OKAY HERE GOES: Been promising myself to do this for many years, now retired gonna have a go, no I lie, semi retired as I like to keep going and also earn some extra cash? Anyone reading this web site that attended Abbey Road School and you care to share memories please feel free to do s0. My name is Stanley Francis and attended the infants then Juniors from 1952-1958 then onto Uplands, why was because I failed my 11plus...I am now 68 years young(2015). ..left school at 15(1962).......
.....then onto James Watt College(left) and that's about to be demolished, past there last week, see from pic broken windows etc(7/5/15)-my subject was motor engineering, worked at Midland Red-Davis Haulage-City Hospital as a foreman, then to Group Transport Manager-then onto sales-then to own business to which there were many, alternator repairs, rewires, ending up in air compressor manufacture and service to mainly Dental, medical customers. 8 years as a Special Constable. Parish councilor. School Governor. Married twice, two boys, Mom died at 101 years 5 years ago doubtful if I will get to that age. Up till last month was active as a local political candidate, didn't get elected, came second, at every election I always beat Labour but never Tory. I now live in Clent.
What do I remember of Abbey Road school?-Well I remember school camp at Ribbersford Bewdley, it was alleged that the camp funds disappeared one year by one of the school staff, won't mention the name. I remember lessons we had in the Woods. Those horrible toilets akin to a hole in the ground? I never did get round to finding the escape tunnel at the old Abbey in grounds of the woods!!
The Abbey(left) has long since gone, (these days money would have been found to retain it)before it did, it was a Golf club for a while that I used when I was in my teens. Anyone remember the Winter DEATH TRACK opp the Abbey-that was a sledging paradise in the woods-TO THE LADS ANYWAY?-I remember us building a tree house near the greenhouses one year. DID YOU know that Laurel and Hardy once lived opposite the woods at some time. Nearby is St Hilda's Church that assisted our young education...slightly forced to go?
Okay enough of me, this is where the thinking cap comes into its own, what more can I remember of Abbey Road...well, its a bit sketchy but will attempt with some names and happenings whilst I was there.
Abbey Road School (left)Let's start with the headmasters name....Mr Lochran?..............Teacher...Mr Ward......The Headmistresses name.....Mrs Jones. My teachers name was....Miss Maskell ................she lived in Devon Road back of the Cock and Magpies pub. Blimey this is gonna be harder than I thought? Would be easier to name the girls and boys that were there same time as myself, let's have ago? Michael Massey-Susan Stephenson-Alan Peace-Sonia King-John Jarvis-Roger Cotton-David Hadley-Patrick Baylis-Roger Prior-David Smith-Grahame Petch-Ronald Westley-Martin Jones-now I am stuck. Will have to return later when memory returns with more, but if anyone who finds this site purposely or accidentally, please add to it?>here<
The pic below is one of Warley Woods as many of us will remember it as.
