Hi Roy Ben
I went to Bournville and Kings Norton Grammar.
The few things I remember about Infants School were my first view of it from Bournville Park, playing a tambourine and a fight with Sam Orchard which amounted to rolling down a grass bank together. Later I recall writing with chalk on a slate which had a wooden frame and reciting our tables – and that could be scary – you had to get them right or get a smack. Teachers seemed to think a smack around the head would help you. Due to the War many of the teachers were female but that didn't stop them being strict and wrapping boys and girls over the knuckles with rulers. They included Miss Whitehouse, Miss Alcock, Mrs Lancaster and Miss Hancox. When we moved to the Junior School there were more male teachers such as Morley, Clifton, Holmes, Ward and Barker and discipline was more severe. 'Daddy' Barker would take a run down the corridor before whacking the the backside of the unfortunate pupil who remained bent over whilst waiting for the next whack!
Also worth forgetting were the school dinners which were quite boring with semolina, occurring most days, cottage pie and salads. One lunch time I pointed out to the teacher that there was a live earwig in my salad. She merely knocked it off the plate and gave me my lunch back. I lost my appetite and made me cautious about salads for a long time!.
At KNGS
Playing football in an inter class game I was on the right wing and scored a goal direct from a corner.- Please note; this was 50 years before Beckham learnt to bend 'em! The referee, Mr Cole, was the teacher in charge of the School team and he picked me to play for the school the following Saturday but the game was cancelled and I wasn't picked again. The team was very clickey and the other players leant on him.