Broadway Secondary Modern School

Hi Everybody I went to Broadway Secondary School between 1951 and 1955. My best mates were Bill Stadden, Bob Woodman and Brian `Plum` Warner. The teacher I remember most was Mr (Billy) Frith. He was our maths teacher between his two sessions as Coventry City`s football manager. In 1955, the year of my leaving school, I went on a two week cycling holiday to Devon and Cornwall with about 6 school mates. Does anybody remember those years at Broadway?

I was in class 4a when I left Broadway in 1957 and our class was featured in The Coventry Evening Telegraph on March 2009. Our teacher was Royston Blethyn, the best rugby football teacher in school, with Alec Clements, headmaster, a very big supporter of amateur boxing. I am now retired having spent the last 12 years of my life working in China.

Hello Simmons Nice to hear from you. Alec Clements was head when I was a pupil. Very strict as I remember. There was no soccer played at Broadway even when Billy Frith was a teacher there. Mr Clements was a rugby man! remember, if there was a fight in the playground, the two boys involved were made to put the gloves on and go 3 rounds in the hall. Not something that could happen these days!

Hi all, my father went to both Corley and Broadway and was there around the same times as you were. His name is Peter Lawton. He said that when he was in Corley he got the mumps 3 days before Christmas and nobody could have visitors. He remembers Billy Frith throwing cricket balls on the desk and hitting people in the face if they were not good and that if the boys couldn't solve the problem they had to box with Mr Clements himself!!!!

Sorry BakerLea but I played soccer against Broadway at the Memorial Park in 1955.

I was at Broadway 1951-55. Billy Frith was my maths teacher. He had a row of canes in his cupboard. His victim was invited to choose the implement of his torture. Never less than two and heavily laid on. He did try to form a football team in spite of the fact that Alex Clements preference was for the school to have rugby as the school sport. Billy Frith got his own way in forming a secondary school team of soccer. Since the school had no sports field this left little chance for the rest of the pupils to enjoy sport. In theory we could use the Memorial Park, if the park staff said conditions were suitable - they rarely were. So for the rest of the school it was cross country running around the streets or jumping over the wooden horse in the school hall. Cannot remember any names except Barry Blower I think Tony Bannister

Hi all, couldn't help but butt in here, name Frith rang a bell for me, there was a Billy Frith played for Coventry, 'the old five', had to be in the thirties, surely not the same guy? I knew Clarrie Bourton was from Coventry, but not Frith, anyone like to confirm.Regards, Kaga.

Hi Kaga Yes this was the same Billy Frith that played for Coventry in the 30`s. He also managed them in the 40`s and again in the late 50`s and early 60`s. He was removed to make way for Jimmy Hill who took them to the 1st division.

Welcome to the forum, jacko Hope you enjoy the forum as much as we do

Can anyone answer a question for me please? My hubby went to Henry VIII juniors after Earlsdon Primary, but shock horror failed his 11+. He went from there to Hearsall Secondary Modern, in Centaur Ave but remembers Mr Clements as his boxing mad headmaster. His usual comment was "I'll have no fighting boys, I'll put you in the ring to sort it ". Did Broadway Secondary Modern change its name, as he only remembers Broadway as a junior school at the end of Broadway, just up from Albany Rd. Or did Mr Clements get a transfer? We are talking 1962-1967.

You are right Little Nut, Broadway was a Junior School between the years you mention. I moved on to Woodlands School in 1966 after passing the exam and my friend (who remains to this day) went to Hearsall after failing!

Well this is a nice surprise finding this forum on the net. I was at Broadway school between 1954 to 1957 and I was the person who sent the class 4A photo to the Coventry Telegraph in 2009 - I also sent them a photo of the 1956/7 rugby team. I remember both you Simmons and you Lawton. "Little Nut' - In my day Broadway was a secondary school for 11 to 15 year olds boys. The school played all three main sports on the Memorial Park and Roy Jackson was captain of rugby, football and cricket, Eric Tray was a national boxing champion coached by Mr Clements. I seem to recall an Irish teacher who introduced his version of handball, sort of squash without rackets. Now, Royston Blethyn he was something else - extremely strict but much too good a teacher to be teaching at a secondary school. I only saw one boy defy him and that was Bob Wellings who refused to hold his hand out to be caned. Bob folded his arms and Blethyn kept flicking his arms with the cane and shouting. After about 5 minutes Bob, by now almost sobbing, held his hand out and Blethyn just lightly tapped his hand with the cane and told him to sit down. I ran into Blethyn at Twickenham about 30 years after I left school. Amazingly, he still looked the same and I even called him sir - he was that sort of man. Now for all you old boys here's a quiz question for you. Once a year the school rugby team played a school in Rugby town. The match was known as the Murray Match. The game was played for a trophy so the questions are what was the trophy and what is the story behind it? I will give you a one word clue - trousers. Regards Huw Blake

Hello & welcome Vetrix Thank you for your warmth of an introduction. We all hope that you have a happy time sharing on our forum.

I'm hoping someone can help me. I've been working on my family tree and recently found out that my dad (b. Aug 1923) attended Bablake School between 1935 and 1939. The archivist at Bablake said he joined them from Broadway School. Would anyone have any information about Broadway at that period or be able to point me in the right direction with links etc. Looking at the dates I'm assuming my dad would have been 12 so I'm wondering if it was a junior or senior school? As I'm not local I'd be grateful for any information Thank you in advance for your help.