1980's

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1970's

I was at Arden from 1973 to 1977 and have fond memories of Captaining the Cricket Team as well as playing in the Football, Basketball and Badminton Teams. I do remember Billy Bennett Headmaster and the likes of Phil Howe, Steve Gent, Nigel Orrett, Dave Pritchard, Terry Kear from the Teaching Ranks. I am now a successful Marine Cargo Underwriter in the City and would love to hear from any other past Pupils.
John White

I went to Arden school in the 70's the head master was Mr Bennett deputy Mr Thompson and Miss Swift at some point in later years  I remember Mrs Cooper cookery teacher Mr Wakeman Mr Orrett Mr Budd Science and 3B Form tutor i started in 1C I think head of year was Miss Morley. People i recall briefly Anita Adams nick named Budgie, Marilyn Bentley, Jayne Busby, Martin Browning Mark Keepax David Stainton and many others also from other years
Pat Ashwood
 

1960's

I was at Arden from 1960 - 1965 ish.  Not the best years of my life by any means.  I have made up since.  Made some friends though - Pete Hayward, Liz Francis, Syliva Walters, David Hamilton, Mike Davis.  Anyone remember me?  I live in Devon now with my wife.  We have a daughter, a son, a grand daughter and a Labrador called Bob. 
David Hughes

Does anybody remember mick hawker arden school
Mick Hawker

Listening to the comments really brings back memories, like most i was on the recieving end of the cane, why cos i was a pain in the bum. most people called me ant as a youngster. graham do  you remember when we started our band up and practiced at alan cheshires house. times then seemed so much happier. all the best to you all.
Anthony Smith

I remember both Andy Gallant (Lived a few doors away from us in Slater road) and Graham Boggis (I think he had a sister called Hillary. I certainly remember Mr Grey and Mr Cummins, caned by both many times. Also remember Miss Gaynor (PT) Mr Massey (English) and the wood work teacher, ex sergeant in the army, cant remember his name, but I remember he gave a bloody nose to Karl Lossenger one day in class. No teacher would ever get away with that now. Anyway did us no harm. Lived in South Africa for the last 36 years, but working in Uganda at present. Nice to hear from any other old school friends out there.
Barry Leech

Mr Grey and Mr Thomson  did not see eye to eye with me. I got the cane a few times I was in the t stream, left in 1966. I used to knock about with the triplets.
Andy Gallant

Do you remember Mr.Grey the headmaster and Mr.Thompson his 2nd in command in 1962 and beyond when I left in 1965? Mr. Hartley helped Mr. Bailey in sports. I played golf with Mr.Grey after school with some others. In those days Arden High School was a state of the art modern high school. (They had Bunsen Burners in the Science room) also woodwork and metal shop. We used to have assembly in the gym in the morning listening to BBC radio and classical music. Every day a student was invited up onto the stage to recite a piece out of the Bible. The food at lunch time was really good very well cooked and I think that we actually had a choice. Those where the days when you got the cane' if you did wrong and I had that once I think. I wonder where everyone went from 1r,2r and 3r. Charles Bush, Paul Jeffcote, Barry Worthington. They are all grandfathers now I expect. I hope more people send in their comments about that era. We had a terrible winter in 1963 I remember. I also remember seeing the 1st 1963 Rover 2000 driving through Knowle (now a very famous classic car).
Stephen Fox
 

1950's

Hi I went to Arden school in the late 50s early 60,s have fond memories of the school, Mr Grey was the headmaster and like most boy,s had the cane from him, spent many hours waiting outside his office. The only teacher I din't like and she me, was Mrs Sutton who took us for English. told me often I was thick.  I always if got the chance when we had english would skip out and go to the Harlequin Cafe in Knowle run by Mr & Mrs Steele.  I had some mates who I have not seen or heard of since the seventies when I got married and lost contact with, would love to know if anyone remembers them. We had some great times together, they are Barry Downs from Knowle Phil Braid, Alan Bridgers who lived in Bentley Heath Dave Hughes from Dorridge. I now live in a Town Called Warwick Quebec Canada, anyone who remembers me is welcome to get in contact.
Richard (Dick) Salmon

I joined Arden at the end of the first year it had opened which must be about 51 years ago. I did attend the 50th yr reunion last year, I went with Rob Bonner and Lynda Wheels as I have kept in touch with them, I have been in touch with a few people from school on friends reunited Joy Smith Virginia Gallant Val Price Fiz Leighton David Leech Anthony Smith (who was my boyfriend at school)!! Maggie Finch. The school looked the same as it used to in parts and brought back memories of almost every day having to go to Mr Greys office for not wearing my school hat. I hated those air hostess type hats. The day I left school I threw it over some ones hedge !I do remember that last day at school Mr Phillip Smith gave myself and Lynne Baker a lift home in  his open top sports car. Happy Days
Janet Upton

Anthony, I think the woodworking teacher was George Wilcox. Smashed Peter Lattimers wooden train set, because it was taking him too long to make. Peter attacked him with the shop broom, George turned around and threw the broom across the wood shop. George always bragged about being a desert rat and bringing down a Messerschmitt around the time of El Alamein by throwing a hammer up into its propeller while it was strafing them. Fizz laughed his head off at the Lattimer incident !!!! Barry Leech do you remember selling me the Vespa motor Scooter around 1967. Well as you know they are not good at taking left hand bends (offset engine). I had to jump off it at the junction of Vicarage Rd and Glass House Lane, Packwood as it disappeared under a large lorry.
Graham Boggis
ps Anthony, sorry I've got a correction on the name of the woodwork teacher. "George Wilkinson".

Like Graham, I to attended Arden from the day it opened. Many memories. I went on two trips to Swizteland Mr grey and Mr Cummins came with us with their families as did Mr Budd and Mr Schnieder. I also remember Mr Saunders the R.E. teacher. Does anyone remember Tony Phillip-Smith the art teacher. I'm still in touch with Heather Martin as she was then and John Taylor. I was in the chess club and remember being in 'The Importance of being Earnest'. Happy memories.
Barbara Hughes

Same as Graham l went to Lode Heath & then onto Arden for opening day, l also left in 63, were we in the same class? 4T ?l think Mr Budds was the form teacher, Kenny Bridger, Ronnie Cotton,both lived in Slater Road, are the names l remember as being in the same class. I too was caned many times by Mr "Beaky" Grey & Cummings, also Mr Massey (was he the PE teacher) had a size 9 trainer which he used with great zealous...they would all end up in prison for such behaviour these days....Still we asked for it most times.
One memorable time was end of the lunch break the whole of the 4th year were kept back for being noisy, the PE teacher was the duty master, he announced that he couldn't slipper everyone so every other person in one line should step out for punishment, me being clever changed lines only to be spotted...the slipper really hurt !!!!
Being short for my age l was put inside the PE vaulting box by my "classmates" prior to assembly to sit there undetected watching proceeding through the slots of the box....stupid now but fun at the time.
 Thinking of cars re Stephen and the Rover (above) our next door neighbours had a Rover 2000 my dad had a new Ford Classic as a company car (twin headlights & fins) couldn't believe when i arrived home to see this bright yellow with a broad white strip, futuristic car (so it seemed) on the drive.
Any one remember those dreadful gardening lessons, digging mud & more mud every week, cant remember growing anything.
And so to echo Graham "Hey teacher leave them Kids Alone !
Martin Uzzell

After spending 1 year at Lode Heath, attended Arden from the day it opened til graduation in 63. Was caned many times by both Mr Grey and Mr Cummings. I have lived for many years in America and people do not believe my stories about school canings! I always tell them to listen to Pink Floyd 'Hey teacher leave them Kids alone'. Oh well I lived to tell the tale. Ha ha
Graham Boggis