SCHOOLS in BROOKFIELDS

All Saints BROOKFIELDS Camden Street Ellen Street

St Pauls School

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All Saints School erected 1843

20/09/08

I have just recently discovered your great site and I thought you might like to include in the SCHOOLS section a photograph of All Saints School, Brookfields taken in 1949.

I am the one sitting on the front row, sixth from the left with bows in my hair and white ankle socks. The Head Mistress was Miss Cole (who incidentally was head teacher when my father attended All Saints a generation before!) I remember a few things about the school like the outside toilets and, of course, the air raid shelters in the school grounds which we were forbidden to go into but often did, and walking in two's to Icknield Street School for our dinner. I attended this school until I was 8 years old as my parents then had enough "points" to get a council house at Castle Bromwich. I lived at 9 Victoria Terrace, Goode Street (sometimes known as 9/28 Goode Street) Hockley, opposite Scribbans'. I have enjoyed reading all the stories on your site regarding The Flat etc. as it brings back many great memories. Many thanks, Loraine Birtles nee Harris lorainebirtles@aol.com

ABOVE PHOTO 16/01/09

I have recently been browsing your website, when I came across a picture of which I think my late wife was in, it's the photo of 1949 class of all saints.

Could anyone tell me if the girl on the front row of the picture second in from the left is Jean Cotton, she used to live in Little park Road, opposite the Welcome P.H. If anyone can confirm that the girl in the picture is Jean cotton, I would appreciate this, once again many thanks

Steve Garratt stephengarratt@live.co.uk


	top left Is a picture of All Saints School top right The play ground, the fence on the right is where All Saints church used to be left the main School doors, to the right was the school hall and to the left was mrs pooles and mrs brooks 1st class. In front was the stairs to the headmasters room and the other classrooms. I wonder how many people will remember passing though these doors. Photos supplied by Paul Gattrell 15/12/03 E:mail corale.hewitt@btinternet.com NAME: paul gattrell In relation to Ken Aston's comments about the All Saints School doors that I had photographed (does anyone remember these ?) the photo is of the side entrance doors in the grounds sorry for misleading anyone paul Email: carole.hewitt@btinternet.com 04/07/04
The Sand pit dedication at All Saints School. below The Queens Coronation celebration All Saints School hall 1953. Photos supplied by Pauline Joyce nee Busby Pauline please contact Nick & Rona Burroughs on nicyrona@hotmail.com they have tried to contact you on your old email address.	Sand Pit at All Saints School 01/02/08 I lived in Brookfields all my young life our address was 11/1 Rosalie Street. I was born 29/ 04/ 1942 and went to All Saints and Barford Road Schools. I was delighted to see your web site, especially the photo of the sand pit at All Saints School. It was my father George Taylor who built it and there is a great picture of him at the opening. I have tried to contact a few of the people who's e.mail address appears on your web site, but unfortunately they no longer exist. AT the moment I am in Clearwater in the United States, but am eager to hear of anything concerning Brookfields. Thank's a lot Anthony (Tony) James Taylor, Email: taylorinclearwater@knology.net
	All Saint's School Christmas play; late 1950's photo thanks to Mary Evans Back L to R ? ? ?,Linda Dodson,June Wilkes, Len?, Robert Jones, David Gibson,? ? ?, Jean Cassidy, Maureen Kemp,? ,Susan Evans, Janice Flowers, Mary Evans Middle two boys; Stuart Relton, Gary? Sitting ;5th from left Derek Wilson, 3rd from right David Norton?

ALL SAINTS SCHOOL 04/07/08

I have just been told about your amazing website and must thank you so much; I feel as if I've been transported back in time! I feel as if I have seen a ghost; the names, the places...I lived in the area from @ 1955-1969 and attended All Saints School..in fact I'm in the school pantomime photo.. I so remember Black Patch Park, and knew that it had gypsy connections but didn't know the details..I remember the ghost stories about Icknield Street by the cemetary [Roman Soldiers methinks!]..in fact I could go on and on ...thank you SO much for setting up this website..Mo Roe [nee Maureen Kemp] MROE2@ AOL.COM

ALL SAINTS SCHOOL 04/03/08

Love your pictures & comments. I lived at 113 Prescott Street until 1968 (Camden St. School partially burnt down - by the Caretaker). My Father was Ron Waldron, he was an artist of sailing ships and steam trains.

I used to hang round with Chris Robinson & Pam Holmes both of New Spring Street. I also used to go to

All Saints Junior School. Miss Cole was the Headmistress. My Father said she used to be his Headmistress as well. My teacher was Miss Jaffa. In Camden Street School, Miss Lewis was my English Teacher, Miss Mountford (French), Mr.Holton (Maths), Miss Morris (Music). When I first started Miss Edmunds was the Head. She retired, then there was Miss Warren. I remember the neighbours. Mr. & Mrs. Gardiner, Mr & Mrs OBrien,

Ingrid Waldron-Webb iggywebb@yahoo.com

ALL SAINTS SCHOOL 16/02/07

My school days at All Saints were horrible, l hated school. l can remember that small sand pit in one of the photo's on my very first day. lt must have been March/April 1949, my earliest memory of life. My mom took me and after about 30mins l ran home. Mom took me back & l played in the sandpit.

The description of Miss. Cole was correct from another entry, she was frightening. l remember her making all the left handed pupils myself included, standing in front of every one in assembly and told we must write right handed, all our moms went to see her and got it reversed.

l also remember a Miss Rowbotham (teacher) feinting in assembly, she just slid down the wall. She was ok after some smelling salts.Roger Bayliss E-mail rogerbayliss1@blueyonder.co.uk

ALL SAINTS SCHOOL IN THE 50’s ALL SAINTS ROAD 20/06/02

The picture of All Saints school on the Brookfields website, bought back many memories. I was a pupil there from late 1954 until I left for senior school aged 11. (1961). My introduction to All Saints came when my Mom took me to see if she could get me place before my fifth birthday. I started in September 1954, aged four and a half. The headmistress was Miss Cole, a fearsome old dragon. Her stare could strip paint at 50 paces, but from the first time I set foot in the school, Miss Cole took something of a shine to me. The feeling was not mutual, I held her in absolute dread!

The ground floor shown in the photo was the school hall. Strangely the doors shown on the ground floor were hardly ever used, access was had from the side entrance within the grounds of the school. At the end of my first day ‘in the infants’ the teacher a rather fussy woman with lots of black hair and bright red lipstick – what my mother would have called mutton dressed as lamb! She gave my mother glowing reports of my behaviuor on that first day. Ooh, Mrs Aston she gushed. Keith’s been such a good boy! He’s the only one who hasn’t cried for his Mum! Little did she know that my silence was induced, not by happiness or even curiosity, but by sheer terror. The whole class apart from me was occupied by thirty screaming – and I do mean screaming and kicking kids. It was Bedlam! The only reason I didn’t join in with them, was that I had gone through being terrified, and out the other side into shock! Thankfully nowadays this does not happen, as the kids are introduced gradually to school.

Above the hall, and also shown on the Brookfields website photgraph, was Miss Pierces class. She was my teacher from 1959 –60, and was a good teacher at that. The year before, I was in Miss Pardoe’s class. She was just the opposite to Miss Pierce. She had grey hair which she wore in a tight bun. She never smiled, and if you weren’t among her favourites, and I certainly wasn’t! - she’d make your life hell. Makes you wonder why such people choose teaching as a profession. She clearly didn’t like kids, and certainly showed no skill in handling them, other than to bully and subdue. I often thought she’d missed her vocation, with the ending of the war. She’d have made a good Commander of a German Panzer Division! Miss Pardoe taught us in the annexe, for part of the year. Mr Gaffney, who came from Wattville Road School in Handsworth, took over during the latter part of this year, and was I ever glad he did. Like Miss Pierce, he was a task master, but if you worked he was fair. The annexe was in Heaton Street off of the flat, next to Icknield Street School. Icknield Street school is still standing, and is in use as an Asian Community centre, so it is nice to see that the building still fulfills a useful function. My final year was spent in Mr Mannings class. During this year Miss Cole the headmistress retired, and the head's post was taken over by Mr Williams. A tall man with sandy coloured hair.

Some of my mates from that time were: Steven Earl, , Janet Davies, and from Hockley as well as Brookfields, Geoff Stanford, Gordon Smith, Janet Smith - no relation, Patty Humphries, Roy Heritage, Alan Todd, Peter Hinton, Michael Langton.. Brenda Rowley, Christine Waldron and Linda Betts, were other contemporaries of mine from the period. There were of course many others, but these are the ones I remember off the top of my head.

Other friends from the period, but not necessarily attendees of All Saints School were: Tommy Morris, Jeffrey Winter, Roy Taylor, Michael Shiner, Jimmy Badger Pamela and Susan Thorpe, Moira Greer, Kenny Jenkins John and Roger Blower, John Leatherbarrow and Gerard Small.

At the end of the school day, I would walk home, grab a bite to eat, and then go trainspotting. This was done in All Saints Street, a top one of two large brick piers with cap stones, that sit – they are still there – at the entrance to the goods yard. I believe that the yard is now an industrial estate. Both mainline and local service trains ran from Snow Hill, heading for the North. We awaited the King class loco’s, great green leviathans belching smoke and steam. They pulled the express trains, and were a sight to behold. In about 1959. I remember they were starting to be replaced by the first diesels. Does anyone remember the Pullman. Painted sky blue, it passed All Saints Street at 7:01 every week night. I recall that we were as excited by the sight of this diesel when it was new, as we were by the King class steam loco’s. By Ken Aston

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I too remember All Saints School in the fifties. As Ken Aston says Miss Cole was a headmistress to be feared but she was also very fair. Mr Williams took over from her and was very fond of Country Dancing, so in the last year in Mr Mannings class eight of us spent time visiting other Birmingham Schools giving demonstrations of Morris dancing. My final memories of Miss Cole though came many years later, it must have been the early seventies. I had moved to Harborne and was on election duty at St Lawrences Church in Court Oak Road, who should walk in to Cast her vote, yes she hadn't changed at all she still instilled that bit of fear. As for trainspotting at the Entrance to the goods yard in All Saints Street, the weighbridge attendant always used to send you running if he found you trying to rock the weighbridge. But he wouldnt mind if you sat on the old rail fence beside the cattle pens, perhaps it was because he knew that parts of it were covered in grease. There were also quite a number of squashed pennies from being placed on the rails for the shunting engines to run over them

by Andy Jarvis 24/09/02

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Regarding All Saints School, I, too, remember Miss Pardoe. She looked just like Ken described her, but I am indebted to her because she was the first person to spot my eyesight problem. This resulted in my having to wear glasses, not something I was thrilled about, but which probably avoided worse difficulties in later life. Another teacher I recall was Mrs.Rowbotham, though not with any great affection. As far as the pupils are concerned, I remember (of course) Keith Aston, Steven Earle, Alfred Pendleton (from Paxton Road), Michael (?) Chapman (Wharf Street?) & David (?) Lane, and my memory has been jogged re. Kevin Flynn. Entries on the Friends Reunited website for pupils leaving the school in 1961 (I left for Rookery Road in 1959, but that was my year group) are David Norton, Diane Heath, John Shellis & Carol Smith. I'm sure anyone who was at All Saints remembers that high brick wall at the end of the playground and the railway wagons that slowly moved behind it. I wondered for years what this was all about or whether I'd just imagined it. Then I discovered that there was a lift that took wagons from Hockley goods yard up to the higher level beside the school. These wagons serviced the canal which in turn linked up with places like GKN. I suppose the wagons could have been horse-drawn and the lift hydraulic - hence the name of the nearby pub?

Like Ken, one of my fondest memories of living in Brookfields was trainspotting at Hockley Station, or rather just inside the gates to the goods yard in All Saints Road. The colour and excitement, I suppose, contrasted with what was a largely grey and drab environment. I remember not only coins being put on the rails, but, on at least one occasion, caps as well, which really annoyed the crew of the 'matchbox'. When we were sent to the annexe in Heaton Street (was All Saints overcrowded?), one bonus was the nearby bus depot. This meant we could play on the buses after school.

Ken's right about the flooding problems in Brookfields. I can recall the cellar floor of 6, Rutland Terrace being covered in water. . Gordon.Smith 03/11/02 (see Crabtree Road on the Photographs page)

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12/02/04

Six children in our family and we all attended All Saints school, and remember Miss Cole very well, I have not seen anyone mention a teacher called Mr J. Roberts, everyone was terrified of him and my brother John taught me a song does anyone recall it. JONNY ROBERTS WAS A VERY GOOD MAN, HE WENT TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS HE PRAYED TO GOD TO GIVE HIM STRENGTH TO TAN THE KIDS ON MONDAY'S

I would love to hear from anyone who remembers us Wiggins, there are stll four of us around.

Margaret Yeates Email: myeates@blueyonder.co.uk

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BROOKFIELDS SCHOOL remember us

02/07/08

Does anyone remember the Nichols family of 61 Hingeston Road between about 1910 and 1930. Doris, Horace, Marian, Stanley, Joan, Joyce and Betty all went to Brookfields School. I would love to hear anout the school and see pictures of it. Colin Nichols cbn7k5bw@googlemail.com

BROOKFIELDS SCHOOL 1953 Coronation Party

Photo contributed by Sheila Savery her younger brother Roger Thomason is the one with a flag & wearing glasses [ back row next to teacher] Can anyone name any more

Brookfields Primary School December 2005

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13/12/04

Does anyone remember Mrs Mountford, she was my favourite teacher at Camden St

Maureen Email: pushkins@eircom.net

Camden Street School 1970's	Camden Street School 1972

CAMDEN STREET SCHOOL 29/11/06

Does anyone remember Miss Dry who taught cookery at Camden St Girls School in the late 50's? Would love to know if she is still alive-unlikely as she would be in her eighties-I told her she was wasting her time teaching girls like us, destined for the factories or the jewelry quarter to make afternoon tea complete with cucumber- rolled sandwiches etc. She told me that one never knew when such skills would be required. She was so right! I ended up as a clergyman's wife!!

Names I remember from then:Janet Gowland [life long friend] Viv Dexter, Christine Short, Sandra Gregory. Miss Oakden[?]taught sewing, Mrs Roberts Geography, Mrs Mountfield was deputy head and the wonderfully calm and graceful Miss Edmunds our head teacher. Does anyone remember Bockleton School Camp?

Josie Coates -nee Dawes Email: robert.coates3@virgin net

MY TIME AT CAMDEN STREET SCHOOL 30/04/05

by Jackie Kavanagh

Camden Street School. it all started when we moved to Coralie St, new address, new term, new school,.filled with dread my sister Audrey Kavanagh took me to enroll at Camden School it was 1969. I was twelve years old and excited we met the head mistress Mrs Bamfield who straight away recognized my sister as an ex pupil at Highgate School Mosely where Mrs Bamfield was a teacher .then she said I hope you will be as good a pupil as your sister was .oh dear I had something to live up to. .Anyway I soon settled in and was introduced to this girl who would, as they put it, show me the ropes her name was Susan Murray she was to become my best friend we were inseparable like sisters, we were,.life was good I liked school ,no loved school,.as I was noticed for being artistic which I never realized myself. until one day the headmistress called me and said I want you to go to the decorating shop in Icknield Street here is money go get emulsion paint so I took Susan and we came back with our receipt we were to paint the main entrance way to the school in big bright flowers. The helpers loved it as it was a chance to get out of some lessons I was so proud but did not show it as I didn't want to show how pleased I was to the girls I thought it out for some minuets then decided I chose a pattern that was on the carrier bag can anyone remember the big flowers on the 1960 carrier bags great big flowers of orange blue green pink oh the inspiration. all from the carrier the paint tin was in. before we began we emulsioned the walls the one with the flowers we were proud as this master piece unfolded I had to draw the whole thing first with charcoal so the final touches were done and with great pride and success with Mrs Bamfield I was summoned again with helpers to decorate the wall leading from the big main hall through the double doors outside to playground. yes the theme was autumn this time I collected leaves and drew them on the wall another success we were proud as it was like nothing else that hung on the walls these were hand painted fraises. Does anyone remember this or was a helper? I know there faces but cannot put names to them.

Next I was asked by the drama teacher to draw a life sized picture of Harold Wilson our then Prime Minister . he was to be talking to a man I did this balancing on a table with my friend holding my legs. then into the school choir we went Susan and myself and all the other girls who wanted to one Christmas in church which was round the corner in George Street West we stood very proud Susan and I as my family all turned out to here us sing all six of them. also in our choir was the now famous singer Jaqui Graham I think Mrs Mountford was the music teacher? a tall gray haired woman with a very funny humor also a small teacher with black hair played the piano for us in school. the music class was facing the heads office also the science room the science teacher was lovely we grew a broad bean and it was good to see who had grown the tallest. the P.E. teacher was a muscle bound woman who had black hair short. we had an English teacher who was very quiet and kind she was ill and later died, we had a collection for her, .then there was the drama teacher I loved her I wanted to be like her when I left school she was to use the word of the time fab. she was fun wore colorful clothes bangles rings necklaces with curly brown hair and red lippy. then a new teacher arrived an art teacher and she was to be our class teacher she had shoulder length hair. I was pleased as this was my favorite lesson when the summer holidays were nearly here Mrs Bamfield asked me how far it was to my house I said Coralie Street through the back entrance of the school she said I will bring some materials to your house after school I want you to make a portfolio of paintings drawings sketches etc .through the holidays then bring them back to me so I did all summer long then when summer was over I gave them to her . she said she wanted to show them to the college I was delighted but then we were moving due to deteriation of our house I didn't tell anyone as I didn't want to believe it ...then one day in the summer we were all packed up to move we left I didn't even say goodbye to anyone we were of to this foreign place called Castle Vale I was not pleased to be leaving my lovely school but as kids you didn't have much say in things especially when a new house was promised and lovely country side although my friendship with Susan Murray lasted for years to come we haven't seen oneanother now for about 28 years I would dearly wish to see her again last I heard she is still in Birmingham I am now in South Wales I would also like to hear from anyone who remembers me or anything I have written some names I remember in my class Barbara George who's picture I once drawed of course Susan Murray. singer Jacqui.Gaham. Catherine Shadlow .Ruby. Eisha Asian girl. Jillian. does anyone remember Wednesday nights of playcentre after school.and the Christmas play at school every ones gone to the moon.and Jaqui Graham always singing Ben?

love Jackie Kavanagh

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CAMDEN STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL

FOOTBALL TEAM 1958

Standing left -right from the back

Mr Jones sports teacher Mr Shuring head teacher

? , ? , Brian Keedwell , Tony Simpson (goal),

Thomas Morby, Martin Hems, ?.

Middle row sitting

?, Robert Taylor, Roger Franks (with ball),

Cliff Pountney and John Solomon.

Front row

Kelvin Cox, Ronnie Copper, ?, James Hadley.

Photograph from John Solomon21/11/0

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CAMDEN STREET SCHOOL 1935

Photograph from

Josie George nee homer

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ELLEN STREET SCHOOL

NELLIE C FOSTER

now Hawkins

girl just in on the left with an ink stain on face

Albert F Foster

5th from right 2nd row

Thomas C Foster

with teddy bear

William H Foster

6th from right front row

NOTE 21/08/08

I loved the photos of the Foster Family who went to school at Ellen Street. Is it possible that the owner of the girls photo would remember a girl called Nellie Timmins (my mother) as she was also born in 1914 and went there. I have a photo of her sitting at a desk but it is not clear.

Carol williams carol.williams@thomasvale.com

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St Pauls School mid 1930's 30/11/06

NOT BROOKFIELDS BUT NEAR ENOUGH

Class 6,

St Pauls C of E Girls School,

Spencer Street. Circa 1937

In no particular order Mary Clarke, Thurman, Doris Brookes, Mary Wallace, Joyce Hancocks, June Boneham, Hodgkiss, Wilson or Wilcox.

Photo with thanks to Jack Slade jackslade@blueyonder.co.uk

21/01/08

YOUR COMMENTS: Can Anyone Remember St Pauls School Spencer Street I Would Love To Here From Anyone From That School Between 1945 And Later Your Derel Lee Ps I Lived In Camden St At Number 150

Derek Lee EMAIL: Derekandrene@blueyonder.co.uk

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