Memories of ex QC Paul Bradley [1961-1965]
I remember the school trip to see La Traviata - over a week with Mrs Smith discussing it and a bit of a let down on the night.
The school trip to see The Merchant of Venice was, I am almost certain, at Ludlow Castle. I have been there several times and remember telling my wife where we sat to watch it. I remember we sat on the right hand side of the stage area and when they turned to our left they couldn’t be heard properly, It was a beautiful warm day.
The school visits to the Three Counties Show weren’t too bad although I had lots of hand outs on things I didn’t understand. The cows were out in force. I think Miss Fletcher organised the trip.
I remember lining up in the stable yard before going into Assembly. We faced the dog pen. The gates on our right led to the road and the gates on our left to the grounds - behind us were the boys changing room - next to that the old stables [our Gymnasium ]- above the gym was a classroom,
When you entered the main building from the yard you went under a small archway past a small courtyard to the right with a classroom at the other side. When you entered the building the tuck-shop and sink were on our right where we used to wash before Technical Drawing. On the left was the kitchen; there was a passageway next to that leading to an outside door. On the right the old servants stairs beside the cellar door - continuing on the lower floor corridor the dining room was on the left next to the passageway. In the dining room the benches and tables nearest the windows were where the hot food was served.
I remember in the winter I would have cheese, jam or fish-paste on my sandwiches with a flask of cocoa - in the summer cheese and lettuce or cheese salad and a flask of tea (never tell your mom or wife you like something, you will get it for ever) - our class benches and tables ran parallel to the windows and were furthest from the windows.
Walking on along the to the end of the corridor you came to the Hall - turning right before the hall doors would take you to the Kindergarten.
Off the Hall was the museum, next to that the Secretaries Office and then Dr Johnson Balls' Study. Above the wooden panelling in the Hall there were lots of wonderful plates, all different sizes and types and exquisite statues by the lectern.
After a hymn or two, a short sermon and prayer we went up the servants' stairs to the classroom [ the marble ones would have been quicker had they not been off limits to anyone but old 'Joncy' himself]. At the top of the servant stairs, if you turned left, you would go to the Intermediate classes - turning right was the stationary cupboard where books, pens and other bits and pieces could be purchased. Opposite that were our clothes pegs and a bench where we had to change our shoes for sandals [never new why we had to have a napkin?]. Walking through a door would take you to the upper hall - turning left was the Library - I liked it in there as there were lots of chemistry books that inspired thoughts. Mr Balls' rooms were to the right.
Our classroom was hot in the summer and not too warm in the winter. I remember one summer it was so hot we were allowed to take our blazers off! [Must have been hot] - there was another classroom that went off this classroom.
Can’t remember where the Staff Room was though. [Webmaster comment: the Staff Room was located to the left at the head of the servant's stairs and then first door to the right]
I remember once I had the crew cut and was sent to 'Joncys' study for reprimand. I had six of the best and a lecture on the reason for having a dress code, I never forgot the feeling that I had let him down - it’s the only sad memory I have - letting him down has remained with me.
I didn’t go to a private school until joining Queens College. I started my education at the local Council school. My parents often wished they had sent me to QC from the start as my attitude to learning changed rapidly for the better after I had started there.
My friends at Queens College:
Julian Tromans: I remember I went by bus to his house once in Woodgate, we played with a Scalextric racing set, he beat me by a full lap then a good half a length.We also went to the Warley Bowl for a game or two of ten pin bowling.
A week or so later Julian came to my house for a sleepover and I had rigged up an intercom of sorts from two old ex G P O hand sets, rather basic; used a lot of battery power but was reliable. Julian was always cheerful and a good friend, one who I have mentioned many times with a great deal of fondness both to my wife; family and other friends.
Anthony Palmer: I remember going to his house in Hagley, Station Road [or was it Station Drive] for a sleepover. I was greeted by his Mom with a cup of tea and we went into the back room where there was a pile of bread and butter and a bottle of salad cream. Anthony eagerly spread a good dollop of the stuff on his bread and butter and spread some for me. I can honestly say I have never eaten anything to do with salad cream or mayonnaise to this day (yuk).
At a return sleepover at my house a few weeks later Anthony’s dad [owner of a timber merchants in Cradley Heath] had a pile of timber delivered to our house. Anthony must have told his dad about plans to build a boat - never new what happened to the timber but the boat wasn’t built. I have seen Anthony several times since.
Anthony Bate: tall with ginger hair. I remember going to his house near QC several times and watching the 'Monkeys' on his TV.
Carl Marsh: bit of a dreamer - watched 'The Saint' series. I remember once he had built a Morse Code oscillator and Morse Key in a small attaché case and tried to convince us it was a transmitter receiver and could contact agents. I remember sitting by him during art class and he tried to teach me how to draw spitfires. The art teacher wasn’t impressed and separated us - think she relented later when she realised I could only draw matchstick people.
Fond memories of good friends - there were others that I got on with as classmates but these were real friends.
One other classmate was Roderick Hingley: well built chap, had a very good singing voice and was a church chorister at some big church in Birmingham.
There is one great regret, and that is I didn’t keep in touch with them. Reading the pages on the QC website makes me realise how lucky or even privileged I have been to have been a student with such good friends; at such a nice place.
The school trip to see The Merchant of Venice was, I am almost certain, at Ludlow Castle. I have been there several times and remember telling my wife where we sat to watch it. I remember we sat on the right hand side of the stage area and when they turned to our left they couldn’t be heard properly, It was a beautiful warm day.
The school visits to the Three Counties Show weren’t too bad although I had lots of hand outs on things I didn’t understand. The cows were out in force. I think Miss Fletcher organised the trip.
I remember lining up in the stable yard before going into Assembly. We faced the dog pen. The gates on our right led to the road and the gates on our left to the grounds - behind us were the boys changing room - next to that the old stables [our Gymnasium ]- above the gym was a classroom,
When you entered the main building from the yard you went under a small archway past a small courtyard to the right with a classroom at the other side. When you entered the building the tuck-shop and sink were on our right where we used to wash before Technical Drawing. On the left was the kitchen; there was a passageway next to that leading to an outside door. On the right the old servants stairs beside the cellar door - continuing on the lower floor corridor the dining room was on the left next to the passageway. In the dining room the benches and tables nearest the windows were where the hot food was served.
I remember in the winter I would have cheese, jam or fish-paste on my sandwiches with a flask of cocoa - in the summer cheese and lettuce or cheese salad and a flask of tea (never tell your mom or wife you like something, you will get it for ever) - our class benches and tables ran parallel to the windows and were furthest from the windows.
Walking on along the to the end of the corridor you came to the Hall - turning right before the hall doors would take you to the Kindergarten.
Off the Hall was the museum, next to that the Secretaries Office and then Dr Johnson Balls' Study. Above the wooden panelling in the Hall there were lots of wonderful plates, all different sizes and types and exquisite statues by the lectern.
After a hymn or two, a short sermon and prayer we went up the servants' stairs to the classroom [ the marble ones would have been quicker had they not been off limits to anyone but old 'Joncy' himself]. At the top of the servant stairs, if you turned left, you would go to the Intermediate classes - turning right was the stationary cupboard where books, pens and other bits and pieces could be purchased. Opposite that were our clothes pegs and a bench where we had to change our shoes for sandals [never new why we had to have a napkin?]. Walking through a door would take you to the upper hall - turning left was the Library - I liked it in there as there were lots of chemistry books that inspired thoughts. Mr Balls' rooms were to the right.
Our classroom was hot in the summer and not too warm in the winter. I remember one summer it was so hot we were allowed to take our blazers off! [Must have been hot] - there was another classroom that went off this classroom.
Can’t remember where the Staff Room was though. [Webmaster comment: the Staff Room was located to the left at the head of the servant's stairs and then first door to the right]
I remember once I had the crew cut and was sent to 'Joncys' study for reprimand. I had six of the best and a lecture on the reason for having a dress code, I never forgot the feeling that I had let him down - it’s the only sad memory I have - letting him down has remained with me.
I didn’t go to a private school until joining Queens College. I started my education at the local Council school. My parents often wished they had sent me to QC from the start as my attitude to learning changed rapidly for the better after I had started there.
My friends at Queens College:
Julian Tromans: I remember I went by bus to his house once in Woodgate, we played with a Scalextric racing set, he beat me by a full lap then a good half a length.We also went to the Warley Bowl for a game or two of ten pin bowling.
A week or so later Julian came to my house for a sleepover and I had rigged up an intercom of sorts from two old ex G P O hand sets, rather basic; used a lot of battery power but was reliable. Julian was always cheerful and a good friend, one who I have mentioned many times with a great deal of fondness both to my wife; family and other friends.
Anthony Palmer: I remember going to his house in Hagley, Station Road [or was it Station Drive] for a sleepover. I was greeted by his Mom with a cup of tea and we went into the back room where there was a pile of bread and butter and a bottle of salad cream. Anthony eagerly spread a good dollop of the stuff on his bread and butter and spread some for me. I can honestly say I have never eaten anything to do with salad cream or mayonnaise to this day (yuk).
At a return sleepover at my house a few weeks later Anthony’s dad [owner of a timber merchants in Cradley Heath] had a pile of timber delivered to our house. Anthony must have told his dad about plans to build a boat - never new what happened to the timber but the boat wasn’t built. I have seen Anthony several times since.
Anthony Bate: tall with ginger hair. I remember going to his house near QC several times and watching the 'Monkeys' on his TV.
Carl Marsh: bit of a dreamer - watched 'The Saint' series. I remember once he had built a Morse Code oscillator and Morse Key in a small attaché case and tried to convince us it was a transmitter receiver and could contact agents. I remember sitting by him during art class and he tried to teach me how to draw spitfires. The art teacher wasn’t impressed and separated us - think she relented later when she realised I could only draw matchstick people.
Fond memories of good friends - there were others that I got on with as classmates but these were real friends.
One other classmate was Roderick Hingley: well built chap, had a very good singing voice and was a church chorister at some big church in Birmingham.
There is one great regret, and that is I didn’t keep in touch with them. Reading the pages on the QC website makes me realise how lucky or even privileged I have been to have been a student with such good friends; at such a nice place.