Woodlands School

I'm sure I've put this on before but it shows Jack Major in 1959.

I'm ex-Woodlands too. Was there 1955-59. I was in the 'selective stream': 2B or not 2B - that is the question I decided not to be. During the summer of 1959 I had decided I wasn't going back and nothing mum or dad could say made any difference. Mum had to attend a meeting with Mr West. She was told that I would probably get 6 "O" levels and become a bank clerk. Strangely, many years later and in a different part of the country, my elder daughter got 9 GCSEs and it was suggested she follow the same career path. Seems teachers have little imagination. Some of the teaching did stick though. After a year of Latin I swapped to German and that stood me in good stead when I was stationed in Germany. At HQ Northern Army Group my immediate superior was an elderly German Captain who spoke no English. That I had a smattering of German sentence construction (rather different to English) delighted him and I was often invited round to his home on Sundays for a meal. Our 'unit' comprised just 14 members and were very close-knit so, though rank was respected, it didn't get in the way. My days at Woodlands were not the halcyon days of youth. By the third year I had given up on school dinners and, like quite a number, went to the parade of shops on Broad Lane for half a cob loaf stuffed with chips.

Hello Pixrobin Didn't the chip shop have a very attactive daughter. There are at least two ex Mclachlan members 54-59 using this forum. What house were you in?

My late Husband Gary was among the first intake of the new Woodlands School. He used to tell me he was in a film that was made there called Fussers Progress. He always said to me he would have loved to view the film but was never able to trace it. In fact Knocker West lived near us years ago and Gary asked him about it. Unfortunately he was unable to help.

This is from the Coventry Telegraph in 2008 - year is 1957.

10 mile road race, filmed on Broad Lane finishing at Woodlands school in 1958

Dunno of any attractive daughter - but I was very shy in those days I was in Malins House. Only two teachers names I remember were Mr Lee and Mr Twistleton. But there was a Welshman as head of history: a right sadist.

Hi pixrobin We had a Welsh history teacher at Freddie Birds in mid to late 60s called Mr Powell. He was a right sadist too he used to sort out any disagreements amongst the pupils in the boxing ring. I wonder if it was the same bloke.?

Hi pixrobin. I was one of the first intake into Woodlands and we had a Welsh history teacher called "Taff" Thomas, though I don't remember him being particularly sadistic. If you take a look at post 32 on this thread, you'll find a picture of him with Fred West.

Welsh-sadist: Takes us back to 'Sooty' Corbett. Don't remember him normally teaching History. My favourite teacher (complete with pump for instant punishment) was 'Birdy' Burdett. He was also the housemaster of Mclachlan House so saw a lot of him. Nice man even though he was handy with the cane.

I have a short film of Princess Marina (Duchess of Kent) visit in 1958 to Woodlands.

The first block up the drive on the right was Gibson House, anybody remember what the first on the left was called?

Photo of a pupil in the science lab at the school 1955 Pupils playing rugby on sports field 1956

The houses were built in pairs, the two on the left as you went up the main drive were Perrens and Malins. The house adjoining Gibson was Smith-Clarke. Captain GT Smith-Clarke was famous for his development work on the iron lung. This was the house that I was in 59-64. These houses do not exist as such anymore.

Perrens, thank you, I recalled the others but thats the one I couldn't remember. I was in Gibson, I believe it is now used as an "admin" block!