King Edwards Grammar School Camp Hill

[JudyTink]

The headmistress of King Edwards Camp Hill School for Girls in 1949-50 was Miss Mandeville. In fact, she was headmistress between 1943 and 1962. The photograph in #1 shows two ladies. One could be the form/class mistress and the other the headmistress. A picture of Miss Mandeville is attached. There is some, only some, resemblance to the lady sitting on the viewer's right.

The School's new headmistress, Miss Muriel Mandeville, had already joined the school on the retirement of the long-serving and very appropriately named Miss Keen after 30 years. Under the new leadership of Miss Mandeville (1943-1962), the school was brought back together although great problems had to be overcome, with war damaged buildings, planning for the new school, and a rapid increase in school numbers.
The years between 1943 and the move to a new school in 1958 saw increasing overcrowding and the appropriation of more space for school use.
Numbers grew from just 340 girls in 1943 to 550 in 1957 but the waiting ended in 1958 when the move to the present school site in Kings Heath, Birmingham, took place.
During her almost 20 years as headmistress, the school had owed much to her guidance.

Miss Muriel Mandeville

Are there any old girls out there who aspired to great things under Miss Mandeville's tutilage?

The headmistress of King Edwards Camp Hill School for Girls in 1949-50 was Miss Mandeville. In fact, she was headmistress between 1943 and 1962. The photograph in #1 shows two ladies. One could be the form/class mistress and the other the headmistress. A picture of Miss Mandeville is attached. There is some, only some, resemblance to the lady sitting on the viewer's right.

The School's new headmistress, Miss Muriel Mandeville, had already joined the school on the retirement of the long-serving and very appropriately named Miss Keen after 30 years. Under the new leadership of Miss Mandeville (1943-1962), the school was brought back together although great problems had to be overcome, with war damaged buildings, planning for the new school, and a rapid increase in school numbers.
The years between 1943 and the move to a new school in 1958 saw increasing overcrowding and the appropriation of more space for school use.
Numbers grew from just 340 girls in 1943 to 550 in 1957 but the waiting ended in 1958 when the move to the present school site in Kings Heath, Birmingham, took place.
During her almost 20 years as headmistress, the school had owed much to her guidance.

Miss Muriel Mandeville

Is there anyone else out there who benefitted from Miss Mandevile's tutelage?

 

[Richard Dye]

Thank you for the detailed information and photos! It is very interesting to learn more about such an important figure as Miss Mandeville and her contribution to the development of the school in the difficult post-war years. Running a school in the conditions of destruction and an increase in the number of students is a serious challenge indeed. It seems that it was her efforts that helped the school not only survive, but also develop, which was reflected in the successful move to a new location. Such historical details help to better understand how educational institutions were formed and what role the leaders of that time played.

Murge, welcome to BHF, a wonderful and friendly place, enjoy!

 

[Frances Wilkinson]

I was at Camp Hill under Miss Mandeville's tutelage from 1955 - 1962, so attended both the old school and the new building at Kings Heath. Both my sisters were there before me, as was a cousin and an aunt! I remember always being in awe of MM. She was a great leader.

 

[Timmo]

Does any one recall Stuart Spires (pupil)? Nickname Spiro. His time frame must have been 65-71?

I was the year below Stuart but remember him well as a good sportsman. We were both in Beaufort House. I remember an interhouse rugby match played on the top pitch in awful weather. Stuart converted a penalty for our only score of the match but Roy Crittenden, refereeing disallowed it as Stuart had not said he was going for goal!

 

[Timmo]

I have come a bit late to this thread a bit late but have enjoyed reading through all the posts. My experience and memories both pre- and post-date much of this. My Father, Wilf Meadows, was at the old school between 1938-44 and I at the new school from 1965-72. My father was one of the pupils evacuated to Warwick School at the outbreak of war. I don't think that they were there for long but I do remember him saying that the school bullies at Warwick were the Turpin brothers who went on to become champion boxers. We, perhaps forget that the old school was in the heart of industrial Birmingham and not leafy Kings Heath. Both Poly Bates and Bill Drysdale were young teachers in his day and senior masters when I started. I seem to remember that Poly, who must have been at the end of his career once got us confused! My father's best friend at school was Dennis Marsden who was my older brother's Godfather. I was a bit embarrassed to be taught by Uncle Dennis! I remember Des Wright (O Level Biology) and GD Matthews (A Level Maths) as being amongst the very best teachers I ever came across in my academic career. Holy Hovis had become Greasy VC after his initials and penchant for Brylcreem. Ron? Jones of winklepicker and quiff fame was a form master. Bill Hughes (History) was a dead aim with a board rubber and wicked with a ruler across the knuckles. I remember Geoff Sanders as a fair but hard man who you did not cross. Tony Appleby was the art master who recognized my lack of talent with a "D-: He tries hard, but success eludes him". He was from Cornwall where in his teens he was friendly with a girl who became the wife of my main professional mentor. What a coincidence! They both returned to Cornwall where I met up with him in around 2000. He told me that Geoff Sanders had died after falling out of a tree.
I remember my time at Camp Hill as a happy one with a well-rounded education that set me up for my future studies, career and life in general.

 

[JudyTink]

Links to other KE schools in the Birmingham area are below


Edgbaston

King Edward VI School Edgbaston 1936

Links to other King Edwards Schools in the Birmingham area are below New Street https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/king-edwards-school-new-street-1838-1936.9441/ Five Ways...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

King Edward High School for Girls Edgbaston Park Road

Hadn't realised this but the building was once King Edward's High School for Girls - Edmund Street. Postcard dated 1904. Viv.

birminghamhistory.co.uk

Five Ways

King Edward VI School, Five Ways 1883 - 1958

New Street https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/king-edwards-school-new-street-1838-1936.9441/ Edgbaston https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/king-edward-vi-school-edgbaston-1936.57135/#post-811091...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

Handsworth
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...dwards-girls-grammar-school-handsworth.16714/

Handsworth Grammar King Edward Boys' Grammar Grove Lane

Here are other links to King Edward's Schools in the Birmingham area: Edgbaston https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/king-edward-vi-school-edgbaston-1936.57135/#post-811091...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

Aston

King Edwards Grammar School Aston 1883

Links to other King Edward's Schools in the Birmingham area are : Edgbaston https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/king-edward-vi-school-edgbaston-1936.57135/#post-811091...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

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I recently came across this photo of a class of girls said to be in the Birmingham area.
The photo is of Class 11 in 1949,50. It would be interesting to find out where it was and who the girlsView attachment 102467 are.

With reference to the above photograph this is definitely KEGS Camp Hill for Girls.