by DAVID L. SMITH

I started King’s Norton Grammar School for Boys in September 1958. My parents had bought my uniform earlier in the summer, and I had already worn it several times. I took the number 18 bus from King’s Norton Green, and was wearing my blazer, cap, and short trousers, just like most of the other boys. Of course no one knew where to go, or what to do, so we just drifted with the crowd. I can remember Mr. Ecclestone reading out class lists. I was put in 1c, and our form master for the year was Mr. Lewis. I think it may have been his first year as well, as from what I recall, he seemed as lost as we did. To make matters worse, our form room was being painted, so we were put in the Biology lab, for the first few days and we had some classes in the hall.

We got all our books, but without a desk, we had no where to keep them. They were just piled on the tables and benches in the lab. Each book was duly recorded by Mr. Lewis, and we added our names to the long list on the inside cover. We received not only text books, but exercise books of different colours, including a red hard cover one for English Lit. We also got a thick book with a green cover as a jotter. Mr. Pickering was in charge of all books and held court in the lobby by the Headmaster’s office.

Subjects for the year included, English Language and Literature, History, Geography, Scripture, French, Latin, Maths, General Science, Crafts, and PE. I don’t remember too much about the classes, and even though I still have all my report cards, most of the teachers are a blur. I do remember Mr. Hollyhead who taught us Maths and Science, and Mr. Lewis who introduced "Inter Continental Ballistic Missile" as Latin words.

Of course, as new boys we got ragged, and "put around the pole." I remember getting my first conduct marks from Mr. Knapman for forgetting my gym shorts, although I had remembered my plimsolls (no trainers back then!).

In the second year, I took German, rather than Latin, but I must admit, even one year of Latin was worthwhile. It has helped my appreciation of the English language, I can still sing "Adeste Fidelis," and it always makes for an interesting discussion topic.

I have even fewer memories of my third year, and fourth year recollections include my first trip with the school. We went by train to Venice and Rome. It was great. I learned to play Solo, a card game that I played throughout my years at KNGS. Mr. Stockley was on staff for the trip. His first school trip as well, if I remember correctly, and it was on this visit that he fell in love with the Fiat. Several years later he had finally got one of his own.

From our English teacher that year, I also found out about jazz, including Jelly Roll Morton and Gerry Mulligan, and the great music of the forties from Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and others. That music has been a part of my life ever since. It’s strange where some of life’s influences come from.

Preparing for ‘O’ Levels was the main activity in a very busy Fifth year. I did an opportunity to participate in an exchange with some German students from Frankfurt. This year in Oxford, and next year in Germany. We met some great students, and on one trip, visited the BBC in London, where we crowded into a recording booth and sang "Twist and Shout."

On to the Sixth form, and Mr. Moore (Senior). He was a great teacher, and loved teaching Chemistry. That year the school had received one electronic chemical balance, which was for use by the Sixth form only. Since the science lab was also our form room, we also got permission to make coffee at lunch time. We were gradually exposed to some of influences that would be part of our future, both in university and in our lives after school. We had to take responsibility for our actions, and it made the Sixth form so different from the rest of the school.

Physics was taught by Mr. Stockley. Howard expected everyone in his class to pass ‘A’ level, and he did everything to ensure that you did. He praised, ridiculed, gave one-on-one tuition, whatever you needed, whenever you needed it. He also taught us how to "learn," how to separate the necessary from the unnecessary, how to revise, and how to take exams. All of which I have used in my years since, and have passed on to numerous adults and children, with great success.

We also had classes in Math, and although I had enjoyed it in the lower school, I really struggled in the Sixth. It just seemed that the equations that were something that had been dreamed up on a wet Wednesday afternoon by one of the Math teachers to torment students like me. Wednesday afternoons off were still part of the school timetable, and I would rather be doing anything else than Sin2 +Cos2=1.

Although I had failed German at ‘O’ Level, I did get a chance to continue with the exchange visit we had started the year before. We visited a youth hostel on the Rhine, and we each stayed with one of the German student’s family in Frankfurt. It was a great trip, and a lot of fun.

Middle Sixth was much the same, except that we knew that this was the end of school for most of us, and a new beginning. It was only in these late stages of my school career that I really met up with Geoff Sheen. In the sixth, we had to see him to approve and sign our university entrance application forms. I was surprised to find out how much he knew about me, even though I had always tried hard to stay away from "the beak," and had never had him as a math teacher. He suggested some changes to my application, including the addition of Liverpool University. How right he was!

Thanks again to all of my teachers.

Mr. Lewis, who I think went on to a Seminary. He really helped me get established in the new school.

Mr. Hollyhead and Mr. Pickering who let me flourish in the world of math and science, but never let me forget the need to keep up the arts.

Mr. Levitt, who I felt was part of the ‘landed gentry’; such an elegant man.

Mr. Coultas and Mr. Smith for German. I still remember Mr. Smith lapsing into his native Yorkshire dialect, and calling us "Daft as a Brush."

Mr. Weyburn, who helped me appreciate art in many forms.

And to teachers I never had, but were so much a part of the fabric of the school, 'Piggy' Hindle,

'Sniffer' Ellis, from whom I got several sets of stamps that I appreciate even today. 'Sam' Ecclestone who used to terrify us all, and who more than once put the whole school in detention! 'Fido' Fawkes who taught French, and always walked around with an arm full of books, and one hand in his jacket pocket.

But most of all to Howard Stockley. He taught me how to learn. He taught me that I could achieve whatever I put my mind to (sorry for the English Mr. Levitt). He once wrote "a most disgusting scrawl" over one of my homework assignments, in such a poor hand that both of us had trouble deciphering, but immediately he recognised the humour. He was a great teacher.

As Bob Hope would say, "Thanks for the Memories"

Submitted by E-Mail - March 1999