Page 12 - Partridge & Spencers

Redditch Heritage Partridge’s & Spencer’s

would have protected the two families from nearby bombs and shrapnel but not, of course, from
a direct hit. A wooden door, which was locked when not in use, led inside the shelter which had
four bunks, a table and chairs placed on an earthen floor. To keep it waterproof the shelter was
lined with wooden planks, painted in creosote. Light and warmth was provided by a hurricane
lamp and a kerosene heater both of which, by modern standards, would be classed as potential
fire hazards.

Simon Partridge

When Simon was five, in 1941, he entered a private school in Worcester Road near the centre
of Redditch run by two elderly spinster sisters, the Misses Annie and Bertha Grosse, assisted by
a Miss Skinner. The sisters were from an old Redditch family and the school was run on strict but
kindly terms. It was fee paying so the school was small in pupil numbers but its elementary
teaching gave a good start in life. They were very strong on correct social behaviour.
At the age of eight, Simon surprised everybody by passing into the junior school of the local
grammar school, Redditch High, and so was almost guaranteed entrance to the senior school at
eleven. This caused consternation at Worcester Road for whilst he was thought the least likely
to succeed passed, whilst the favoured pupils of his year were less successful. Apparently, on
hearing the results the three spinsters undertook much soul searching and within the year the
school was no more.

Simon went on via an apprenticeship at Royal Enfield and a university course at Loughborough
to enjoy a successful career in industry and academia throughout the world. He is married with
three grown up children and now lives in retirement in Northumberland enjoying fishing, rambling
and reading.

Simon (Centre) as an apprentice at the Royal Enfield

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