I was there '59-'64 ... so that sounds like what 26 years earlier was the Lecture Theatre ... opposite side of the corridor to the Bio, Phys and Chem labs, same side as the central staircase and right by it ... sound about right?
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Lordswood Boys' Technical School
- Thread starter Vivienne14
- Start date
I was there '59-'64 ... so that sounds like what 26 years earlier was the Lecture Theatre ... opposite side of the corridor to the Bio, Phys and Chem labs, same side as the central staircase and right by it ... sound about right?
Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
I was one of the originals 1957 - 1963. (I did an extra year as my O levels were poor). I did recover though and ended up doing an economics degree at Cardiff University and a Masters at Bath. Of course I remember Titch Horton and Keith Harrison but I don't see any other contemporaries in these posts. I did meet up with Mel (Nobby) Sutton when he was playing for Cardiff City and I am still in touch with Bernard Smith and Roger Harding. Apart from that Lordswood is a distant memory. I think Mr. Harkness was a thoroughly decent man and I visited him at home when a student at Cardiff. I have to say that Hepton was a good chap too (maybe misunderstood) and also Mr Hicking who made sense of physics for me and others like John Etheridge. Looking back, I think we were fortunate to have some good teachers, even though some were harsh - Lee (RE) seemed to like wacking me with a plimsoll (I was only talking!). Gil Jones was a great PE teacher (is he still around?) I was saddened to hear on another post that Malcolm Foley and Tony Collett were no longer with us - I got on well with both of them. Also, I was in touch with John Flowers (from the Friends Reunited web site - pity it ended). I do have lots of other memories of the school but I will save those for another day. Good to be in touch with you guys.
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Thanks for your reply. I now live in the village of LLangynidr, which is in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
Keith,
Your basketball photo: I remember a few more.
Front row: Charlie Phelps, Malcolm Gibbins, Tony Kyte, Yourself, BT Rogers, John Flowers.
Back row: Norman Garwood, Geoff Brown, Malcolm Foley, ANOther, Roy Coles (Molar).
Keep well. Mike Murphy (Spud)
Couple of photos attached.
School rugby team 60/61.
Form 2D 58/59
The rugby team merged with the year above in 61/62 which included the likes of Mike Fenton at fly half and Ray Parry at centre.I played scrum half and of course Phelps was full back.
We had some really tough games against the likes of Moseley grammar and George Dixon who were fielding mainly 18 year olds.
Our school being relatively new hadn't reached the seniority of pupil.
Some faces I can't recognise.
Attachments
Hi Michael
Thanks for posting the photos. I am not on the rugby shot but I do recognise one or two of the players. I managed to get into the team in 61/62 with John Flowers, we played at open side and blind side wing forward positions. You are right ,we had a great side , I don't remember losing a game apart from, I think, Moseley grammar. Gil Jones was the PE master,very keen on his rugby,he pushed us hard in all the sports but I liked him, he was very fair and encouraged us in every thing we did.
I don't remember the names of most of the guys on the photos but as soon as somebody puts a name to a face I say "Yeh I remember now". I still keep in touch with John Flowers, he lives in Cornwall now. I remember Brian Rogers well ,he lived in Northfield at the time and we used to travel on the bus together to and from school.
Let's hope some more of our contemporaries join the forum and we might be able to put a few more names to faces.
Take care Keith Harrison
Thanks for posting the photos. I am not on the rugby shot but I do recognise one or two of the players. I managed to get into the team in 61/62 with John Flowers, we played at open side and blind side wing forward positions. You are right ,we had a great side , I don't remember losing a game apart from, I think, Moseley grammar. Gil Jones was the PE master,very keen on his rugby,he pushed us hard in all the sports but I liked him, he was very fair and encouraged us in every thing we did.
I don't remember the names of most of the guys on the photos but as soon as somebody puts a name to a face I say "Yeh I remember now". I still keep in touch with John Flowers, he lives in Cornwall now. I remember Brian Rogers well ,he lived in Northfield at the time and we used to travel on the bus together to and from school.
Let's hope some more of our contemporaries join the forum and we might be able to put a few more names to faces.
Take care Keith Harrison
Hi Keith
I (Peter Hession) posted the rugby photo and form 2D photo.
I managed to find a photo of the 61/62 team.
You don't appear on it but I definitely remember both you and John Flowers playing.
You are right the only game we lost was against Moseley.
They gave us a bit of a lesson in three quarter play.
Most of them were 18 year olds.
I recognise some of the people in the photo.
Front row l to r Tony Kyte,Davis,Colsoun,BT Rogers,Mike Fenton,George Harwood,me,?,?
Back row l to r Richie Norman,Coles,Hall,Malcolm Beard,?,?,?,Ray Parry.
The toughest game I played in was against Old Swinford the previous year.
Being a boarding school the pitch was surrounded by the rest of the school.
They abused us throughout the game.
On the field the tactics were no better.
Hits after the ball had gone,sly punches etc.
We won and Charlie Phelps was magnificent that day.
Gil Jones had a real rant at the OS staff.
I wonder if anyone remembers a teacher called Ron Kindon.
With Gil Jones blessing he was allowed to set up a football team outside of school.
We played in a Sunday league to avoid clashing with Rugby
Paul Byrne and Mel Sutton played but I can't remember any other names.
I played in a couple of teams with Mel (Nobby) before he went on to greater things with Villa and Cardiff.
Remember him winning the main school cross country race every year.
Best wishes and good health to all!
I (Peter Hession) posted the rugby photo and form 2D photo.
I managed to find a photo of the 61/62 team.
You don't appear on it but I definitely remember both you and John Flowers playing.
You are right the only game we lost was against Moseley.
They gave us a bit of a lesson in three quarter play.
Most of them were 18 year olds.
I recognise some of the people in the photo.
Front row l to r Tony Kyte,Davis,Colsoun,BT Rogers,Mike Fenton,George Harwood,me,?,?
Back row l to r Richie Norman,Coles,Hall,Malcolm Beard,?,?,?,Ray Parry.
The toughest game I played in was against Old Swinford the previous year.
Being a boarding school the pitch was surrounded by the rest of the school.
They abused us throughout the game.
On the field the tactics were no better.
Hits after the ball had gone,sly punches etc.
We won and Charlie Phelps was magnificent that day.
Gil Jones had a real rant at the OS staff.
I wonder if anyone remembers a teacher called Ron Kindon.
With Gil Jones blessing he was allowed to set up a football team outside of school.
We played in a Sunday league to avoid clashing with Rugby
Paul Byrne and Mel Sutton played but I can't remember any other names.
I played in a couple of teams with Mel (Nobby) before he went on to greater things with Villa and Cardiff.
Remember him winning the main school cross country race every year.
Best wishes and good health to all!
Attachments
Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
Hi Keith,
Actually I didn't post the photos. but I do have some others in the attic. I will fish them out this weekend. I left Brum in 1966 which is probably why I have lost touch with so many school friends. Living in the USA for 7 years in the 1980s probably didn't help! Although I did play for the U15 Rugby team I was disappointed not to be included in the photo. It must have been taken after Gil Jones dropped me for dropping the ball. Nobody's perfect. I remember dropping concentrated sulphuric acid on some potassium permanganate in the fume cupboard in Froggy's lab and as a result the whole of the top floor had to be evacuated because of the obnoxious fumes.
Mr Harkness was not amused!
Take care of yourself.
Michael
Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
Hi Peter - I must correct you on one point - Mel Sutton did not win the school cross country race every year.
I know that because one year I won it ! We had to do a final three laps of the field before returning to the school grounds. Nobby miscounted and went round for a fourth time - I got it right and instead of finishing second, finished first. Lucky me! Mel was easily the best cross country runner we had at the school, without doubt. When I met up with Mel when he was playing for Cardiff City, we had a laugh about that in the club bar over a pint. Good to be in touch (Pete!).
Take care of yourself.
Good wishes, Mike Murphy (Spud)
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Hi Peter. Thanks for posting the 61/62 shot of the rugby team. I was disappointed not to see either John Flowers or myself on the photo but I think I know the reason why. Although as I previously mentioned I did like Gil Jones I think John and I fell out with him over being available on Saturdays . John and I had Saturday jobs (in fact we worked together at a butcher's shop in Northfield) which clashed with Saturday matches, I played some games as I certainly remember the Moseley match.
On the subject of cross country, Mike, I always found it to be a bit of a killer, particularly the BOG between the two schools. After a couple of laps of the field the return through the BOG was the last straw. At least the shower facilities were good when we got back.
Take care everyone . Don't do a Trump!!!
Keith
On the subject of cross country, Mike, I always found it to be a bit of a killer, particularly the BOG between the two schools. After a couple of laps of the field the return through the BOG was the last straw. At least the shower facilities were good when we got back.
Take care everyone . Don't do a Trump!!!
Keith
Hi Keith
I remember the BOG very well!
Also I think part of the run was along Knightlow Rd.
I have posted some photos from our first year at the school form 1D
How they managed to get every single pupil smiling was remarkable.
The other couple of photos are from the first stage production put on at the school in the first year.
Geoff Brown on the left,Jimmy Livingstone and me in black.
It was my one only acting stint ever.
Jimmy Livingstone was a character.
I went to his house a couple of times.
His parents were very broad Scots and his father insisted that only Scots Gaelic should be spoken in the house by the family.
I hadn't got a clue what was going on.
Take care all
I remember the BOG very well!
Also I think part of the run was along Knightlow Rd.
I have posted some photos from our first year at the school form 1D
How they managed to get every single pupil smiling was remarkable.
The other couple of photos are from the first stage production put on at the school in the first year.
Geoff Brown on the left,Jimmy Livingstone and me in black.
It was my one only acting stint ever.
Jimmy Livingstone was a character.
I went to his house a couple of times.
His parents were very broad Scots and his father insisted that only Scots Gaelic should be spoken in the house by the family.
I hadn't got a clue what was going on.
Take care all
Attachments
Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
Hi Keith, Peter, et al,
Here's the 1961- 62 athletics team. Keith (you know yourself). I'm 3rd. row from top 5th. along between Parry and Phelps.
What a bunch of rockers we were!
Take care all,
Mike (Murphy)
Here's the 1961- 62 athletics team. Keith (you know yourself). I'm 3rd. row from top 5th. along between Parry and Phelps.
What a bunch of rockers we were!
Take care all,
Mike (Murphy)
Hi Mike, that's an interesting photo. A lot of the faces look familiar but I can't put names to many of them. The only additional one I can name is Dave cherry who is front row, 2nd from right. He lived near me in Northfield. My bet is that none of us have the amount of hair we had then - I've certainly nothing left with which to make a quiff. My forte was the javelin, I thought I was quite good (encouraged by Gil Jones) until I came up against a guy from King Edward's grammar school at an inter-school match at B'ham University playing fields in Edgebaston. He was throwing a good 10 yards longer than me in his WARM UP throws !! I went home somewhat miffed.
Anyway, thanks for reviving a few memories.
Take care. Keith
Anyway, thanks for reviving a few memories.
Take care. Keith
Hi Keith/Mike
Recognise some faces on the photo.
Behind Keith is Malcolm Foley.
Back row 4th from lift is Malcolm Beard?
On Keith’s left is Dick Butler.
I can remember his dad had a really smart car -a Rover.
Sometimes when I was waiting at the bus stop in Handsworth they would stop and I’d get a free ride to school .
I think he lived Great Barr/ Erdington way.
The outer reaches of the catchment area for the school.
5th from left on the same row is ? Proctor from the year above us.
Extreme left on the 2nd row is Roger Davis?
The team is a mixture of different years so it’s hard to remember names.
Best wishes
Pete(Hession)
Recognise some faces on the photo.
Behind Keith is Malcolm Foley.
Back row 4th from lift is Malcolm Beard?
On Keith’s left is Dick Butler.
I can remember his dad had a really smart car -a Rover.
Sometimes when I was waiting at the bus stop in Handsworth they would stop and I’d get a free ride to school .
I think he lived Great Barr/ Erdington way.
The outer reaches of the catchment area for the school.
5th from left on the same row is ? Proctor from the year above us.
Extreme left on the 2nd row is Roger Davis?
The team is a mixture of different years so it’s hard to remember names.
Best wishes
Pete(Hession)
Hi,
Covid -19 and time on my hands….I was thinking of tracing my ancestors whereabouts in Birmingham and came across this site.
I was in the first intake into Lordswood, I think I went through 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B & 5S. I do remember the form roll call on the first day started Adams, Apps, Blundell, Brown….me being the Blundell with Geoff Brown sitting behind me. Our form master was a red haired Welshman (I think) and on the first day he was looking for volunteers, and went round the form saying you’ll do so and so, then picked on me saying “right Percy, you can do this”, hence for a long time I was called Percy, sometimes Sparcy, although my name was Chris.
I was always (or felt I was) in trouble at school, I knocked about with Graham Whitmore, Martin Stenzel, John Shakespeare, Malcolm Acklin, Norman Garwood, Melvyn (nobby)Sutton, Mike Mitchell, Kit Round, Mike Murphy, Casewell, Colson, Dave Fisher,Pete Johnson (Haybag) , Phelps, et al.
Nobby used to come and stay some weekends at our house and ……Tony Collette (may have name incorrecect) came on holidays with my family to Abersoch in Wales...I have a photo somewhere.
My father passed away whilst I was in the 5th form and I went off the rails a bit and played truant for most of the year, subsequently left, went (pushed by my mother and family friends) to Naval College in Cardiff, and served an apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy, getting my Foreign going Masters ticket at Southampton University and sailed around the world, but mostly West Africa. I left after 8 years, and worked for a large Flooring Contractor, after 6 months I left and started on my own, at the same time Malcolm Acklin (Mac) had just got demobbed from the Army and we hooked up and worked together for well over 10 years and had 30 + staff, until he decided England wasn’t for him anymore (that’s another story!!!) and he emigrated to Oz and we sold out….I met him a few times in UK after that and I went to see him in Oz about 8 years ago and stayed with him for a couple of weeks….sadly he passed away about 4 years ago.
After selling out, I bought a Pub in Worcestershire, Gil Jones used to come for lunch at least once a fortnight with his wife, Mary and we would also go out for meals with them, I think he was Headmaster then, strange how things work out!!!
I did meet up at the Pub when Mac came back for a visit in the early 90s with Mitch Mitchell, Kit Round and Richard(?) Harding and we had a good time reminiscing, I think Rich Harding was in the building trade, Kit Round was in high end Medical Supplies, Mitch was working for the Council.
I bumped into Geoff Brown 3 or 4 times on flights to the States, he was the subject of an interview on Birmingham TV about a year or so ago and during that he said that he now lives in Mexico.(I see his first wife occasionally) I would occasionally see Norman Garwood, who went in TV/Films, doing production design, he ended up living in the States, and got an nominated 3 times for an Oscar and once for an Emmy, and won a BAFTA….he passed away last year.(he was on the roll call of deceased dignitaries)
I remember all the staff and a lot of contemporaries names not mentioned in these threads, but putting the names to faces is another matter, I played rugby for the school, but cannot see myself on any photograph, I threw the javelin (I have a winners badge!), discus and shot in county championships…afraid I have only one pic of the swimming team and nothing else.
I do remember going on a YHA trip with Hepton and I think Mercati to walk over Helvellin and Scafell Pike and remember we all bathed in ice cold water on the top of the mountain…..never quite sure about Hepton??. I also remember a school trip to Neustatt ( I think) in Bavaria to improve our German with Barry Long and Ian Lewis…or was it someone else?
I think that’s enough from me now, I’ll await some comments………….
Covid -19 and time on my hands….I was thinking of tracing my ancestors whereabouts in Birmingham and came across this site.
I was in the first intake into Lordswood, I think I went through 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B & 5S. I do remember the form roll call on the first day started Adams, Apps, Blundell, Brown….me being the Blundell with Geoff Brown sitting behind me. Our form master was a red haired Welshman (I think) and on the first day he was looking for volunteers, and went round the form saying you’ll do so and so, then picked on me saying “right Percy, you can do this”, hence for a long time I was called Percy, sometimes Sparcy, although my name was Chris.
I was always (or felt I was) in trouble at school, I knocked about with Graham Whitmore, Martin Stenzel, John Shakespeare, Malcolm Acklin, Norman Garwood, Melvyn (nobby)Sutton, Mike Mitchell, Kit Round, Mike Murphy, Casewell, Colson, Dave Fisher,Pete Johnson (Haybag) , Phelps, et al.
Nobby used to come and stay some weekends at our house and ……Tony Collette (may have name incorrecect) came on holidays with my family to Abersoch in Wales...I have a photo somewhere.
My father passed away whilst I was in the 5th form and I went off the rails a bit and played truant for most of the year, subsequently left, went (pushed by my mother and family friends) to Naval College in Cardiff, and served an apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy, getting my Foreign going Masters ticket at Southampton University and sailed around the world, but mostly West Africa. I left after 8 years, and worked for a large Flooring Contractor, after 6 months I left and started on my own, at the same time Malcolm Acklin (Mac) had just got demobbed from the Army and we hooked up and worked together for well over 10 years and had 30 + staff, until he decided England wasn’t for him anymore (that’s another story!!!) and he emigrated to Oz and we sold out….I met him a few times in UK after that and I went to see him in Oz about 8 years ago and stayed with him for a couple of weeks….sadly he passed away about 4 years ago.
After selling out, I bought a Pub in Worcestershire, Gil Jones used to come for lunch at least once a fortnight with his wife, Mary and we would also go out for meals with them, I think he was Headmaster then, strange how things work out!!!
I did meet up at the Pub when Mac came back for a visit in the early 90s with Mitch Mitchell, Kit Round and Richard(?) Harding and we had a good time reminiscing, I think Rich Harding was in the building trade, Kit Round was in high end Medical Supplies, Mitch was working for the Council.
I bumped into Geoff Brown 3 or 4 times on flights to the States, he was the subject of an interview on Birmingham TV about a year or so ago and during that he said that he now lives in Mexico.(I see his first wife occasionally) I would occasionally see Norman Garwood, who went in TV/Films, doing production design, he ended up living in the States, and got an nominated 3 times for an Oscar and once for an Emmy, and won a BAFTA….he passed away last year.(he was on the roll call of deceased dignitaries)
I remember all the staff and a lot of contemporaries names not mentioned in these threads, but putting the names to faces is another matter, I played rugby for the school, but cannot see myself on any photograph, I threw the javelin (I have a winners badge!), discus and shot in county championships…afraid I have only one pic of the swimming team and nothing else.
I do remember going on a YHA trip with Hepton and I think Mercati to walk over Helvellin and Scafell Pike and remember we all bathed in ice cold water on the top of the mountain…..never quite sure about Hepton??. I also remember a school trip to Neustatt ( I think) in Bavaria to improve our German with Barry Long and Ian Lewis…or was it someone else?
I think that’s enough from me now, I’ll await some comments………….
Richard Lister
New Member
Hello everyone, I joined forum today.
I was at Lordswood Boys from 1977 to 1984. I was in Telford House
I dont remember the Headmasters name..but I seem to remember his hand was missing. Mr Lee and Mr.Jones were deputies.
Other teachers I remember were Mr Humphries Woodwork), Mr.Hart (Woodwork), Mr Betts (Metalwork), Froggy Hepton, (Chem), Jones & Folely PE, Mr White (TD), Merv Minovi, Vibrating Vigart, Herr Long, Miss Tracey (English), Mr Scanlon and and Indian teacher ..both Maths...maybe the other names will come.to me,
Pupils names I remember,
Jon Coral, Adrian Lang, Mark Collet, David Miller, Adrian riley, Simon Tucas, , Steven Woods, Lee Roden....again maybe the names will come to me.
I was at Lordswood Boys from 1977 to 1984. I was in Telford House
I dont remember the Headmasters name..but I seem to remember his hand was missing. Mr Lee and Mr.Jones were deputies.
Other teachers I remember were Mr Humphries Woodwork), Mr.Hart (Woodwork), Mr Betts (Metalwork), Froggy Hepton, (Chem), Jones & Folely PE, Mr White (TD), Merv Minovi, Vibrating Vigart, Herr Long, Miss Tracey (English), Mr Scanlon and and Indian teacher ..both Maths...maybe the other names will come.to me,
Pupils names I remember,
Jon Coral, Adrian Lang, Mark Collet, David Miller, Adrian riley, Simon Tucas, , Steven Woods, Lee Roden....again maybe the names will come to me.
Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
Hi Chris,
Great to be in touch with you after all these years. Your post is very interesting and informative but also sad that some of our contemporaries have passed away( Norman Garwood, Malc Acklin, Malc Foley, Tony Collett). I remember you were not in school much after your father died and wondered what you did with your life after that. I left Brum in 1966 and never went back, so never really kept in touch with anyone except Bernard Smith who became an architect and lives in Thame, Oxon. and Roger Harding, who was best man at my (first) wedding. See my other post dated August 14. After University I became an accountant. I was articled with Touche Ross in Bristol then moved to the USA where I lived for 7 years, returning to the UK in 1986. In the States I worked for Coca Cola in El Paso, Texas and then Baker Oil in New Orleans. I had a great time there but was happy to return to the UK, ultimately. My wife and I own & manage two nursing homes in South Wales and despite my great age (I think I am 2 days younger than you) have not retired yet.
Incidentally, you mentioned Gil Jones in your post - I wondered if he is still alive? Anyway, that's all for the moment - will have more to say in my next post. Take care. Best wishes, Mike (Murphy).
Great to be in touch with you after all these years. Your post is very interesting and informative but also sad that some of our contemporaries have passed away( Norman Garwood, Malc Acklin, Malc Foley, Tony Collett). I remember you were not in school much after your father died and wondered what you did with your life after that. I left Brum in 1966 and never went back, so never really kept in touch with anyone except Bernard Smith who became an architect and lives in Thame, Oxon. and Roger Harding, who was best man at my (first) wedding. See my other post dated August 14. After University I became an accountant. I was articled with Touche Ross in Bristol then moved to the USA where I lived for 7 years, returning to the UK in 1986. In the States I worked for Coca Cola in El Paso, Texas and then Baker Oil in New Orleans. I had a great time there but was happy to return to the UK, ultimately. My wife and I own & manage two nursing homes in South Wales and despite my great age (I think I am 2 days younger than you) have not retired yet.
Incidentally, you mentioned Gil Jones in your post - I wondered if he is still alive? Anyway, that's all for the moment - will have more to say in my next post. Take care. Best wishes, Mike (Murphy).
Phil 5T1
proper brummie kid
I do rememberbits about the Neustatd
I remember bits about the trip to Neustatd im Schwarzwald trip like being booted out of a very comfortable carriage by staff for the overnight section down the Rhein valley, like some pupil "falling" down a ski jump and being in hospital for some time after the end of the holiday much to the "annoyance" of the staff (Luckman?) who had to stay as well and the response of the group watching a German TV programme without understanding a word when the cast showed a lead played by Wolf Wanker. It was also the trip when cheap German cigars turned me off smoking for life. I can say I gave up smoking at 13!
Hi, Mike,
Glad to hear you are still fit and well enough for work.............I suppose it will be a natural transgression from owner to patient one day!! How on earth did you remember we are 2 days apart in birthdays, I was 75 on Sept 8th..
I moved out of Brum in the mid 70's to Ombersley, Worcestershire and ended up owning 3 pubs in and around that area, which I sold around Millennium time and sort of retired at 55. We had a couple of years off and toured the World once more, States, Canada, South Africa & Oz. Now, I wouldn't give you a thank you to get on a plane (not that we could at moment.
Bored I went into property developing, did really well, but lost a bundle of cash during the last property recession!!
Hey ho..... we (2nd wife...45 years wed) are reasonable comfortable and don't want for much, although we did have to downsize somewhat.
Pic attached is the swimming team, me in middle of 3rd row from bottom (can anyone name the rest, I said before good with remembering names, but not faces)...afraid I don't look like that now, not much on top and hirsute and a little overweight!! I remember Harborne swimming baths, clothes soaking wet on the floor and cups of hot oxo from the café there and galas at Woodcock St baths in Brum. Went to Brum couple of weeks ago (first time for about 10+years) to some posh restaurant, blimey it's changed, driving was a nightmare.
I spend most of my days gardening, cooking, playing golf, dining out and being with my family..5 kids (4B 1G...not all with the same mother!!) and 5 grandchildren)....makes me feel really old with a 50 year old son!
Regarding Gil Jones, I would imagine he's under the sod by now, he would surely have been 15/20 years older than us.
I noticed a few of the later threads mention someone called Uggy White, I think they are referring to someone I know as "Whitey", I used to drink with him in the Chalet of the Talbot (run by John Narbett..he became a close friend) and both Mac Acklin and I used to go over to the school in the evening in our mid 20's and do circuit training with him to keep fit (that allowed us to have a couple of extra pints!!. I met him through Moseley Rugby Club, where he played, I think he had a side-kick from the school called George Foley (???). Anyway last I saw him was at the Rugby lunch at Stourbridge RFC, he was the coach there, one of my lads played there.
All for now, let me know about the names on the pic......more about my near expulsion from the school next time.
PS I remember sleeping on the train the Neustatt in the luggage rack.........
Glad to hear you are still fit and well enough for work.............I suppose it will be a natural transgression from owner to patient one day!! How on earth did you remember we are 2 days apart in birthdays, I was 75 on Sept 8th..
I moved out of Brum in the mid 70's to Ombersley, Worcestershire and ended up owning 3 pubs in and around that area, which I sold around Millennium time and sort of retired at 55. We had a couple of years off and toured the World once more, States, Canada, South Africa & Oz. Now, I wouldn't give you a thank you to get on a plane (not that we could at moment.
Bored I went into property developing, did really well, but lost a bundle of cash during the last property recession!!
Hey ho..... we (2nd wife...45 years wed) are reasonable comfortable and don't want for much, although we did have to downsize somewhat.
Pic attached is the swimming team, me in middle of 3rd row from bottom (can anyone name the rest, I said before good with remembering names, but not faces)...afraid I don't look like that now, not much on top and hirsute and a little overweight!! I remember Harborne swimming baths, clothes soaking wet on the floor and cups of hot oxo from the café there and galas at Woodcock St baths in Brum. Went to Brum couple of weeks ago (first time for about 10+years) to some posh restaurant, blimey it's changed, driving was a nightmare.
I spend most of my days gardening, cooking, playing golf, dining out and being with my family..5 kids (4B 1G...not all with the same mother!!) and 5 grandchildren)....makes me feel really old with a 50 year old son!
Regarding Gil Jones, I would imagine he's under the sod by now, he would surely have been 15/20 years older than us.
I noticed a few of the later threads mention someone called Uggy White, I think they are referring to someone I know as "Whitey", I used to drink with him in the Chalet of the Talbot (run by John Narbett..he became a close friend) and both Mac Acklin and I used to go over to the school in the evening in our mid 20's and do circuit training with him to keep fit (that allowed us to have a couple of extra pints!!. I met him through Moseley Rugby Club, where he played, I think he had a side-kick from the school called George Foley (???). Anyway last I saw him was at the Rugby lunch at Stourbridge RFC, he was the coach there, one of my lads played there.
All for now, let me know about the names on the pic......more about my near expulsion from the school next time.
PS I remember sleeping on the train the Neustatt in the luggage rack.........
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Michael Murphy
MJA Murphy
Hi Chris,
I don't know how I remember your birthday but as an accountant I do remember numbers! Mine is Sept. 10th. and my younger son is Sept. 8th. like you. Funnily enough my late father was Sept. 9th. How about that. As far as the names on your swimming pic. I think I know some. Top row 2nd from left Malc Foley, 5th. along(next to you) A. Moss . 6th. along Polanski? 7th. along BT Rogers, Front row far right IC Rogers.
I went on a school trip to Rome in 1960 to see some of the Olympics with Gil Jones and Mr. Lewis. . That was interesting. One day we all went to Porto Anzio on the coast and got horribly sunburned , we ended up going to a local hospital to be rubbed down in some sort of oil (that wasn't so bad!) We stayed in a pretty grotty place called Instituto Romano in central Rome in a huge dormitory. I wrote an article on the trip for the school magazine (I've still got the magazine somewhere.) Another trip I went on was with Hepton - youth hostelling in Gloucestershire. I can't say it was memorable and we slept on bunk beds (as in Rome). All I remember about that trip was the rain! I must dig out some more photos.
All for now. Take care. Mike
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Bluto:
I was there '59-'64 so our paths didn't cross directly, however I can add some names to your Swimming Team photo as the bottom row appears to consist mostly of faces that are familiar from across my year. Some are now no more than faces with uncertain names from other classes, but here's what I can add anyway.
Bottom, 2nd from right Ron Vercesi; 4th from right "Ozzy" Osborne; 2nd from left Maunder, sorry but no first name; far left - I think Sansom or something close anyway, possibly 1st name Roger but apologies to him if wildly incorrect on either/both however.
2nd row up, 3rd from right - Stanley, first name another Roger maybe, or possibly Robert.
Hope these help.
Just a memory in-passing, spurred by your posting name ...
For a couple of years my/our English teacher was Mr. Ludlam, whom I remember as a nice guy, soft-spoken, enthusiastic, introduced writers by reading aloud to us from them, He would illustrate the changeable nature of words and language with anecdotes of his own, e.g. "I remember when first hearing pop singers going on about 'their baby' or singing to "baby" I couldn't understand and was puzzled just thinking about a baby *mimed cradling a babe-in-arms* "
But anyway ... rather cruelly I think, we referred to him as Popeye because in our schoolboyish way we latched on to his wide-open and rather expressive eyes that I am sure didn't protrude at all of course but the nickname was used just as if they did anyway.
On a school trip to Interlaken for I think about a dozen pupils Mr L was one of the leaders/chaperones, and was also accompanied by his wife and their young child aged around 3 or 4 in my recollection ... and I have a very chuckle-making memory of him walking along the (Snow Hill I seem to think) platform as we made for the train, with a seam-stretching full rucksack on his back and with a baby's potty hanging off it by a carabiner and swinging from side to side.
TQ
I was there '59-'64 so our paths didn't cross directly, however I can add some names to your Swimming Team photo as the bottom row appears to consist mostly of faces that are familiar from across my year. Some are now no more than faces with uncertain names from other classes, but here's what I can add anyway.
Bottom, 2nd from right Ron Vercesi; 4th from right "Ozzy" Osborne; 2nd from left Maunder, sorry but no first name; far left - I think Sansom or something close anyway, possibly 1st name Roger but apologies to him if wildly incorrect on either/both however.
2nd row up, 3rd from right - Stanley, first name another Roger maybe, or possibly Robert.
Hope these help.
Just a memory in-passing, spurred by your posting name ...
For a couple of years my/our English teacher was Mr. Ludlam, whom I remember as a nice guy, soft-spoken, enthusiastic, introduced writers by reading aloud to us from them, He would illustrate the changeable nature of words and language with anecdotes of his own, e.g. "I remember when first hearing pop singers going on about 'their baby' or singing to "baby" I couldn't understand and was puzzled just thinking about a baby *mimed cradling a babe-in-arms* "
But anyway ... rather cruelly I think, we referred to him as Popeye because in our schoolboyish way we latched on to his wide-open and rather expressive eyes that I am sure didn't protrude at all of course but the nickname was used just as if they did anyway.
On a school trip to Interlaken for I think about a dozen pupils Mr L was one of the leaders/chaperones, and was also accompanied by his wife and their young child aged around 3 or 4 in my recollection ... and I have a very chuckle-making memory of him walking along the (Snow Hill I seem to think) platform as we made for the train, with a seam-stretching full rucksack on his back and with a baby's potty hanging off it by a carabiner and swinging from side to side.
TQ
Yes I remember him well ... tall, well-spoken, rather angular facial features, always in a good suit
... a very decent bloke, approachable, would always stop for a chat or just to pass the time of day if he had nowhere to go. Can't recall for sure, but I think he might have joined the Staff in my 2nd or 3rd year so '60/'61
I remember well, however, that there was a boy in a different class in my year who was also named Kindon and bore a very striking resemblance to him, and I believe they got their heads together at some point and it transpired that they were cousins.
TQ
Hi Lyn ... No, but with that surname he was never going to be called anything other than Ozzy anyway
But I think that Lordswood can possibly lay claim to having the genuine original Ozzy Osborne anyway however, Sabbath-Ozzy would I think be a year or so younger so a mere whippersnapper from Aston borrowing the name
TQ