1990's

Hi my name is Adam. I went to alderbrook school I was just writing to see if anyone remembers my brother Sam Sherwood?? He left in 1999.
Adam Sherwood

Hi I went to TG in 1990 - 1995 I remember Shona McWilliams that has sent an email earlier.  They were good days of my life I am still in touch with my best mate from there. Hope some one reads this and anyone else that reads this that knows me get in touch. And yes I remember MR Jones too. X X X
Kate Humphries

Hi everyone, its Saima I went to Tudor Grange School. My teachers names were Mr Docherty, Mrs Westwood, Mr Faulkner. Hi to my best friends who were Sarah Baker and Emma. Does anyone remember me. I went to Tudor Grange School from September 1994 to July 1999
Saima Hamid

Hiya left TG in 2000, best memories of my life happened in those walls, it was always fun and i haven't laughed like i did everyday there since i've left!  Mr Lovell was my form tutor (bless him)  Hope those that go there now have managed to tame down Mr Edwards (most likely NOT)
Chloe Roberts

Cant believe this site is here already only left in 2001!! Oh well hope you are all good, get in touch it would be nice to hear!!
Adrian Mills

Anyone remember football in the playground and school trips to Alton Towers? Great moments from life at Tudor Grange. I have particularly fond memories of Rugby being that i played for both Tudor Grange and Solihull Borough. If anyone wants to share a moment or two drop me an e-mail anytime.
Rhys Morgan

I didn't know this site existed!...til now! Ah the good old days of TG. I left in 2002, we were the naughty year who's last day was cut short by a gas leak! :( Had Mrs Pearson as form tutor! Mrs Sullivan...absolute LEGEND with the best art lessons ever!! Miss Cooper, Mrs Brookes, Mrs Mason and the amazing Dr Herbertson - made science so good!!  Missed it loads at first, well not the rulers against shoes and skirts measuring them or penalty marks. But im afraid its changed too much now, its not the way i remembered it....  Will never forget year 9 PE with Miss Cooper where we all rolled around on the grass pretending we were army cadets (or something) or our amazing rounders team! Learning P.E.A seems to stick in my mind too!!! Oh and the antics of Andy Lakin and Geoff Brown......
Becky Maisey

Wow, its great to read and remember all those great times & teachers at Tudor Grange. I reluctantly left in 1990 to live in Australia. I was fourth year at the time. I still miss all my old buddies from Tudor Grange like Rachel Davis, Beccy Burton, Hannah Feutrill, Stuart Grigg - the list goes on... If anyone knows where these people are - please let me know. I arrive back in Solihull on Aug 16 & will take some time to visit the school & draw on some great memories :)
Sophie Breeze

I loved Tudor Grange mainly because of the fact that it was a most beautiful school!!
I loved my fellow pupils.. especially Chris (mwah) hope to see you all soon chummys!! all my love!! xxxxxxxxxx
Laura Corbett

If anyone remembers me from Tudor Grange (I was in Mr Taylor's form) then get it touch. I left in 1999
Katharine Smith

Crazy, I used to go to Tudor grange up until 1999. then i moved to Canada and haven't been for the last 3 years. oh yeah and matt veal, I remember when you moved to Australia, funny how you loose out of touch with so many people isn't it? anyway, if anyone remembers me send me an email.
Jon Russell

Hi everyone, I went to Tudor Grange in years 7 and 8 before leaving to got to Australia to live.
If anyone remembers me please email me. I think the years were 1996-97
Matt Veal

I attended Damsonwood Infants school from 1981 and then Coppice Junior school. I started Tudor Grange in 1987 leaving in 1992. (I am now 25). I lived on Damsonwood estate. Anyone remember me?
Darren Salsbury

I went to many schools in my childhood, but Tudor Grange is the one that firmly sticks in my mind. Teachers such as Mrs Pratt, the adorable Mr Jones, god I wish I could drift back to Solihull one day, just to see if much has changed. Anyone who was in my year from 1990, please get in touch.
Shona McWilliams
 

1980's

1970's

1960's

The Passing of John Scandrett Millward by Alan Merchant Since it does not seem to be widely known amongst the former pupils of the school (those who attended between 1964 and 1973), I thought I should draw attention to the fact that 'once would-be historian' and former headmaster John Scandrett Millward passed away over 5 years ago in 1998.

I was at Tudor Grange from 1962 to 1969 and several of teh teachers names from the 60s are familiar. I started off on "baby" Bowden's class as 1B, great bloke, and his Dad taught me ')' level Geology in the fifth. Teachers I can remember were Mr. Rhodes, latin, gave me name of Rusticus for which I never really forgave him, and I held an intense dislike of Latin (what was the point...). Mr. Reid, geography, he was OK; Jeff Mann, sports, hated sports, convinced he was a sadist but was actually OK; Mr. Wagstaff, maths, useless, used to scratch his nether regions and poke wax out of his ear with his spectacles!! Mr Chadwick, physics, he was OK too. He bought the house off my mother when my Dad died and she moved away from Solihull. Mrs. Appleby, lab technician, had a bully of a son on my class. Mr. Painter, physics and deputy-head before Mt. Hodnett. Thankfully never had much to do with him from discipline point of view but I do recall when he left he had had very long applause i assembly, he was quite overcome, well respected. Mr. English, chemistry, had a thing about units; if we said answer was, say, 15, he'd say "15 what? Carrots?" Two heads, Munday and "Sid" Milward. Didn't have much to do with either except his daughter, Alison, was in our church youth club. Friends: can't remember too many though I can pick out names from the 1967 whole school photo. Steve Marsh was probably best mate, we best man'd for each other and are still in touch. My wife was at Tudor Grange Girls, Janet Harrison, a year above me. She recalls several guide camps with Aggie Denne. I have found something about the school bus, the army surplus Austin Ambulance with which I had some involvement. At one point we had a loaned compressor for spray painting it black and we had good fun poking the outlet hose into the carburettor to "supercharge" it. The bus got one of the very early Solihull registrations AXC ???B after the place was mnade a County Borough. After school I did a Mechanical Enginering degree at Imperial College and have spent most of my working life workinng with railway vehicles ending as Principal Consultant at a privatised railway consultancy in Derby and a Chartered Engineer.
I hope this stirs some memories!!
Kerry Schofield

I completed my senior year from Grosse Ile HS in MI, by attending TG from 1968 to 1969. I have many happy memories of TG, and thank all of you for your support. John Millward was a kind, knowledgeable, and fascinating person. Reading of his passing brings back many emotions. I wish I had stayed in touch.
Gary Krentler

Has anyone been on the site which has the 1967 photo? (here's the link http://www.tggs1967.free-online.co.uk/). I've been able to fill in a couple of the names and emailed my findings to the author with no reply. I can see that the webpage has not been updated for sometime and wonder if there is another link or contact. Incidentally I was @ TGGS between 1961 and 1968
Chris Mead

I was at TG from 64-69. left after O levels and went to work, why am I still doing it after 41 years? Still in touch regularly with Classmate Steve Hall who was my best man in 73 (still married to the same woman, ronnie biggs didn't etc etc) also have many a happy memory of others like Dave Hardwick, Clive Barnes (who is now sadly deceased) and very regular meets with a guy that joined for sixth form in 69 just as I was leaving. We now share a mutual love of Morgan Sports cars. I can remember Dim Irvings cross country runs in the freezing cold of winter and rubgy matches played in rain, hail and snowstorms. I exchange christmas cards with Steve Reeves who I haven't seen for 13 years and am on facebook with Tony Knight and Graham Ascott. Happy Days.
Rob Heap

Lovely to read  all the comments about Tudor Grange.
I was known as 'Spence' - even the teachers called me by that nickname. Anyone remember me?  I was originally from Leeds and was ridiculed for my Yorkshire accent but eventually was accepted because I became a Brummie. I'm now a Geordie - living in the North East but like to think I'm bi-lingual! Love to hear from my old school mates.
Susan Spencer Parker

I was at TG girls grammer 1966 -73.  i remember valerie haines, pam brown, ruth abrahms and many more. i also remember the day the dinner got thrown out of the window!! great times and many fond memories.  anyone know what happened to agie denne??
Susan Newton

Just discovered this fantastic site and it's kept me up late! It's great to see a few names that I recognise from my years at the old place - I was there from 1964 to 1971, though I haven't been back since - and remember the staff named in Eric Dickens' list. My fondest memories are of the mayhem in chemistry lessons with Ernie Parrott ("don't get the sodium wet, boys, it's dangerous" - of course, it went straight down the sink as soon as we were given it!). Then there were the briefcases filled with gas and set alight, and John Thompson (pupil) smoking his pipe at the back of the room. Mart Hamilton, when asked to identify a piece of lab equipment, described it as a durex, rather than a burette, and Ernie retreated to the prep room to have a good choke. 'Mong' Mellors took us for chemistry after Ernie, and suffered an ink-splattered lab-coat every lesson, as pupils flicked at his back with their fountain pens. There was a lot more besides....maybe someone else remembers all this? Be great to hear from anyone who was in the same year. I'm currently in Stourbridge and, amongst a number of other things, am a motoring journalist.
Pete Carrick

It is with great sadness that I report the sudden death of ex-TGGS pupil and my mate for 42 years ,of Michael (Mick) Thomas, attended our school 1966-69.Jacko, Ivor and I all attended his funeral in Knowle, on May 2nd this year. He leaves a wife, Jackie, and many great memories, both home and abroad. Keep the faith mick !!!  God bless you mate.
Quiff

I was at TGGS 1960-1, when A. R. Munday was Headmaster. My family emigrated to Australia in Oct.1961. Don't remember much about school life...Just fragments. I was 'Quintus' in the Latin class; Jenkins and I getting roast potatoes from the cook, which we kept in our blazer pockets for consumption discreetly in class; playing cricket and being told to 'take guard,' and not having foggiest idea of what it meant; slugging some poor fellow pupil in the mouth...; announcement of French test result in 2S1 'Zero.'  Was among the yobbos, but the Oz experience gave me a new start. Went on to get a B.Sc in chemistry, and later studied theology and entered the ministry. My wife and I visited TGGS back in 1985, but it was holiday time, and all was locked up. Left my business card, but no one ever contacted me.
Peter Gadsby, Canberra, AU

Does anyone know the whereabouts of John A. Reeves  ~ 1961-1966? I lost contact in the early 70's if not before.
Paul Gill

Great to find this page and to read names that nudge memories back from really misty times.  I left the girls' school in 1961 and we had moved there from Lode Heath three years before.  I remember Mrs Denne who organised brilliant weeks away during the Easter holidays climbing/mountaineering in the Ogwen valley - anyone else out there who remembers being in the minibus as it overturned on a steep hill in torrential rain and our subsequent walk back to Ogwen Cottage?  Reunion in the holidays cycling to Stratford - where's Andrea Coleman, Hazel (Stretch), others, the names have gone?  At Lode Heath I was always in the 2 class; 2G2, 3G2 etc. We had a brilliant Latin mistress, highly perfumed with 'Fresia' and spreading lipstick along the creases - if we mentioned cricket it kept her going for the whole lesson - no wonder I got 5%!  There also was the only person who ever taught me any maths, Mrs Schenkel, and the great Mr Lunnon who took us to Austria on a school trip. Miss Partridge who so wanted me to play hockey.  At TGGSG, Miss Jones, needlework and dear Mr Hands, art, interesting I only remember the practical subjects and the view from the form room window.  My closest friend Jackie Jones painted a portrait of me which hung in the school for a while because she gained a scholarship to the Slade, what happened to her?
Pauline Pearshouse nee Jones

I was there from 1963 - 1970.  Anyone remember Miss Terry, taught French, she was the opposite of Miss Knott and we were all awful to her!! I hate myself for it now! !! I loved PE so, yes Pam, teacher with Beagle was Mrs Fish, then there was also Miss Mellor. Who was the music teacher with black hair, 'B' class Form teacher in the 4th year, nice woman?
Sheila Clarke

Pupil of TGGS 1959-64)
Looking down a list of people who have recently died, I came upon the name of JPW Bowdler.  It must be the same one who was head of Scripture, and an inspirational English teacher at TGGS in the early 60s.  JPWB was one of those teachers to whom I shall always be indebted, and I had always hoped that one day I would meet him and say "thank you".  But the road to hell...etc.
I remember that he was a bachelor who lived in Hockley Heath, and that he was a musician, too.  When I was Secretary of the School Forum (and my enduring close friend, Philip Richardson, was Chairman), JPWB was solidly supportive when we introduced radical changes, such as holding debates with girls' schools - St Martin's, Sutton Coldfield Grammar, and Malvern Hall.  Not all of JPWB's colleagues felt that having girls in the corridors of our school was to be encouraged (they were frightened that all that cheap perfume would set our hormones racing).  And when we had a "balloon debate" which degenerated into a very funny but extremely lewd occasion, instead of standing up and stopping it, JPWB quietly left the room to allow us to continue.  But most of all, I remember him as an excellent and inspiring English teacher.  He failed, though, to convert me from my atheism.
He must have been 80-ish when he died.  I hope he felt that he had a fulfilling life.
Bob Haines

Hi, I had to move to TG Girls in '61 after being in a B'ham Mixed grammar school. Left in '64. Not liked b staff, specially Old Tick Tock Ms McChlochlan. Hung around with Pauline Britain (found her again recently), Val' Anderson, Gerry Ward nee Whelan and others from 4C & 5C. Anyone out there remember me? 
Rita Allso - nee Bridgwater

I attended the "Grammar for Boys" from 1959 to 1964.  I don't think I learnt anything I didn't already know (from the excellent Ruckleigh) or have picked-up since.  However, I delight many a dinner party with my stories of being a member of "Mr Mann's red-hand gang"!  What was wrong with TGGS? Not much really, its just that, in my recollection, it was trying to be another version of Solihull School rather than stamping its own impression on the local community. I also think that, in the 1950s and 1960s, Solihull (as a town) was the wrong place to be.  I never tell people (unless they probe deeply) that I was brought up and educated in Solihull if I can help it - I prefer to label myself as a Brummie.  Happy days? No.  My happy (formative) days were at Ruckleigh and then in the army.
David J Powell

I attended Lode Heath and TGGS and emigrated to Australia in 1969. My earliest recollections at Lode Heath were joining the Gym Club and canoeing on the canal at the bottom of the original playing field. To join you had to box in the gym and I had to box Peter Watson (whatever happened to him). I was in Kingsbury House (blue), played in goal for the 1stXI soccer team, scrum half for the rugby team and wicketkeeper in the cricket team.
At Lode Heath ours was a mixed class and some of the class were Peter Watson, Peter Dyson, Ian Merriman, ? Chaplin and ? Moysen the only girls I recall were Jean Simpson and Margaret Bowles? After moving to Dingle Lane I recall the playing for the Ist XV out in front of the school and Martin Crump and David Hill were members of that team as well as being prefects.  I have attached a recent photo taken in Albany on the south coast of Western Australia about 400kms from Perth and would love to hear from any old classmates as I visit UK every couple of years.
Ernie Deavin

Message for Gillian Vowles (nee Ash). I was at Tudor Grange 1966-73, and I definitely remember the day the school dinner was tipped out of the window - "Swiss steak", as I recall! I'm now in Manchester, and would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. Somehow today was the day I got round to seeing if I could find a site like this - and it's wonderful to see familiar names and read about other times too.
Ruth Abrams

I left Tudor Grange in 1964 and have very fond memories.  I made contact with Veronica Ainsworth a couple of years ago but have now lost details !  If you are reading this Vron please get in touch again.  I remember the foreign holidays I went on and all the teachers.  I loved it!
Sally Rickell

Yes-lode heath for the first year then on to tudor grange grammar school for girls. I do remember you Pam Hawkins. Do you remember me. I was a bit sporty and still have my games photos. The tennis one of 1961 with yvonne wilkinson, and the netball one with leslie frediani. could go on for ever- do you remember Miss Grafton- games. Mr Hands- art. Mr Cerny -French-- wish I'd listened more as I am now resident in France! The lovely Mr Barham he had a wonderful sense of humour. Will post a photo soon for all you ORIGINAL TGGGS. I did not attend the reunion as thought it would be mostly boys from original school as it was them celebrating the 50 not us.
Look forward to hear from others from the very first year.
Diane Cooper

I attended the school between 1966 and 1968, I left because my family moved to Sydney Australia but I have never forgotten my days at the School and I have fond memories of my best friends Kevin Knight and Alan Vaughn. Unfortunately we lost touch many years ago, If anybody knows of their whereabouts please email me:
Norman Stanley

Was there from 1961-7 lived in Brook Close, Shirley had mates at Harold Malley, Harold Cartwright (my sister went to HC and my brother to HM, anybody out there
Jean Tuck (Ivory)

Anyone remember me? Dave Taylor-tall skinny kid, started in 1956 in 1M,stayed down a year and eventually left at 5T in '62. Not the greatest scholar but I tried!! I should have failed my 11+ and gone to Sharmans Cross, they must have mixed the results with someone else! I remember Darren Tume (moved to Worcester or Gloucester), Colin Turner, Steve McDonald, Johnnie Woodward, Roger Smitten, (John?) Sparks, Darby, Jeffries, Tony Pledger. The masters- Munday - I had six off him and none landed in the same place-still got the scars!. 'Polly' Arden-got 3 off him after being caught shouting 'Porky' to Rands out of a window. He WAS accurate-John Woodward was tough but he came out with tears in his eyes so I was in dread-yes it did bloody hurt! I remember Doc Sargent -Geography(?),thin man, glasses. Didn't improve his eyesight when he used to clap us on both sides of the face for some misdemeanour -how he didn't burst any eardrums I don't know. Biff Bailey, another bully, very accurate with a board rubber. I remember him picking up Steve McDonald by his tie, walking him to the front and putting him on the cupboard. They talk about violence in schools now but they mean the pupils!! I didn't much enjoy school but tried my best and got '0' in English Language, which pleased me and my Mum and Dad. They struggled to keep me smart-it wasn't cheap to be at TGGS, as I recall. John Bayliss springs to mind-I started work in '62 at Dowding & Milss, Camp Hill and met his sister, Jill. Where is SHE now? See you on 8/7
Further to my letter, my wife and me are moving home and in the clearout I've found my exercise books and school magazines. Hilton King-where are you now? I'm still friends with Phil Yates-he started in '56 as well but was bright, so left in'61!! Barry Hogarth-now in Cornwall. Other masters spring to mind... its amazing what a pint helps me recall!! 'Tates' Wood. Hope I can recognise ANYONE on July 8th.
David Taylor

Wow - what a roller coaster !! I attended the Tudorgrad Friendly Camp for Young Dissidents from 1961 to 1969 when I was requested to "resign". - Ah well, probably for the best.  I remember all of the masters mentioned, plus a few others -  "Arthur" English (Chemistry, if you could understand the "Bill & Ben" language plus extreme hockey), "Chris" Reid (Geography), "Gertie" Gertner (metalwork and extreme deodorants) "Flab" Chapman ('Five vocabs, boy') and Mr Brown (the French master, who sounded as if he had at least 5lb of plums in his mouth, and ran the Junior Scripture Union).  However, one of my abiding memories is of playing in a 'beat group' around Solihull in 1966 / 1968 together with Mark (Harry) Brown, Stevie Wharton and Glynn Jones (from Lyndon School), and believing one day we'd reach number 1....
I also remember the School Dances of 1968 and 1969 - anyone else remember the Idle Race performing - and I still have fond memories of Liz Green - how are you now ??  Like to hear from any contemporaries - please get in touch
Pete Clark

I attended TG Girls from 1962 to 1967 (not particularly fond memories!) graduating to there from Hatchford Brook and Valley Infants.  I remember Howard Bennett - he was in my classes throughout Hatchford Brook, Mrs Williams, Mrs Carter, Mr Woodward and Mr Drayton!! Also remember Hazel Mort and her best friend 'Em' - also her sister Pauline,  -still, very occasionally, speak to Alison (Alexander).  Also very fond memories of Solihull Lido and the Wilsons Arms disco.  Still living in the Solihull area - what happened to everyone? My brother, David, went to TG boys, although much later than me (1970s).  He tells me of a possible reunion coming up for 50 years of Tudor Grange (must be boys' school) but don't know whether it includes the whole campus.  Contact me if you want.
Christine Wright

I attended '69-'74 when it was all boys. I hated it, but reading some of the names and comments here made me smile. To add to the nicknames of teachers listed below: Hodnett was known as 'jungle John', Dolby was known as the 'flower grader' and Kirkby was called 'Alice'. I still have occasional contact with Simon Whitehouse and Nich Gilks, both of my year, and have since become acquainted with Graham Spencer, from the year below. Also, from the year below I believe, I knew Paul Rogers who sadly died in 2004. I particularly remember 'Harry' Coombs as the one teacher who knew how to work me and get the best out of me.
Nick Brain

I would like to throw my name in as an iniate from Lode Heath.  Teachers Bowden Model Railway , Gibbs Blackmore canoe club, Kirk & Mann gym, old gal Partridge Cassy Baker boxing club. Jim Townsend Lake District Mountaineering. Some great mates, Ray Frost, Tony Edwards (dead) Dave Ashley [dead] James Homer [dead] The sport and girls were great then Pauline [buddy] Hope Val Stokes Mary Rose Burgen Wendy Poutney Rita Whitehaven.  Dunsmore was the best house i.e. rugby, boxing.  The old football crowd from Haslucks Green were good mates Joey Taylor  Pete Graham Dave Ashley Tony Arkinstall John Arden I came through Chapel Fields with Richard Jones. Chopper Nicholson Dave Bodfish We had a great team & were unbeaten for 4 seasons in Solihull Tudor Grange was a hard transformation Munday and Arden in particular Blakely and Sargent could not cane a wicker basket Arthur Bowden was the cleverest man there with no diplomas There are so many names I think of i.e. Doc Pace Dave Hill. Joe Taylor. Grogan .Hollyhurst Malc Crump Dicky Davis Chris Little Sid Owen Happy Days? I could go on would love to hear off anyone from that era, GAS
Gary Keith Stretton

Looking down through this lot takes me back so many years, and has awakened so many memories hitherto half-forgotten.  Like Roy Baker, I somehow fumbled my way past the eleven-plus and found myself well out of my depth within a month of joining the school, and despite the sterling efforts of Geoff Mann, Mr. Newton and DOM Irving never really got to grips with the intricacies of maths during my time at TGGS.  Shame really, because I was quite good at most other things, but I did eventually get a degree from the OU in 1988 - about twenty years too late!  Now servicing and repairing cars and trucks at Cornyx Lane Garage, and looking after the good people of Elmdon Ward as one of their local Councillors.  My thanks to my neighbour of nearly thirty years, Dave Jones for putting me back in touch with you all.
Johnny Bramham (Buggs)

Came to TGGS from Solihull High after passing the 11+ exam. Left during 3rd year in May 69 when the family emigrated to the colonies for sun, surf and adventure. Have had lots of fun, 26 years in Army now a senior public servant for the Federal Government in Canberra. Often smile when reading the old school reports indicating that the reason I was doing so badly was not any lack of ability I was just bloody lazy! Very fond but fading memories of my time with the scouts spending a lot of time serving from the "hole in the wall" tuck shop. Anyone know what happened to my partners in crime - Phil Carless, Adrian Hilliard, Laurence Miller and Stephen Carneski?
Duncan Burns

Was at TG 1964-69 starting in 1R with Dusty Rhodes as form Teacher - well remember Porky Rands, Dollops Dolby and the immortal Sid. Would really like to get back in touch with Lawrence (Lol) Brazier who lived at Marston Green - I now live in Southampton but still support the Blues!!!!!
Tony Knight

For all TGGS boys who were there in April 1967, please see www.tggs1967.free-online.co.uk for an annotated school photograph.
Keith Malin (1965-72)

I was at Tudor Grange at the same time as Eric Dickens from 64-71 - in fact, I'm sure I remember his name. And I certainly remember most of the teachers and their nicknames. I can remember us making Bimbo cry because of our bad behaviour and "Spence" - so called because he was a talented pianist and played with what later became the Spencer Davis Group (Keep on Running) - gave a concert at the school with drummer Pete York? Contemporaries who I have seen recently are Dave Mortimer and Keith Parish. I used to go out with Sue Vanes and Carole Middleton from Harold Cartwright. Me - I was nicknamed Bonzo at school - and am now a journalist.
Pete Johnson

Memory jogger. After lying latent in my brain for 30-odd years, these names have been dredged up, all masters and mistresses at Tudor Grange Grammar School for Boys between 1964 and 1971 (No particular order.). If anyone has any anecdotal evidence that I have not just made them all up, please write to the Reunions page:
Eric Dickens
 

"Hardo" Davies - Latin "Softie" Davi[e]s -Art "Spence" Davies - English? Latin? Bowden, (Daddy) - Observatory His son (Baby) - Maths John "Josh" Jowdler aka J.W.P.B. -English- Roy "Mo" Jones aka "Uncle Roy" - French, Latin "Dick" Rhodes - Latin John Turner aka D.A.G.T. - English, Drama Jeff Mann - Sports and Maths John Scandrett "Sid" Millward - Headmaster Parkin - History John Kirkby - French, German John "Bimbo" Beeley - French, Russian "Porky" Rands - Scripture and Physics John Hodnett (2nd Master) Gerry Painter (2nd Master before Hodnett) Orr - Physics? Mellors - Science

Gärtner / Gertner - Metalwork Colston - Woodwork Walter Jennings - Music Cottrell  -History Pottinger - Latin Hawkins - Maths Mrs Fraser - French? "Angu" [precise name forgotten] - Humanities D.W."Doc" Newton" - Maths, Scout troop "Merlin" Tuck - Latin, Scout troop "Des" Ching - Geography? Mrs Parsons - History Redmayne - Art Blakel[e]y - English "Doze" Uppington (deaf) - French master Warner - French teacher Dalby - English (cycled to school) Joel Hannequin - French assistant (one year) "Dottle" - English and Chemistry

Just like the guy in Canada, I entered Solihull into Yahoo, and this site came up. Good stuff. I lived on Rangoon Road out in Elmdon, went to Valley Infants and Hatchford Brook Jr., then attended Tudor Grange from 1961 to 1969. Days of Mr. Munday and the dread Sid. Set up the Student Council at Tudor Grange, if that means anything to anyone. Was Chairman of the Solihull Youth Council for a while. Young Liberals. You get the picture. Anyway, I now live in San Francisco. Anyone around from those days? I'd especially like to hear about my friend Richard Hammerton, who I've not had contact with since 1970.
Howard Bennett

Attended TGGS Boys from Sept 1960 to July 1967 via Burman Road Infants & Haslucks Green Junior Schools. Classes :1K ( Form Master "Danny" Kaye ), 2S1, 3F ,4S ,5S, L6Sc, U6Sc. Houses :Trojan ,Years 1&2 then York .I can still remember the start of the class roll call !...Addis, Atherton , Baker , Berry , Bould, Bramham ( now a Solihull Councillor!!) ,Bramwich............
One or two memories :
School Motto ... Omnibus Prodesse, Wearing short trousers for first 2 yrs!!, Saturday morning detentions & midweek penalty runs, Walking in a crocodile to St Alphege Church in Solihull at start of every academic year .Selling raffle tickets ( each one the value of a brick) to pay for building the observatory. Other masters remembered in addition to Eric Dickens list
Mr Boulton (Biology), "Flab" (Latin), Mr English ( Chemistry?), Mr Chadwick ( Physics, I think )
I'm still living in Solihull, often pass the school. I see that the bike sheds are no more, great shame.  I seem to remember having great fun in swapping all the cycle locks around...........
It all seems so long ago now .
Roy Baker

Even though I hated nearly every minute of my time at TGGS (1963-68)it is fun to read about now. I worked my way through school in the C forms and I think they based Please Sir on us we were so bad. I don't know if anyone remembers me as I was kind of insignificant, short with varying shades of hair. I remember hating PE and falling on Mrs Hodges. Miss Knott frightened me ever out of learning French properly. And as for maths, memories so bad I can't even recall the teacher name, was it Ellison? I now live in London and push bits of paper around in the NHS. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me.
Sonia El-Harrak (nee Gibbons)

I attended Tudor Grange 1963-67.  I have a sister, Pauline and we originally lived at 16 Hatchford Brook Road then moved to Southfields Road off Dingle Lane.  Still best friends with Margaret (Em) Hope and keep in contact with Alison Alexander.  Spent lovely summer days at the lido in 1967 and always ended up at the Wilsons Arms in Knowle for the disco. Great memories!  If anyone remembers me, would love to hear from you.
Hazel Mort

Just returned to the Solihull-Online web site to check on Burman family references and messages, and strayed into the Tudor Grange reunions page. What a great collection of messages and loads of familiar names; Keith Malin, Tony Skelding, Eric Dickens and many others. Keith's pointer to the '67 school photo was much appreciated. I still have a copy myself, but in rather poor condition compared with Dave Mellor's scanned image. I think Nigel Dickens was one of my closer pals - didn't you have an argument with the bumper of a reversing car one school holiday and suffer some fairly extensive injury requiring plastic surgery on one of your shins ? Can't exactly recall the crowd I used to hang out with in later years when I along with them used to spend many hours skiving up in the stage lighting gallery, using the dubious excuse of needing to check out the lighting for the various school plays and other productions. Sadly some might say, I still like to go Badger-watching, a pastime that I picked up from Mark Boulton (Biology teacher), who if I recall correctly was involved with the Mammal Society badger survey of that decade and introduced a few pupils to the "pleasures" of sitting a-top a tree, in the middle of a wood or copse, getting bitten by midges and mosquitoes, waiting for a stripy head to emerge from a dark hole in the ground. Other pastimes, picked up during Tudor Grange days include Astronomy - picked up through occasionally using the school observatory (which I noticed a couple of years ago when passing through is still there).
Well, I'll certainly keep an eye on this page for the recollections of others.
Stephen Burman

I was at Tudor Grange until 1967. I have lived in Yorkshire since 1974, but still get back to Solihull to visit family. I have lost contact with almost all but would love to hear from anyone who was around.
John Gostling See also Hatchford Brook School

I was at Tudor Grange (63-67). I remember Authur Reginald very well not to mention Gerry H Painter (painful memories). Would love to get in touch with anyone that remembers me.
Tony Skelding

I found this a most interesting page which brought back many memories. Paul Gill gave me the address. I was at Tudor Grange from 1959 - 1966 having come from Hatchford Brook Infants and Juniors. I have recollections of a sixth form review and, if my memory serves me correctly, a magazine called Kronik (or similar) which the sixth form ahd a hand in. I've been in Cardiff since 1966 since leaving and teach Maths in a local High School. A few names from the sixth form double maths class come to mind - Peter Freeman, Mick Chalkley, Alan Currer. We had planned to get together each year after leaving but, after the first gathering, nothing happened.
Richard Baker

1959-1966
I share Bob Haines and Anthoney Chorly's sentiments about the excellent Daddy Arthur Bowden. He started my interest in astronomy. Like Roy Baker, I sold bricks for the observatory and its 6 inch telescope. All he then wanted was to paint the nearby street lamp black! I believe the girls school didn't start until around 1960 as our timetable was changed from 8:45-16:10 to 8:30-15:45, still the longest hours in Warwickshire. The fifth form in 1959 was called Transitas. Were these from Lode Heath? Roy Haydock, a strong Solihull club player ran the chess club when I started playing in 1960, Baby (also Arthur) Bowden took over later. Fred Usher and Brian Dean were excellent players and we almost always managed to beat Solihull school! David Andrews, (Latin and English) started the bridge club when Scandret Millwood allowed card games. My major academic problem was geography. Mr Thompson moved me to the front and results got better until he suddenly decided to roll up the display map every test! I came bottom of the entire third form but persevered and ironically have since worked successfully on digital maps. Mr Bowdler set a Guinness record for marking books. Taken in in 1st term 3F. Returned unmarked eventually to the 6th formers!
We had one A level maths lesson a week in the biology lab. We'd got used to rats fighting, then one day a field trip collected something really evil from the beach. I've forgotten the contents of the lesson but never the smell of that seal.
Does anyone remember the grace before dinner. Benedict Nobis domine, et his tonis tuis etc?
Paul Gill

In answer to Paul Gill's query, the grace went: Benedic nobis domine, et his donis tuis quae ex liberalitate tua sumpturi sumus. Per Iesum Christum Dominum Nostrum. Amen.
Pretentious or what? But it fitted in well with Arthur Munday's (pretty successful) attempt to make Tudor Grange seem more like a public school than most public schools. And it did give most of us a damn good education...
Pete Cottrell

I was at the boys school from '58 to '65.  And many of those names came back to me - Oly Arden and the old man Munday - great bloke. Nice to hear the old names as it brought back some good memories of the Scout troop, athletics and Rugby.  Any one form those years is welcome to contact me in Australia.   I remember the girls school opening too. If any one knows where Maureen Wilkinson is it would be good to hear too.  And Fred Usher and Clements and Vickerstaff.   May be some of you still have the School year books  which make for a good trip down memory lane.  I was in Lancaster House.
Stephen Walker

Are there any former pupils from TG girls' school who look at this excellent webpage?
I was there way back in the very early days, in fact from the day the school opened in September 1959. I'd spent my first year at Lode Heath, where the uniform was navy blue; my mother was a bit cross because she'd been assured that the uniform for TG would be very similar! It turned out to be green and grey! It still is isn't it? I have a couple of those gigantic whole school photos which are fascinating to look at. Does anyone take photos like that now? considering the differences in technology now from then it's quite amazing that they used to do that. Hope to hear from some of you others soon!
Pam Hawkins

I have just see this lovely site for the first time today.
I went to TG during the period 1959 - 1965. I remember teachers: Mr Barham - History. Mr McMurtree - Geography. My friends at the time were: Jackie Alexander, Rosalind Alder, and Olga Powers. - What good laughs we had.
My mother, Mabel still lives in Longmore Road, Solihull. We used to go to the Civic Hall, Solihull and watch our class mate Christine Holmes with the Applejacks. Does anyone remember them? I went on to Solihull Sixth Form College and then Teacher Training  at Oxford. I now live in Stratford upon Avon. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers those heady days.
Janet Bell
Thanks Janet...Have you seen the 60's Memories and Applejacks pages?

Saw TGGS for the first time this summer since leaving in 1964. Remember the plays: Androcles and the Lion, Julius Caesar, Mr Munday at the back checking the dress rehearsal - notebook in hand. The Debating Society - great stuff. And a pupil called Toft who caused a local stir by defending Mein Kampf...The Tuck Shop, which appeared in the middle of the playground one day. The Madrigal Choir and the Orchestra. And someone burned by a lighting bolt on the playing fields one afternoon. The day of the Cuban missile crisis - waiting in class for something to happen - and the lorry carrying the school milk hit the kerb and we watched all the bottles crash into the road. Great fun.
Barry Edwards

Ref Barry Edwards, a lightening strike (autumn 1961 or spring 1962?) was the loudest noise I have every heard and I've stood next to 40 mm AA guns firing. A house rugby match had stopped because the rain was incredible. It eased and Flab asked us if we thought it had stopped completely. There was an immediate answering bang which stunned everyone for several seconds. Total silence and shock. Then we realised Flab had completely disappeared. Unfortunately he reappeared from under the desk. Incomprehensible until my mother explained this was a response to standard wartime training!
Paul Gill

I spent the innocent years of 1958 to 1964 at Tudor Grange school for boys, trying to be guilty, and remember many of the teachers' names which others have listed.  With great affection I remember Old Man Bowden, a great teacher who never had a graduate's gown and unfortunately was bitter about what he wrongly perceived as a lack of personal status.   What higher status is there than to inspire a new generation?  He taught me A-level Geology, which I failed, but got O-level and bar. Also, I especially remember John Bowdler - JPWB - who was the head of Scripture and a man who helped me immensely, even though he failed to convert me from atheism.  He was my English teacher.
Don Blakeley (does anyone remember how you could deflect him from teaching English for a whole lesson my asking him to tell us about his guppies?) was another great influence.
Then there was Biff Bailey (whom I discovered later was only about 5' 9", not 7'6", and was quite a softy).  There was Derek Andrews in history, Newton the Maths teacher who told me that there must have been a mistake when I passed O-level Maths, and Bernie Thompson followed by Colin Reid, who headed Geography (I read Geog at Nottingham, thanks to them).  There was also Doctor Sergeant (of "Kuro Siro" fame, and the Laurie Arden, a decent bloke who had to pretend to be hard.   Arthur Munday was a great head who caned me, accurately.
There was Piggy Wheeler, who left just before rescuing me from total incomprehension of Physics, and our L6A/U6A Form Master ECW "Eric" Chapman ("what you doin' boy, eh?"  What about Bill Fruin, Cliff Poole, Nick Hancock, Cliff Perkins, Gertner the tech man. And there was Miss Poyser in Arthur's office.
Does anyone remember my contemporaries?  "Pip" Richardson (later President of Birmingham Law Society and the Dutch Consul, still in touch), Andy Barrett (flew Boeings for British Airways), Mike Jefferies (now a vicar in Devon), Graham Kavanagh and Sproodge Spratt, the terrible twins who perversely did A-level Classics, Paul Hamilton, Stewart Neale (parents owned the florists in the High Street), Bas Jones (pianist, poet and either genius or nutter), Steve Seed (head boy), Tod Pledger, later President of Newcastle Univ Union, Jock Lyon (later President of Durham Univ Union, now President of his own public company in California, and still in touch), Barry "Bally Hoof Brakes" Jackson (flew Dakotas from Blackpool Airport to the Isle of Man), Alan Clements, and so on, like a roll call of history.
What about Mademoiselle du Parc, the French Assistant who caused many a solitary and sticky moment under midnight bed clothes?
There were girls, too, at the next school.  I married one of them - Penny Collinson - and we have three daughters, not so much kids as insatiable receptacles for money, even though they are aged 22 to 30. What about her friends - Veronica Ainsworth, Sue Adams, Sally Rickell etc?
Good days, weren't they?  I'd love to hear from anyone who knew these characters.
Bob Haines

Alison just told me about this website so thought I would add my two pence worth. I attended TG, leaving around 1961. Can't remember all that much except the awful uniforms. Mr. Wood and Mr. McMurtre (spelt wrong) were great teachers. Miss Knot's Latin lessons when she made the Roman suicides sound so romantic...the gym lessons.. a trip to hell...Mrs. Denne ...and Miss McLaughlan who could scare Saddam Hussain!!!!!
Agree the education was the pits....when I later went to University I found that
I was the only one in lots of classes who had never been taught certain things. Made passing the classes all the more difficult as I always had to learn from scratch...Still they were happy days . I haven't lived in England since 1967 but would love to hear from anyone who remembers me!!!!!
Christine Hutton

1950's

Yes I was always told off for walking home from TG with the girls - particularly Lyn Gregory who lived in Falstaff Road. We would talk for ages outside the Odeon Cinema. My Mother still lives in Sutherland Avenue where I am at present. Lyn's father was something to do with the Methodist Church in Shirley and I bumped into her many years ago after a rugby match at Birmingham RFC when they were still in Northfield and she was at the post game dance! We had some good times in those days. Sorry Alison but your email does not work.
Mervyn Buston

Brain Soddy's remark in the Tudor Grange School Reunions section, 1950's, on Arthur Munday's unattributed opening remarks in the Chronicle has intrigued me for some time.

                                   "Friends we shall never know will come to share
                                    This life of ours, wondering what we were"

By pure chance I learned today that it appears to be a quotation from a John Masefield poem called "Beauty". The following link claims it as part of the school hymn at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls.
http://www.suttcold.bham.sch.uk/scgsg-website/index.php/school-song
Alan Merchant

I was one of the original intake. I started at Lode Heath in 1954-56 and then was at TGGS boys school from 1956 until my folks moved to Wolverhampton in 1960, and I transferred to Wolverhampton Grammar School. I played cricket for the under 15s and second 11. I was in the G5 classes and spent a lot of time larking abaht with the likes of Peter Tombs, "Sambo" Brecknell, "Slash" Fisher, Alan "Tabs" Hunter, "Hotrod" Harrison,  and going to see Birmingham City at home games with Brent Large my mate from round the corner who played in a Brass Band and then, I think, emigrated to Australia. Another mate was a chap called Tony Maugham whose who was a Villa supporter, and I once went with him to Villa Park and saw them beat by Leicester 2-1 at home. I got to read English at Wadham College, Oxford and ended up in lecturing at several universities, ending up as an Emeritus Professor of Tourism (most people think there is no such subject - I wish they'd keep their bloody mouths shut. We don't want everybody to know). The great masters were Arthur Bowden, a West Country man who taught me Euclid and got me reading his favourite author, W. W. Jacobs and started my interest in astronomy. Our 6th form English master, H.H.P. Bailey a sardonic, dangerous subversive who smoked, hit insubordinate little bastards with geometry sets, rulers or anything else he could find at hand, but who had a great and incisive mind and set up a 6th form discussion group that used to meet at his home on one Sunday every month, and was the first taste of cultural debate I ever got into. I revered A.R Munday, the Headmaster, who kept the whole school in for an hour after school  when someone wrote "Fuck" on the lavatory wall. In those days there were some edgy moments and tough kids - one of whom drew a knife on the Deputy Head master , Mr, Arden. When he took over the school Munday addressed  an assembly, after some incident with girls in the local convent had been reported
  by the nuns, and said that he had dealt with people like us in the war and aimed to do what "we did to the Japanese". His Oxbridge chutzpah, confronted by many lads who didn't give a stuff. I later found he had written Latin and greek text books in the war. Another lovely master, often joked about at the time, was "Noddy" (because of a nervous tic) the musical teacher who played us into assembly every day with Beethoven, Fur Elise, and other piano classics. I didn't regard them much at the time, but recognise them today with pleasure, and retrospectively admirate the way in those days teachers tried to "dumb up" against the odds, rather than down "dumb down". One last memory is of the dances  that they introduced every so often with the girls school. We all trooped in next door and sat on one side of the room with girls on the other. I got to dance and fell madly in love with one called Gwyneth who I never met more than twice or knew the surname of.  And on that preposition I end.   
Anthony Seaton

I am trying to contact people who attended Tudor Grange Grammar School, in the original location, as part of Lode Heath School. I have lived away from the area for many years and would particularly like to contact Peter Aston, Graham Dickinson, Mary Rose Burgin and Dave Carter. We all travelled together from Shirley on the X53 Bus to Lode Heath. Thanks for an interesting site
Mike Bryant

Am I the only ordained member of the clergy to come from TG. I am sure that I am not! I was at  TG from 1957 to 1962 when it was boys only. I came from Solihull School where I was very unhappy as I had 3 major disadvantages, I was fat, Jewish and my father was not in the forces. I loved it at TG As there was only 1 other Jewish boy -David Wilks we used to wait outside the Hall during prayers and come in for Notices. Wonderful memories of Mr Bowdler who ran the  school forum and where I got some practice in public speaking -little did I know how valuable it would be to me in the future. I will always be hugely grateful to Mr. Ken Baileye who taught us how to write pieces of English properly and a real understanding of English lit. He always smelt of tobacco and had to go out for a cigarette during most  lessons. I wonder if he is still alive. Mr. Munday was amazing. In the 6th Form we did Latin and Greek in his Study for A and S Level I was wit David Ditch who was very clever - I think he is a Headmaster somewhere and would love to know where. Also Alan Simpson and A Minns. We used to give demonstration lessons during the holidays at school to trainee teachers who were learning how to teach Latin and Greek as living languages, and to help with his Text Books which I believe are still used. I went to London University to read Theology and after degrees and getting married I became ordained as the practicing Rabbi of Ilford, Essex community. After that I was very fortunate to be promoted to the post of Chief Rabbi of N.Ireland and went to Belfast. Now I am nearly retired and live in Manchester. All our children are married and have left home. I have wonderful memories of my time at TG where Mr Gertner gave me the job of counting the Dinner Money (good job for a Jewish boy) also of Mr Ardern Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Ledbury. I remeber Gordon Cochrane who was hoping to  do Medicine and Pat Burman who was into classical music and the school choir. I will be eternally grateful to the school and its wonderful staff especially to Mr Munday and Mr Bailey  -if I have got anywhere in this world it is mainly due to them
Michael Goldman

I attended this school as a boarder from the age of 7yrs in 1949 until I was transferred to Exhall Grange Special School at the age of 11yrs. I knew that this school which was situated in the main house, had closed many years ago, but out of curiosity, I was shopping in Solihull this last week, I decided to show my wife this beautiful house and this brought so many memories back to me and I wonder if there is anyone out there who attended this school during this period, I would love to reminisce about old times, I believe that the house and grounds with all the wonderful statues, summer house lake & Lilly pond was donated to the council by Lady Bird of the custard powder manufacturers, is there anyone who can enlighten me on this matter and is there any possibility that I may have a look around the old place.
Geoffrey Mellor

Being part of the first year intake at the 'new school' was an experience. With Coppice Road County Primary (Elmdon Heath) as my alumnus you can imagine the first day traumas.
New school uniform - what's that about?!!? - cycling down the 'Ash Path' past the back of the hospital, down Churchill Road, along Whitefields Road to the cycle sheds.
Everything was 1000% different to all previous school experience - then - after lunch - the crocodile others have mentioned - back to St Alphege for the dedication. I was half way home and NOT happy!!
We all had service sheets (should have kept it, not screwed it up). All through the service I knew we had to go all the way back to school, get the bike, ride all the way back past the church, and under no circumstances were we allowed to run.
Too much of a challenge. As we left the church I tried speed walking down the hill and lobbed the service 'booklet' into the churchyard. Housemaster Mr Matthews spotted it, sent me to recover it, bring it back to him the following morning to prove it had been retrieved, and gave me the first Wednesday evening 'Penalty Run' handed out at Dingle Lane. (Others must have had problems as well - there were 8 of us on that first Wednesday evening) all supervised by Geoff Mann - the PE teacher.
Things got better after that, thank goodness. There are loads of other memories, thanks to all of the superb recall of all of the above.
For Bob Haines, I do recall one who might possibly been one of his wife's contemporaries - Alannah Buckley. She had bright red hair, was VERY tall (statuesque) and back combed her hair to the point where the bright green Girls School beret was carefully pinned in, but all but invisible!!    
Frank Locke

I was part of the new intake when the school first opened in the new building, in 1M and the following year 2S. I wasn't very happy at the school - it was very pretentious, what with Latin and rugby and the teachers wearing gowns. Being a new school there a big fuss made about some of the plastic knobs going missing from the cloakroom. The whole school was put in detention. I made the mistake of looking at the clock during the detention so that sadist b*****d Ardern slippered me with a gymshoe. Happy days!
Ian Heath

I attended as a 1st. year pupil at TG's new school building from 1956 and left after 5th. form in 1961. Anyone remember other pupils in 4T(1960) 5T(1961), headmaster Mr. A.R. Munday, deputy head & maths Mr. Arden; english Mr's Bailey; Blake; geography Dr. Sarget; woodwork Mr. Wood; physics Mr. Rand etc.
Terry Moore

Browsing through all the dross that ends up on my computer, I came across this website, and I have great memories of Tudor Grange. Unfortunately, my parents moved me "down south" in 1959/60 before I could take full advantage of what the school had to offer. But I've been back in the Solihull area since then and my first port of call was to see the old school (how different it all looks around Dingle Lane. I was one of the first TGGS intake in 1956 (form 1 L I believe). Hoskins was my form master, and Arden caned me for being smart with him. I've worked with Bob Haines in the past, and at the LSE I met Brian Soddy again (early 60's). Look forward to hearing from any other contemporaries that may remember me.  When's the next re-union? I'd like to come up for that. Cheers for now.
Tony Bannard

Sorry to intrude onto your pages, I did not attend Tudor Grange but am desperately trying to find a friend named Allan Harry Cumberland who was amongst the first intake group, I would really appreciate any info anyone may have.  Many Thanks
Alan Cope

May I (again) apologise to Martin Crump, Noel Lawrence et al, for thinking that TGGS only started its life in 1956. When I first went in 1956 to the Dingle Lane site it was then brand new, and I suppose I must have assumed that everyone was in the same boat...... sorry!!! One reason why I may not have known the immediate past history of TGGS could be that my Primary Education was in the obscure surroundings of Dolphin Lane, Acock's Green, where Solihull was regarded as something of a foreign country. Hope to see some familiar faces at the (existing) site celebrations on July 8th - very best wishes to all pupils, past and present.
Peter Lakin

Hi, to all of you I like a lot of you have just found this site and have had an interesting time reading some of the coments. I have the school photos from 1956 [when we were at lode heath] and the 1957 photo at tudor grange, these are the panoramic photos of the whole school. I may be at the reunion in 2006 if I am i will bring them with me. regards to all my old school mates
Marti Pope

I was at Tudor Grange from 1959 to 1965. I joined former colleagues from Cedarhurst, like Stephen Walker and John Devonshire. I should have been there in 1958, but spent a year in Stourbridge and started in 2R in 1959. My years at TGGS were not my happiest school days: I seemed to get left behind academically; my excuse-I just wasn't suited to exams! If you answer only three questions of the required five, you're cutting down your maximum to 60%!  I enjoyed the friendship of people like Steve Sparks, Fred Usher, Alan Clements, Andy Vickerstaff, I respected a lot of the staff (more so after I've spent 30 years teaching!) but I sometimes wonder whether I would have done better if I'd failed the 11+.  I loved the hockey. I used to watch Roger Legg keeping goal for the First XI (he reminded me of one of The Tremeloes) and hope I might do the same one day. And I did! Derek Andrews was tremendously patient as he sought to bring out the best in us. I hope he got some satisfaction from it. We enjoyed going off by coach on Saturdays to places like Hartlebury (I think that was where we used to be fed baked beans). After Chris Woolley broke his hand a novel new system was devised. Barry Cornish was a kind of sweeper and Keith Gibson and I were wing backs funnelling back according to which side the attack was being made. I admit I got a lot of satisfaction leading Richmond to victory in the House competition. (His finest hour!)  Memories....I suffered from anaemia in my first two years and one day fainted in the full School Assembly. Some of the Staff on the stage must have seen me keeling over and jumped down to scrape me up. As I was being carried out I came round to hear the Amen being sung. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven!  I was keeping wicket the afternoon we were struck by lightning. Bob Brittain was batting and I swear I saw sparks dancing on the buckles of his pads. We all found ourselves flat on the ground. Geoff Mann had been umpiring propped on his shooting stick and described an involuntary somersault. Brittain hsd metal framed glasses on and went to hospital with burns but happily they weren't serious.  Why do I remember Mr Langmead's pronunciation practice we did at the start of every French lesson?...difficile, emprunter....  I liked Mac Blakeley, he helped me to appreciate some poetry. Den Irving was 3F class teacher; at the end of the year the class presented him with an inscribed cigarette lighter. I didn't always appreciate 'Biff' Bailey. On one occasion I was reading over my work when he entered the room.We used to think he'd nip downstairs for a smoke. He came in the room and gave me a smack across the head!  I had major roles in School Plays... I was Retiarius, with the net, in 'Androcles' and overcame 'Killer Kelson', and doubled as Second Murderer and Lady Macduff's messenger in 'Macbeth'. Sports Day, exhausted dashing from one event to another trying to do your bit, Cross-Country runs to Widney Manor, the corridor by the Staff Room wreathed in smoke and the smell of tobacco, and Mr Fox who thought someone had said something behind his back and all those whose voices had broken were punished because he couldn't find a culprit. We felt hard done by. Geoff Mann gave me extra Geometry tuition behind the changing rooms...I do hope he didn't take my failure personally. When My father died Mr Millward gave me time in his study and listened, showing humanity we didn't always associate with our teachers. Mr Oakley gave me extra time to do the homework; I was taken by surprise.  The last one I was in touch with was Fred Usher, but not for a long time. I came north-east for Teacher Training in 1966 and have remained ever since. I used to get to Solihull every two or three years but not for a while. I was taken by the 1960 School photo on the net; I suppose it kindled my interest.  Good memories of Steve Sparks, Fred Usher, Andy Vickerstaff, Alan Clements, Alan Brown, Stephen Walker, John Devonshire, Barry Hurley, Brian Pratt, 'Gus'Astley, Andy Wilson, Derek Weaver....  and from the hockey Keith Gibson, Barry Cornish, Clive Alcock, Neil Hufton, Andy Jeeves, Colin Banham, Geoff Pimm, Chris Woolley, Berwyn Pearce,'Plug' Plowman, Colin Rickwood, Lloyd, Breckon and more besides. Can it really have been so long ago?
Neil Varley

Came across this website purely by chance, so glad I did. I was at TGGS from 1958-1964. Then I went to Aston and did Optometry. Following a couple of years in private practice, I emigrated to Australia, and took a position at Queensland University of Technology teaching Optometry and I have been there for 35 years. My memories are many and varied. Got clouted quite a lot by seemingly large males in black gowns. School orchestra, rifle club, choir, school concerts top the list. Briefly played hockey for the school in third form until, one day, a team mate was hit full bore in the "lower abdomen". Instant retirement! I used to call in on Don Irving occasionally on visits to the UK. Had a brief correspondence with Doc Newton. The master I have seen most of in the last say 10-15 years would be Don Blakeley. Do email if you wish. Love to hear from any contemporaries.
Peter Swann

I attended TGGS for Boys from September 1956 through to 1963. I recall the long trudge in crocodile style to Solihull Church for the opening service in September 1956, and launching the School hymn with a great and concerted bellow "We build our School on Thee, O Lord". The School's first year consisted of 445 boys. The facility itself was constructed at a total cost of £176,445!! I have retained the official opening programme from July 23, 1957, and also the first issue of The Chronicle, which is a fascinating record of photographs, lists and articles from the School's first year. (I can mail copies of extracts.) Mr. Munday, ever the classical traditionalist, and perhaps somewhat uncomfortable in this shiny new place, quoted - without attribution - in his opening remarks in The Chronicle:

                                   "Friends we shall never know will come to share
                                    This life of ours, wondering what we were"

Very apropos to us "really old" boys as I read the recollections on this site from nearly 50 years of students who have passed through the doors of that dear place. My own memories are still very clear. We were very privileged to receive such a fine education and at no cost to our parents! Too bad the girls did not arrive until well after we had left.
For my part, I graduated from the London School of Economics, and in 1973, with my wife and family, was transferred to Canada. For the past 20 years we have been living in the United States, where we intend to remain.
I stay in regular touch with one former school friend. It is great to have discovered this site
Brian Soddy

I don't know how many times I have written this email in support of Noel Lawrence's comments and in contradiction of Peter Lakin. Tudor Grange Grammar School began at Lode Heath, Lode Lane in September 1951, with two classes 1G1&1G2, mixed classes, I have a copy of the page which contains my name and others and the identification mark 'G' to define grammar school (anyone wants a copy just get in touch).  I also attended Lode Heath Junior school and remember Mrs Askew (a very big lady) well.
Martin Crump

I attended Tudor Grange Grammar one year after it started being based at Lode Heath. I am trying to contact anyone from that time, particularly, Dave Carter, Peter Aston, Mary Rose Burgin who all travelled on the Midland Red School bus from Shirley. Having left the Midlands many years ago, it would be good to find out what happened to all my friends from that period.
Mike Bryant

By chance the day my attention is drawn to the references relating to Tudor Grange Grammar School for Boys, I had only hours earlier repositioned on my bookshelves the Official Opening Programme for Tudor Grange Boys School on Tuesday 23rd July, 1957. The history of the school is noted and confirms that the new school in Dingle Lane opened in September 1956.   Before moving to the new school I was in one of two classes formed at Lode Heath School, Lode Lane : 1G1 and 1G2.  Both classes were mixed as was Lode Heath School.   The number of Grammar School stream pupils grew each year until the new school for boys was completed in 1956. Not sure when girls school opened.  With references to teaching staff, everybody will remember Arthur Bowden with his teaching Certificate who, from early days at Lode Heath, took all subjects from maths, physics, geology, French, poetry and including games (in his suit!) He also built the observatory at the new school and gave the school his vast!
 collection of butterflies and moths.  Eventually in about 1957 his son, George(?) with degrees in pure and advanced mathematics followed his father into the staff of the school.
Anthony Chorley


Tudor Grange School was established in 1956 as two grammar schools these amalgamated in 1974 to form a mixed comprehensive. Opening Programme

I started my time as a Tudor Grange Grammar school boy, I believe, in 1954 (better check your 1956 starting date Ian and believe me, because I would have remembered, there was no girls grammar school at that time and in fact not for several years after). The first two years were spent sharing Lode Heath Secondary School.
Hilton King was the Head Boy and teachers such as Bailey, Sugden, "Doc" Sargent, Bowden, Gertner, Thomson, Danny Kay, Pondweed and the like were a major part of life, not forgetting Mr. Munday, the headmaster or "Olly" Arden the "Untergruppenfuehrer".
I left England for a two year stint in Canada in '69 and ended up there permanently. I remember going to a junior school adjoining Lode Heath up to the age of eleven but can't remember its name. The Headmistress was Ms. Askew. Ironically, while on business, I met one of the teachers from this school, Mr. Harrison, walking down the Ghinza on a Sunday afternoon in Tokyo many, many years later. He had retired and was travelling the world.
Much to my surprise there was instant recognition by both of us. It's such a small world isn't it?
Noel Lawrence

Reading through the memories again and seeing the several "insistences" that Tudor Grange Grammar School for boys started in 1956, I wonder if anybody knows what the school was called while we shared Lode Heath's premises?
As far as form 1L being a "founding" institution, according to Peter Lakin, I would remark that I believe neither Hoskins nor Ledbury were associated with the school until it moved to Dingle Lane. For two years we were obviously the best kept secret in town ! By the by, anyone remember "Communist Cassy" being very neatly printed in the snow covered lawn for us all to gaze upon while looking in the direction of the backs of houses on Lighthorne Road. Man was he ever upset by that and didn't move with the rest of us to the new premises. He was a great teacher and a nice man.
Noel Lawrence

07 September 2001
The letter from Noel Lawrence jogged my memory. I recall being dragged up the stairs by my tie by Bailey, for the unforgivable sin of running down the stairs!, he was a mean spirited sod. Doc taught geography and music I believe and Brains was the biology master, used to drive a Vincent "Black Shadow". I too attended the junior school which I recall was called the "Annexe". There was no girls school until a couple of years or so after the boys school was completed, I remember the excitement of having females in close proximity and the odd friendship was formed in the playing fields. Recall the "tuck shop" in the playground? Brian Woolley and John Bench, (Boots), were a couple of buddies I remember. ( As an aside, I don't see Ulverley listed. Is it in existence still?) Fun to look back isn't it, I guess it's a sign of advancing years!
Richard Wilford
Ulverley is still going Richard. I started school there myself - a long time ago!

That would be "Biff" Bailey, right?  I think Bowden became "Daddy" Bowden when his son started teaching math at Tudor Grange (he being "Baby" Bowden, of course).  The older Bowden was one of the best teachers I had, along with Turner and Bowdler.  Funny how these names come flowing back after 30 years!
Howard Bennett

I absolutely loved this school. I am hoping for a good laugh with old friends.
Andrew Webster

19 July 2001
A wonderful walk down memory lane. I attended Chapel Fields school, Ulverley, then Tudor Grange. Left for Canada in'63 and have only returned once. You can never go home again! Great site! Anyone recall my name from Ulverley or any of the other schools?
Richard Wilford See also Ulverley School

07 November 2005
In answer to Rich Wilford's query, I can confirm that Ulverley School still exists at the original site in Rodney Road - I've served on the Governing Body since 1998.  Harry Moore, Head for over 25 years sadly lost his battle against cancer earlier this year, being replaced by Ian Jones, formerly deputy Head at a Warwick comprehensive.
John Bramham

Anyone remember me ?. Always in trouble, detention etc. I left end of 4th year to go to Devon. I remember Phil Handy, Mark Grant, Peter Attenborrow, Bill Whateley, Chris Burley, Perry Wright, Marie-Helene Matthews and her friend Alison, Kate Taylor, Lydia(?) and more.
Phil Davis

TGGS for boys opened for business in September 1956 (honestly) - I was in Form 1L, a "founder member" as you might say. Mr Hoskins (music, No 2 to Mr Ledbury) was our Form Master - other teachers as above except it was Mr Bowdler (not Jowdler) who taught scripture.  Remember Mr Ardern, the Deputy Headmaster, who used to run the school Chess club - he would have us all sitting at desks in a classroom, with chessboards all set up, remove his own Queens from every board, and walk up and down the aisles making moves, and wipe the floor with all of us... Long playground ice-slides in the middle of winter, and games of "Hot Rice" (just an excuse for throwing a tennis ball across a crowded playground). And does anyone remember the game we concocted in the locker area on rainy days, that of making yourself faint by hyperventilating???? And we were supposed to be the educational cream of the crop!!!
Peter Lakin

In connection with the Email from Bob Hitchman (June 2001) I also spent many gloriously happy hours at Widney Manor Station in the late 50's. If anyone does have any photos of the old station in the steam era could you please contact me. I was also a founder pupil of Tudor Grange Grammar School ( Formerly infant pupil at Shirley). Can anyone confirm that we were temporarily moved to a wooden annexe in Solihull ( Mill Lane comes to mind) for several weeks before the Grammar School opened. Many former pupils must remember that the Grammar School had no electricity for several days when it opened and we moved lock, stock and barrel from Lode Lane School carrying our desks by road in a long snake like procession. We also had to walk what seemed like miles to Solihull baths to swim and attend the compulsory Church Services at the beginning and end of term. Can anyone recollect that when the Girls School opened years later we made contact with the now infamous Mandy Rice Davies who lived a short distance away from me in a new development off Longmore Road, Shirley. If anyone remembers these heady times please contact me.
John Thornett

Mandy Rice Davies, then known as Marylin Davies attended Sharmans Cross and not Tudor Grange! I attended TG and lived in Longmore Road till I married and now live in a road off it.
Am in contact with some ex pupils but would love to know what happened to Lyn Gregory, later Lyn Woodise. We lost touch some years ago. Quite interested to see so many happy memories from the boys school, can't say mine were so good after we left Lode Heath to move into the new building, we seemed to spend more time being told off for riding to school with one of the boys next door, being told off for wearing our indoor shoes outdoors and vice versa and being put into detention for 'insolence' (asking a question or querying a point!!) than having a good time or learning anything, or was it just me?!! Changed my email address if anyone wishes to contact. Found Lyn Gregory - lots of chat about TG Girls Grammar. Is there anyone out there with some good memories!!
Alison Bowes nee Braithwaite

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