Faid away: The final dinner bell

Walsall Wood County Secondary School and a wonderful image offered by Tony Portman of the happy retirement presentation to Mrs Dolly James. The gentleman in the photo is Mr Faid, headmaster.

David Evans has again been chatting to the wonderfully generous Tony Portman, who as many of you will recall, has previously shared a huge number of photos with the blog of Walsall Wood Secondary School in the 1950s.

That remarkable collection was introduced in this blog post here – and today I can share with you another photo, possibly of that period, of the retirement presentation to much-loved dinner lady Mrs. Dolly James at the school, by the head, Mr. Faid.

David Evans wrote:

HI Bob

Another wonderful photo, offered by Tony Portman, showing a happy retirement event.
I think we all have memories of school dinners. The good dinner ladies seen here toiled in a very small canteen kitchen at Walsall Wood Secondary school, to receive the meals that had been cooked in the central school meals kitchen which I think was in Brownhills.
This common kitchen possibly served pupils from the Primary and Secondary School and others in the district.
I am not sure of the date of the event.. Perhaps readers can help, please?
A big thankyou to Tony for offering this photo from his private collection
David
(Were the meals cooked in the former National restaurant kitchen, the corrugated hut behind the Brownhills central School? Although I don’t think the lady not in uniform is Mrs Parsley…)

Thanks to Tony Portman who generously granted access to a remarkable collection, and to David Evans for scanning them so diligently. People like you gentlemen are keeping local history alive. Thank you.

Please, any comments, contributions or observations welcome. Either comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

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8 Responses to Faid away: The final dinner bell

  1. Janet Simms says:

    Janet Simms (nee Parr). I was at the secondary school around 1958 I remember Mr Faid and Mr Brian Hildrick correct me if I’ve got his name wrong. Good times.

  2. Ray Share says:

    It looks like Mrs stackhouse behind Mrs James I remember Mrs scragg

  3. David Evans says:

    Hi Ray
    not Mrs Stackhouse!

  4. Clive says:

    If my memory serves me right: chap with the glasses behind Mr Faid is Mr Rumble; the lady behind the dinner lady second from the left is Miss Sharp! Thank for the photo Tony.

  5. David Evans says:

    cheers Clive..Many thanks
    kind regards
    David

  6. Ray Share says:

    Sorry David I now recognise your mom

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