Tile Cross Infants & Junior School Shiretone School

[stef]

Hi all. I’ve just joined this site - my name is Brian Tilley and I went to Shirestone from 1967 to ’72. What a great school is was with lovely teachers. What a shame that the standard of my secondary schooling (on the Wood) was quite the same....but I survived! I remember Mr.Penny (very strict, but fair), Mrs Dare, Mr.Mann, Mrs Walker, Mr.Griffiths, Mr.Dargue (great lessons where he played guitar and we sang), Miss Williams, Mr.Mason, Mrs.Ashford (who slapped my legs too!). I was in the football team and we won the league in my last year. Great players - Shaw in goal, Wilkes with his slide tackles, Fowler (no pun intended), Steadman, Gamble, Maycock, Ashford, Heaven, to name but a few. Some lovely girls there too as I recall. A long time ago now but truly happy days.

Gamble was Mark, my wife's brother. Great footballer.

 

[Yella]

Hi,

I registered/joined this forum last week, but that & my posts appear to have vanished, so re-joined.

I went to Shirestone infants & juniors from approx '68-'72 or 73. I'm sure Mr Spall was one of my teachers, along with Harrington (bearded fellow that used to drive us to away cricket matches) Mrs Williams, Pittaway. Head Mr Penny ("Enjoy, do not destroy") his summer hols' closing speech at assembly.

I was in the cricket team with Philip (Philpot) Poulton, Mark (Quirp) McWhirter (who's folks owned the launderette on Tile Cross Rd). Gary Kennedy (My best mate - R.I.P.), Alan Keogh, & a mad Aborigine called Michael (who's folks had the chippy on Mackadown Lane. Other guys were Nathan (Nate) Porter, Steve Gardner (Who's folks owned Carol's I think it was. Paul Candelant, Steve Turner, Philip Harris, Carl Heard, Steven Eaton, Martin Hunt to name but a few.

Some of the girls I remember; Elaine Gray, Wendy White, Karen Wilkins, Deborah Pack, Julia Clark, Julie Scarrat, Jane West (In a lower year) Sally Hodgson (Nee Hammond), Valerie Broadhurst, & Julie Charlton.

Apologies to anyone I've mentioned with a miss-spelling of your name.

Me, I'm Ian (Yella) Greenwood. I loved it at Shirestone...best school ever. Kingshurst Comp was naff.

 

[odysseus]

fond memories and familiar names...Mark Gamble WAS a great footballer even at that age! jackie and mark Charlton (RIP), Eric 'Eggo' White, Gail Manton! Karen Podmore, Alan La Touche, David Venables, Jeremy Ryder, Robert? Tolley, Willy Stokes, Kenneth Campini, Suzanne Broadhurst, Janets Russel & Tovey, mark mcwhirter's launderette was a few doors away from our chippy, next to Terry, Paul n Vicky Cooper's parents' VG store run by Trevor & Sylvia Cooper, Our shop was the star, later renamed the seagull (end of shire stone, junction with tile cross rd). 15 years after leaving, (1971) for Central, then Hall Green Tech, then Birmingham University, I went back to observe the lovely mrs king's class before I left to do my teaching certificate in English at Manchester University. My niece Maria, by coincidence, was in that class by then. Loved the compassionate Mr Mann, Mrs Burr whacking us with her ruler! Mr Penny (enjoy not destroy) Mr Griffiths who couldn't think of an equivalent in French for Odysseus so had me make a name card that read 'Frederique' LOL, the. popular Mr Dargue & his Stewball was a racehorse song! the milk round, the mini golf, the beautiful classical music for assembly that comes to mind...Thanks for the happy memories & for giving us a good start...Odysseus

 

[Yella]

Hi Odysseus. I remember you & 'The Seagull' well.
We all used to play football over Shirestone Park during the summer months (well anytime actually) I was in same class as Mark Mc.
There was you, Mark, & from Oak Croft, the Bradley Bros Martin & PeeWee, Big Dave, Steve Ashford, The Griffiths Bros David & Ray, The Kennedy Bros Dennis & Gary (RIP), then Roger Cole, then myself Ian (known as Ib) & my two older Bros Terry (RIP) & David (known as Fyd), & Colin Race.

Endless summer days, without a care in the world. Ahh the innocence of youth back then.

 

[odysseus]

Hi Odysseus. I remember you & 'The Seagull' well.
We all used to play football over Shirestone Park during the summer months (well anytime actually) I was in same class as Mark Mc.
There was you, Mark, & from Oak Croft, the Bradley Bros Martin & PeeWee, Big Dave, Steve Ashford, The Griffiths Bros David & Ray, The Kennedy Bros Dennis & Gary (RIP), then Roger Cole, then myself Ian (known as Ib) & my two older Bros Terry (RIP) & David (known as Fyd), & Colin Race.

Endless summer days, without a care in the world. Ahh the innocence of youth back then.

Nice to have followed the villa together over the years...recently went to Athens and met up with someone after 49 years. Oak Croft! Steve Ashford I can visualize all the coopers & McWhirter cz they were also neighbors and the teachers, Mr Mann, Mrs. Burr (who besides using the ruler on us, taught us 'underneath the spreading chest nut tree' - the song, that is, not the location (with gestures)
) WE Dargue, Mrs King & Mr Griffiths with his green tracksuit! Like you say, not a care in the world - didn't even notice till I recently had a memory pop up that he only had one arm probably. You just notice people's kindness as a child I suppose. Just remembered Eric White had a sister, Anita. , then there was that good looking kid, David something whose parents had a newsagents with their surname on it! I remember beating Peter Hefford at throwing the cricket ball LOL especially sweet because he was a bluenose! One of my few achievements on this earth. Have a great weekend UTV!

 

[odysseus]

Gamble was Mark, my wife's brother. Great footballer.

I remember your name Brian, relatively tall, longish face, thick dark hair!, and as I said to someone else here, I remember mark gamble especially from being an impressive footballer. Have a great weekend!

 

[poker_pete82]

Sadly, I think I am the only person with photo's of my old school (I would love that not to be the case). I found out from the Birmingham Evening Mail that the school was being demolished shortly. I went to the school the next day and took several photos. My big regret is that I did not take 100's rather than just these few. Oh well.

They were taken on 22nd July 1977. I am posting these for posterity as I won't be around for ever and someone may find them useful.

The number besides the images are my internal reference numbers and may be used for discussion. I have tried to recall the location as best as possible but feel free to correct. Hope that this brings back some nice memories for some - it does for me.

Finally, a big 'thank you' to www.old-maps.co.uk and Ordnance Survey who have allowed me to use a plan of the school. It took me a while to track a plan view of the school down - I'd never seen one before - and it is now easier to visualize the layout of the school. Thanks guys!

View attachment 132180
A045. I think Miss Tonks teached in this classroom.

View attachment 132181
A046 This is looking towards Cumberford Ave and the railway line is behind me.
Photo taken between the yellow and green buildings on coloured map below.
You can see the entrance to Mr Oaklands class through the door window and the flowers behind which appear in A061.

View attachment 132182
A047: This is the building the other side of the main corridor that ran down the middle of the school. I think the juniors came here for the very first time and there was a piano to the right of the door in the picture if my memory serves!

View attachment 132183
A048: A distance further away from A047

View attachment 132184
A049: I think this was the main entrance to the school. To the left is Tile Cross Road

View attachment 132185
A050: The gate faces onto Tile Cross Road

View attachment 132186
A051: The grass in front of the far buildings was used at sports day.

View attachment 132187
A052: The wonderful Weeping Willow tree which was over a little pone, I believe.

View attachment 132188
A053: I can't quite place this but I think it is the gap within the main corridor than runs down the building.

View attachment 132189
A054: The view from behind Miss Tonks classroom. Can't recall what was to the left.

View attachment 132190
A055: A view with Miss Tonks classroom to the left.

View attachment 132191
A056: Think this was the main assembly hall where we would get Spangles on our birthday!

View attachment 132192
A057: The main corridor running down the school. Tile Cross Road is directly in front.

View attachment 132194
A058: The staff just happened to be there that day. Lucky me! I wish now I had taken several of the staff. The names I believe are:
Front row left to right: Mrs Goldstraw (?)m Mr Marshall, Mrs Lysart, Mrs Hartley
Back row left to right. Mrs Lawson, Mrs Ball, Mrs Duff, Mr Atkins

View attachment 132195
A059: The main corridor running down the school. Cumberford Avenue behind, I think.


View attachment 132196
A060: The main heating block the the school.


View attachment 132197
A061. Mr Oaklands ('Beaky') classroom to the right.


View attachment 132198
A062: Possibly Mr Oaklands classroom?


View attachment 132199
A063: I think this is looking out at the gates onto Cumberford Avenue.


View attachment 132200
A064: The main entrance for vehicles. I think Mr Oaklands classroom would be to the left.


View attachment 132201
A065: Some bloke and his dog who lived on Tile Cross Road.
The school was further to the right. To the left would be Bell Lane Shops.


A coloured version of plan view to refer to picture locations.



View attachment 132259

The original un-coloured plan view of the school courtesy of www.old-maps.co.uk and Ordnance Survey.


View attachment 132202

Truly stunning photos. Well done for getting down there before the bulldozers! I see none of it remains.. but in my boredom I did find the location of the shot of the man and the dog.

 

[odysseus]

Hi,

I registered/joined this forum last week, but that & my posts appear to have vanished, so re-joined.

I went to Shirestone infants & juniors from approx '68-'72 or 73. I'm sure Mr Spall was one of my teachers, along with Harrington (bearded fellow that used to drive us to away cricket matches) Mrs Williams, Pittaway. Head Mr Penny ("Enjoy, do not destroy") his summer hols' closing speech at assembly.

I was in the cricket team with Philip (Philpot) Poulton, Mark (Quirp) McWhirter (who's folks owned the launderette on Tile Cross Rd). Gary Kennedy (My best mate - R.I.P.), Alan Keogh, & a mad Aborigine called Michael (who's folks had the chippy on Mackadown Lane. Other guys were Nathan (Nate) Porter, Steve Gardner (Who's folks owned Carol's I think it was. Paul Candelant, Steve Turner, Philip Harris, Carl Heard, Steven Eaton, Martin Hunt to name but a few.

Some of the girls I remember; Elaine Gray, Wendy White, Karen Wilkins, Deborah Pack, Julia Clark, Julie Scarrat, Jane West (In a lower year) Sally Hodgson (Nee Hammond), Valerie Broadhurst, & Julie Charlton.

Apologies to anyone I've mentioned with a miss-spelling of your name.

Me, I'm Ian (Yella) Greenwood. I loved it at Shirestone...best school ever. Kingshurst Comp was naff.

Mac mcwhirter