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Harry lucas school
- Thread starter Astoness
- Start date
Michael_Ingram
gone but not forgotten
You are right Lyn, the first good photo of the area that I have seen (the second one too oldMohawk and great to see the whole park. And Wow!! I always ran up and down those slopes too
i cant believe you also ran up those slopes as well mike...it was something i had to do everytime i passed...what memories they bring back
lyn
another great shot of burbury st park and area...running along the top of the park is i believe gordon st and i can now clearly see the white building of the fountain pub to the left of friends hall
trevor bow
master brummie
These are such great photos. I went to the school when it was known as 'Burbury Street Junior Infant School' and I started there as a little 'un aged just 4 years and 6 months at the beginning of the spring term in January 1951. There was also a nursery on the same site for children aged 2 and a half to 4. My teacher was Miss Butterfield who I believe eventually left to teach in South Africa.
I don't remember that building either that divides the front playground, although it could have been the girls' toilet block. The boys' toilets can be seen to the right of the main building against the wall in the infants' playground. As us older members will recall, all house's 'lavs' used to be outside with more than one family using each one !
It's strange because I can't remember that tower either, which doesn't have a clock btw. I wonder what was in it, and if you could go up it ? Further up Bridge St West to the left can be seen an Atkinsons pub called the 'The Wellington' and it was on the corner of Wellesley St and BSW. It was my father's local (Billy Bow) and my mother used to moan at him that he spent so much time there, it's a wonder he wasn't given a rent book. Sadly, the landlord of this pub gassed himself after money was missing from the till.
We lived right next door to St Saviours church in BSW, down an alleyway called 'Cottage Row' and it's just off the photo to the left. Other teachers I remember are Mr Berry, Mr Sheldon, and the headmaster Mr Margerison. We often played in 'Burbury Street Recreation Ground' as it was called back then and it seemed massive. As someone has also remarked though, everything seems bigger when you're a child.
I went to have a look not so long back and the detached park keeper's house all on its own is still there. If you look very carefully, there are two square pillars which would have been the metal gates to the park I would have thought. There were metal railings around the whole perimeter of the ground, but these would have been removed during the war as metal was very short. Well those two pillars are also still there, but they have been rebuilt with modern bricks with the original Victorian capping stones on top.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
On a late sunny afternoon in 1948 a photo was taken from high altitude over this area. The Villa Cross Cinema is near top centre, Lucas Factory in the centre, and Soho Hill just visible top left. It can be saved in a computer or tablet and enlarged. Not sure where to post it but the Burbury St/Harry Lucas School is in the view so I put it here. It can be copied and moved elsewhere if required. left click and then magnify button to zoom and scroll
image from 'britainfromabove' website
image from 'britainfromabove' website
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oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Perhaps you might get a better view in this close-up view of Defford Road and the park entrance date 1950.
trevor bow
master brummie
As I mentioned in my reply on the 14th May, a smashing photo and I'm wondering if close ups exist for further up Bridge St West off the photo to the left ? About 200 yards to the left is where I lived, right next door to St Saviours Church which was on the corner of BSWest and Villa Street. Further on again was a bomb site which us kids used to play on in the early fifties. It's the nearest the Nazi Luftwaffe got to bombing the Lucas factory which is just off photo to the right. As for the park, there wasn't a blade of grass anywhere - it was all asphalt. I wonder if those trees are still there, because the last time I visited, I forgot to have a look.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Three images below which show St Saviour's Church (not far from the Harry Lucas School ) which might show where your house was . Unfortunately they are near the edges of the camera view so resolution not so high.
View along Bridge St West dated1950
View of side of the church dated 1950.
View of side of the church dated 1948. The camera was not so good and late afternoon so shadows.
images source 'britainfromabove'
Mayfield
Burbury Brummie
x Mabzcrikey mabz you will be in the privvy next
lyn
trevor bow
master brummie
Amazing photos, I can see the row of houses at the side of St Saviours where I was born and lived. It was called 'Cottage Row' and I was born at number 3, living there until I was 8 until the family moved to Northfield. 'Cottage Row' conjures up images of cosy little homes with roses growing around the door. Some hope - they were 2 up two 2 down cramped little houses in two terraces of five, facing each other. Outside toilets and a 'brew house' to do the washing of course. Many thanks for posting these great photos oldMohawk.
Hi Teresa I remember your grandad Tony.I took over his part time job at Bunting jewellers Hilton Street Hockley.Mr Coates was manager and the two jewellers were Trevor and Bill Please send my best wishes to your grandad
Hello to all my fellow Brummies out there. I'm looking for your help. I went to the Harry Lucas School in 1955 and I wanted to know what was the name of a male teacher there who took form 6. The following year I went up to form 8. I believe he was the main teacher there and his name was Mr. Sheldon who also took music lessons. But it's the teacher that took form 6 whose name escapes me. Can anyone help?
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
Peg Monkey
master brummie
I attended HLS 1960-65. So, did anyone who attended the school go on to achieve greatness? Yes, at least one, Michael Leddy (a classmate). He became Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Chancellor of Birmingham City University (formerly The University of Central England) and is currently MP for Brandwood and Kingsheath Ward.
Mike, if you are out there, why not join the fun with a post?
Link Michael Leddy MP: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/councillors/78/mike_leddy
Mike, if you are out there, why not join the fun with a post?
Link Michael Leddy MP: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/councillors/78/mike_leddy
Peg Monkey
master brummie
A reminder of how the school looked in 1961.......
To the right above the school roof can be seen Joseph Lucas (Gt King St), on Burbury St.
In the centre of the elevation can be seen a tree, this is in the centre of a small quad, the Deputy Head's (in my time Mrs Cadman) office window overlooked this quad and was appropriately known as the deputy head's garden. either side of the quad can be seen the original Boys and Girls entrances.
Occasionally (probably wayward) pupils were press ganged into service for weeding duties at the quad, the only thing that resembled any kind of garden on the school site.
To the right above the school roof can be seen Joseph Lucas (Gt King St), on Burbury St.
In the centre of the elevation can be seen a tree, this is in the centre of a small quad, the Deputy Head's (in my time Mrs Cadman) office window overlooked this quad and was appropriately known as the deputy head's garden. either side of the quad can be seen the original Boys and Girls entrances.
Occasionally (probably wayward) pupils were press ganged into service for weeding duties at the quad, the only thing that resembled any kind of garden on the school site.
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Peg Monkey
master brummie
HLS existed as a senior school for just 11 years (1958-69), it must be a contender for the title of Shortest Living Birmingham School ever.
Enel
master brummie
Crikey Peg, your memory for all things HLS is astonishing. I can only recall snippets from my five years worth spent there.
I’ve just come across a couple of prize books. One was for form G2, and the other was 2 Alpha. I‘ve forgotten the form naming/numbering scheme. Can you remember?
I’ve just come across a couple of prize books. One was for form G2, and the other was 2 Alpha. I‘ve forgotten the form naming/numbering scheme. Can you remember?
Harry Gower
master brummie
Peg Monkey
master brummie
Hi Harry, good to hear from you, I must admit I don't recall your name, some fellow inmates, sorry, pupils I do recall are: Dianne Bennet, John Smith, John Onions, Edward Embley, David Baldock and, of course, Mike Leddy. That was when we were all in the 5th year, Form G3 (there was only one form in the 5th year, at that time), we were based in the library and the teacher was Mr Thomas, a smart Welsh chap (always suit and tie) very much in the image of the headmaster Mr Walker.
(I prefer to keep anonymous these days, H, it helps to keep my pic out of the West Midlands Police Gazette).
PS I've just remembered another name - John Bright, he appeared in a BBC comedy The Choir, anyone remember it? If not I can bore you with the details another time.
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Peg Monkey
master brummie
Can I just say, before I reply, I was lured to the dark side by offers of unimaginable wealth, fast cars and even faster, glamorous..........best not to go there, let's just say I'm back and enjoying the exchange of HLS memories, Enel, regarding the form numbering this is my best shot:
1st year: 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3
2nd year: 2 alpha, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3
3rd year: G1, T1 and C1
4th year: G2, T2 and C2
5th year: G3 (only 1 form in this year)
The first in the sequence contained the brightest, I think G stood for Grammar, T for Technical and C for Craft.
Caveat (blimey, a Brummie quoting Latin, whatever next?) my recollections are getting on for around 61 years old so treat them as my best endevours, if anyone out there can confirm or amend please do so.
(I mentioned to Mrs M if I do end up in the dock charged with supplying false and/or misleading information my best defence is diminished responsibility, she suggested I stand a better chance with mental incapacity - who am I to argue?)
Stay virus free.
Peg
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Harry Gower
master brummie
Im sure you are not wanted by the police Peg, why not give your name ? I am Maxwell James Bullivant, I was at Harry Lucas when you were there, I also went to Gower St, thats how i came up with my Nom De Plume. Who are you ?
Enel
master brummie
That sounds about right. I can remember the term ‘Grammar school stream’ being used, but being an eleven plus failure - I can’t say that it made me feel any better.
I can remember an interview with someone from the Youth Employment Service (this was probably at age 15), and I like many others, was quickly disabused of any fanciful notions of having a career. Factory jobs for the boys, typing for the girls. I seem to remember that the class ‘hardnock’, who had wanted to be a professional footballer, came out crying.
In the end, I did okay I guess, and followed my chosen path, but then I didn’t think that I was aiming that high anyway. Of course most of the kids who went to Grammar schools didn’t go on to University in those days, and I rubbed shoulders with plenty of them during my apprenticeship.
I can remember an interview with someone from the Youth Employment Service (this was probably at age 15), and I like many others, was quickly disabused of any fanciful notions of having a career. Factory jobs for the boys, typing for the girls. I seem to remember that the class ‘hardnock’, who had wanted to be a professional footballer, came out crying.
In the end, I did okay I guess, and followed my chosen path, but then I didn’t think that I was aiming that high anyway. Of course most of the kids who went to Grammar schools didn’t go on to University in those days, and I rubbed shoulders with plenty of them during my apprenticeship.
Peg Monkey
master brummie
Hi Max, I'm sure I would have remembered such a posh name, but I'm afraid I don't, I don't think we could have been in the same class/year. Do you remember any of the names I mentioned earlier?
My final year (5th) was Form G3, as mentioned we were based in the library, this can be located in the upper left hand corner of the plan of the school attached.
Caveat (yes another one) I mention on the plan I believed the awful extension on the front of the school was probably built for the opening of the school as a senior school 1958 on the basis that seemed logical as surely a junior school would not need domestic and science labs that the extension housed, be that as it may I saw recently a sky shot of the school dated 1950 showing the extension which blew my theory out of the water - can anyone throw any light on the matter?
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Peg Monkey
master brummie
I had a similar experience, I wanted to be an architect but the careers advisor poured cold water on that idea.