Woodlands School

Did he not have something to do with the Earlsdon Morris Men??

Kent & York blocks. Can't remember the Arts and Craft block name next to Gibraltar. Arts & Craft!!!!!! It sounds like some tribute to William Morris and his movement. What a joke. My memories were of being ridiculed on a weekly basis by Pattinson who hurled my woodwork attempts at me with a scowl at the beginning of the lesson. What was it with these people who were meant to teach, mentor, encourage, shape us (pardon the pun) into balanced adjusted confident young people? Canterbury Block????

Remember that Pattison would throw anything that was to hand, mallets, pieces of wood, much to the amusement of the rest of the class. It kept you very agile unless you got hit in the middle of the shoulder blades.Was it him who checked the sharpness of a chisel by cutting hairs off his arm? Not a happy teacher. I think Bill Cleaver was involved with Earlsdon Morris and Coventry Morris Men. A good friend at the time who got invoved with Morris Dancing was called Mike Nicholson and I think lived in Dulverton Road.

I remember once in metalwork, when I was supposed to be brazing 2 brass parts together and actually melted them into a blob. Ben Hartley never said a bad word or lost his temper, he just explained what you had done wrong and helped you get it right.

As I mention elsewhere, I'm just getting over health issues that have prevented me from sitting and concentrating for any period of time. I'm now slowly getting back into things so just a quick one from me this time...... The comments about Mr Patterson interest me..... during my time, each 1st and 2nd year form was split 50/50 for woodwork, half with Patterson, half next door with Roy England, who I was fortunate to get. As I have said elsewhere, Roy England really was one of the best, although my woodwork end-results were possibly not. However, before my move into civil aviation, I was working as an accountant for A G Gale and Co Ltd., the Coventry building contractors in Bodmin Road. I was expected to replace Mrs Broderick, the Company Secretary, who was planning on retiring at some point in the future, but she wasn't sure when. Clearly you have many conversations whilst you are at work and topic of school came up frequently. Anyhow, it transpired that she was Patterson's sister, and would diplomatically only speak about him briefly. The basis of her comments were that she was very surprised that he was still a teacher (this is the mid-70s), he wasn't really suited to it, and that patience was hardly his main attribute! Rest in peace, Dorothy.

My first 'meeting' with 'Young Boland' was before I'd even started school. My older brother was in the Juniors at Whoberley Hall and used to come home for dinner. I walked to school with him one afternoon and was just about to walk back home when said individual attacked me with two pieces of wood, leaving me quite badly beaten and blooded. I remember him saying 'Get out of my school', or something similar before he attacked me. As would be expected, my mum freaked on seeing the state of me and marched off to school. The head teacher (who's name escapes me at the moment) arranged for an identity parade and I picked out Boland Junior. I was frightened when I started at Whoberley Hall Infants in case he attacked me again, but with an older brother at the school I hoped that I would be alright. Sitting typing this has helped dig into the very bottom of my memory bank, bearing in mind I was around 4 when this incident happened - the name Robin has just sprung to mind!! I also remember that I had forgotten about this incident, until I was invited back to the home of one of the girls in my infants class. Horror of horrors, she lived next door to the Bolands in Guphill Avenue, and I was petrified in case I met up with Robin once again!

Hi Ron, what years were you at Woodlands and what house were you in. I never knew his name was Robin, only ever knew him as Boland. Fortunately, I did not have a lot to do with him.

Hi Mick. My time was slightly later than you - September 1965 to July 1970, in Perrens.

Canterbury, York and Kent certainly ring a bell. I think York was the block up by Brook house?

If I remember rightly - and I'm not sure if I do.... York - Geography and History mainly - close to Brook Canterbury - English, RE and languages (although in my time we only did French (?) - close to Stringer (is this one of the houses that has now moved??) Gibraltar - the tallest block - maths and TD Kent - the art and woodwork block next to Gibraltar Leonardo's (easier than saying the full thing...) - the sciences and metalwork It was a long time ago now !

I think that is spot on. Did the music rooms / block have a name?

Oh heck, Can't remember. I don't think so. But I do remember some of 'Pop' Majors music lessons in the First Year, before he semi retired. He used to allow us to bring in 7" singles to be played during his lessons, pointing out that music had a broad spectrum and covered many, many tastes..... 'Time for another carol', he would say before putting on my Turtles 'Happy together' single...

No it was part of the main building, (assembly hall and Thompsons den of evil).

Yes there was a corridor that linked off to the left