An Experience not to be Forgotten...

Every now and then a Google search throws up something I haven't seen. This is from an article in the Coventry Telegraph c2018. Some of you from the 70's might know the guys mentioned. -

An experience not to be forgotten... 

"Last week's feature on the old City of Coventry boarding school prompted several memories and one mysterious sighting. It was very interesting to read and see the photographs of Cleobury Mortimer and the City of Coventry School, formerly Wyre Forest Camp School, writes Paul Rutherford of Coventry.

I was a pupil at the school from 1970-1975, five years of my life that I will never forget, and although now aged 52 I think like a lot of the former pupils, there are memories that will never be forgotten.

I know at the time it was thought by many of the pupils to resemble a prisoner of war camp, and how long times were longed to get into the 4th & 5th years to be housed in the modern block, with smaller rooms and none of the drafty dormitories. Oh, and of course they had the snooker table.

The early years based in the dormitories are ones that would never be forgotten for the early rising to the rush over to the ablutions in all weathers to get cleaned up for the day, the rush to have breakfast, and to be back for inspection hoping that you had remembered to roll the bed back and draw curtains to avoid the punishment of lines, and that was before you got back to school.

I still maintain that we had one of the hardest masters in the camp who doubled up as chemistry teacher and house master for the youngsters of Dudley House.

If the swimming pool was too cold for swimming, then they could always arrange a Cross Country Run for sports, and this not just during the school times, but also when they began to organise sports on a Saturday morning, reducing our free time even further, and of course there was no complete free day on a Sunday either as there was church to attend, and no going into the village without school uniform.

Was it any wonder that some of the new attendances to the school, saw it in their mind to do a runner back to Coventry.
But it did have one good advantage, the power cuts of the 1970s meant that we did have one advantage, and had an extended time at home.
It may have seemed like a hard life at the time, but looking back, I don't think it did any of us any harm."

EDWARD Johns, of Acacia Avenue, Stoke, Coventry, was intrigued by our picture of boys in 1945/6 when the school was Wyre Farm Camp.
He asks: "Who is the turbanned gentleman in the top left hand corner of the photograph? Anybody else spot it?" (below right) 

And Mick Lacey, of Bedworth, recalls: "I was at Wyre Farm Camp School in the late 50s early 60s. Forest Lodge was not built then. The ground was the allotments which we tended. While I was there it changed name to City of Coventry Boarding School for Boys. Not that made any difference to us. It was good school.

In the winter when there was snow and frost and the classrooms were not over warm we used to have mass snowball fights with the whole school and teachers involved."
I WAS a border for six months in 1944/5; all dormitories were named after districts in Coventry. I was in Radford.We had bunk beds in those days the cold showers in the morning certainly brushed the cobwebs away.

The school used to take us out on many trips, including Ludlow Castle and the Elan Valley dams which supplies water to Birmingham. Food took a bit of getting used to, specially having kippers and mash potato for breakfast. On the subject of potatoes we went picking for a week; it was on a very large estate with a beautiful house and its own small church.
When we arrived, we scared stiff when we found out we would be working Italian prisoners of war who were being held there. We soon got over that when they invited us up to the house and gave us endless supplies of cakes and trifles. I always remember when you fell foul of the teacher you were told to go and collect a set of studs from around school. All our shoes were heavily studded to make them last, hence there was studs all over the place! It was great place for sport. I used to play in goal for the junior team.
Another sport I was introduced to was table tennis, a game I subsequently played for over fifty years with a little bit of success.
Bob Harrigan, Whitmore Park, Coventry

Neen Savage 2020 Gill Guest - New Book

I got an email from author Gill Guest who has authored a book on Neen Savage which sounds quite amazing. Gill says "The book might make a great Christmas present for someone. It's a whopping 200 pages, with colour pics. There's a section on the Pioneer Centre/Wyre Farm school, as well as history and stories and field maps and name origins. Did you know 'neen' is a great rarity, one of our oldest words and possibly THE oldest? How about that! It means river."

Recent Material via Facebook or other!

NEIL AND HAZEL O'CONNOR

Taken at the Coventry Music Museum a couple of years back - Coventry singer Hazel O'Connor n the right, Pete Chambers (Curator of the museum) and hazel's older brother, Neil O'Connor on the left. Neil was at CCSB c 1965 in Dudley but left the school early. He later formed his own band c 1974 called Midnight Circus. I gave them their first two gigs at the Hobo Workshop, Holyhead Road Coventry where some of the Two Tone bands later formed. Midnight Circus changed their name c 1970 to the Flys becoming a punk band with a single called Molotov Cocktail. The Flys appeared on John Peel, Old Grey Whistle Test but split up by the time Hazel broke through in 1981 with her film and album 'Breaking Glass'. Neil joined Hazel's backing tour band Megahype on guitar and they recently toured again a few years back. Neil lives in Montreal now where he's still writing and making music.

Rosemary Webb Rehill, daughter of the bursar has once again submitted some interesting material.

Oliver

Many of you remember the production of Oliver c 1969 in the school hall - there is a post on here with many photos. Rosemary found the programme and heere it is.

THE SWIMMING POOL

Another of Rosemary's finds was a video of the school swimming pool. The footage is from1959 and stars Rosemary swimming in the school pool with her cousin and her brother Steve Webb with Sue Rowland. 

MAWLEY HALL

Way back in 2011 when we started this blog and the Facebook page, Rosemary initiated a discussion about Mawley Hall - whose grounds are opposite Cherry Orchard. Rosemary recalled that any Catholics at the school would worship at Mawley Hall ( and later in Cleobury) and she also mention that the hall had associations with Napoleon, King Henry VIII and the Blunt family. The original post can be viewed here  https://wyrefarmed.blogspot.com/2011/07/mawley-hall.html?fbclid=IwAR3eP-Pk86lf9f89kLmCc0h-QrGuPzc0sLi1zzKnhhqbzmqxBXJeTqQ2fe4

Recently Rosemary and her husband Chuck Rehill visited Mawley Hall and here is a video from that video 

Below - the entrance to Mawley Hall

This cutting was uploaded to our Facebook page by Peter Stokes in regard to the school Initiative tests.

THE INITIATIVE TESTS

Adrian Adams

Myself and China Downing made it to Lands End. I know Braid Cochran and Andy (Huck) Finney got to somewhere in Scotland that Braid had relations.

Paul Nicholas Williamson

As it happens there was a map put on the wall of the assembly hall showing where each pair had got to. RTM would also tell the school at morning assembly the up to date news that was when the school was really buzzing with activities, sorry but we entertained ourselves more than the lazy gits of today on their play stations.

Lauri Lindsay

We did Taunton Somerset. I remember hearing of a pair who went to Scotland and were offered a trip on a trawler if they got the ok which of course they said they had it. On their return the Police were waiting on the dock for them. Seems they were away for a week !

Pete Day

Imagine this now. The kids wouldn't cope, the parents would be in fits and the cops would go nuts, bless.

Michael Billings

I was on the same initiative test as Peter with Warren Shepherd. We went up to Glasgow across to Edinburgh and down to London before returning to school. We got separated on our last night in Evesham and arrived back at school separately (my fault) and i landed in hot water with the head. Highlight for me was visiting Glasgow St Enoch station and cabbing 46222 Queen Mary Coronation Class loco.

TexasDave McGarry

I went with Peter Lund to Devon. Rained the whole time as I remember, but the best escape from school ever. It prepared me for the longest hitch hike ever when I took the long road to Australia a few years later.

Ken Hammond

Did they not stop this when two boys had to be ‘recovered’ from the Côte d’Azur? They ‘crewed’ on a Yacht.

Tony Baker

Did this in 1957 when myself and John Davies reached Glasgow, Edinburgh and London then across to South Wales achieving 1500 miles. We were that years winners. Have still got the original notebook in which we recorded details of our adventures.

Trev Teasdel

Thanks Peter. We went on an initiative test in 1966 but I think we took a tent, stove and had some tins of food and had to phone the school each night to check in. More precautions then. I don't remember an instruction to earn our way but people were very kind with lifts, camping grounds and food. We went to Radnorshire but some went down south - didn't hear of anyone going to Ireland. It's unthinkable now - there would be an outcry but we had a good time luckily!

........................

MARTYN HAWTHORNE

Several of the lads spotted former House and School Captain Martyn Hawthorn at the Cenotaph on Poppy day. Martyn was born on 5th October, 1946, in Stratford-upon-Avon and brought up in Coventry. He was educated at the City of Coventry Boys Boarding School (1958-1963) and was House Captain and Head Boy. He continued his education at Binley Park Comprehensive School in Coventry where he was Deputy Head Boy from 1964 to 1965. He was an accomplished sportsman, playing cricket for Worcestershire, competing in the All England Athletic Championships and playing for England Schools versus Wales and Scotland.
He continued his education at the Coventry College of Education and became a PE and Masters teacher. Having taught for a number of years, he became a leisure centre manager as many PE teachers did in the early 1970’s. He applied to join the Royal Navy as an Instructor Officer. He was accepted and went to BRNC in April 1977 and then onto HMS Fearless for training. Having trained, he served on HMS Raleigh, HMS Hermes, HMS Heron, HMS Nelson, Squadron Instructor Officer for D3 going to Armilla Patrol on HMS Glasgow. During the Falklands Crisis, he was appointed to MoD in London due to his specialist skills. He went on an exchange appointment to HMAS Cerberus with the Royal Australian Navy and was their Quality Control Officer.
Returning to the UK, Martyn was appointed SATO at HMS Neptune and was responsible for the training change-over from Polaris to Trident. “Options for Change” meant that he could not be promoted again and his Commission ended in 1993. Since 1979, he had refereed rugby union for the RNRURS and the Combined Services Rugby Union, having officiated the All Blacks in 1984.
On completion of his Commission, he went back to his roots as a PE teacher and became a lecturer in the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies in the sports department. Within three years, he was Head of School and stayed for another three years before taking up an appointment with the Scottish Rugby Union as a Referee Development Officer where he stayed until his retirement in June 2014.
Martyn was part-time Clerk to the Board of Management at the Barony College, Dumfries, for seven years until it was amalgamated with Elmwood College, Oakridge College and the Scottish Agricultural College. This gave him first-hand experience of Governance and dealing with Trustee issues.
He and his family moved to Moffat in 1992 where he has lived ever since. Having re-established his career and his young family having grown up, he joined the Moffat Branch of the Legion in 2001. At that time, the Branch only held one meeting a year, the AGM. Martyn became the Poppy Convenor and Branch Secretary when the Secretary retired in 2003. He and the new Branch Chairman, Billy Duncan BEM, introduced a monthly coffee morning on the last Wednesday of the month from 1030 to 1200 noon. The first month, there were only 12 Legionnaires present. The next month, there were 19 and now, some years later, over 40 members attend and there are guest speakers whenever possible.
Martyn became the NEC Representative for Dumfries and Galloway in December 2013 and then, Area Secretary for Dumfries and Galloway in February 2014. He has recently again been voted as the Area NBT Representative. He was on the working group that revised the RBLS Constitution and Handbook as well as Convenor of the working group looking at the structure of the RBLS.
Martyn’s interests are mainly sports-related, especially rugby, as well as flying, photography, all types of music and travel. He has three daughters and a son plus four grandchildren who also keep him busy. ......[Courtesy of the Scottish Legion ]

Letter from the school to Phil Hawkes 1973

Clothing and sports equipment list from Phil Hawkes 1973.

The Boarder - Second Issue of the School Magazine July 1959

 The Boarder - Second Issue of the School Magazine July 1959

Thanks to Gordon Wood we now have issue 2 of The Boarder from July 1959. For this issue they went professional - typeset and printed on an offset litho machine at a printers. 40 pages with House reports, sports reports, Church news, dramatic society reviews and lots of creative stories or poems and much more.

Four issues were produced between 1957 and 1961. We have 3 of the issues on here and if anyone has a copy of Issue three July 1960, please let us know! These magazines produced by the staff and pupils, give a birdseye view of the school at that time and reflect all areas of school activity from house reports, outings and visits, clubs and societies to sports and even exams. They also reflect some of the changes in those years, staff and pupils starting or leaving, changes in the school and school news. Brilliant historic documents for the school. Links to the other issues are below.

The Boarder Issue 1 July 1958

The Boarder July 1961

Photos from Paul Norman

The team 1966 - from Paul Norman

Miscellaneous Photos From Our Facebook Page

 Photograph from c 1958 / 59 from Warren Shepard.

Sports team 1970's

From Dill Holmes

Cleobury from the air.

Photos from Gordon (Corgi) Wood c 1954 - 1960

 Photos from Gordon (Corgi) Wood c 1954 - 1960

Gordon (Corgi) Wood was at the school c 1954 - 1960. He played the violin in the school orchestra, was in Blount. He was also in the school cross country team during my last two years. They were some of the happiest times of my life, which I still remember with great affections.

This photograph was also used for the cover school brochure c 1961 - 2

DIARY OF A YOUNG SCHOOLMASTER

Sarah Baker says......
(on the Facebook page 'I Survived Wyrefarm Camp School')

"When I first joined this group I said I had found my late Father's (Philip Baker, geography, history and games master 1968-1972) diaries for the period of Autumn Term 1969 (the term I was born) and early Spring Term 1970.

Below I've compiled all of Sarah Baker's diary entries  - nearly 3 month's worth of them into this PDF file which you can read online or if you click the arrow back to Google drive you should find another arrow from which to download the file.

These are extracts from his diaries for those that might be interested. Some extracts will be far more interesting than others, some will mention names, many will not. I hope no-one will find offense in any of them.  Hope someone finds some enjoyment in reading them:

Photo shows Philip Baker with a junior looking rugby team some time between 1968 and 1972

DIARY OF A YOUNG SCHOOLMASTER - Monday September 1st 1969.. Part 1

"The weather is rapidly beginning to change these days. The last few days of August turned out to be quite chilly. Today as we walked around the Shropshire countryside we could see signs of Autumn beginning to creep in. Neen Savage was peaceful without a car to be seen from Six Ashes to Barbrook. The ford was as low as I have ever seen it. A pair of dippers bobbed from rock to rock in the centre of the river. What a pleasant surprise as we walked back across the playground to see Mike and Chris coming to meet us. They had returned from Hampshire on the previous day and had just called at the flat to see if we were in. We chatted and drank until about nine o'clock and then drove to the Horse and Jockey to have a drink or two. Tomorrow is the last day of the holidays. I must finish my preparations for the new term as there won't be any time on Wednesday. The school looks in a rather sorry state and very empty at the moment. I shall be glad when the whole place is given a fresh coat of paint."

Top Comments

Trev Teasdel Brilliant Sarah, that's live literature, as it happened, a time-tunnel on those days and strange that you were in the cradle when this was happening.

Sarah Baker Thanks Trev. Glad you enjoyed it. This was not one of the most interesting days as the boys weren't back at school yet. I wasn't even in the cradle, still in the womb, yep my late mother walked to Neen Savage and back then went to the pub drinking whilst nearly 7 months pregnant and probably in high heels...those were the days !

Dave Fellows I would be one of the new pupils turning up at the start of the new term. That year the winter came early and delivered a good dusting of snow! Please continue.

Sarah Baker I will Dave, every day until I run out of entries ! You probably won't like to hear what the teachers thought of the new intake boys!

...Yes it did snow quite heavily. It snowed the night I was born (November 16th) and Dad struggled to get back from the hospital in Shrewsbury.

....From what he told me and in his diary, my Dad seems to think most of the lads were great, he enjoyed doing the sports with them in particular. The new intake however always seemed to take a certain amount of licking into shape at the start of each year and a lot of the new boys were cheeky and unused to structure and discipline.

....The boys who arrived cocky, mouthy and full of themselves needed to be taught to be a bit more personable or needed to be given the confidence to come out of their shells. I think the stage productions and sports (both of which my Dad loved) were supposed to be ways to give confidence and encouragement to those boys who did not necessarily shine in the classroom but had gifts in other areas.

...my parents had a living area and one bedroom in their flat. I assume some sort of kitchen/kitchenette too ..on the end of the Annex -Junior House.

Philip Baker on the right.

DIARY OF A YOUNG SCHOOLMASTER - Wednesday September 3rd 1969...Part 2

At 9.30 the staff were duly assembled for the first staff meeting of the term. The headmaster outlined plans for the new term and informed the staff of relevant idiosyncrasies of the new boys. The head boys for each house have been chosen - Evitts for Dudley, Bartlett for Mortimer and Harkin for Blount. I'm not sure that I would agree with the choice of the housemasters. It looks as if the head boy of the school will be either Bartlett or Harkin. There looks as though there will be some money to spare for a major piece of equipment, as we are having a bazaar on the second visiting day. There were several suggestions put forward for the way in which the money should be spent. Personally I prefer the idea of the video-tape machine. It would be a great asset to the school.

After a lunch well up to the usual standard [underlined in original] of school lunches, the boys arrived. We have a motley crew in The Annexe to say the least. There were two new boys and there should be one more arriving soon. Roger and myself laid down the law before we did anything else. We have got off to a much more organised start than last year. Perhaps we won't have much trouble after all.

At last I managed to get round to making the rugby display board. It worked out very well and will be extremely useful in games lessons.

Tomorrow it's back to the classroom. At least I am well prepared this year with a folder full of teaching notes. What a difference from last year when I only arrived the day before school started."

Trev Teasdel Again forward thinking - Video machines! interesting to have insight into a staff member's thinking, before the boys arrive. Don't edit too keenly Sarah, it's interesting to hear the social life of the teachers - we only saw them at the school and we mostly had no idea about their family or social activities, it paints a bigger picture of who they were.

Sarah Baker The only bit I've left out of this one Trev is Chris driving my Mum to her antenatal appointment and to pick up her vitamin pills. For once they don't seem to have gone to the pub !

..It seems the staff and their wives went on an almost nightly pub crawl when not on duty. To the extent that I was nearly born in The Fountain ! (Pub in Cleobury Mortimer).

Lauri Lindsay during 5th form year a few of us would go to the little pub across the road from the library. Can’t remember the name. We were locked in the back room for an hour on a Friday evening. Couple of times Mr Baker was in bar side. Talk about holding your breath !!!......Your Dad and Terry Walker had tremendous influence on me and I can’t thank them enough.

Philip Mulhall I was at the school from 1967 to 1972 and was taught by your father for Geography. I clearly remember and respect the teaching talents of many of the teachers such as Alan Thorne, Terry Walker, Peter Germain, Jim Loveitt, Roger Anabel and Gordon Plaice, David Gaukroger. Eternally thankful to them all. My own youngest son is in teaching and I better understand the pressures of the profession today.

End of final term 1971

DIARY OF A YOUNG SCHOOLMASTER - Thursday September 4th 1969...Part 3

Morning Assembly began, as usual, with Hymn 137 (Lord behold us with thy blessing etc.). It was followed by a dreary introduction to the school by the headmaster. Harkin was announced as School Captain although I'm sure MacMenamin should be head of the school.

The form period with 3X was pretty routine and a geography lesson with 4X followed. I enjoyed the lesson with 4X, they seem to have enjoyed it too. Perhaps we are fresh after eight weeks holiday.

The afternoon saw my first clash with 1Y, what a shower. This was followed by junior games. Roger and I endeavoured to teach rugby to first years with some success. Afterwards I had a short Under 13 rugby practice. It looks as if the Under 13 team will be poor this year. Since Noel Wilson has broken his arm it will be poorer still.

My first stint as duty master began after tea. It proved to be relatively uneventful. I helped Roger for a while with the Under 13 basketball team. It looks as though he will have a good team this year.

My first house duty of the year began after supper. It was dull in the dormitory. They seem much younger than last year's boys. However, they don't seem to be much trouble as yet although one or two of them are heading for a downfall if they don't watch out. Tyler in particular sails very close to the wind.

The new boy, Bird, turned up in the evening and promptly left after refusing to budge from the car. Perhaps it's just as well really, he would have had a job to mix.

The headmaster gave me the list of those sitting the geography exams. I have nine for G.C.E 'O' level and 13 for C.S.E. Tomorrow I shall have to sort out some options. The G.C.E crowd look fairly promising. At least five or six of the nine should pass without trouble. However, I cannot foresee a great deal of grade '1's in the C.S.E. crowd although most of them should pass.

Tomorrow is second year geography. I am looking forward to teaching the second year this year. They were very good as a first year and I have an interesting syllabus arranged for them.

Thank goodness I have a free weekend. I can certainly do with it after today. The only consolation was my pay cheque turning up !"

Phil Hawkes Reading this article brings back many memories for me. I was at C of C from 1971 to 76. The thing I absolutely dreaded was having to take turns reading from the Bible in morning assembly. I always paid somebody to do it for me when it was my turn. After nearly 44 years since leaving, I still can't stand up in front of people, even if I know them.... Its only later on in life that you realise how the housemaster molded us to have values. I can still hear TJ Walker saying if you're going to do a job, do it properly.

Sarah Baker I believe someone said that 'Roger' was a teacher called Roger Gawkroger (good name and not easily forgotten). I believe he was one of the young unmarried teachers. Most of the 'young' teachers, including my Dad were not that young as most of them had done their National Service (my Dad did 5 years) and two years (at least) teacher training. Dad was 30 at the time this diary was written.

DIARY OF A YOUNG SCHOOLMASTER - Friday September 5th 1969... Part 4

Second year geography got off to a good start today and the new syllabus should progress well. The second year boys have changed considerably since their first year. One or two of them have become far too impertinent and will have to be sorted out before the term is very old.

Today also saw my first meeting with the fifth form. I have a large group this year - nine for G.C.E and thirteen for C.S.E. They look as though they will be a hard working bunch of lads, although I cannot guarantee that they will all pass.

Josie went to Bridgnorth with Chris in the afternoon and Chris was at the flat when I arrived home from afternoon school. It wasn't very long after my arrival that a knock came to the door, and there stood Mrs. Parker. She had come to ask Josie and Chris if they would like to go to the wine and cheese party run by the Women's Institute that night. They were both delighted. It eventually turned out to be a very pleasant evening.

Josie arrived home to find me stretched out on the sofa, tired after a weary training session with the Under 14 basketball team.

Tomorrow is Saturday and I am due to play cricket in the afternoon. I must take Josie into one of the towns in the morning to get a warmer maternity dress."

Sarah Baker It was a shock for my mum, she was very lonely and felt isolated (especially as she stopped driving when she was pregnant with me and never felt confident enough to drive again). She'd been born and lived in Exeter all her life and had worked for 20+ years before moving to Cleobury. Quite a change for her.

Rosemary Webb Rehill my mum too found life difficult at first. Later I think she adjusted. I never knew anything else. I was constantly immersed in a scholastic environment with ever changing faces. So many of the boys were my friends and the teachers extended family. Alan Thorne was always in our living room, wheezing away! Ha! It was a good life!

Paul Rees I can, now, see the disciplinary problems that Masters had with us kids. It's so good to read the thoughts of one. I suspect I was s little s"*t and, if I could, would sincerely apologise. Several Masters were superb, Mr Harper being just one.

Sarah Baker I think the masters would have been disappointed if you'd all have been perfect from the start. There's a certain sense of challenge and job satisfaction in changing the course of young lives onto a better course. Not many people know but my Dad was offered two jobs when he left college, the one at Cleobury and one at Millfield, one of the leading public schools in the country and undoubtedly the one with the finest and most up to date sports facilities of any school in the country. He chose Cleobury. I guess if he'd wanted to work with posh and very well mannered young men he night have chosen differently

.....Dad started teaching there in September 1968 (a year before this diary starts).

Lauri Lindsay I had Mr Baker for geography/social studies in his first year at CCBS. He had the room in the new block next to the library.

Sarah Baker So his nickname was Von Baker ???? No...not a clue on that one. Would make sense perhaps if of German origin but if anything Dad spoke with quite a strong West Country/North Devon accent (although some of that had rubbed off in RAF and civil service). I was expecting it to be related to that. Wonder if anyone has any ideas why Von Baker ?

Tim Naylor he was well respected by the lads and especially Rugby cricket etc lads most couldn’t wait to get to the 3rd year and move into the annex,Bernard Petty was the other master in there when I moved over from Dudley he was a good Rugby player and coach too.

Sarah Baker That's lovely to hear. I know my mother once overheard a conversation between a few of the boys who were discussing Dad (they had no idea she could hear them). The gist of the conversation was that he was a good bloke and firm but always very fair, if you got a good whack from him you know you really deserved it!

Tim Naylor I had two run ins both my fault he was firm and well mad at me but he wasn’t the whacking type didn’t need to be when he gave u a bollocking you took note,he left after my third year and tbh that was the school's loss...you putting these diary’s up is great.

Sarah Baker it's good to know he went in for the 'bollocking' rather than the 'whacking' ! He was always very good at explaining what one had done wrong and why one should never contemplate it again ;) ! He spent 5 years in the RAF 1956-61 and I suspect learnt a good deal of his 'bollocking' skills then, having been on the receiving end most of the time !

DIARY OF A YOUNG SCHOOL MASTER - Saturday September 6th 1969 Part 5

Josie's arm was really painful when she awoke this morning. However, we went to Kidderminster and did some shopping. We were unsuccessful in our attempt at getting Josie a new dress, and it wasn't long before Josie felt ill and her arm was beginning to swell. So we bought our groceries and came home.

We arrived home to find David Gawkroger waiting for me to try and swap a duty. he stayed and watched television for a while because it was the Gillette Cup Final between Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

In the afternoon I played cricket for Cleobury. An early collapse of our batting meant that I had to "get my head down" for an hour. I managed only thirteen runs but saw the score go from 43 for 6 to 87 for 8. My bowling was not so lucky as I seemed able to find the edge without getting wickets. For the first time in the season I was taken off without having taken a wicket.

After cricket Roger and I called in at The Fountain for a pint or two. we didn't stay long because Roger was on duty.

Tomorrow is six-a-side day at Ludlow but I have dropped out since my back is beginning to ache slightly."

...............................

The rest of the entries are in the PDF file above now but here are some of Sarah Baker's photographs

Philip Baker and his wife - Geography and sports teacher from 1969

The arrival of Sarah Baker

Philip Baker with Sarah Baker 1970

Philip Baker