Boathouse. The park (and the cafe!) was welcoming, clean, neat and tidy. In fact, probably better than I remember it from the 1960's. There were people of all ages and colours strolling around obviously enjoying it as much as I was and it was most unusual not to get a cheery 'good morning' or at least a smile and a nod from people you passed.
Well done to everbody involved in this restoration, it is obviously the result of a huge effort. Long may it continue as it is today, it was a pleasure to visit.
Regards,
Martin Harvey
Kevkonk
master brummie
!953 Handsworth Park, Mom Dad and Aunt, View attachment 44027
Kevkonk
master brummie
This early 1900s view of the Cascade in Handsworth Park is very charming, although I doubt it's still there today. Viv.
Jayell
master brummie
Same here. In my memory the entrance to the park was on the opposite side of the road to the baths. Lovely to see that picture and all the ones of the park.
Same here. In my memory the entrance to the park was on the opposite side of the road to the baths. Lovely to see that picture and all the ones of the park.
No Jayell, the picture is correct. The entrance to the baths was on the same side of Grove Lane as the park main entrance. Don't forget there was another ( smaller ) entrance in the road around the corner of the baths ( can't remember the name of the road ).............Mal
No Jayell, the picture is correct. The entrance to the baths was on the same side of Grove Lane as the park main entrance. Don't forget there was another ( smaller ) entrance in the road around the corner of the baths ( can't remember the name of the road ).............Mal
