Saturday, November 18, 2017

Recent Uploaded Photos of the School.

A few pics taken recently  from the school Facebook Page "I Survived Wyre Farm School".

Photo is from Bill Vesper, there from 1951 until 1954.

The photograph is of a marionette performance organised by one of the teachers who was known as ' Potty Watts' (a real nice guy).In the photograph the people are (from left to right) David Brown, Ken Andrews, Bill Vasper (that's me) Gwyn Evans, Sparks, Watt, Bob Vasper and Maurice Quin.
Photo Via Keith Ison

Trev Teasdel "Mr Morris - (Head) on the right back"

Mick Gajic "looks like Martin Hawthorn, head boy when I was there, sitting in middle blonde hair."

Paul Nicholas Williamson "Martin Horobin, Trev Dodd. Martin Horobin was House Captain for Mortimer Sitting, second from right. The chap with the glasses on is Stuart Graham, younger brother of Richie."

Ian Elmer "Isn't Elmer on the end left as you look."







Photo from Dill Holmes

David Stuart - Kempster is the one with his head in stocks. Tranter too?


Rosemary Webb Rehill "Pete Germaine!!! Ha!! Those were the days!"


David Stuart "Clive Kingsley-Smith facing camera Pete Germaine. "

Dill Holmes Guy lying on deck I think was Derick Champion , chap on right I think was David Ott or Rankin"



 Photo by Mike Godwin.

Photo above and below - Paul Blundell


Photo from John Kitchener

 Roy D Christon Radford House 1951


John Kitchener I was at Wyre Farm from 1951 to 1954 and I think the photo was around 1952. I was in Radford Dormitory and Mr Musgrove was the master. I am second from the right. the good looking one. My Cousin Peter Storrie was also in the same dormitory but at the other end.

I remember a big lad called Judge who now lives in Leyland Lancashire, and another lad called Franze muller but I have no idea where he is nowerdays. I am retired, 73 years old and live in Thornton Cleveleys Lancashire. I spend a lot of the summer in my static caravan in Brecon South wales.
Nice to hear from you.
Kind Regards
John Kitchener

Roy D Christon Just found my school reports for 1951/53 teachers were Daddy Hadfield. Mr Ham, Mr Richards, Mr Martin Headmaster.

Mad Carue I remember Daddy Hadfield, Mr Martin, Mr Cosgrove, Lambley and Langley , I was in Radford but can’t remember the Masters for certain, The names Ham and Richards ring a bell but that’s all.

Roy D Christon Daddy Hadfield was housemaster in Radford House the low numbers. 


Nigel Tuckey SS Uganda.

Dill Holmes Correct, docked at Malaga l think. Lisburn was the first stop, I can't remember which year though, more likely 70.

David Stuart Think you are right 70 remember Chris Green nearly through me overboard because I fixed his deckchair to collapse and he trapped his finger in it.

Nigel Tuckey I was on another one in December 71. We flew and toured around Venice before the ship left for Athens, Rhodes, Haifa, for Jerusalem & Bethlehem, and back to Venice.

Adrian Rosenlund Hudson There was also one in the late 70's, which i couldn't go on, but Jon Steane did.

Jon Andrew Steane Yes I did go on one, but it was March 1980, started in Yugoslavia, and went to Cyprus, Turkey, Santorini, Crete and finished up in Venice. George and Mrs. Parker went along to keep us under control. Now if I remember correctly there was Mark Babb, MarkShekespear, Rob Wood and Aubrey Wood, Mark Watson and Dean Watson, plus two more whose names escape me. Oh yes and I remember Sally Watson, not from the school but from Alcester. And I wonder if one of the other guys (who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty) remembers Mandy Bond?

Mark Shakespeare I remember that as well. Got us away from School for a while. if i am correct, we also went to Egypt. We docked in Alexandria and visited Cairo and saw the pyramids.

John Billing no, but I have vague memories of canoeing down the Wye...

Stuart McDonald John, canoeing down the Wye was the only trip I recall. Fishy Place ran it and I think Grubby Mush Harper was the other staff member on the trip. I was in a canoe with Phil Stevenson.
Photo from Dil Holmes

 Keith Ison Steve Mosey second from left middle row Pennington front row with stripped top.

Dill Holmes Harkin front left?

Keith Ison Yes looks like Steve Harkin his older Brother Rich was also at the school.

Photo Stuart McDonald

 Stuart McDonald I believe it was likely 63 or 64, but don't have a date on the back of the photo.

Deli Kurbaga Mick Oh Yes Brings them Flooding Back up Clee Hill on a Sat with your Packed Lunch. Pack of sausages from the village Shop, light the fire and cook them up there. Great Times.

Stuart McDonald I can confirm it was the side of Dudley House, I was in Dudley.


Christopher Applebey The path in the foreground leads to a gateway onto the roadside footpath. Just before it is a bench. Those of us who attended Methodist chapel (just to the right of where the dark car is parked in the middle of the photo) would wait on the bench until the one Methodist teacher (Baz (Ollie) Matthews) would turn up and then go in. If he didn't we'd bunk off church! Non-Conformists 1, C of E 0.

Photo from Mike Godwin.

Photo from Andy Gibson

 Andy Gibson Yeah, that pic was '78 or '79 I think. Colour was the new black, as it were!!!

Hadrian Wall Speaking of old technology, does anyone remember Mr. Rowlands coming into the class with a tape recorder and asking each pupil to state his name? I was horrified at how I sounded. It was the first time I had used one.

Tony Baker That looks like Arley where railway goes over river Seven.

Andy Gibson It could well be, Tony, as I remember a trip to the Severn Valley Railway.

Martin Hull Victoria Bridge, Arley.
New book by former pupil Paul Rees





Pictures below of the play from Paul Blundell











Photo from Jade Weaver

 Hiya my grandad (Peter Gilberthorpe)
Is trying to find old friends from school 1953-1958 message me if anyone knows him , thanks x
From left to right , Dennis Naughton, Micheal lacy,....,David Scrivens ,...,Peter Gilberthorpe,....,teacher was Walter Clarke .

Tony Baker Yes I remember him, same class. Wally Clarke took us through from 2nd, 3rd and fourth year. John Davies is also in the picture, on the right of Dave Scrivens looking from front.

Ken Hammond He was House Master of Blount, before Jim Lovatt. He had a spaniel that would find dirty socks in your locker.

Tony Baker Spaniels name was Descant, now how's that for a memory.

Ken Hammond Amazing, I remember that if someone got 'the slipper' off Clarke, you could see an imprint of the Dunlop 'badge' on their backside.











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Sunday, November 5, 2017

Michael Parker - Renowned Musician, Songwriter 1958 - 2017

Michael Parker, one of Headmaster George Parker's children, at the City of Coventry Boarding school, has sadly passed away.

He was a successful musician and songwriter. His older sister, Aileen Parker, posted this message on Facebook -

"Very sadly Michael, our little brother passed away on Thursday afternoon. Peacefully in his sleep. He was the most sweet and gentle soul I knew and a massively talented musician. I feel blessed to have been part of his life. To find out more of his great talent please visit the website of his closest and longterm musical partner, Barb Jungr. Love you Michael." xx http://www.barbjungr.co.uk/index.html

I don't know a lot about Michael Parker but have done a little bit of research for this post.

Michael was born in Cleobury Mortimer in 1958, educated at Bridgenorth Endowed School and Adams' Grammar school in Bridgenorth and lived latterly in Edinburgh.

Michael Parker played in number of bands on guitar,harmonica and even horn and was often the songwriter or co-songwriter. These include Loose Lips, The Three Courgettes, Hell Bent, Heaven Bound and as a duo with Barb Jungr.


Jungr and Parker 'Right Out Of The Blue' 

Available for the first time on https://itunes.apple.com/album/blue-d... In 1986 Barb Jungr and Michael Parker recorded their second underground cassette album, Blue Devils, at RMS studios with Andy Levien at the desk, featuring all their own songs. With Olly Blanchflower on bass, and special guests Ian Shaw (voice) and Heather Joyce (saxophones), photo Willy Duggan, artwork, Lin Jammet. Michael Parker voice, guitars and cornet. Barb Jungr voice, harmonicas and percussion. Mastered for iTunes by Christoph Bracher. Photos for video kindly supplied by Abi Grant.

Loose Lips
Aileen tells above that Michael was a massively talented musician and songwriter and in the 70's and
Helen Watson

80's was in a band called Loose Lips, with Helen Watson. 
Helen Watson is an English singer-songwriter who has played or toured with a range of stars including - Albert Lee, Little Feat, the Eagles' Bernie Leadon, Andy Fairweather Low - toured with the legendary Joe Cocker, sung with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt and worked with some of England's finest, including Christine Collister, Chris While and Julie Matthews. Her music encompasses blues, soul, jazz, pop and folk. Born in Manchester, she began performing on the folk-club circuit during the late 1960s whilst working as a teacher in Manchester. During the 1970s and 1980s she was a singer with the renowned blues band Loose Lips and a member of the Manchester quartet Well Knit Frames. 





The Three Courgettes


The Three Courgettes "recorded on the Island label in 1982 and consisted of Jungr, guitarist Michael Parker and singer Jerry Kreeger. The group, whose choice of name probably ensured its stature as a footnote in British musical history, was popular on the so-called alternative cabaret circuit, where Jungr also toured with her friend and regular collaborator, the comedian Julian Clary. When the Courgettes went their separate ways, she worked for another 12 years with Parker, now based in Edinburgh." http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/barb-jungr-im-an-obsessive-kind-of-person-8567679.html

The Three Courgettes - Substitute 1982


The Three Courgettes - Christmas is Coming.

Chistmas is Coming "was recorded by the Three Courgettes featuring Barb Jungr in 1982 for the Ze Christmas Album. The Three Courgettes were originally signed to Island Records, for whom they released two singles, one of which a picture disc featured in this video. The group toured with Kid Creole and The Coconuts and had a minor hit with the song Three Courgettes produced by Jungr's husband Richard "Dan" Bowling."






The single is available here - 




HELL BENT HEAVEN BOUND

In the early 1990’s Helen was a member of the acclaimed vocal ensemble HELL BENT HEAVEN BOUND with Christine Collister, Barb Jungr and Michael Parker. They toured Europe, America and Canada.

On this page here there is a review of the Helen Watson band by Martin Smith who says of Michael Parker - 

"The revelation for me was Michael Parker who played acoustic guitar, and played any solos that
Michael Parker
were going. I've heard of him as he played in a sort of Brecht / Weill cabaret duo called Jungr and Parker, and there is a bit of mention of that on the Fledgling page in the Christine Collister biog and I see you feature the Heaven Bound recording on your page. He played guitar nicely, and his backing vocal meshed very well with Helen's; they have a knack of sounding like more than 2 people.

But his lead singing was fabulous. He has a fair vocal range himself, seems to be able to produce a variety of voices, and is seriously at home with the blues. You won't see a better example of a guy who should have been born black! He sang a fine version of George Jones' "She thinks I still care" sounding very much like the ol' drinker himself. And blues-wise he did Howling Wolf's "How many more years?", Jimmy Reed's "I'll change my style", and a encore version of "Walkin' the dawn" which was great. Sometimes Helen just sang second vocal, or sometimes played harmonica on his tunes. They also sang a very sleazy version of a (presumably) old blues tune from the Hell Bent revue days (Gee baby ain't I good to you)."

Barb Jungr and Michael Parker



Shopping For One

If Push Comes to Shove


You can hear more tracks if you click back to youtube.

Wicked (Barb Jungr and Michael Parker album)



Track listing

"Bad Things Come in Threes" (Barb Jungr, Michael Parker)
"Don't Sacrifice Me" (Jungr, Parker)
"No News is Good News" (Parker)
"That Black Cat" (Jungr, Parker)
"In Soho Late at Night" (Jungr, Parker)
"Too Much for Me" (Jungr, Parker)
"Just the Wisky Talking" (Jungr, Parker)
"Perfect Pair" (Jungr, Parker)
"The Begging Game" (Jungr, Parker)
"Over a Low Flame" (Jungr, Parker)
"You Can't Win Them All" (Jungr, Parker)
"An Empty Bottle" (Jungr, Parker)

Musicians
Barb Jungr - vocals, harmonica
Michael Parker - guitar, harmonica
Paul Zetter - bass guitar
Other personnel
Lin Jammet - art
Honey Salvadori - photography


Barb Jungr with Michael Parker and legendary comedian Arnold Brown, with whom she won The Perrier Award in the 1980s.



Here is another tribute to Michael Parker by James Ghent from 'We are Cult' posted on Barb Jungr’s that tells you more about his musical background than I have related above. Take a look, it's interesting http://wearecult.rocks/michael-parker-1958-2017




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