ECW log for 1960

Spring Term 1960

• 7 Jan: Commencement of new term. Mr H Johnson in place of Mr Goodyear as master in charge of Physics. News reported that P Bryan had gained a place at St John’s, Cambridge, to read Modern Languages.
• 11 Jan: Chess match against QM (Walsall). Lost 2-6.
• 14 Jan: Stamp Club meeting (display by Mr Legge, “British West Indies”)
• 26 Jan: 9 trees planted on school premises by country groundsmen – trees ordered specially by Biology department.
• 9 Feb: Chess match v J Leckie (6-3).
• 10 Feb: BBC broadcast of “Let the people sing” – defeated.
• 17 Feb: Science works visit to F H Lloyds. Chess match v Bilston (5½-2½).
• 18 Feb: Visit of senior boys to Rep Theatre Bham to see Henry IV Part I
• 19 Feb: Musical recital for school given by Miss Pauline and Mavis Elwitt (violin and piano). History Society meeting addressed by Mr J D Denman (former master) on Calvinism.
• 25 Feb: Camera Club meeting (two comedy movie films).
• 3 Mar: Stamp Club meeting – thematic display entitled “Philatelist looks at sport”.
• 5 Mar: Sixth From visit B’ham Rep. Henry IV Part II.
• 10 Mar: Science works visit to Kenrick and Jacksons (sic) (West Brom).
• 15 Mar: Whole school see film Hamlet at local cinema.
• 17 Mar: School photograph taken by Panora.
• 29 Mar: House plays presented. Lodge (The Boor?), Manor (Ace King Queen), Oakeswell (Swimming Shocks?), Wood Green (Moneysaver?).
• 30 Mar: House plays again presented – this time adjudicated. Drama Shield presented by Parents’ Association won by Manor House.
• 1 Apr: Basketball result announced: School v Commercial School 62-9. Party for 5th and 6th forms at School – girls of High School attended.
• 4 Apr: 4th and 5th form boys went to B’ham Rep – Henry IV Part II.
• 5 Apr: Coach House and Wooden Hut cleared ready for builders. Arrival of building contractors on the site. French play “Le Malade Imaginaire” produced.
• 6 Apr: Repeat of French play for outside schools.
• 7 Apr: Geographical outing to Coalbrookdale and district.
• 8 Apr: Building operations commenced at end of Chemistry Laboratory. End of term. Departure of Mr Hillaby (to Longton High School) and Mr Smyth (to Bushey G Sch).
• 12 Apr: Railway Society outing to Nottingham, Derby, Chesterfield.

Summer Term 1960

• 27 Apr: Welcome Mr Raybould (for History in place of Mr Hillaby) and Miss Drake (for Music, from County Music Dept, in place of Mr Smyth).
• 29 Apr: Astronomical Society. Talk on “Astrology as forerunner of Astronomy”.
• 2 May: Malayan student commences 3 weeks’ teaching practice.
• 3 May: Science works visit to Telephone House, B’ham.
• 5 May: Lectern arrived from Parents’ Association.
• 6 May: Holiday for wedding of HRH Princess Margaret. Geographical Society visit to Wallington(?) and district.
• 9 May: Classical Music Society – 15 favourite preludes of Rachmaninov.
• 21 May: Visit of Parents’ Association (2 bus loads) to Chatsworth House – return to Matlock Bath for tea.
• 30 May: Science works visit to ICI Oldbury.
• 3 Jun: Boys left with Mr Mason for a week’s camp at the Staffordshire schools site at Teddersley Park.
• 14 Jun: Visit of Mr Ferrar (of County) to discuss placing of order for a greenhouse for Biology department. Appointment of Mr Kent as junior Modern Languages master.
• 6 Jul: Geography outing to Port of London.
• 7 Jul: Visit of coachload (41) to Stratford Memorial Theatre to see The Taming of the Shrew. Announced successes of Knight, Oakley, Wassall and Welch in gaining places at W’ton College of Art for September.
• 11 Jul: Visit of Science Society to Science Museum (London). School field used by Woodland Grange for their sports. Headmaster’s study and Secretary’s office evacuated to temporary quarters in Hall.
• 12 Jul: Form 2 History outing to Wall and Tamworth.
• 14 Jul: History Society outing to London.
• 16 Jul: Annual Parents v Boys cricket match. School won.
• 17 Jul: Railway Society outing to Oxford, Swindon and Bristol.
• 19 Jul: Visit of Bishop of Bombay (Rt Rev A H Legg MA) to talk to school at assembly (on behalf of the London Missionary Society). Annual Commemoration Service held in St Paul’s Church, address given by Bishop of Stafford (Rt Rev R S Clitheroe MA).
• 22 Jul: Annual Swimming Sports held at the Town Baths during the morning. Party and dance held in the evening for senior boys and girls of the High School. End of term leavers: Mr Hollingsworth (to Handsworth Sec Sch), Mr Childs (to Gilbert Claughton, Dudley) and Miss Drake (to Heronville Girls, W’bury).
• School camp 17-31 August at Horton in Ribblesdale, Yorkshire. Visit to Waggis(?) (Switzerland) 20-29 July. Some boys also went to camp on Anglesey.

Autumn Term 1960

• 7 Sep: Commencement of new school year with 362 boys on roll. School split into two: 218 boys at main school – 3G(German), 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5T, 5R (a small remove form of boys from last year’s 5th) and 6th, and 144 boys at Hydes Road Sec Mod school – 3L (Latin/Woodwork), 2A, 2alpha, 1A, 1alpha. (woodwork introduced for boys at Hydes Road). Changes of staff: Mr Birkin (Music), Mr Pickston (Maths and Science), Mr Kent (Modern Languages), Mr Sayers (English), Mrs Naylor (for one term from Sec Tech School – English) and Herr Bill (German Assistant). Building alternations now in use: old changing room as a classroom, and new wash lobby and toilet. Boys at Hydes Road to return to main school on games afternoons. Joint staff meeting at end of school.
• 20 Sep: Astronomical Society meeting (on comets). Classical Musical Society – 2 overtures by Tchaikovsky.
• 3 Oct: Emergency Governors’ Meeting to discuss site of Secondary Modern School to be built on the School Field.
• 6 Oct: Visit to Stratford to see Twelfth Night (1 coach load). Appointment of Cook-in-charge, Mrs Ashby, Assistant Cook Mrs O’Neil, part-time helpers Mrs Garrett and Mrs Harper.
• 28 Oct: Railway Society outing to Manchester.
• 2 Nov: Handover of Kitchen and Staircase from the builders.
• 5 Nov: Visit to Stratford to see Troilus and Cressida (coach load of 33).
• 9 Nov: Forms 2 History outing to Cotswolds and Malvern.
• 11 Nov: Armistice Service.
• 15 Nov: Cooking own meals in Kitchen. Mrs Clark continuing as kitchen helper in place of Mrs Garrett.
• 16 Nov: School closed for Staffordshire County 11+ tests – all staff detailed for duty at various schools.
• 22 Nov: Science Society meeting – “The transmission and distribution of electric power”.
• 24 Nov: Science works outing to Hardmann’s.
• 25 Nov: Chess team played Dudley (3-3)
• 26 Nov: Upper VI Science visit to B’ham Univ Physics laboratories.
• 28 Nov: Caretaker occupied new house on the school field today.
• 2 Dec: News that Head Boy (Langford) chosen for B’ham County XI v Warwickshire and for Staffordshire. Chambers reserve for Staffordshire.
• 14 Dec: Darby and Chambers chosen for B’ham and District Sr Schools Trials.
• 19 Dec: Party for senior boys at Girls’ High School.
• 20 Dec: End of term. Carol service held in St Paul’s Church during afternoon (address by Vicar of Wednesbury). Staff leavers: Mr Clark (to go to Joseph Leckie), Mrs Naylor (retiring from profession). Arrangements completed for student from Leicester University to help with Maths teaching next term.