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Memories of Fred H. Lee My brother and I went to the Oratory and even now remember some of the teaching staff.
The
head was Mr. Holland (Daddy), he gave me the cane for scrumping in Sir
Harrys Road. Mr.
Monkton (monkey), Mr Stinson (stinker), had the cane off him a number of
times. Mr Fitzgerald (hop a long), a Miss Jones took the infant
class (she with loud voice). My
brother Ted left in 1935, and I, a year later 1936 (I am
Fred). Ted joined the army in 1940 and I joined the army in 1942. We
lived in Oliver Road, right opposite the school gates, so as you might
guess we were never late. Mates of mine were Freddy Bradley of the Nags
Head, top of Icky Port Road and Chas Morris of Shakespeare Road. I like to think we were great mates whom the war parted, Freddy went to Maryland USA, and Chas went to California, USA. Later on in life we went over to the US to see them, so actually we were mates and friends for 60 years.
Fred. H. Lee
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Memories of Pat Kryszewski My
name is Pat Kryszewski (nee Meredith), and I am 78 years of age. I
was delighted to find your site and am, really enjoying it. In
1935 at the age of five I started in the Infants at the Oratory School.
My sister Mary was 6.1/2 and also attended the Oratory. We
lived at Warley, but the Oratory was the nearest Catholic School, and
together with other Catholic children from our area we travelled to
school each day on a charabanc. In
1936 St. Hubert's Catholic School was opened, so after a year I left the
Oratory School to attend St. Hubert's School. At
the time Sister Gabriel was in the Infant's School and I also remember
Miss Bradley at the Oratory. Until
the age of nine I remained at St. Hubert's School, by which time my
sister Mary was 11 years of age and had to return to the Oratory.
Mother insisted that we both attend the same school, so I also returned
to the Oratory and was in Miss Kane's Class, the classroom with the iron
fire escape. I
remember Miss Brindle (who taught us poetry - ABU BEN ADAM - MAY
HIS TRIBE INCREASE). Miss
Dillon, Miss Cunliffe, Miss Donnelly and SISTER JOSEPH, who I have been
told was, before entering the Convent, a titled Lady by the name of Lady
Elizabeth Cotter. I was terrified of her throughout my time
at school. I
remember Mr Holland, Headmaster of the Boy's School. His
daughter Felicity was in my class, and I remember she was a tall girl. I
can remember the names of some of the girls in the top class (Sister
Joseph's class) aged 13 to 14. They were Josie Grant, Mary
Smyth, Marjorie Grant, Agnes Maguire, Gwennie Lines and others more
fortunate who had taken their 11+ exam and moved on to St.Paul's Grammar
School. The
War had just started in 1939 when I returned to the Oratory School, and
we had reinforced classrooms in the basement as air raid shelters, where
we retreated to when the sirens sounded in the day. During
the War for a period of time the school was closed down. It
was said that people walking down Monument Road had been machine gunned
by German planes. I do not know whether or not this is true. My
sister and I went to Osler Street School for our dinner (an old five
pence). It was a sort of prefabricated
building, the door being in the middle, with the kitchen to the right
and the trestle tables and benches for the children to the left.
Health and Safety would not allow this today, but the War was on and the
meals were good. There
was a shop down the road where we used to get a halfpenny drink.
It was run by the Dean family, and Betty Dean who was the granddaughter
was in my class. We
also used to buy a halfpenny scrubbed carrot from the greengrocers in
Monument Road (opposite
Hyde Road) (sweets were rationed) The diet we had must have
been good, as my Sister
Mary (80) and myself (78) still have all our own teeth!! From the age of 12 to 13, I went to cookery classes one day a week to Osler Street School. The
first thing I made was potato and watercress soup, which was a bit
difficult to get home on the Sandon Road 6 bus and then the Midland Red
bus to Warley. From 13 to 14 we went to Vivien Road, Harborne, one day a week to Housewifery, where we were taught to sweep, dust and mop, make beds with hospital corners and also taught how to cook simple meals. Our teacher was Miss Griffiths, who was a lovely lady, who had a lisp. Miss
Griffiths must have been a saint to put up with us the way she did.
I only remember her being
very annoyed with us on one occasion when we did a bit of scrumping in
the garden!! The
Gym Hall was where Miss Dillon took P.E. We also played
netball and rounders in the playground. In
the Hall we also had a percussion band. I always hoped to get a tambourine,
but usually ended up with a triangle. Sister
Joseph also used the Gym Hall to mete out punishment on occasions with
her cane to the ready. There
was a cupboard in there too, very smelly, with pumps of all sizes and in
all conditions, and we used to rush to try and find a reasonable pair. In
fairness to Sister Joseph, she had to contend with 48 girls in her
class. It makes me smile today when teachers find it
difficult to control 20 children in a class. I think the
difference in those days was that there was strict discipline and no one
dared to disobey. In
those days the Oratory was called an Elementary School, but we were
taught how to read, write and spell correctly, we had basic arithmetic,
history, geography, plenty of religion and prayers, how to sew and good
behaviour. No one would dare to answer any of the teachers
back, and Sister Joseph was very adept with the cane!! From
the age of 12 to 13, the highlight of my week was when Father Charles
Heurtly came to give
us a religeous lesson on a Monday morning. He seemed to me
to be a very old man then, but he was very kind and we all loved him.
Later on he was confined to a wheelchair. I can remember the
Orphanage boys racing down Monument Road pushing him and he seemed to
enjoy every minute. He told us that his friend was Hilare
Belloc the poet. We
used to go to the Oratory Church from school quite often, and Father
Charles ran a competition. We
had to go round the Church and see how much we could find out and write
about St. Philip Neri. I won 2/6d, which was an absolute fortune in
those days. In
her last year at School my sister Mary was Head Girl. We
used to have regular visits from the NIT NURSE and from time to time a
girl would have her head
shaved. This was cruel and humiliating and she was made to
feel ashamed. It used to really upset me to see how unhappy they
were. My sister and I were lucky because Mother always had
the Derbac soap handy!! We
had Assembly in the morning, The Angelus at 12.00.p.m. The Rosary
at 1.50.p.m. and prayers before leaving school at 4.30.p.m. Happy
Days in Lots of Ways. Not much money, but plenty of friends. I
left at the age of 14 in July 1944. I
should be surprised if anyone remembers my sister Mary and me, as we
must be amongst some of the oldest surviving pupils, unless anyone knows
different. Lovely
website Mac. Thank
you. Pat Kryszewski
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Memories of Chris Brayshaw My name is Christopher Brayshaw, born 1947, I lived in Hyde Road up till 1967, and have some great memories of the Oratory School from the infants all the way to seniors. So yes it is true, the nuns sister Joseph and sister Vincent were very scary indeed, but because we came from a very catholic family we dare not go home and tell our dad that we had been told off or had the cane by the sisters, because that meant you would almost certainly get a clip round the head off our dad, because in his eyes they were never wrong, but I suppose it did not do us much harm. I played football for the school from a very early age, well the kit we had to wear was awful, it was only the shirt that was the same colour, if you were lucky, but socks and shorts well, they came in many colours. I still wonder if any of the teachers are still alive because when we were at school they all seemed older than they probably were, so if anybody can help on that score please let me know. One thing I do remember quite well was the tuck shop that was up the stairs over the science lab, you could get most snacks if you could afford them, but coming from a family of 7 brothers and sisters we did not spend much, and on the other hand our house was right opposite the junior school gate in Hyde Road so we just went home in our dinner hour.
We all had to go to church on a Sunday at 9 o’clock mass if you did not go, well on Monday you would be asked why not by you know who (THE NUNS), we also went to catechism on Sunday afternoon and if I remember right it you attended so many masses over the year you when on the church day out, I think I only ever went Harvington Hall.
One other memory I have, but I cannot remember her name, in the first year at the senior school we had a very young Polish teacher she was very nice, but she did not stop that long and went back home to get married, so can anybody tell me her name.
After I left school I became an engraver and that is what I have done for all my working life but only 4 years to go before I can put my feet up. But all in all those days were just great, they could not of been that bad or we would not be talking about them 44 years on.
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Memories of Terry Cook
My
name is Terry Cook. I was born 1942 and lived at 8/60 Osler Street,
until moved at around 14 years of age. I lived in Anderton Street for a
couple of years and then in Alexandra Road. I
attended the coronation party for Queen Elizabeth that was held in the
large hostel on the opposite side of the road from where we lived. I do
not recognise anyone in the picture on your site unfortunately. Looking
at the pictures for the Oratory School, I did remember David Hunt and
Harry de Silva. My mate there was Derek Bradley, I am still in touch
with him. Say
hello to Harry for me, he may remember me, one never knows. And tell Jo
Bowkett both sister Vincent and Joseph filled me with terror too, in
fact I am sure that the dear ladies would have caused Attila the Hun to
faint. One
photo did give me a lot of joy and that is the one with Mr Boggon in it.
He came to the oratory when I was around 10 or 11. He
was very different and a breath of fresh air. He spent time with kids,
like myself, that other teachers did not want to know. Most concerned
themselves with the bright pupils and star sports boys and girls. He
read to us every Friday afternoon and I could not wait for it to come
around. The story of Lorna Doone, an illustrious historical romance set
in the backdrop of the Monmouth Rebellion in the 17th century during the
reign of Charles II, gripped my imagination. He
read extremely well and inspired in me a love for literature and poetry
that still remains today. So
thank you very much for the photo of the one teacher that I held very
dear. I
have some pictures of my family at the addresses we lived at if you are
interested. I have lived in Australia since 1963. Kind
regards, Terry
Cook
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Memories of Robert Holland I
thought you might like the attached photographs of my grandfather
Charles Joseph Holland who, for thirty years or so, was headmaster of
the Oratory Boys' School.
On
the death, in early 1917, of the then headmaster Mr. Pearson, Charles
was appointed his successor for the duration of the war. I understand
that he made such success of the role that the post was made permanent
in 1918. He continued as head until 1948 when he retired. Charles
married Mary McGough (from Cumberland) in 1916 and had a family of seven
children.
Regards, Robert
Holland
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Memories of Jo Bowkett One
of my sisters alerted me to this wonderful site about Old Ladywood.
We lived at 18 Great Tindall Street initially (my mum &
dad (both now deceased), and six children, five girls and a boy in a 2
up, 2 down terrace house. My elder sisters, Margaret, Eileen &
Sheila were born very close to each other before WW2), then a gap of
eight years and I am the eldest of the second three - me, (born April
1942) my brother (June 1943) and youngest sister (June 1946).
We all attended The Oratory School - of course, by the time we second
three attended, it had changed somewhat. We first went to the
Primary School in Hyde Road and then my brother and I went to the
Secondary School in Oliver Road. Sisters Joseph & Vincent (struck terror into every child, I should think) are prominent in my mind, then I recall Miss O'Reilly, Miss Croake and Mr O'Shea. Unfortunately I didn't pass the 11+, neither did my brother, and we then went on to the Secondary School in Oliver Road. Mr Barratt was the headmaster. Mr Tillotson introduced us to the wonders of Eng.Lit. and Mr Heaton took us for History. Miss Guilfoyle taught French and Miss Heslington was our gym mistress. I learnt Irish Dancing at Oliver Road and we staged some super Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. At the time I was very involved in my stage dancing at the Betty Fox School of Dance and for part of the year I was away on pantomime for 3-4 years and so received private education (tutors) during this period.
I
do have some very fond memories of Oliver Road, going to Harborne for
domestic science and in those days the girls were taught
"Housewifery" (this term wouldn't stand up now, but what a
pity a similar course isn't included in the modern curriculum). We
went to a big house where teachers had flats or rooms and there we
learnt the methodology of cleaning/laundry/ironing - this alternated
with our cookery class. What would the girls of today make of
this, I wonder? I learnt how to make beds (hospital corners for
the sheets and blankets) and how to deal with stains in laundry, etc.
We had great fun travelling to and fro and got up to all sorts of
scrapes! I do hope others will write in with their memories. After we left Gt Tindall Street, we moved just up the road to 44 Alston Street, almost next door to a little shop that sold just about everything - groceries, vegetables/fruit, sweets, household items - and this house seemed so big to us, it had four bedrooms and three rooms downstairs and a garden! The front room was turned into a room for me to practise ballet - my mum bought a huge mirror from one of the dress shops locally that was closing down and paid for a barre to be installed for my ballet exercises). Then my sister, Eileen married and she and her husband had that room while they saved for a deposit to buy their own home in South Yardley. We then moved to Sparkhill.
When I left Oliver Road, I applied to Joseph Lucas (Electrical) Ltd. Gt King Street, as a secretarial trainee. We had to sit an exam and Mr Barratt gave me a wonderful reference and I received a first-class training as a Secretary whilst working in the mornings in the various departments. My last position before I married was as Secretary to the Chief Electrical Egineer. It was always said that a Lucas trained Secretary could obtain a position anywhere!
Keep
up the wonderful work with this gem of a website, Mac.
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Memories of Patricia Evans
My name is Patricia Evans, I used to be Patricia Eakens and I went to the Oratory. I went right from Infants to Secondary.
My memories of the Infants are of Sister Joseph and Sister Vincent.
Patricia Evans
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As promised here's a photo of the old school. The Oratory athletics team about 1954. The teachers are Miss Croake and Mr J. Boggan. This should stir a few memories especially the beautiful ceramic pictures of the stations of the cross. I'll
leave out what names I remember so that viewers can test their memories. I'm
sure the team has maintained its training. For myself I'm lucky enough
to be able to swim in the sea every day down here in Cornwall. Kind
Regards to all past Oratory Pupils who may remember my
family, the D'Silvas.
Harry
D'Silva
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Here
is a photo of the pupils who passed their 11 plus at the Oratory in 1954
and left all their old mates, to go to various Grammar Schools, the
following September. Back
row left to right----- David Hunt, Ian Griffiths, Chris Mackay,
me Harry D'Silva. Front
row--- Bernard Welch,
Stephen Webb, Margaret O'Brien? , ? Poole
and ??. I
stayed at school until I
was sixty one years old, since I enjoyed
it so much and retired as Headteacher a few years ago here in Cornwall. I
have very clear memories of the old Oratory school, its teachers and
pupils. It was a privilege to have been there. Harry D'Silva
Just
looking at the site again and Dad and I came across Harry's photograph
of the pupils passing the 11+ exam at the Oratory school in 1954.
Dad seems to think that the last boy on the front row, who is not named,
might be his cousin Patrick Withers, perhaps you can post this under
Harry's reply. Regards Helen Bird and Frank Booth
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This
photo was taken in the Oratory Junior school yard in 1953. I am on the
back row 5th from the left. Others
in this photo are: Tony Sargent - 2nd left back row Robert Hannah - 5th right back row Terry
Malins - 2nd right back row Harry
da Silva - 1st right back row David
Hunt - 1st right middle row Pat Howell - 2nd right middle row Maureen
Boyle - 3rd right middle row Pat
Caveney - 7th right middle row Valerie
Halpin - 3rd right front row Mick
Walsh - 1st left front row Yours faithfully Alan Hicks
With
reference to the 1953 school photograph sent in by my old friend Alan
Hicks, I’m pretty sure that the girl third right ,front row, isn't
Valerie Halpin but is in fact Maureen Faulding. I
thought then that Maureen was the fastest and most elegant runner I
had
ever seen. After
more than forty years in both Primary and Secondary Education,
I
still think so. There
wasn't a girl or boy who could get near her. I've
no doubt that had she wanted to, she could have made it to international
level later. I
am in the process of getting a couple of Oratory school photos ready to
forward to you, circa 1954.
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Hello My Dad
and I came across this site when on a trip to Birmingham and we realised
that there was a website dedicated to Ladywood, so we have just been
having a look at the website and Dad has been re-living lots of
memories. Dad lived at
6 back of 101 Monument Rd after he was born Loveday Street
Maternity Hospital in 1927. His parents were Cyril George Booth,
born in Burbery Street in Lozells and Mary Elizabeth Withers,
born in Beech Street, and he had a sister called Elsie and a brother
called Arthur. Dad went to the Oratory boys school in Oliver Road and
can remember Father Charles and Father Joseph and also Sisters Margaret
and Joseph. There was also a Miss Bradley. We
have enclosed a photo of The Oratory Choir in 1935. Dad is the last
one on the right of the front row, 2 away from him is his brother
Arthur and the 4th lad from the left on the front row is John Wood.
The 4th person on the 2nd row is Mr Collins, who was the organist and
next to him is Father Robert who was the choirmaster. 3rd in on
the 3rd row was Jack Lewis. Dad can't recall the names of any of the
others in the photo, perhaps somebody can help. Nan moved to 144 Wiggin Street in 1949 after she remarried Henry Austin Rutter, who was a signalman on the railway at Monument Rd box, He came from Freeth St. I can recall that Mrs Spriggs lived next door at 143 Wiggin St and the Stewartsons lived at 145 Wiggin Street. At
the back of the house was the bomb site that has been mentioned
previously in Marroway St. Fred Hadley used to repair the cars on
the end of Marroway Street and Dad can also remember going for faggots
and peas from the shop in Northbrook Street. Thank
you for allowing us to re-live a few memories and we will be looking in
the photo boxes for more photo's to send you. Yours
Frank
Booth and Helen
Bird
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Coronation Day at the Oratory School Some of the names we have are ???Girling, Betty Brayshaw, Stanley Blackford, David Curran Christopher Brayshaw,??? Patterson; Jacqueline Brayshaw Photograph courtesy of Christopher Brayshaw |
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Back row : Me (Margaret
Aston (nee Thomas); Rose Boucher; Pat McKay; Pat Baker; Alice Findley Front Row: Doreen Kingscott (nee Nation); Margaret ???; Mary Crowe Many thanks to Margaret Aston
for this photograph of the 1954-55 Netball Team
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This photo was taken in approximately 1958 in the Woodwork shop at the Oratory School
Many thanks to Tony Walsh for this photograph |
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The Oratory Cricket Team, 1938 The two people marked with "x" are Joe Knight and Frank Knight Photograph courtesy of Lilian Mawson |
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Charles
(known to us all in the family as 'Pa' and to all at the Oratory Boys'
School as 'Daddy Holland') was a Lancashire man and educated at St.
Bede's College, Manchester. Having decided to enter the teaching
profession he went on to Hasenmouth College for further studies.
Following completion of his training he was appointed an assistant
teacher at the Oratory Boys' School in 1908.
