Reports and miscellaneous material - Michael Billings

Michael Billings Having dug out my copy of the School magazine is was called "The Boarder" not "The Recorder". Very interesting to read again. It was produced July 1958.

Michael Billings I'm top left on the photo. Mr Lambley, Mr Morris & Mr Tinsello at back. Back of photo shows photographer Freddy Morrison from Cleobury.

Sarah Williams When did the name change to City of Coventry School?

Michael Billings Sarah it was in 1957.

Michael Billings When i was confirmed at Kinlet Church.

Michael Billings Booklet advertising the school November 1947.

Hopefully we will have this booklet on pdf or e book on here at some stage.

Paul Nicholas Williamson 

I did have one for 1958 when it was City Of Coventry School.

Michael Billings Walter Clarke, Geoff Oxendale and Mr Morris' comments.

Paul Nicholas Williamson What a trio, if we had teachers like those three there would be no trouble, you did as you were told, no if' and buts.

Paul Nicholas Williamson The school play when RTM collapsed and Wally Clarke carried him out, RTM was a big bloke himself.

Rosemary Webb Rehill  I remember that night, Paul. Were you in the hall when it happened? I remember the lights all being on and the ambulance coming. It was very frightening for a small child.

Paul Nicholas Williamson Yes, I was, but you have to admire the way Wally Clarke carried him out, he was a very strong man. Shame he left at the end of the school year, at the time he was housemaster of Blount, very keen on Blount winning everything, but we didn't as Dudley was top house then. Jim Lovatt took over as housemaster.

Rosemary Webb Rehill My only memory of Wally Clarke was that he was VERY scary! mum told us to put some wellies on the huge bonfire that had been built for bonfire night. He yelled at us and frightened us half to death!! LOL

Paul Nicholas Williamson Rosemary, I remember your Dad because we used to have a private study as it was called, as myself Martyn Hawthorne and Rick Wells were not taking Science for "O" level we had to do it in the main hall and we sat on the stage using the large table and your Dad was always popping in and out seeing people and he would stop and have a chat and the subject always got round to football,your Dad was a firm believer that the under dogs invariable would win the FA Cup final, this has stuck with me and I find that I quote this on many occasions and it was your Dad that this thought into my bonce.

Rosemary Webb Rehill Ah Paul, thank you for that! Dad was a huge Manchester City fan until the day he died. Not sure if he ever got to see them win the cup though....!

Michael Billings Wally Clarke was a dead shot when he through the board rubber or chalk at you if he thought you were not paying attention. He also used to walk round the classroom and hit you over the head if he asked you a question and you did not know the answer. THE HEAD BASHING WAS WITH THE BOARD RULER.

Michael Billings - More School Photos

From his 1995 Visit

Bottom Shower Block 1995. (now gone)

Mick Gajic ‎1st house i think is Junior house,2nd Mortimer i believe.

Paul Starling The first block just before the car was the woodwork class and then the junior block.

1957 - From the Brochure of the time.

Dormitory 1995

The new swimming Pool

1957 - Dining hall

Michael Billings Looks like Chocolate Pudding. John Scrivens on the right of the photo.

Trev Teasdel - Is that Graham Baker in that photo?

Sarah Williams We used to have food for dinner from the canteen during the week. I loved the steamed puddings.

Trev Teasdel  We had different table arrangements - square -seating 8 I think with table and deputy table heads. Is the guy in the middle is about to do an Oliver!

Michael Billings The guy in the center was waiting on the table. We had to take it in turns to lay out the cutlery, serve on the table, clear away the dirty plates and when the dining hall was cleared you wiped down the tables so they were spotlessly clean before you had your own dinner. But the good part about waiting on tables was you got seconds and extras of what ever was left when you had your meal.

Trev Teasdel The system had changed a bit by 62

Rosemary Webb Rehill Trev that's because my dad was the bursar! He kept trying to introduce all these weird foods, like chow meins and curries. He couldn't understand why no one liked them....!

Trev Teasdel the steam pudding was lovely - wants some now! The bread pudding however on a friday was .....! Quite the opposite! Although some liked it!

Rosemary Webb Rehill I loathed the school food. No wonder we were all such skinny kids!!

Trev Teasdel Friday lunch was the only one i hated everything on the menu! Instead of mash it was hord boiled and often black potatoes and fish which was a bit naff! Liked fish but not what was served on friday (think fish on friday was a religious idea) and then the bread pudding. After which was 'cheeser washing' - ie socks before returning to lessons!! The only day I was glad to get back to lessons!

Mick Gajic i loved the cheese and potato mash,and the bread and butter pudding(sorry Trev) could not stand the porridge though,so i got my mum to send me the kellogs variety packs of cereal.

Paul Nicholas Williamson I remember the first time we had fish and chips together and we clapped the kitchen staff for doing it, Archie Lambley was in charge that day as he explained it was very difficult to prepare.

Rosemary Webb Rehill  I remember the fish and chips and actually it wasn't bad. Dad loved fish so he tried very hard to include it in your diet. Do you remember cod bites? They were little pieces of battered fish. It may well have been after your time though.

Paul Nicholas Williamson I could eat anything after the first term but the one thing I never ever got on with was the porridge and the powder milk, I still don't like porridge after school.My favourite was tomatoes and bacon for breakfast as my mate didn't like tomatoes and he gave me his.he ended up being my best man at my wedding and I still see him most weeks, Stiff Griff was his nickname Bill Griffin. B60.

Michael Billings  This was a sepia coloured photo of a Church Parade circa 1957. Note the City of Coventry Boarding School sign. The lanky streak on the right of the photo is yours truly. Happy Days.

Paul Nicholas Williamson CAP, HANKIE AND COLLECTION MONEY.

Sick bay 1995 - Now Gone

                                                              Assembly Hall 1995

                                                                 Dining hall 1995

                                                School playing field  - Looking over the Glen

Mr J. Lowe - Deputy Head in 1950's

Above John Lowe as Head of Willenhall Wood Junior School from c 1960 to 1976

Photos from Willenhall Virtual Museum. Well worth a visit if  you lived or knew Willenhall

http://www.virtualmuseum.co.uk/new%20layout/all%20the%20rest/Willenhall%20Woods%20School.htm

John Lowe was the Deputy Head in the 1950's - there at least as early 1951. In the early 60's he was Head Teacher at Willenhall Wood Junior school in Coventry, where I went to until July 1962. It was on the suggestion of John Lowe that my parents sent me to Cleobury.  Trev Teasdel

From the Coventry Telegraph

Mr J Lowe

 Mr John Lowe - A FORMER Coventry headmaster who loved the outdoor life has died, aged 90. (2003)

John Lowe, who served for 23 years at Willenhall Wood Primary School, in St James Lane, died at Warwick Hospital. 

Mr Lowe, who was born in Cleethorpes, taught at Coventry Boarding School, in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, for 15 years, where he became deputy head, then joined Willenhall Wood Primary School, where he retired from in 1976. 

Mr Lowe, who was a chairman and president of Willenhall Wood Community Association, enjoyed Scottish dancing, travel and photography and was a chairman of Coventry Mountaineering Club and led walking trips to Greece. 

A Sky Blues season ticket holder, he went to the gym at Coventry Sports Centre every morning until last July. 

Mr Lowe never married and lived in Willenhall Wood until a few years ago, when he moved to Kenilworth Court, near the War Memorial Park, Coventry. 

Paying tribute, Barry Smith, to whom Mr Lowe had been a mentor at Coventry Boarding School, said: "He was a fantastic guy and had been an educator of kids all his life." The funeral will take place at Cannon Hill Chapel, Canley, Coventry, on January 9. 

SKY BLUES FAN: John Lowe at 81

John Lowe - head of  Willenhall Wood Junior and before that  Deputy head of City of Coventry Boarding school

Also from the Willenhall Virtual Museum - "John Lowe, the headmaster of Willenhall Wood school and a friend of the Men's  Group  introduced them to day outings into the countryside;  the first one being to Wyre Forest in 1969.  Weekend trips to Corris, Wales; followed in 1971."

And here's a photo of John Lowe from 1951 when he was deputy head at the City of Coventry Boarding school - from a school trip to Golden Cup in Dorset.

John Lowe (sometimes called Joe Lowe) was Steve Lowe's uncle and Steve got in contact with me in 2020 wanting to know more about John and his time at the school. Vince Holliday (who went on to form the first Coventry Rock n Roll band The Vampires and found Friars Promotions - the major Coventry entertainment agency) responded.

Vince Holliday said:  "I am now 85 and apparently one of the schools oldest surviving pupils, Thankfully, the old brain cells are still in good working order but I must admit I do get occasions when things get a bit foggy, however, I'll do my best to provide you with memories of my 5 yrs with your uncle John. He was one of the most popular teachers along with another tutor called Mr Musgrove, there was a total of 11 teachers during the time that I was there, 8 just average and one who was a right swine and ruled with a cane & slipper, his name was Mr Lambley and he was hated by everyone. Your uncle was like a father to us, caring, patient, and always fare, and I honestly can't recall him ever hitting any of the pupils , he always preceded to take away privileges like missing the weekly film show or being confined to the school grounds at the weekend. If he ever noticed anyone feeling depressed or home sick he would sit and talk to them and would quite often arrange soccer or cricket matches. He was also a scoutmaster and keen on outdoor activities so he would take groups out into the nearby forest on in his car to neighbouring towns such as Ludlow. His main subject was woodwork and he & my father would could often be found having a chat on visiting day because my father was the foreman of a woodworking machine company and would bring different samples of wood for your uncle to examine. As far as I can recall Mr Lowe also taught writing and arithmetic and was a keen sportsman. There was 5 dormitories named after areas I Coventry ... Earlsdon, Radford, Gosford, Stoke, and Bablake, Bablake was just half the size of the other 4 and your uncle was house master of Bablake where I was accommodated during my 5 yrs, the larger ones slept around 50 pupils and Bablake just 25, so there was more of a brotherly atmosphere and we were able to take any problems or concerns to your uncle always knowing that he would listen to us. It wasn't until recently that I discovered that his name was John as we always knew him as Joe Lowe.  I assume that you are aware that the school now has it's own website, this should prove quite helpful to you in the event of seeking other information on its history. I have only recently discovered that Mr Lowe became headmaster of a school here in Coventry, had I have realised this I would have certainly paid him a visit, and as I have now been living in Earlsdon  since retirement in 2001 I have recently become aware that he spent his final days in a rest home that is within walking distance to where I am now living, another opportunity that I missed for visiting him.   Hope this information proves of assistance to you."

Dragan Gajic - Dudley House 1962 - 64

Dragan (Mick) Gajic revisits the school - outside Dudley House 2002

Trev Teasdel - 

I met Dragan in sick bay in 1964 - I'd seen him around but, although we were in the same year, he was in Dudley House and I was in Mortimer. We became good friends and during the school hols we used to go cycling, or round each others house, playing records, or going to pictures - we saw Elvis and Ann Margaret in  Viva Las Vegas. He left in 1965 and I never heard from him until recently via the internet. I'm trying to break it gently to him that he owes me a million quid but his memory's not what it was!!


And just added Dragan and his Mum 1963

The Girls - Happier Times

Another cutting from Rosemary Webb Rehill


Down in Neen Savage

Susan Rowlands - Very Sad

A very sad press cutting contributed by Rosemary Webb Rehill

Susan Rowlands - she would have been 20 the next and was due to get engaged to

And Ralph Aldhous sent this cutting from the Birmingham Post


Ralph Aldhous
With reference to Sue Rowland. I was living in London at the time and I received this from my mother who asked me if I had known her. I cried. It seemed so cruel and such a waste.



Rosemary Webb Rehill 
She was getting engaged to Mick Humphries the next day. She had words with her mum and left in a huff. She hit another car head on by the Eagle and Serpent in Kinlet. I was with Sarah in Wales at the time. It was very very sad.


Sarah Williams - 
Mick was travelling from Bridgnorth worrying because Sue was late coming to meet him, and arrived at the scene of the accident. Tony Booton was, I believe one of the volunteer firemen from Cleobury who were called to help.

School 1964

1964 whole school photo as scanned by  Dean Revell.