Sat 02/08/2008
First,thanks to Mark O. Brawn and to Nigel Hinton for the provision and the support of this site. You have asked for contributions-i.e.searching for friends/staff from years '53 to '59- Mr.Kenny(geography & tech.draw)was form master in hut near side gate,Priory Rd.,Mr.Ecclestone(English) adjacent room same hut,Varley-Tipton(Rel.Ed)first upper hut,John Burgum(Maths & Army Cadet Force),There was also Langstone(crafts wotkshop,Bristol Rd.),Mr. Matthews(Headmaster) before Mr.Bob Horton(Science)took over headship around '57, Mr.Hayles(Art & Drama) who I believe married Bernard Morris's daughter, Mrs Jones/Packwood(English)in No.206.She married soon after commencing the school,and Mrs Woods(geography),who sometimes encountered geog'/scientific differences with Horton over certain established matters.
My own school career ended in '59 after a year as dep'head boy. I was given that tribute after putting on a good performance at the first major swimming comp'at the Tiverton Rd Pool in Selly Oak in '57/'58 winning a few medals and the silver cup. Whatever happened to that cup? We also started the Friday evening Youth Club-we being Jeff Storer, self and one of the girls and invited Mr.Tomlinson who had recently started teaching at the school to supervise the event.He agreed and the Club started in the canteen/dining room at rear of 204.
Further to the above I often wonder where the people listed below may now be-for example, Ralph Badger from Farren Rd.N'field who entered Pearl Assurance,B'ham around '57/'58,Liz Hougham,Bell Lane,N'field who emigrated to Canada around'56/'58 and married a firefighter, John Bywaters,Tessall Lane, Tim Ball,Wythall,and his brother, Peter Bishton with whom I used to sit in Mr.Burgum's class,Diane Green from Rubery,Ronald Gorton from Rednal who started journalism with the Bromsgrove Messenger as cub reporter,Cheryl Hall,John Lowe from Fairway,N'field,Carole Lightfoot fro Kings Heath?,Chris Mason who now lives in Stourport-on-Seven,and whos late father wrote The Archers.Dad was a nice fellow,who was also dad to Jeremy Mason,Head Boy in 1960,also Christopher Stobart from L'bridge, Peter Tesky who resided on B'ham Uni'Campus with parents,Malcolm Whiteman-L'bridge,David Swain, Derek Houghton and Alan Poutney.
It would be interesting to hear about their respective progress. Thanks Nigel for the inclusion of the above if it is accepted, given its length.
In 1942, I decided that, after the War, I wanted to study medicine with the intention of specialising in research into chest and lung problems. Because of the upheaval caused by our return to England - and my father's death, ten months later, my formal schooling terminated early.
I needed a Matriculation Certificate and, since we lived just round the corner in Pershore Road, Greenmore was the obvious choice and I signed up part-time to take Maths, English Language, English Literature, Chemistry. and French. I needed Latin but Greenmore had no Classics teacher so I took French - which I spoke in Guadeloupe whilst waiting for passage back to England. I decided to depend on what Latin I had done pre-war because good passes in Chemistry, English Lit., Maths and any Modern Language would be sufficient to get me in and I could cram Latin if necessary after admission.
At this time, the College was located at 213/215 Bristol Road and there were four classes:- Girls' Junior, Boys' Junior, Senior and Commercial. I seem to remember that, after Senior entry, there was an option of finishing the final year in Commercial - doing typing, shorthand and bookkeeping.
Barney Morris was Founder and Principal. I believe that Greenmore grew because of the need to ensure a steady influx of Commercial pupils. Eventually, the college overtook the commercial section although, at some time, he diversified with Burlington Secretarial College and that eventually joined with Manpower to make Manpower Burlington the largest employment/training agency in Europe and the States. He moved a long way from the two or three pupils he started with when he left Lawrence's College!
Mr. Hitchcock was Headmaster. He took English Language and we all called him 'Scratch' - but not to his face! He was mainly memorable for his personal interest in Mrs. Morris who was separated from her husband and lived in a flat over the school.
Mrs. Malins taught French - a language at which she excelled. She was a really lovely woman and was the only teacher with whom I kept in touch for some time after the War. Her husband was the founder of 'Mamod' which manufactured stationary and moving model steam engines, road rollers etc. Mrs Malins worked only because she loved teaching and, in those days, the wife of a successful manufacturer would have led a probably boring life if she had been without her outside interest in teaching. Sadly, her son, an RAF pilot was killed in a flying accident within days of the end of the War.
Miss Bernstein was our Maths teacher. She was a Jewish refugee from Germany and, looking back at the tricks we used to play, I think that the treatment she had received in her homeland had left her afraid to 'rock the boat' by standing up to our pranks. I remember one occasion when one of our group, Alan Johnson, who wore a prosthetic boot, accidentally dragged it over a match which ignited and led her to accuse him of smoking. When she refused to accept his explanation, all the Senior boys walked out of the class and spent the morning at Dale Fortey's - a major music store in New Street. We got away with it because I think she was afraid to report us to Mr. Hitchcock or Mr. Morris. I admired her because she was the only person I knew who could discuss Einstein's special theory of relativity - which I had been studying since 1940.
The only other teacher whom I remember, from my era, was Mr. Monson. I only have very brief details of his background but I believe his life could have made a very interesting book and the name he used may not have been his real name. Apparently, Mr. Monson's wife wanted to divorce him but had no grounds and did not want the stigma, in pre-war society, of being the 'guilty' party. Mr. Monson had an operation to remove part of his intestine and afterwards suffered badly from depression. His wife used this depression to have him committed to an asylum, from which he escaped in 1941. Because of this, Mr. Morris was able to employ him at a very low wage. Mr. Monson lodged at Mona House - almost opposite the school and each month, when he was paid, he paid his rent and went straight to the Chaucer Head bookstore at Horsefair, where he spent whatever cash was left. Two or three of used to help him out with cigarettes, sandwiches etc. and, every Friday, we used to invite him to lunch with us at the Bandstand café in Cannon Hill Park. More important - I have never known anyone who could so easily make history come alive. As a part-timer, I occupied the time in classes I didn't take by studying, writing up notes and essays or reading science fiction. In Mr Monson's classes, I always gave him 100% attention. Although I already knew the history - when he talked, I was there, living it and nothing else existed. As a storyteller, he was up there with Scott and only slightly lower than Kipling. When I left the army, he was gone and a little bit of magic went with him.
Pupils When you are at school, you spend as much time with your class mates as you do with your teachers. When school is out, you may spend some time with your classmates but only rarely do you see your teachers. So, how can you remember so much about the teachers and so little about the pupils? A few names, even fewer friends, but most of them a blur.
Betty King, Donald Withers and Lorna Simpkin were close friends. Lorna Lewindon left before I started at Greenmore but we met through the Old Greenmorians - she was Club Secretary - and we later married. Sheila Hutton was probably the most beautiful girl who ever went to the college. 'Val' Valentine, Pete Jackson, Margaret Hopwood, Harold Lilley, David Chandra Bhose, Alan Johnson and Dave Williams also come to mind.
Betty King married a Dutch Naval officer and moved to Holland;
Donald moved to Sheffield,
Lorna Simpkin emigrated to Canada and I last heard of Sheila Hutton when she returned from Nigeria following the accidental death of her husband.
David Bhose, whose father was a doctor started at least two coach companies after the War.
It would be nice to make contact with anyone from that period who reads any of this and remembers a time which, in spite of the War, was a golden period in my youth.
I know the College moved to Priory Road and, later, to the corner of Bristol Road and Priory Road The one and only Sports Day in which I participated was held in the grounds of the Convent of the Holy Child Jesus at the top of Sir Harry's Road. We also had the use of their Gym. (Very Ecumenical - a Jewish owned College using the facilities of a Roman Catholic Convent!)
There were no school dinners - we used to have lunch in Cannon Hill Park. Cricket and soccer were played variously on the Colmore Depot ground (now the car park for Warwickshire Cricket Club) and on what later became the Pebblemill studios.
The Old Greenmorians had a cycling club which met fortnightly, visiting Stratford, Worcester, Evesham, Kenilworth, Gloucester, Ludlow, Bidford, Aston Cantlow and even St. Ives. We met regularly at Unitas Hall, Livery Street, dancing to the Hedley Ward Trio and annually at the Botanical Gardens to Hedley Ward's full ensemble. During the intervals at Unitas Hall (which was strictly temperance), we used to stroll up Livery Street to the King Edward pub for beer, lemonade and the occasional under-the-counter cigarettes and whisky. At least until the late Fifties, the Annual Dance was a black tie affair.
My brother, Richard, probably knows about the years from 1947, when the two Shirley brothers were in charge but that, to paraphrase Marlowe, was in another time and, besides, the school is gone.
I would like to know if there are any ex Greenmore old girls from 1949 to 1950 Mrs Perkins was home teacher in 1949 for 1G. I don't remember the name from 3G in 1950/51
For your information I live in west Wales and attended Greenmore College from age 11 to 13 (1967-69) and have vivid memories of the long gone institution and teachers/contemporaries. Messrs Alison, Horton, Pye (PE & Sports), Body (French), Major Hughes (?), Miss Taylor (Maths), Mrs Taylor (Science), Mrs Perkins (Eng Litt & PE), Miss Bury (RK & English) Mrs Hopkins (?) (Art & Craft) - fellow pupils David Samuel, Robin Brown, Christopher Mole, Richard Hadley, Arnold Cadd, Paul Lambda, Simon Adams, Joshuah Isaacs, Percy Roderick (senior prefect) - now I'm struggling! LOL.
Currently, like other breathing Greenmorians I suspect, up to my eyes and over. I'll try to put a piece together on times at the College - including the school's attitude when David Samuel and myself in Shell A form had 'time off' to record a TV broadcast on I TV's Junior Showtime directed by Jess Yeats! ( In summary the attitude was 'We hope you're not going to make a habit of this!'). Plus an incident when my father first took me into the hallowed and impeccable surroundings of Horne Bros., New Street; sole suppliers of Greenmore College uniforms!
Yours sincerely,
Keith Evans,
I attended from about 1956/7 to 1958/9 not quite sure. I was sad to hear about Miss Bury and feel so bad about writing notes and passing them to friends in he RE lessons, she was very kind. I remember falling in love with a young man who played amazing tennis and came from the 'Middle East' not sure where. He used to practice non stop, I think he was a champion of some sort. I remember playing Titania in A Midsummer Nights Dream and looking like an Indian Princess as I had very long dark hair at the time. I also remember having my knuckles rapped by Mr Horton for talking in Biology but always got on well with him at oher times. The geography mistress was very strict if I remember correctly but can't recall her name. I also remember a lad on my coach called Micky Soobroy or something that sounded very similar who was a bit of a 'lad'. Also Miss Perkins and cold mornings on the hockey field!
I was a student beginning 11 sept 1962 into 2y and left in 1969 upper 6th.
I was in Stuart House became house captain, prefect and Head Girl 1967/8/9.
I now live in Adelaide SA moving here in 1973. I have had a wonderful afternoon reading and viewing this website I have had a great time going down memory lane. Still keep in touch with Michelle Stafford ( Rolston ) still good friends after all this time. You may be interested to know that Keith Partridge died some years ago of cancer. I would like to get in touch with some of the people I went to school with. What ever happened to Pete Oliver Geography teacher? Kind Regards Kay Ealing
I attended Greenmore during Mr Morris' years. 55/6 to 59.
Gil Merrick was the sports instructor.
Miss (Pat)? Kershaw was our cricket teacher, she taught me how to put a ball away for six, which I often did.
Dr Varley-Tipton (80+) passed away during my time, A highly respected teacher who could teach. I remember being very sad at the news. I have hardly forgotten a word that man said.
Mr Vose and Mr Horton terrorised the halls. Mr Horton did science and Mr Vose did history and you had better get it right. I have the callouses on my backside to prove it.
I cant remember others but probably would if their names were recorded.
Is it possible to get all the names of the masters in some sort of chronological fashion?
Does anyone remember Dr Varley-Tipton.
I attended when he sadly passed away. An amazing man with an incredible mathematical ability, and an equal ability to teach. Even then he was 80 odd. I think he taught for the love it.
I see Mr Vose is still alive, he may remember me, I certainly remember him he was a terror as was Mr Horton with his "tickler" that he kept tucked down his pants.
My backside has an extra layer of skin as a result of both these gentlemen.
Is Headmaster Horton one and the same?
Arrived for my first day at Greenmore having travelled on a fog enveloped Midland Read doubledecker from Castle Browish to Bulll Street. Walked in the mist to Navigation Street for connecting 63 bus to the school.
Assigned to Shell A. Met Mr Allison, Mr Horton, Miss Bury (English & RK), Mrs Perkins (Handwriting - Osmeroid pen only!) Mr Body (French) Mr Pye (PT), Mrs Taylor (science), Miss Morris (maths), Mrs Hopkins (Arts & Crafts), also Mr Lyon for TD & drawing. forget history mistress's name (very nice teacher). Canteen staff good. Sorry for vegetarians - always baked beans and baked hard potatoes!!!
2 hours homework most nights. Order marks and detentions were a deterrant. Horton's brought out too frequently for trivial reasons - was a man to fear. Had Yorkshire bark and hooked nose to quelll a mutiny!
Enjoyed odd visit to St Ambrose Church and Cannon Hill Park - disliked cross country runs from the park down muddy runs emerging onto Pershore Road for race back sodden and muddy to Cannon Hill.
Was a member of Tudor House and emjoyed inter-house contests at Balsall Heath Swimming Baths.
Enjoyed drama andd singing on stage for school productions - some very good.
Disliked cold changing rooms attached to the pool - water always quite chill! Insufferable distinciton for boys in the first two years to wear grey shirts while those above wore white - prefects graduated from marron and green to black blazers. All very hierarchical! LOL.
Goyt into scrapes on biuses home via Bristol road with King Edwards lads! Poor bus conductors!
My name is Roger Varley. I attended Greenmore College from 1944 {just short of my fourth birthday} until 1951, when I moved on to King Edwards Five Ways.
The only things I remember about Greenmore are a few of my teachers. I remember Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Curtis, Miss Poe, the elocution teacher, Pollie Perkins, the girl's phys-ed teacher, and the boy's phys-ed teacher one year was Gil Merrick who played goal for Birmingham City.
I also remember that we all had to be on our best behaviour while in our school uniforms. If you were reported for fooling about on your way home from school (just about everyone knew the uniform) you could be sure to be called up on the carpet the next day.
As I walked away from the computer, a few memories came back that I didn't even realize were still stored away.
I remember Greenmore's playing field (but I only remember playing cricket and the annual field day, no soccer or rugby) was located on the other side of the River Rae from the county cricket grounds. I also remember the first girl I ever kissed (I was about eight) was Pamela Shipway (a name I'll never forget) and I once punched my best friend (his name was Corky something) because Pamela asked me to.
I also remember making a Punch puppet with papier mache and painting it with bright poster paints. And I remember the annual awards nights at the Town Hall. One year I played the wolf in the musical Peter and the Wolf.
My Lord, the memories keep flooding back: Peter Tesky; Beatrice Lily Russia (spelling?) to whom I belatedly apologize for tormenting endlessly; woodworking shop where the only thing I ever made was a shield and I almost cut the tip off my left thumb with a saw; swatting blackboard erasers on the brick walls in the courtyard to remove the excess chalk dust; going to Mrs. Curtis' house on Saturdays with a few others for extra tutoring. I still have an image of her with her startlingly red hair done up in a bun, but I remember her as being the kindest lady.
Forgive me for rattling on. Hope I haven't bored you.
THANKS ROGER YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME TO OPEN UP THIS NEW SECTION . If you have any memories you would like to share, contact me here.
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