L to R: David Davies(?), Jim Perkins, Brian Lindsay, Tim Janes, Roger Speed, David Clarke
Nowadays it's known as Colebourne School, and before that it was Hodge Hill Primary and Junior School. But they could be anywhere! At least you knew where Stechford Road School was - if you got lost, that is!
After more than 50 years it's not surprising that my recollections of this, my first school, are a bit hazy.
I remember that my reception class teacher was Mrs Woodhall, and that other infant department teachers were Miss Blunt, Miss Cooper, Miss Payne and Miss Richards.
In the juniors I remember Miss Bird, Miss Owen, Mrs Smith, Mr Feast and, finally, 'Bill' Bailey who, I learnt later, used to commute from Bromsgrove on public transport. Just imagine trying to do that nowadays!
Throughout my time Miss Wright was the head teacher. It was a sign of those times that the archetypal teacher was an unmarried woman.
Of my fellow pupils I remember best Michael Miller and Michael Hutchinson, with both of whom I am still in touch, John Phillips, and John Rushton who, I believe, now lives in Belgium. Among the girls I recall Ann Boobyer, Jean Cooper (who has registered with Friendsreunited), Jean Hall, Ann Rayner, and Dorothy Whitehouse.
An annual event I remember very clearly was standing outside the school to watch the King and Queen drive by, en route from Stechford Station to open the British Industries Fair at Castle Bromwich. In those days Stechford Station had a roll of red carpet for this purpose. If you could see it now that is very hard to believe!
More frequently, but less predictably, in my early days there we would have to retire to the air raid shelters. My fragmented education can therefore be laid at the door of Adolf Hitler!
During the 1980s (I think) the school celebrated its Golden Jubilee and Mike Hutchinson (by that time Consultant Haematologist at Leicester Royal Infirmary) and I went back accompanied by his youngest, nine year old, son Andrew. We didn't meet anyone we knew, but saw a message the school had received acknowledging the occasion from Miss Richards.