Woodlands School

Try this link.

Thanks Midland Red. I may have found him at Cardiff University, a Professor no less (mine's just a nickname!) and photo could fit with passage of time. However he retired in 1980 from that post.

Thank you mcsporran, the Hugh Rd entry is of interest as his brother lived at that address. It was back in the 60s that I knew them. May investigate, but it is a very common surname.

When I tried that site yesterday there was a longer list and a couple of David G addresses, but today they've started limiting the results to 100. Unfortunately I didn't take a copy, but you can now search by postcode district so just use CV5 instead of Coventry.

Woodlands School Cross-country team 1956/7 Back row - L to R. Mr. Twistleton (Trainer), Malcolm Siddle, Frost, McBain, Pettifor, Bates, Ken Dickson, Atkins. Front row - L to R. Cressey, Robins, Brian Cockerton, Bill Adcocks, Clarke, West, Tony Hoffman. We won the Coventry Schools Championship that year. Following that success 6 of us were selected for the Coventry Schools Team for the Warwickshire schools championship. Bill Adcocks became a very successful long distance runner who represented Great Britain. Some members may recognise some of the lads.

On 21st September 1954, Woodlands Comprehensive School opened, becoming one of the first comprehensive schools in the country. The Headmaster was Mr. F. West M.A., previously Head of the Coventry Technical Secondary School. The official opening by The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Alderman T.H. Dewis J.P., took place on 12th October 1955. Post copied from topic What happened on THIS day in Coventry's history? on 21st Sep 2017 9:01 pm

Midland Red, I was one CTSS boy of 500 in the first intake of Woodlands. I was in the Lower Sixth, in Sparks House, named after the Deputy Head at CTSS 'Ned' Sparks (I had been in Spencer House at Tech), Mr Long was the Housemaster, and I was made a Prefect.

I wonder who might remember Colin Dick, art master, Perrens House, in the 50s and 60s? He was also involved quite often in school drama. I am his wife, or rather widow, as he died last week after a long life of painting and a spot of teaching. His funeral will be at Holy Trinity church at 10 am on Friday, 17th November, should any one wish to go, and l am venturing on this website to ask if any old Woodlanders of his period have memories of him that they would like to share to be included in a celebration of Colin's life.

I remember Mr Dick, though he only taught me a couple of times and I don't really have any memories of him. So sorry for your loss though. I was in Malins from 1965 to 70, next to Perrens house. Started in 1T and carried on to 5T. Lots of memories reading through these posts, mostly good. I enjoyed my time there but was glad to leave. I remember meeting Don Thompson a few years after I left. I was surprised how small he was, he always looked tall, only ever seeing him on the stage at school dressed in his gown or sitting behind his desk.

I've only just joined the Forum in the last couple of hours, I'm sorry to hear about Mr Dick. I remember him very well, he encouraged me to continue sketching when I told him I didn't like painting! He even supplied me with a book on Aztec art and tailored my lessons around this whilst continuing on as normal with the rest of the class - what dedication. He offered to put me in for a place at the School of Art but my dad put his foot down and insisted I went into Engineering - I ended up as a toolmaker so he wasn't a bad judge! Mr Dick was a gentle soul who had the pupil's needs at heart. I read in the Woodlands website about some of the sadistic teachers who were at the school. I attended there from 1955 to 1959 and well remember some of the undeserved punishment I received. I was a Malins house member then transferred to Gibson after a year. Our Housemaster died and was replaced by Newton, a cold-hearted man if ever there was one. I was late one day and couldn't remember the procedure for reporting in so went straight to my class. I was summoned by Newton and he demanded an explanation and I blurted out a reply but was accused of being a liar and covering up my "crime" - out came the cane and I was given 4 strokes delivered from well above head height, could hardly walk let alone sit down for the rest of the day! I struggled with algebra (still do) and couldn't finish my homework and at the start of the lesson, when it was time to hand it in, Hancock (Housemaster of Cresswell) was furious and ordered me to wait outside. When the lesson ended I was given the homework for that day plus my unfinished homework then received 2 strokes of the cane for being "obstructive". This was repeated for about another 3 or 4 lessons until I was hauled up before Newton and once again put through the mental torture of this unforgiving man screaming at me for being a liar, a waste of time etc - this to a 12 year old - unforgiveable, I still bear the grudge to this day. Sometimes, if I feel charitable, I wonder if some of these men were war damaged, other times I wonder whether they were typical products of the public school system where "thrashing" was the answer to everything. Sorry to be such a pain on my first post but reading that post in the Woodlands site brought back all the bad memories of what should have been the "happiest days of my life"

Hello Slopeman44 and welcome to our friendly forum And thank you for your interesting post - which I'm sure will generate some responses from fellow ex-Woodlands pupils

Hello to you Midland Red, thanks for the welcome. It would be nice to hear from any of the lads who were about from '55 to '59, some of the names I remember when I was in forms 3K and 4K - Roy Hossack, Don Freelove, Ralph Hawson, Mick Noah (a big lad, I think he was shaving even then), Mick Lloyd, Dekka Dobson, Baz Smith. I ranted on about the sadistic teachers but there were some memorable ones too - Taffy Thomas - History, he transported me to the battlefields of Agincourt, Crecy - he could have made a talk on boiling an egg interesting! I'm sure Billy Bolland taught me for something, his banter was legendary. He'd be writing on the board and someone would be whispering and without turning he would say "Smith, you're talking - you won't" and pointing to his side he'd have the offender up for a rollocking in front of the class. One of the classics was a guy called - I think - Thompson who delighted in swearing using daft phrases. He was also a great fan of throwing the board rubber - it's about him that I have my charitable thoughts of war damaged instead of sadistic! As with Billy Burdett, McLachlan housemaster who taught geography - a loony if ever there was one! He'd set the class to read something for say 10 minutes and after around 3 minutes had passed he'd break the silence by chuckling or making a weird noise. Gawd help you if you looked up - out to his desk you'd go and he'd open the drawer and invite you to select your punishment from his array of weapons which included a cane, ruler, slipper and a running shoe complete with spikes! I remember Ray di Marco, I think he was a supply teacher, great guy who would while away the lesson but wouldn't stand too much nonsense. I remember him bouncing Clive Bagley's head off the desk for persistent talking! "Chippie" Wood took us for woodwork, Mr Flitcroft for art, a nice guy, I was fascinated by his bulging eyes. Bill Levers made Dekka Dobson stand in the hot sun for messing about in cricket, I groaned when I turned up for my first time at Tech and found that he was my lecturer - I don't suppose he was too happy either. Parbury, Major, Kiffin Williams all wore the black gown, as did my nemesis Hancock.

Just discovered this site so this is my first post. A previous post mentioned Jack Ashley who replaced Pop Major as Head of Music. It was rumoured that his hare lip was a WW2 injury, something I believed then but now I am less sure. We were all a bit frightened of him because of his features - until one fantastic assembly. It was his duty to play gentle tunes on the piano as the senior masters climbed up and down the platform before and after the assembly. On this occasion Don Thompson tripped on his gown as he descended, ending on all fours. It was naturally horrifying to watch because nobody dare cheer and those nearest looked like they expected some form of retaliation. Don gathered his dignity and headed for the exit and Mr Ashley neatly segued into Air on a G String by Bach which was very popular at the time in Hamlet ads that usually portrayed a hapless individual. It showed wit, quick thinking and incredible bravery. I saw him in a different light then and later came to admire a gentle and compassionate teacher, quite different from many of his contemporaries. Did Mr Thompson notice? I think he probably did, but I would love to know if there were any consequences.

Roy Hossack took to religion I believe whilst at Woodlands. Often wondered where Mick Lloyd is now. What about Roy Wright, Ian Yates, Colin Smith, the Moles twins, Spud Dudman, Pete Dawson, Derek Ferguson

I was at Woodlands from 1963 to 1968 in Gibson House, Bill Newton was my House Master who at the time lived in the same road as me, Browns Lane, as did my music teacher Jack Major. I joined the school orchestra and choir in my first year, and later formed a house orchestra. I played all sports for the house and remember Moorcroft lapping me in the cross country. In 1965/66 I got the house prize for services to School Music. I remember most of my teachers as I still have my school report.