The County High

I grew up in Redditch from the age of 8. I went to Crabbs Cross Junior School,(later I think it was called the Harry Taylor First School), The Headteacher when I was there was called Mr McEwan, a mathematician who had worked with Sir Frank Whittle on developing the jet engine. He was a lovely, jovial man who I remember well.

Other teachers included Mrs Hemming (nee Tilsley), Mrs Williams, Mrs Bradbury who lived near the post office in Crabbs Cross, and Mr Harley. All of them were lovely, as were my school days there, even though we had outside toilets in those days.

In 1969, I passed the eleven plus and moved to Redditch County High School. The head of lower school, Miss Orr, was a near neighbour of mine in Headless Cross.

In those days, some staff still wore black gowns and mortar boards, and I remember Mrs Vann- Deputy Head, Also Mr Ratcliffe, Miss Tredgitt, Eric Jones, who taught PE and had been something in the war I think- He spoke fluent German and was known as "Erich". Miss Bruce Payne, who taugh art and on whom many of the lads had a crush, Mr Agate who taught Latin, Mr French who taught history, Mrs Symes who tried in vain to teach me French, Mrs Jackson, "Bud" Foster who taught maths and PE and was an accomplished Rugby player. There was a tiny white haired German chap called Dr Deutsckrone. Alf Hart, a maths teacher cycled to school from Crabbs Cross every day. Some lads in the 6th form dismantled Alf's bike one afternoon and Alf (understandably) went bananas!. If I gave it some thought, I could bring to mind many many more names, many more memories- some sad. A friend of mine got killed on a motorbike in Red Lane. That was in 1969.

I have so many memories of Redditch from 1962, until 1989 when I moved to Cheltenham, I could write a book! The new town being built, the old High St with Spencers record shop, the Gaytime Cafe, and Curly Rogers the motorcycle dealers, run by Curly and Herbie Strain.The fights outside the cinema on Unicorn Hill. Buying bags of chips from the Fishermans Catch across the road and sitting on the bandstand on Church Green. The more I think about it, the more it all comes back- and it was over 50 years ago!

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