Canley (inc. Sir Henry Parkes School)

Sorry Mick I have only just found this post. My last class at Henry Parkes was with Mrs Lardner. She was a right crabby old cow. But she liked her girls. Mayors Croft kids - the only one I remember was Keith Pitchford. His dad was a big snooker player.

Hi bug ass. I do not remember Mrs Lardner, what year was that? Think I can remember Keith but not sure. Anthony and Sheila McAvity, David and Barbara Lawley also lived in Mayors Croft.

Hello all, first post here so I thought I'd post about Sir Henry Parkes as I went there, Infants and Juniors, leaving in 1971. In the Junior school Mr. Maddison was Headmaster, but was soon replaced by Mr. Clay. I remember Mr. Bayliss (my 3rd year teacher), Mr. Meachin (Woodwork) and Mr. Rea very well. I was very interested in aircraft and remember Mr. Bayliss telling me he was in Mosquito aircraft during the war, and Mr. Meachin saying he was a gunner in Bomber Command. In my last year I was in Mrs. Jones class and think I had the record number of wacks across the hand with the ruler from her (honestly, I wasn't that bad). Some of my strongest memories are of the football games, outdoors and indoors in the main hall using the benches on their sides, rounders in the summer, watching one of the Apollo missions on a TV in the hall, swimming lessons at Canley teachers college, and being in Bradman (green colours). Surely nobody from my era would forget the dinner lady Mrs. Benton. I drive past the old site most days and it always brings back the memories.

Hi Covkidd, I had great times there, but 10 years before you. Did Les Rea still take the football when you were there?

Hi Mick, Yes Mr. Rea still took football, although I remember when Mr. Bayliss took it one time, and played himself wearing old 50's style boots and nearly broke my leg.

Mansfield Hotspurs with leather knock in studs. I remember him having those when we used to play at dinner time. Him and Mr Rea used to tuck their trousers in their socks.

Tucked in socks, I'd forgotten that I was wearing shinpads, he took a swipe at me and completely removed one of them.

Do you remember having to stand in a line shouting "sir pick me" when they picked the team for the dinner time games?

These were produced to celebrate the school's life - and subsequent closure.

... and this is the official programme produced for the school's opening on 29th March 1950. Note that TWO schools were opened that day, Henry Parkes and its "sister" school Manor Park Primary in Cheylesmore. Both of almost identical design. The latter is still in use today. Sorry, but owing to forum restrictions the original scan doesn't resize very well (please email me if anybody wants anything clarifying)

Here's a photo of the dignitaries in attendance at the opening.

Great pics Tony.

Hi Mick. Although I think we attended the school at different times your reference to a Colin Brown reminded me of a boy in my Junior class (Miss Penn) that I had completely forgotten since the mid-fifties, a boy called Granville Brown. He was a strange kid, quietly spoken, very short, brown hair with a hair cut like a monk! I can hear his voice now. Thanks for the funny memory.

Mick, I lived in Walsall Street just off Wendiburgh Avenue and was great friends with Anthony (or "Ant") as he was a couple of years older than me but he and his sister also lived in Walsall Street. I had completely forgotten about his sister, Sheila McAvity, a lovely family from Ireland I believe. Ant was a very skinny boy, always friendly and a great mate. Sadly passed away a few years ago.