I love this photo. I know it’s disrespectful, but the inner miscreant in me so wants the lady to be working on an illicit still. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.
This is a taster of a truly remarkable piece of local history that David Evans has been granted access to by it’s owner, Tony Portman – we have a collection of photos of life at Walsall Wood Secondary School in the 1950s.
What’s remarkable about the photos – over 30 in number – is that Tony has painstakingly documented them. But just as a taster for now, I’m going to share some raw images. I will then post a selection with the full notes every weekend. That way full discussions can ensue and no gems get overlooked.
If you want to go location spotting, see this post here where David returns to the school (now the Walsall Wood Youth Club) a couple of years ago.
Intersting comparisons too to the school photos from Shire Oak Grammar in 1964 here and 1962 here.
My thanks to David for great scans and hard work, as usual, but also to Tony for a wonderful act of felicity and generosity.
Just feast your eyes on these. Bring back memories? Comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Lunchtime in a school dining hall familiar to many locals, I feel. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.
A proud team from 1954 – anyone you know? Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.
Apiary as a school topic. Wonderful. And just look at Walsall Wood Colliery in the background. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.
Dressmaking – back then, a topic strictly for the girls. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.
Must say, the staff here look a tad more comfortable than up at Shire Oak on the 1962 and 64 photos. Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.
I would imagine that while the ladies were sewing, the chaps were doing woodwork. Interesting place to hang a selection of saws… Image very kindly supplied by David Evans, generously donated by Tony Portman. Click for a larger version.