Sports Photos via Peter Dawson

Ex pupil Peter Dawson managed to negotiate permissions to copy the following photos from the Coventry Archives dept. for which we are thankful. The photos were taken on Peter's phone quickly but he hopes to get better versions later via a camera. Meanwhile, enjoy. I will replace these with the better versions as they come in and add any new ones Peter is able to get.

Peter Dawson the lad down on one knee i think is Danny Brooks

Peter Dawson - Tunisia i think.

Michael Breslin Mr Brian Petty (English and Rugby Teacher)

 Back Row: left to right Nick Watson, Russel Hemmings, Mr Gardner? Tony Dean, unknown, Mr Russel, Simon Hull.

Front row left to right: John Mckay, Mr Barrett, Tim Vince, Tom Sayer, unknown, John Kenny, Me is that Gardner next to you Mr Dawson? and then I have that guy in the back row wrong? 1974 or 75 school team.

Peter Dawson back row third from left is Paul Davis second from right back row Russell Thomas

Michael Breslin I'll give you Paul Davis and I should have put Mr Russell XXXX so I was close, good memory Pete c'mon what about the guy next to you?

Peter Dawson Cant think who that kid is i should know him both Mortimer. Could be Gerry Newbold

Michael Breslin Could be...

George Houguez - Back row left to right; Gary Russell, Dave Meacham, Dexter Lacey, don't know, don't know. Front row, Gallagher, Eddie Nelson, Ian Riggs, Paul Doyle, Craig Benfield

Trev Teasdel - Storer B/ Row last but one on right.

Peter Dawson Don't know the year, must be around 73

Peter Cobham possibly, cos I arrived in 74 and don't remember those style shirts for Dudley

Michael Breslin Who is the teacher? Must be 1972 Pete

Peter Cobham is that the back fence of the swimming pool? looks like it needs creosoting!

Peter Cobham I said Dudley, but there are Mortimer and Blount socks in there too

..........

Michael Breslin Back row left to right: Andy Carrol, John Kenny, Rob Hunter, Mr Thomas, Gary Marks

Front row, left to right: Duncan Milne, John McKay, Satwant Banwait, Dave Rowlands Richard Bruce. School Cross Country team or Athletics....all of these were excellent runners so I may be wrong about that being Gary Marks

Dave Rowlands school athletics Mike Gary Marks was in it he done the shot

1950's with Headmaster Mr Morris on the left.

Michael Breslin - Back Ro Left to right: John McKay, Simon Hull, Unknown, Paul Fisher

Mid Row Paul Betts, Baz ? John Kenny, Tom Sayer

Front: Gavin De Miranda, unknown, unknown, how come I am not on that team? Must be cricket!

Clee Hill - Recent Photo from Ralph Aldhous

Ralph Aldhous

The first day of summer and we went walking in beautiful Shropshire. Here's a photo of Clee Hill taken from the road between Stottesdon and Sidbury:

Deli Kurbaga Mick  (Mick Powers) ..getting some sausages from the village a going up clee hill making a fire and cooking them till nearly black, Me,  Stu O'halloran and a few others. Oh the Memories!

"It's a Knockout" 1970's and School Badge

Trev's school badge - Michael Breslin is getting some made for anyone wanting one for their collection. Contact Michael via the I Survived Wyre Farm Camp School Facebook page. (Soon)!

Contributed by Peter Cobham

Taken at the "It's a Knockout Competition", Held between Hoses Dudley, Mortimer, Blount and a team from the local village school. This competition was part of the Silver jubilee celebrations.

Photo taken o n the basket ball court in front of the tech drawing room.

Trev Teasdel ‎'Long haired-gits!' lol - Slasher Jack (the barber) would have had all that hair off us in our time at the school. You guys missed 'Slasher' Jack - he lived in the cottage over the road from the school and his maxim was "you can keep what you have under your cap" - the rest was ruthlessly 'slashed'. One of the characters of the school - but he passed about 1969 or thereabouts. Hairstyles were one of the differences between the photos of the school in the 70's and beforehand. Good clear photo Peter and one we haven't seen so far.

George Houguez The guy at the back, centre, 'Nick Watson', was told by Gordon Place, who had a tight hold of his ear at the time, "Anything below the ear is mine." in respect to a pair of sideburns Bradley Wiggins would have killed for. The Silver Jubilee 'It's a knock-out' was fantastic. How no one was seriously injured by the carts or tractor tyres remains a mystery to me.

Peter Cobham To the right of Nick, (his right), was Gaz Marks, and to his left but at the end was I think, one of the milne brothers, standing with the Joker near his left hand and with the amazing pudding bowl haircut was Steven Ferguson and standing at the front in the colourful track-suit was Paul Slevin, I don't see you or Trevor Buck in there George.

George Houguez Nick Bevan is next to Gaz Marks, Malcolm Milne at the end, Duncan Milne is holding the joker. I think stood next to you is Surrendra Patel and Dave Meacham. Andrew Lee is crouched at the front, and I think it is Ronnie Ferguson at the front. Behind Steven is Vince (can't remember his first name), Ben Franks and Colin Rollason. I think the boy in the flares at the front is Gallagher (again, I can't remember his first name). I'm not there, nor is Trev.

Peter Cobham You are right George, that was Surrendra, cant really remember Dave Meacham, but remember the name, and of course Andrew Lee and Ronnie Ferguson, is that Martin Fisher, (RiP), standing next to Steven Ferguson? to Stevens right?

George Houguez I don't think so, Martin Fisher had curls. Don't remember his name.

Peter Cobham Probably right, so where where you and Trevor?

George Houguez Probably smoking :-)

Michael Breslin In Between Nick and Malc Milne is Sean O'Brien, I remember him bashing his head on the steps in Senior House, very serious indeed.Far left at the back is Mick Garlic? Directly below him, Tim Vince peeps through. Directly in front of Gaz is Tim Rollason? Ben Frank is to his right. Which one do you think is Martin Fisher and how did he die? Who is getting a piggy back with his face paled out, is it Paul Doyle ...H-ar-r-y?

Peter Cobham I thought the one stood behind the guy getting a piggy back was Martin Fisher, but pretty sure as George says I am wrong, not sure which one was Paul Doyle, As for Martin, he died on his way to work one day on his motorbike, aged 17, no other vehicle or person involved, hit a tree, his mom said he went to work with a bad cold so maybe he sneezed or started coughing, either way, much too young to go!

George Houguez  I think MB is right about Paul Doyle. Link to a post about Paul Doyle on here http://wyrefarmed.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/paul-doyle-artist-and-former-pupil-at.html

Peter Cobham  Michael, thanks for putting names to Tim Vice, (a real ginge) and to Ben Frank who one time hit me in the face with a Scholl slipper, (by accident) it was on parents day, he and Tim where senior men in the dormitory.,

Michael Breslin Nick Watson worked at Rolls-Royce for a while in procurement I think. I was an apprentice at the time with Paul Fisher

George Houguez I remember the Ben Frank flick. Spectacular blood loss on Viso! I was an RR apprentice the year after.

Peter Cobham blood loss on viso?

George Houguez Visiting Sunday aka Viso!

Peter Cobham my first move was to Jaguar, but for a while stayed in touch with you George, Trevor Buck, Andy Cyfko, and David Hacket.

Michael Breslin Viso was heaven in a drought! Tuck boxes the size of hampers got replenished and a day of something other than school food in the village or nearby. Pete i remember all those names. George did you see the photo in Jersey on the blog? Hey if you have a longboat, you must know my mate Wolly, (Cov Clown) he also lives on the canal. The fella giving the piggy back has some of the meanest pin-striped Oxford Bags. I bet they have a high waist band too...all the rage then and a variation was with patch pockets. This is a great photo! Who took it?

Peter Cobham was just looking at the 77 school photo, couldn't see myself, but picked out Gaz Setchell, I remember him and Andy Cyfko bouncing on beds in the dormitory listening to ELO's Roll over beethoven

Michael Breslin I will guess that Mr Woods took it cos its Black and White.

Peter Cobham No idea who took it Michael, but in my minds eye I can still see him wearing those oxfords. The guy on piggy back I mean. Do you remember what house numbers you where Michael and George? I was D9

Michael Breslin JM38 on a Cash's name tape. Every sock, pants vest had to have them and my Mum hated it even though she was a seamstress because it became an annual thing sewing them into every stitch of clothing. When my older wayward brother attended from 3rd year on, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Peter Cobham I actually still have a few left in a small bundle that where left over, I was SD9 then.

George Houguez D33 Some of my stuff was still labelled JD33 when I left school.

Michael Breslin Oh, I forgot they changed for Senior House eh? I bought some for my Dawtas school on the internet. Cash's have a rich history in Cov with ribbon Weaving. I was amazed that they were still going!

Peter Cobham I remember going to the school clothing shop in the lower precinct near to the round wimpy to get bundles of clothing, cricket whites rugby shirt, sports vest, shorts, shirts trousers, blazer, tie and even a school cap!

Michael Breslin Haha, you had a school cap, have you still got it? Shop was called Batts Clothing.

Michael Breslin I would actually wear one if I had it now cos I frequently wear a baseball cap with Guinness on it.

Peter Cobham no its long gone but yes that was it, Batts,

Michael Breslin Only Mick O Donoghue and Mark Harden had them in my year and they took some stick. Mick also wore shorts on the first day and sadly so did I!!!! No-one else did. One week later I had long trousers though thank God.

Peter Cobham yep I also wore shorts on my first day, it was also the last day I wore them.

Michael Breslin ‎....again I would also wear shorts now...I actually have shorts on today! Wanted, one old school cap, top dollah paid!

Peter Dawson anybody know the name of the lad back row 3rd from the left

Peter Cobham Sorry Peter no I don't know his name, but I certainly remember his face.

Peter Dawson same with me Peter I remember the face he was in Dudley

Peter Cobham Peter, yes all the guys in that pic where in Dudley house, we won the competition, I had also been involved, (obstacle race), but had rushed back to the senior block to get changed hence I am not in sports kit.

George Houguez I think that the guy 3rd from the left was Nick Bevan. I saw that post. I think Nick Bevan was in Mortimer.

Peter Cobham well that was supposed to be a pic of the winning "It's a Knock-out" competition team

Which of course and without a doubt was Dudley, Yaaaah!

George Houguez Perhaps Nick Bevan wasn't in Mortimer after all. Who knows?

Peter Dawson Nick Bevan rings a bell george

Michael Breslin Excellent memory George, who is in between Nick Bevan and Mick Garlic far left, I remember he had devious eyes, almost piercing and he laughed at everything. Yes it was a close Dudley win, I think you beat mortimer by 1/2 point because Pete Germain was giving fractions for some events!

George Houguez I know what you mean about his look. I don't remember his name though.

Proposed Reunion in Cleobury Mortimer

Prompted by Rosemary Webb-Rehill's possible visit to Cleobury July 2013 (she now lives in the USA), Keith Ison has proposed a possible reunion in Cleobury -

Keith's message is -
" There is a possible reunion next 7th July 2013 date to be confirmed, all depending on what interest is shown by the old pupils. Rosemary is coming over in July but she is not sure of the date just yet"


Although it's a year away, Keith is trying to gauge possible interest. If you to express interest, contact Keith Ison via the school Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/wyrefarmsurvivor/

If you are not on Facebook, leave a  message or e mail on here.

Photo from Mr Thorne's funeral

Photo from Dave Meacham -
"Mr Thorne's funeral, (Neen Savage) we only found out about the service the day before, but made it there. from left, Tony Booton, Mr McCarthy, Simon (the original Buz) Hull, Dave Meacham (Bubble) Dave Irish, Martin Flynn, Gordon Place (Duff to some & Clough to others) Gaz Marks (Fat Gaz), Not sure? Ed Meacham (Ed the Fed) (?) Pete Stacey, Mick Breslin (Brez) & Paul Doyle (Harry) Not sure who man in grey suite is ? If anyone recognises him, let me know. Picture taken at Neen Savage Church

This would be c 1997 I think - in or around that time.

Alan Thorne c 1995 /6

Charles Joyce Art Engineering Display - for Terry Walker

Charles Joyce used skills gained at the school to become an engineer and and now teaches engineering at Warwick University.

These are examples of students project work, “You won’t find these models on the catwalk “.

Rapid Prototyping and 3D printing enables complex shapes to be creative , what will they come up with next?

Charles says - "Hope you find these interesting , wonder what Terry Walker Art Department thinks of them?"

And from the day - Bend Me Shape - seems appropriate!

Remembering Stephen Tearse

I remember my Mum showing me the cutting from the Coventry Evening Telegraph not long after I left Cleobury. It was quite a shock and tears welled in my eyes. Stephen was only 16 years old, had left Cleobury only 14 days beforehand, had just signed his indentures as an apprentice dental technician. He was on his way home from his first day at work on his scooter.

Stephen was one of the good guys, one of the best. I can't think of anyone who didn't like him. He was intelligent, fun, easy going and no trouble to pupil or master. I never knew him to bully or chide, a really decent guy of the kind the world could do with more of. It wasn't to be, but I think all those who knew him at school will join me in paying tribute to Stephen on this special place for the school. This was one good guy with a world of potential.

His older brother, John Tearse, equally popular and a former pupil at the school (whom some of you clearly remember), has kindly sent some photos of, or belonging to Stephen to share on this site and thanks go to Peter Melhuish, who, by contributing the cutting, prompted this post.

There are also a couple of items relating to the school from John Tearse towards the bottom of this post.

Remembering Stephen Tearse

Stephen Tearse with his woodwork  produce c 1967

Stephen with the snooker cue in the New Block

The young Stephen

Remember the letters home each week on headed paper? Stephen was 11 and had just started his first year at the school and was coming up to the end of the first term, looking forward to Christmas (as we all were). The next term would see the huge snowdrifts that dwarfed most of us first years. Stephen was clearly a bright lad who knew it and made the Upper Stream but with the self-awareness to add the line "I hope you don't think I'm bragging". How cool is that for one so young and typical of how well balanced Stephen was in dealing with others. I never knew him to look down on people.

John has asked if anyone knows what part of the school this is. I think it's the steps up to the coffee bar (which would have been the old science lad in John's time), which means it would have been early 1967. Am I right?

Stephen in the middle with others on a school trip. Can any one say which trip and who else. I seem there's Rowsell and McCann on the right but not sure. Possibly 1966 / 67 ish. Sarah Williams thinks this is the Clyde trip and there are more pictures of that trip on this blog - see the index.

Comment from Chris (Pip) Applebey

"I am on the right of the picture, and I think it is Alec Hudson between me and Steve. Can't remember the other two kids but I think one may have been Simon Armstrong. This was in the first week of the school holidays 1967, shortly before Stephen died. We stayed on when school finished for a few days before Mr Parker drove us north in his car. How we all got in is a mystery. It was a fantastic experience for all of us. He arranged to get us a guided tour of a submarine - his navy connections no doubt. I think this photo was taken either at Helensburgh, or Rothesay. We all got to have a go at steering the boat - not just five minutes under supervision, but full responsibility. Stephen was fantastic company, always smiling, always positive. What a loss. Christopher (Pip) Applebey

GCE woodwork piece

Stephen was good at woodwork and John Tearse adds 

"Our Dad was a master Cabinet Maker so Steve must have inherited some of his skills. Unfortunately it passed me by."

John still has Stephen's GCE work made in Gordon Place's class.

Excellent dovetail joints

This is from 1958 when John Tearse joined the school. Mr Morris was headmaster. It wasn't only Mr Thorn who used the phrase 'May I remind you' then!

Letter to the parents! 1958

Clearly the format of the school report changed by the time stephen started the school in 1962, possibly as result of  the new headmaster, Mr Rowland. Note that English, maths and science are broken down into elements more so than later on. March 1959.

Stephen left school summer 1967 while Sergeant Pepper was riding high in the LP charts.

Stephen is remembered 

With A little Help from His Friends

And some more photos from Stephen's collection

Stephen Tearse - prep room / study new block

Stephen 1965

New block dorms

Frankie Fasulo? / Stephen Tearse

In this photo - Mick Lovatt? Hudson? Dean Revell?

Alan Packham? Frankie Dutton - Can  anyone be more precise? Photo A

Frankie Dutton, Mick Lovatt, Charles Joyce (top row)

Frankie Fasulo? Peter Wan, Ian Woolridge? Bottom Row

Can anyone be more precise - Photo B

Not sure where or who this is.

Sarah Williams thinks the location is Stokesay Castle, near Ludlow

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stokesay-castle/

but who is in the photo?

Mr Place - skiing trip to Switzerland in the 60's - not sure of who or where.

Possibly Andorra or Switzerland - but who are the pupils?