Bob Jennings, worked at Wilkinson and Riddell?My brothers John and Robert Jennings went to Riland Bedford.
I worked there withYes that's the same one.
Yeah, it was mixed like a Monastery and a Nunnery are mixed. I'm sure the girls head thought you could get pregnant if a boy looked at you. I understand she killed herself when it was going mixed. The poor girls got a very bad deal under her stewardship. The boys half went on to have a 6th form do A levels and was little different to Vesey or Willmott in achievment whereas the girls had to leave at 16 and go to Sutton College which in those days was more technical than academic in its courses. Nothing wrong with that but it was a restricted choice just because Miss Lemon wanted to turn out wifes, secretaries and shopgirls, regardless of what the girls wanted. That part of the school exemplified what was worst in the 11 plus system.I also went to the boys school the first year it opened you could hardly call it a mixed school i think they buillt the first Berlin wall between us there. Dek
I worked there with
Bob for a while, we spoke via friends Reunited, knew him in school and he was always a nice laid back bloke. Can't recall John, was he older? Bob was, I think, 1 or 2 years older than me. I don't know if bob would agree but there was more than a touch of Are you being Served about the millinery dept at W&R
The head of the dept ,a Mr Phillips was Captain Peacock, Smart double breasted suit, flower in button hole,handkerchief in sleeve, very tall, upright and would deal with only the most important customers. There was a long serving nice old boy as his deputy, a young eager whippersnapper in the most awful brown suit as his toady,and two old bags who bitched all day ( I think they had a pot over a fire somewhere in the back where they made dolls and stuck pins in them). Phillips would order people forward just like Peacock, who the customer got depended on his view of their status. Phillips would fawn over his important customers like a love struck puppy. Bob and I at that stage were round the back making up orders or unpacking, very much lower beings under the Sun.I got out and Bob went on to better things but it certainly was an education.
Glad it wasn't just me, please give Bob my best,Yes John is 3 years older than Bob. It's quite funny we were watching Are You Being Served over Christmas. Bob John and their lovely wives stayed for a couple of days. We laughed when captain Peacock came on Bob shouted oh look it's Jimmy Phillips.I am glad you made contact with Bob.
Yes, if your face fitted you got coaching in the 11plus until a dog could have passed,if not you were consigned to the nether regions. The IQ requirement for the 11 plus was 120 (although with coaching you could pass at about 100.) I have had to have mine measured a number of times in my career inorder to follow certain courses and it is well above either but I was a questioning little devil so didn't fit in her world of polished compliant children. She was even vindictive enough to disqualify me for cheating because I threw a cricket ball futher than the school pet. Tell me, from a standing throw, how do you cheat?Pipmk That statement on the 11plus is interesting i was one of the brainiest boys in the class now i know why i failed. Dek
Yes I went to Riland Bedford 1954/57 The Headmaster when I was there was Bill Roberts ex-navel and a strict disciplinarian and his deputy Bert Hicken another disciplinarian never a day went by in that school that some poor boy was being thrashed for some minor indiscretion. The Schools were a mirror image but never the twain would meet. One day a Kid in our class(Punch Brown,s) was spotted talking to a damsel as Bill referred to them, He came flying into our classroom with deputy Bert And demanded to know was they had been discussing "We were talking about what we were having for tea Sir she's my sister" Bill looked at Bert quizzically and said "They have sisters what are we to do" to which we all burst out laughing. Wrong move we all got detention.
I can still here him now shouting across the quadrange "Get me my Kipling boy!!" a book about poetry.
Jennie can be found via Friends ReunitedHi pipmk,
I remember Jennifer Senior and she had a sister, Lesley. They lived in Darnel Hurst Rd in Little Sutton, Four Oaks and were just around the corner to me when I was in Edwards Rd. I don't know where they are now though.
Hi,
Is there anyone on this forum who used to go to Riland Bedford High School for Girls (now Plantsbrook School) in Sutton Coldfield?
I went there from 1959 until 1963 and would love to hear from anyone who attended those years and a few beyond.
Hi,
Is there anyone on this forum who used to go to Riland Bedford High School for Girls (now Plantsbrook School) in Sutton Coldfield?
I went there from 1959 until 1963 and would love to hear from anyone who attended those years and a few beyond.
Hi Linda,
I do not remember your name from Riland Bedford but guess that I have a photograph of you! Were you on the very wide one that was taken (possibly 1962) outside in the playground? All girls were on that as were the teachers.
Which teachers did you have?
I had Mrs Barber, Miss Edna Smart, Mrs Gardener and Mrs Harber as my form teachers. I left at Easter 1963.