I too still have the class photo with Ken Garrison. Third from left on the back row. Despite having past 60 my eldest child is a year younger than I was when the picture was taken.
David Bennett

Hi, I'm the boy that Roger Brown mentioned. I started at Hatchford Brook for a year (1955), then I went into a wheelchair for 3 years and then returned to Hatchford Brook. I'll never forget that a pretty girl, Sally Palmer, came to visit me when I was stuck at home. I have a photo, will try to put online. I remember all the faces but only a few names. I see Alan Quartermain, Richard Jephcott and Micky Nutt. I am an American now, living by the Great Lakes.
Robert Goudie

Is there anybody out there who remembers me? I would love to here from anyone that used to be in Mr. Resse's class in 1957, some names I still remember are, Rita James she lived by Lyndon school, and used to do ballet, Kay Bridges who used to live in Jillcot Road, Sheldon, Susan Hughes, Pamela Hinton Carol Moody Wendy Devril  who used to live in the same road as me, Eden Road, I expect you all have married surnames now, but would love to hear from ANY ONE OF YOU.
Paulette Allen nee Woodhouse

Hi, I do hope someone will remember me, unfortunately I was at Hatchford Brook for only a year 1957/58, I loved the school very much, my form teacher was Mr.Rees and Mr.Chapman was the headmaster. I only remember some of the girls names, we did have some fun, Rita James was my best friend she used to do ballet, Kay Bridges was another good friend, I think her mother used to work in the canteen, cause she used to give Kay and me custard in a cup if there were any leftovers, I loved school custard!, also Wendy Devrill she used to live in Eden Road, Sheldon a few doors away from me. Also Carol White, Susan Hughes? Margaret Newey, Pamela Hinton, Doloras Lawrence I think she lived in Tanhouse Lane, Lynn Phelps, Sandra who had lovely auburn hair but can't think of her surname, and Lynn Dunn, I can only remember one boys name and that is because I had a crush on him, is Tony Gilligan, we used to go to school on our bikes racing down Valley Road. I came from Selly Oak, we lived in the then new houses in Eden Road. Hope I've managed to spark someone's brains, would love to get in touch with some of you. Oh, I've just remembered Mrs.Nicholls one of the dinner ladies, she was fun.
Paulette Allen nee Woodhouse

Well, most of us who attended Hatchford Brook in the 50's and now into our 60's years that is. If you refer to the photograph of Ken Garrison's class this is how I remember the names of the students.
Top Row from left to right: David Cook, Barbara Milne, David Bennett, John Gosling, John Merrick, Warwick Capewell, Jane Stokes, Denise Chapman, Linda Crutchley, Patricia Price, Molly Yates,B arbara Juggins, Suzanne?
2nd Row down from left to right:
Judith Earp, Betty ?, Shirley Hatton, Janet Badger, Beverly Eldred, Stephen Fowler, Alan Meyer, Carol Nugent, Joan Harrison, Francis ? Susan Page, Tom McKinley.
Third row down from left to right:
Ian Sterumburg, me Richard Kelly, Ian Patrick, Christine Hanson, Andrew Simms, Madelaine Evans, Susan Marshall,Robert Franklin, Mary? Diane Cross.
Bottom Row from left to right:
Stephen Willie, Christopher Workman (my best buddy), Martin Hemmings, James Debney, Colin Thompson, John Wright, Brian Wigley, Barry Jenkins, Bob Armstrong, Philip Salmon, & finally Stephen Robinson.
I used to socialize with Ken Garrison in our later year as we were both members of Blossomfield Club and always reminisced the past.
Ken died some years ago but was always a good friend. If any of the names are incorrect, or you can add the surnames of the ? please let me know. I currently live in Canada working for a company who designs and constructs Nuclear Generating Stations throughout the world. Hatchford Brook was a good start for me and put me on the right track to advance into life. 10 years in the Royal Navy also had something to do with my success. Please respond so we can all get together.
Richard Kelly

My name is Steve Robinson & I attended Hatchford Brook Infant /Junior school between 1954 and 1959. There are many ex-classmates I would like to hear from if they recall any of the names I have listed below. Cristopher Workman, Kevin Britain, Warwick Capewell, Robert Armstrong, Stephen Fowler, Richard Kelly, John Gosling, Ian Patrick, Alan Mayer, Ian Sterenberg, John Wright, James Debney, Tom Makinley, John Merrick, Stephen Willie, Brian Wrigley, Philip Salmon, Colin Thompson, Susanne Thompson, Janet Badger, Madeline Evans, Susan Page, Carol Nugent, Susan Marshall, Linda Crutchley, Denise Chapman, Jane Stokes, Patricia Price, Molly Yates, Judith Earp, Molly Yates. Undoubtedly there are so many others who I have probably missed. I am currently in contact with Richard Kelly and Ian Sterenberg but would like to hear from any others who recall the listed names or can fill in the grey areas. My class teachers were Mrs Jones, Mrs Fry, Mrs Mulholland (taught music too), Mr Garrison, (affectionately remembered as gassbags Garrison), & Mr Tenby. The headmaster at the time was Mr Chapman. Memories are too numerous to list here but I would like to hear from anyone who recalls either myself or associates themselves with any of the listed names.    
Steve Robinson

I lived at 8 jillcot rd and started at hatchford brook in 1954...miss jones was teacher. i remember the old wooden classroom huts we were placed in with the toilet at the back!...also recall miss bolton when we played as a football team and called ourselves bolton wanderers....i fell in love with a French girl called michelle lawley and also linda sedgley.....and jenette clayton i just loved playing kiss chase full stop....great memories of elmdon park sledging in winter and playing footy in summer...shame i failed the 11+ but hey we have to move on....wouldn't have missed being a gasman for 31 years for anything...
Phil Wilkes

I haven't looked at these pages for a year or so, but have just been prompted  to look again after receiving some pictures of Mrs (Miss?) Jones Class of 1953(?)from Margaret Bent. What a splendid picture - not one of the kids is smiling! I started in Mrs Jones' class in January 1954, but the picture and recollections by others are very clear in my mind. If anyone wants a copy of Mr Garrison's Class of 59,(I have names for most faces but not all), I would be pleased to forward a bigger copy, and just as pleased to receive other pictures. Maybe we should set up a bit of a photo library?
John Gostling

I attended Hatchford Brook from 1951-1955.  We lived opposite the "cafe". I went on to Tudor Grange with a lot of other kids from Hatchford Brook. I live in New Jersey now.
Ray Downey

I too started at Hatchford Brook in 1953 and remember Bonita Rowbottom, George Spittal, Susan Clifton, Alan Sherrif, Martin Collins (who always stood centre back in pictures because of his height.) It's fascinating to look at the school photo of our class with Mr Rees who lived off Hatchford Brook Road in Hatchford Close with his son. We never saw his wife. It's hard to recognise people on the photo, except for Martin Collins, I can't even see myself there! Can anyone help?
Margaret Bent (now Ritchie)

Its Katrina French again, I wrote about being in Mrs Jones and Mrs Breezes class with the Wilgos twins.  I am working at Stratford Council now and have met up again with Margaret Boyes who was also in my year at Hatchford Brook. We have been reminising about out time there ... does any one remember Margaret. I must say her memory is better than mine   
Katrina French

I was at Hatchford Brook from 1951 until going on to Malvern Hall in 1956.  It is lovely reading other people's memories of the 50s at Hatchford Brook - what a good school it was.  Although we young ones started in the wooden classrooms, and needed to be pretty hardy - wore our coats quite often, and classes were held in any little room that happened to be available, the education was superb. I must admit the lukewarm summer milk put me off milk for life.  Music and Movement to the radio in the hall.  The announcement of the death of George VI on the radio in the hall -I burst into tears and was allowed to go home. Such a lot of memories, such a wonderful school.  Anyone out there from my time?
Rosalind Gray (James)

My name is Katrina French I attended Hatchford Brook School in the 1950's and my brother John French three years after me.  I was in Mrs Breeze's class and my friends were Janet and Judy Wilgos (Twins) Does anyone remember me or my brother ?  
Katrina French

I too attended Hatchford Brook school from 1953-and went through to junior and onto Lyndon High school.I have wonderful memories from back then! I am pretty sure from the photograph of Mr Garrisons class of 1959, that I am on the second row from back -third in from right hand side in the navy gym slip!--I had very rich Auburn hair with lots of freckles--and could do lots of acrobats! ( I went to Jack & Joan Coopers dance school Acocks Green-form 1954--1964 -remember 3 shining knights Margeret Green Eileen Brookes etc)
I remember my first year & infant years in the wooden huts and the hooks and benches outside the class rooms. Also the pot bellied stove that dried all the wet pants if anyone had an accident and the dunces corner--I still have vivid memories making paper maschet and making holly berries and leaves and still smell the paint from them! and singing santa got stuck up the chimney!- also loved the stories and poetry read to us and learning all about the seasons, and the nature tables sitting outside having lessons on hot days-- and doing shows in the schools. I remember the wonderful summer days as I lived on the Hobs Moat road opposite the 174 bus stop -and the Wheatsheaf Pub and the wall being knocked down  from the bombs) and we played on it and the old cottages remembering Hilda Richards that lived their-- the Essex' family Carol Edmonds and her mom who could never say my name properly (Tristeen). Remember Susan Shaw (Believe she never married and worked at the hat Milliners by the old C&A store in B'ham- for years --she had very blonde hair and Janet Hawkes, who had very black hair both very pretty girls Janet lives in Warwick not far from me now!--also was  close friend to Joy Styles through Hatchfrod Brook and Lyndon High. I worked at Alexanders the hairsylists at Hobs Moat-- and have very similar memories as my brother Glenn has of Solihull-in the 50's and 60's--our brother Anthony (Tony Todd) Pledger was a prefect at Hatchford Brookes he is two years older than me, he went onto Tudor Grange grammer! I have another brother called Lee!
Use to love going to Solihull lido!  I also remember the Gypsy camps that use to come every year on the corner of Ulleries road before the shops were built--and the big concrete pipes that sat on the fields what seemed like forever and we played in them-they used these to put Hatchford Brook (river under ground so they could build the shops ice rink and assembly rooms.) So over developed now!  My sisters Diane & Pamela use to take us younger children on walks and picnics with jam sandwiches and bottles of water -black berry picking- bluebell picking to! down the canal walk ways--going to the Olton & Sheldon cinemas--loved playing in Jubilee park and Elmdon paddling in the streams--also sitting up watching the planes going of on Elmdon Airport--we were free and able to go around so safe not like it is today!
Christine Carol (Pledger) Williams

Having lived in Canada for the past 26 years and would very much like to contact any of my "old" classmates who attended Hatchford Brook in the 50's. Linda Crutchley's photo of Ken Garrison's class, above, brings back many early memories of growing up. A few of us moved on, some to Tudor Grange, Lode Heath or Lyndon High. I've managed to be in touch with John Gostling but unable to contact Linda C. Linda, if your still out there in OZ please drop me a line. Most of us are now in our mid fifties so if you have a keyboard get clicking.
Richard Kelly

Anyone remember me? I went to Hatchford Brook in 1954 in Miss Winifred Jones' class. Phillip Wilks was my best friend. I lived at 3 Farm Close in a Rover House. I remember Jeannette Ganner and a boy named (Robert?) Goudy who had his legs in plaster for two years. Please get in touch if you were around at that time.
Roger Brown

I attended Hatchford Brook primary school in the 1950's then went to Lode Heath Grammar while they were building the schools Harold Cartwright and Harold Malley. I left Harold Cartwight in June 1965 to come to Australia. I was in form 5 (abysmal GCE O level year). Maiden name Crutchley, anybody remember or have any news of students.
Teachers I remember Mr Stokes (Maths), Miss Ball (Geography and French)
The school appears to have disappeared as well. I am now living in Canberra, Australia. Grateful for any news
Linda Argall

I attended Hatchford Brook School from 1953 to 1959, I have a school photograph of my class with Mr Rees as teacher, members of class include George Lovegrove, Keith Froggat, Elizabeth Ryder, and Margeret Bent.
I remember climbing up the drain pipe on the main assembly hall and also remember the little cloak rooms adjacent to the wooden classrooms, with hooks for our bags and labels with our names on. We also had a small black bag with our personal items in.
A J Sherriff

Was at Hatchford Brook 57 - 59, then went to Tudor Grange. I used to live in Fallowfield Road and remember names like Peter Morris (best friend at the time), Janet Hawkes, Colin Stanley, Bruce Laurie, Margaret who lived in Fallowfield road a few doors up, Linda Chapman (the first girl I fancied but didn't know why!) I remember spending farthings in the sweet shop by the cafe; I wonder if any of you have any pictures of the class that left in 1959 - the register used to start Atkinson, Avenell etc. Would love to hear from anyone.
Dennis Martin

Nice to read your letter A J SHERRIFF. Did you start in Mrs Jones class, I remember your classmates Beth Ryder lived in the same croft as me. I remember being in the same class as Margeret Bent and George Lovegrove. How old were you when in Mr Rees class?. I think he was a thin Welshman, who lived in the flats at the back of Joe Friths green grocery. I do not recall being in Mr Rees class, please check photo and let me know. I hope you and your family are o/k. I would like news of Roger if you have any.
PS. I loved the book about Elmdon please let me know if there is another in the pipeline.
John Dams

Comments: For John Dams.
Bonita Rowbottom lived in our street, Ebrington Avenue. We must have been in the same Infants class, as Miss Jones was my first teacher. I still have photo of the class taken on our first day at school ..we are all wide eyed and dressed very sensibly. Ian Sterenberg was also in the class and he lived in Ebrington avenue as well
Linda Argall nee Crutchley

You have a very worthwhile site and I have identified two lost friends. I have received a reply from one of them in the USA but the e-mail address for Linda Crutchley is not recognised. Can you check it out? I have uploaded a picture of Mr Garrison's Class of 1959 at Hatchford Brook School. I can identify most of the names, but there are some whose names I have forgotten.
It's nearly 50 years since I started in Mrs Jones Class - January 11 1954 as I remember. John Dams recollections are much as I remember it - Mr May the caretaker would come in and top up the coke burning stove to keep us warm. In summertime Mrs Jones would read stories to us outside on the grass - early attempts at failing to get the radio to work for schools programmes.
Later on I was in Mrs Mulhollands class. I have been in touch with John Merrick and have copies of those class photos too.
John Gostling

For John Gosling
John your email address also came back as a disabled address. I'd love to catch up with you as I would like to recall some of the names in the class, and fond memories of having our reading skills judged by reading in front of the headmaster. The big assembly hall
and the milk crates with milk that was hot in summer and frozen in winter and oh the status of being the milk monitor. Ian Sterneberg used to live in Ebrington Avenue and was in the same class I think.
Linda Argall

I started at hatchford brook, in 1953 my first teacher was Mrs WINIFRED JONES  the class room was a wooden hut, it had a pot bellied stove in it and was really warm. The class room had smell of floor wax, that will stay with me forever. Other teachers I can remember were Mr Chapman who was head master Mr Clarke was deputy head, Mrs Hall, Mr Woodward, I think a Mrs Gilbert taught what was then nature. I went into Mrs Halls class aged 7, when I became a junior, we then had a brick built class room, next to the assembly hall.
Back to Mrs Jones class, I sat next to a blond girl called Bonita Rowbottom who had long plaits. There was also a girl called Susan Shaw. I had friend called Albert Finney but he left the school when we were 7 and in Mrs Halls class. We learnt to read from books called Mack and Tosh, they were about a pair of cairn terries, one black and one white. The Christmas party was always a good time, we all had to bring jelly cakes or tinned fruit, we had to have our names
written on sticking plaster, then stuck on the bottom of our dishes. Does anybody remember empire day, we all had to go into the assembly hall to sing and pray.  Hope it brings back some happy memories.
John Dams