I remember .......
* I remember when Johnson Ball drove around in his beautiful old brown Bentley? [Webmaster Note - Johnson Ball's second Bentley (Mk VI) was bought by ex QC pupil Nigel R Taylor following the closure of QC in 1965]
* Julian Tromans [1955-1965I - I remember when we arrived at school one morning to find the tall tree on the top lawn had been blown over. I remember when all the boys were lined up on the top lawn and inspected for tie and cap.
I remember when we were sitting their College of Preceptors examinations an individual squeaked his chair and was promptly removed? [he did his exam in the corridor] - I remember when we snaked a line of pennies from the stable yard and across the front of the main building? [was it for charity ? how much was raised?]. I remember when one Christmas a Nativity Tableau was performed on the marble staircase? [ the only time I ever remember seeing children on the marble stairs] I remember his last Secretary was Miss Oakley who lived on Chawn Hill. I remember Johnson Ball's dog 'Queenie'.
* Valerie Lloyd [nee Townsend] [1953 - 1958] - 'In the early days Mr Ball did not have a secretary. His first secretary was a Mrs Townsend (I do not remember her first name) she is no relation to my family at least I don't think so but having done my family history there is a chance that she was married to one of my grandfathers nephews. I believe she lived in Colley Gate. Mr Ball however always joked whenever I had to go to the study; that her namesake had come to see her'. [Valerie Townsend]
* Paul Bradley [1961-1965] - I remember when we went on a school trip to see the Merchant of Venice; if I remember correctly it was at Ludlow, was a beautifully sunny day and the production was good, the essay I did afterwards didn’t do justice to it really. I remember when we went on a school trip to B'ham to see La Traviata and going on school trip to The Three Counties Show at Malvern [lots of cows and lots of mud]
* Paul Pearson [1953-1960] - I attended Queens College between 1953-60, 1st at the Mount and then at Prescot House. In your 1954 photo of the school I was in the same class as D Prichard,. Martin Whittiker, David Read, John Stevens, and Martin Bolton. I think I am the 2nd one in on the 2nd row down from the left. I am also still in contact with Keith Aldridge (best friend at school). I noticed you have no mention of Harry Taylor, Donald Taylor, Diana Dunn, Vanessa Gibbs, Stuart and Martin Wooruff (twins) these were a[so in the same class as me. Later Terry Clees joined our class later.
* Peter Wright - I remember Johnson Ball's dog 'Queenie' [1961-1965] I attended the school from '61 till it closed, Many fond memories especially the football field. I was in the same class as Bruce Male [Bruce has sadly passed away)
* Anthony Hamner Lloyd (1958 - 1962] - I was a prefect, as far as I can recall, from Sept 1960 - August 1961 and Head Boy from Sept 1961 - August 1962 when I left the school.
* Jeremy Day [1955 to 1960] A brilliant site which brings back many happy and other memories. Others I remember from those days include Barry Webster, Martin Poulton, Paul Baker, Peter Keith, Pete Eccleston, Brian (Fred) Perry, Graham Sproson, Chris Selby, Chris Parrott (My cousin who sadly died in 2012) Lol Jordan, The Woodroffe twins, Dianne Edwards, Elizabeth Meredith.
* Lewis Wright [1958-1962] - My fellow classmates included James Kershaw, Martin Clewitt, Martin Mobberley, David Male & Martin Cutler.
* James Woodend [1960-1963] I attended QC from 11 years of age (1960) for about 3 years and then left to attend Old Swinford Boys School. I have few memories of QC except of the Head Master who was a wonderful gentleman with values from another age.
* Nigel R Taylor [1958-1961] [son of Mrs Taylor - member of Staff] I remember the fire alarm going off - the fuse had to be taken out to stop it. Mr. Winkworth's first name was Nathaniel T.. When he first joined the teaching staff his introduction on entering each class: ' Hello Boy's. My name is Nathaniel T. Winkworth, but you can call me Natty.'. We fell apart. Dr. Ball had a quiet word with him outside. Mrs. Windbow, whose first name Nessie, looked like Beryl Reed in 'Tinker Tailor---.' Frank Edwards had been called Snowball at the Grammar School but we named him 'Rangy' for his lumbering gate. He used to pull our hair as punishment, but Anthony Robinson cured that one day by paying for all his classmates to have double Brillcream on their hair after a swimming lesson, next was Maths and the intended result. 'Rangy's hand just slid away dripping with less than clean hair preparation. 'Robinson! You, are not playing the game!' He turned and exited the room, not returning until nearly the lessons end. The next to cheek him was Willis who's face got slapped. 'I'm not caught twice' Said 'Rangy'. My mother told me later that the moment he had entered the Staff Room he had burst out laughing and related the incident to the staff seated in there. It was the first time a class had got the better of him so effectively. He was so long returning to the class because he could not stop smiling.
Elizabeth Wood was with Patrick Mcgoohan during the shooting of THE PRISONER. She was dogsbody/gofa to Rose Tobias Shaw as I understand it.
Ian James [1957-1958] - I attended Kindergarten at Queen's College Red Hill from the Spring of 1957 through the Spring of 1958. I do not have many memories of the school as I was very young. I remember a wooden horse that the children would play on. I remember wooden seats and picking out a Christmas card from a table to take home to my parents.
Cathleen Barton [1954/1955] - I attended QC from 54/55. I passed my 11 plus and moved on reluctantly to Stourbridge High School but I LOVED QC. I have lots of memories but no photos unfortunately. We had a delightful teacher called miss Dagleigh. She left while I was there and, at a loss as to what to get her, and very little funds, we went and got her a kitten! (It was free). She played the zither. Another teacher was called Gordon Stretch. There was a miss Bury, who taught us handwriting. Reginald J Smith was a brilliant teacher. Each pupil had to do a voice test and any 'growlers' were sent to the elocution teacher. They came back able to sing! He taught us how to transpose music into other keys and how to read music and I was only 11.
Whenever I see the wind turbines in Cornwall I recall the school song and still remember the words. Johnson Ball ran extra maths classes in the dinner hour and I volunteered to go. He was teaching us logarithms. (I never got the hang of them)
Also at lunch time we would go down into the kindergarten and play with the little ones. There was a huge rocking horse there. I also remember the cases of artifacts and in particular an ostrich egg. Nothing ever got damaged. There were some attic rooms where we had occasional lessons. The doorways were very small.
I remember Johnson Ball taking the girls to Stourbridge swimming baths, making us line up at the edge of the pool, holding hands and we were to jump in, all together. I was terrified of the water, so didn't jump. He also had a long pole with a ring at the end,with which to tow you along. I enjoyed that and finally learnt to swim aged 59!
We only once played a tennis match against another school. My game passed in a blur as I had only learnt to play tennis that year. I went on to be a teacher myself.
James Bruce Whall (1954 - 1958)
I have one memory. This concerns the Assembly room and Gymnasium Planned for Redhill in the mid fifties. Johnson Ball had purchased a large sectional wooden building had it dismantled and transported and set down in the grounds. As usual with Johnson Ball's grand projects (think Redhill heating system) the grand vision was illustrated by his beautifully crafted architects drawings showing the completed project. Unfortunately as always funds were tight and the whole school was co opted into clearing the site in preparation for the reassembly. So during one hot week in July we abandoned lessons and had a wonderful time knocking down out buildings, kitchen garden walls and generally making mayhem . The two Keiths, Edwards and Lloyd were loose with a crowbar felling walls from the base rather than brick by brick as instructed. Every rule in the health and safety manual was broken that week and we went home filthy and knackered. (my father was not amused)BNeedless to say that was the extent of the project and the dismantled building was still quietly rotting in the garden when I left. Happy days
I remember when we were sitting their College of Preceptors examinations an individual squeaked his chair and was promptly removed? [he did his exam in the corridor] - I remember when we snaked a line of pennies from the stable yard and across the front of the main building? [was it for charity ? how much was raised?]. I remember when one Christmas a Nativity Tableau was performed on the marble staircase? [ the only time I ever remember seeing children on the marble stairs] I remember his last Secretary was Miss Oakley who lived on Chawn Hill. I remember Johnson Ball's dog 'Queenie'.
* Valerie Lloyd [nee Townsend] [1953 - 1958] - 'In the early days Mr Ball did not have a secretary. His first secretary was a Mrs Townsend (I do not remember her first name) she is no relation to my family at least I don't think so but having done my family history there is a chance that she was married to one of my grandfathers nephews. I believe she lived in Colley Gate. Mr Ball however always joked whenever I had to go to the study; that her namesake had come to see her'. [Valerie Townsend]
* Paul Bradley [1961-1965] - I remember when we went on a school trip to see the Merchant of Venice; if I remember correctly it was at Ludlow, was a beautifully sunny day and the production was good, the essay I did afterwards didn’t do justice to it really. I remember when we went on a school trip to B'ham to see La Traviata and going on school trip to The Three Counties Show at Malvern [lots of cows and lots of mud]
* Paul Pearson [1953-1960] - I attended Queens College between 1953-60, 1st at the Mount and then at Prescot House. In your 1954 photo of the school I was in the same class as D Prichard,. Martin Whittiker, David Read, John Stevens, and Martin Bolton. I think I am the 2nd one in on the 2nd row down from the left. I am also still in contact with Keith Aldridge (best friend at school). I noticed you have no mention of Harry Taylor, Donald Taylor, Diana Dunn, Vanessa Gibbs, Stuart and Martin Wooruff (twins) these were a[so in the same class as me. Later Terry Clees joined our class later.
* Peter Wright - I remember Johnson Ball's dog 'Queenie' [1961-1965] I attended the school from '61 till it closed, Many fond memories especially the football field. I was in the same class as Bruce Male [Bruce has sadly passed away)
* Anthony Hamner Lloyd (1958 - 1962] - I was a prefect, as far as I can recall, from Sept 1960 - August 1961 and Head Boy from Sept 1961 - August 1962 when I left the school.
* Jeremy Day [1955 to 1960] A brilliant site which brings back many happy and other memories. Others I remember from those days include Barry Webster, Martin Poulton, Paul Baker, Peter Keith, Pete Eccleston, Brian (Fred) Perry, Graham Sproson, Chris Selby, Chris Parrott (My cousin who sadly died in 2012) Lol Jordan, The Woodroffe twins, Dianne Edwards, Elizabeth Meredith.
* Lewis Wright [1958-1962] - My fellow classmates included James Kershaw, Martin Clewitt, Martin Mobberley, David Male & Martin Cutler.
* James Woodend [1960-1963] I attended QC from 11 years of age (1960) for about 3 years and then left to attend Old Swinford Boys School. I have few memories of QC except of the Head Master who was a wonderful gentleman with values from another age.
* Nigel R Taylor [1958-1961] [son of Mrs Taylor - member of Staff] I remember the fire alarm going off - the fuse had to be taken out to stop it. Mr. Winkworth's first name was Nathaniel T.. When he first joined the teaching staff his introduction on entering each class: ' Hello Boy's. My name is Nathaniel T. Winkworth, but you can call me Natty.'. We fell apart. Dr. Ball had a quiet word with him outside. Mrs. Windbow, whose first name Nessie, looked like Beryl Reed in 'Tinker Tailor---.' Frank Edwards had been called Snowball at the Grammar School but we named him 'Rangy' for his lumbering gate. He used to pull our hair as punishment, but Anthony Robinson cured that one day by paying for all his classmates to have double Brillcream on their hair after a swimming lesson, next was Maths and the intended result. 'Rangy's hand just slid away dripping with less than clean hair preparation. 'Robinson! You, are not playing the game!' He turned and exited the room, not returning until nearly the lessons end. The next to cheek him was Willis who's face got slapped. 'I'm not caught twice' Said 'Rangy'. My mother told me later that the moment he had entered the Staff Room he had burst out laughing and related the incident to the staff seated in there. It was the first time a class had got the better of him so effectively. He was so long returning to the class because he could not stop smiling.
Elizabeth Wood was with Patrick Mcgoohan during the shooting of THE PRISONER. She was dogsbody/gofa to Rose Tobias Shaw as I understand it.
Ian James [1957-1958] - I attended Kindergarten at Queen's College Red Hill from the Spring of 1957 through the Spring of 1958. I do not have many memories of the school as I was very young. I remember a wooden horse that the children would play on. I remember wooden seats and picking out a Christmas card from a table to take home to my parents.
Cathleen Barton [1954/1955] - I attended QC from 54/55. I passed my 11 plus and moved on reluctantly to Stourbridge High School but I LOVED QC. I have lots of memories but no photos unfortunately. We had a delightful teacher called miss Dagleigh. She left while I was there and, at a loss as to what to get her, and very little funds, we went and got her a kitten! (It was free). She played the zither. Another teacher was called Gordon Stretch. There was a miss Bury, who taught us handwriting. Reginald J Smith was a brilliant teacher. Each pupil had to do a voice test and any 'growlers' were sent to the elocution teacher. They came back able to sing! He taught us how to transpose music into other keys and how to read music and I was only 11.
Whenever I see the wind turbines in Cornwall I recall the school song and still remember the words. Johnson Ball ran extra maths classes in the dinner hour and I volunteered to go. He was teaching us logarithms. (I never got the hang of them)
Also at lunch time we would go down into the kindergarten and play with the little ones. There was a huge rocking horse there. I also remember the cases of artifacts and in particular an ostrich egg. Nothing ever got damaged. There were some attic rooms where we had occasional lessons. The doorways were very small.
I remember Johnson Ball taking the girls to Stourbridge swimming baths, making us line up at the edge of the pool, holding hands and we were to jump in, all together. I was terrified of the water, so didn't jump. He also had a long pole with a ring at the end,with which to tow you along. I enjoyed that and finally learnt to swim aged 59!
We only once played a tennis match against another school. My game passed in a blur as I had only learnt to play tennis that year. I went on to be a teacher myself.
James Bruce Whall (1954 - 1958)
I have one memory. This concerns the Assembly room and Gymnasium Planned for Redhill in the mid fifties. Johnson Ball had purchased a large sectional wooden building had it dismantled and transported and set down in the grounds. As usual with Johnson Ball's grand projects (think Redhill heating system) the grand vision was illustrated by his beautifully crafted architects drawings showing the completed project. Unfortunately as always funds were tight and the whole school was co opted into clearing the site in preparation for the reassembly. So during one hot week in July we abandoned lessons and had a wonderful time knocking down out buildings, kitchen garden walls and generally making mayhem . The two Keiths, Edwards and Lloyd were loose with a crowbar felling walls from the base rather than brick by brick as instructed. Every rule in the health and safety manual was broken that week and we went home filthy and knackered. (my father was not amused)BNeedless to say that was the extent of the project and the dismantled building was still quietly rotting in the garden when I left. Happy days