Mr. L. K. Ecclestone,  B.Sc.

RODERICK SAUNDERS (1962 - 1967)

When I arrived at the school there was still a sort of Greyfriars atmosphere - masters, some of whom had been there for forty years, in gowns. Things were changing; it seemed to get more modem and slightly rougher every year. It looks to me now as if the way was being paved for change to a comprehensive even then. The Headmaster, Geoffrey Sheen (a liberal by the standards of his time), repeatedly warned us that change was coming. When we had form 'elections' in 1964 and 1966 Labour won easily. One boy stood for the National Teenagers' Party and had one vote (his own) both times.

I went into 3A in 1964. I think of the next two years as the 'Kings Norton' period of my life. We were in one storey stone buildings known as the prefabs and it gave me a sheltered environment which I do not think even the best comprehensive could have provided.  It was like being in a school within a school. The prefabs stood opposite what was then known as The New Block. I never went into the building which replaced them; I am not sure it was completed when I left.

I didn't do very well but Mr. Sheen seemed to have enormous confidence in me and put me into 5A in 1966, even though two boys who had done slightly better than me were demoted. I never encountered any jealousy, in spite of what must have looked like blatant favouritism. In any case, I improved suddenly.

Many stories I could tell you are unprintable, but I did have a very strange experience in March 1966. I was walking towards the school when I had a very strong feeling that our Maths teacher, J. A. Blundell, would not be there. That morning Mr. Sheen announced that on the previous Friday evening Mr. Blundell had died of a stroke. I still don't know what I think of that.

There was a curious prefect system, I remember. It was amusing to see boys who had behaved in a mildly disruptive way when younger, even in the fifth year, become sober regulation enforcers. Poachers turned gamekeepers! There was also a ludicrous snobbery, for want of a better word. A notice hung outside the prefects' room with the cold statement: 'No sub-prefects.' There was amazement when two Lower Sixth-Formers were given detentions; perhaps they were failed sub-prefects.

I still have the Speech Day booklets from 1965 and 1969. They prove that significant changes and experimentation were happening. Only half as many boys went on to University in 1969 as in 1965, and no-one took S-Levels. The sub-prefects were not listed!

I remember a number of teachers with some affection. Mr. Jones, who taught History, and was known as 'Chin', an easy-going, friendly type;  Mr. Guest, who taught Maths;  Mr. Levitt (English),  Mr. Pickering,  Mr. Coultas, all liberal older teachers;  Mr. Ecclestone, whose bark was worse that his bite;   'Fido' Fawkes, who had a terrifying reputation for reasons no-one could explain; Mr. Welburn, who taught Art.  They were patient, tolerant men, who coped well with pupils who were not always the quiet, studious types that some politicians think we all were in Grammar Schools. Even so, I still cannot imagine King's Norton as a comprehensive. I do not know how you manage to cater for so many different kinds of pupil and so many activities in what is still such a relatively small school.

One last thing; I came to a jumble sale at the school in October 1982, the first time I had been there for fifteen years. Nothing seemed to have changed. Even the paint on the old metal pillars looked the same as twenty years before.

ANDY BROWN (1966 - 1973)

My happiest memories of KN are in connection with Sport. I was lucky enough to be part of a very successful Basketball programme under the tutelage of Malcolm Burgess. We won several National Championships as well as numerous Birmingham and Midland honours. We travelled all over England as well as undertaking a never-to-be-forgotten trip to Athens for a tournament. I could write a book about our adventures!

I now teach P.E. at a school in Hounslow, after having gone to Loughborough College and the United States for a year.