Frederick Bird School

'lo scrutiny, Thanks for the info ref. Frederick Birds origin. I wondered if he was related to Alfred Bird of custard fame who had a son Alfred Frederick Bird but it looks unlikely. Just seemed odd that a relatively small business would have allowed such a large benefit.

Hi. I have just found this, I am Alan Weston's little sister and yes this is a picture of him. His big brother was called Bob (Robert) and he lived all his life in Coventry.

Hello Little Sister, I used to know Alan well. He was always a bundle of fun, hardly ever serious or nasty. Could I ask please if Alan is still with us?

Hello scrutiny, unfortunately Alan died when he was only 26 years old, which is why I was taken aback with the photo of him, so like him, a smile on his face and those ears, I used to rib him about those. Oh happy days.

I am so sorry, Alan was so likeable, do not know of anybody who disliked him. In the school there seemed to be no bullies unlike today. Although he was ribbed about his ears there was never any malice behind it. If you would like a copy of that photo, please get in touch and I will send you one.

Hi scrutiny. I agree & disagree with you about bullies. There were times when I was bullied, but it wasn't constant & nasty like today's bullies. I was never afraid to go to school like some kids today. I could look after myself with most kids, but sometimes you'd get a bigger kid give you a slap. A classmate of mine; a John Dutton, who many of you may well remember (no longer with us, diedmany years ago), he sometimes, for a joke, used to bend my arm up my back. But it was almost in fun. We were mates, & he probably only did it for a giggle. In fact, he & a few others came to my rescue once, when I was picked on by a gang of youths. Serious fights I remember were settled often up on the canal bank, up Freehold St. I also remember there used to be a kid in Paynes Lane who sometimes picked on smaller boys, if they were unlucky to meet him. It happened to me at least once when I was very young (what I wouldn't give to meet up with him now). But I suppose being bullied at some time is part of growing up. Nowadays it is so nasty & has caused more than one or two suicides of its victims.

Hi Doug, I agree with you. The bullying was totally different. I found that usually it was the younger kids being bullied by an older kid but the one being bullied would some how get a "minder" who was older again to look after him. I know I sorted out one bully who was picking on a "fuzzer" in Shannon's class, don't know his name, but after that he followed me everywhere at breaktimes, lol, the only time I have been idolised. The one big fight I remember up on the canal bank was between Graham Chambers and Peter Valance, dirty fight that was. Someone snitched on them to Mr Harris, if I remember right I think Pete got a couple of the best over his backside and Graham was offered a choice, because he was head prefect, six of the best in front of the whole school on stage or resign his prefectship. He resigned (I didn't blame him). The only bully that lived in Paynes Lane I can think of, was it Melvyn Lucas? He lived on the corner of East St above the butchers shop. Even if you were a friend, he would still offer to beat you up just for the fun of it. I changed my route to school just to avoid going past where he lived so I didn't have to walk to school with him. But I will say I cannot remember any constant bullying of an individual like today, everybody found that minder until they got older to look after themselves. Loved my school days. Just found this on computer, it's the front entrance to the juniors school and the railway lines at the back of the sports field (funny pic to take) given to me by a friend. Wish I could find more pics.

Hi, for anybody that may be interested, I have just found out who knocked our school down. It was NORMK!!!!!!!!!! LOL, get them pictures out Norm and put them here.

Never thought I would be talking about Freddies but my mum went there and her class teacher was Miss King. She wrote her a glowing reference for when she left in 1930.

Hi all Being involved with our HCF site does force me to read all of the posts, which is good for me as I am a learner. I never had any history regards the school, it was the Co-op dairy next to it that I remember where their horses were kept.

This is Freddies in the early stages of demolition

If it is any consolation to you ex-Freddies out there, every full brick was reclaimed so most of it is still out there somewhere.

I dont know the function of this, it came from the roof (previous photo), probably a vent, it was sold to somebody who wanted to make a dovecote out of it

Thanks Norm. The pic of Freddies in its stage of demolition is taken from the girls playground, although it shows more of the boys part of the school. The pic of the "vent" is what it is. These were on top of the assembly hall/gym. When you had 360 boys in for assembly you needed something to let the smell out,

Ha ha scrutiny that did make me laugh. Although I didn't enjoy my time at Freddies it's still sad to see my old school in a state of demolition, regards Jan.