All change – The School in the 70’s – Michael Breslin

Michael Breslin outlines some of the changes at the City of Coventry Boarding School after 1972 –

• From the 40’s to the 80’s – we’ve tracked that the school had employed at least five female teachers – but none in the 60’s. This will be a surprise to those who were there in the 60’s.
• Towards the latter years of the school there was a ‘Girl’s dorm’ – read on to find out more.
• The teaching staff changed again in the 70’s with some from the 60’s remaining until the school closed – eg Alan Thorn, DA Williams, George Parker, Graham Place, Mick Chopping.
• The curriculum developed – the old Gym became the Metalwork shop and PE was held either in the Main Hall or outside. Chemistry was now being taught.
• With the demise of  ‘Slasher Jack’ – and with the changing mores of the 70’s – hairstyles were much longer.
• With the development of  the new block in the 60’s leaving more space in the old buildings, staff accommodation and other facilities moved around a bit. Michael refers to some of these changes.

Michael Breslin

“Things were different by 1972 –

All 1st years were assigned to The Annexe under a Mr Faulkner’s guidance. He wore a size 12 gym shoe and kept a spare on top of the clothes lockers. From the swimming pool, the first Building was the “sallon” where we had a TV and tuck shop area with the woodwork room was. Then it was Mortimer house , the Annexe, Dudley, Blount and then Art room (Maths Room on the other end).

We got off the bus and carried our cases to the Annexe dormitory (Led by Bruce Naylor – the only 6th Former) which was theoretically divided into the three houses. Mortimer was down at Faulkner’s end, then Dudley split either side of the doorway and then Blount. DA Williams was at the other end. We were asked to choose our bed in those three areas as appropriate.

We were allocated a 3’x2′ wooden shelf by the central doorway and that was our clothes locker. We were shown how to fold our clothes with the round fold outside and stack them neatly by a house Matron whose name I cannot recall (it wasn’t Polly) but she also showed us hospital bed making after we had emptied our suitcases and stored them in the locker room by the doorway.

Some kid stood on his bed and claimed to be the hardest kid in the dorm and no-one challenged him….so regrettably, I did! I was battered fair and square and true enough he was a very tough Nut! He was down the other end of the dorm from me because I was in Mortimer and he was in Blount. he later discover much tougher kids in his own house…..A pecking order was very soon established within the first few days.

Supper was rubbish, I thought, Currant biscuits with cold milk….Communal Showers was a first for me and I wasn’t comfortable (I never brought any soap for my new soap dish….so was ridiculed by a few) but soon was forced to get used to it. Lights out at 8 was far too soon but we had a compulsory 15 minutes silence before for reading time. After Lights out, Bruce Naylor kept us in check as his bed was behind the partition At Rev Williams end. “Bruce, Bruce, Sayers is out of bed” because there were some antics on the first few nights. “Sixers” was rife where an older kid would grab and twist your arm at any time and bash you with the fist as hard as possible on your bicep. My arms seemed to be permanently bruised.

I was JM 38 so at some stage the prefix must have switched. 1 X and 1Y were the two classes in the first year and I think I must have done well academically because I moved into 2X which was considered the brighter class in the 2nd year. I also moved Dorms to Mortimer. Another Mr Williams (P.E.) was at one end and a Mr Burridge (Physics) at the other. We remained in Mortimer for 2nd and 3rd year. 3X Class was a riot. I have never had so much fun. We were a team by then. The 4th year we moved to Senior House and it was a luxury! No more creaking pipes (when the heating was on – a single 4″ metal pipe that passed behind your headboard) during the night, no more walking to the Ablution Block in the dark cold wind rain sleet snow with just your dressing gown and slippers. (I hated having soggy slippers) No more howling wind in the dead of night passing through those ill-fitting windows. I remember Mr Williams (not the reverend – Sarah, are you related?) having a bad car accident and his poor dog was killed.

I forgot Dudley, “Manned” by Mr Chopping (Chemistry) and Mr Wood (not sure what subject but I did some photography with him) Blunt was TJ Walker and Mr Gladwell.Senior House we 4 or 5 to a room and we had the life of Riley although rarely did we get onto the Snooker Table until the 5th.

Sorry Burcher’s were next to the assembly hall. Blundell’s came later.

Metalwork was brilliant, my favorite subject. It was in the Brick building between the Top field and the classrooms on the yard. We would make castings from aluminum. We would silver solder brightly polished copper. We would turn parts on the lathe. I remember it was a 4th and 5th only subject and the goal was to build yourself a real steam engine. Sadly,I dropped it in the 5th for Chemistry as I needed Chem to get into Cov Tech for A-Levels

The Gym – no such thing. Although we had a PE session a few times in the assembly hall when we were 1st years. Everything was outside, rain, hail or shine, hurricanes even and we would be attempting to pass the rugger ball – Rugby was big as I recall and failing that, cross country seemed to be endless all year round

I suppose it was the new Block, the last classroom near top pitch was Chemistry, the one prior was Physics, then the library above Mr Parker’s office and then the geography room.

I loved all of the sport (and all of the lessons come to think of it) but hated getting my white plimsolls wet/dirty as we had to clean them for Sat Morning inspection. Monday morning was wash kit inspection, Tuesday was Athletics kit Wed was Linen locker (clothes) inspection (all rounded folds outside) and laundry day (you had to send two pairs of skids and socks at the very least to the laundry, no sports kit was allowed – you did that yourself in the ablution sink) Wed Shoe polish kit and spare shoes (although your shoes needed to be shiny every day) Thursday was letter writing kit I think (Stamps were a must) I cannot recall Fridays inspection theme but if you failed, 3 of the best off Faulkner and Eddie Williams in the 2nd and 3rd. Sunday was a day off inspection we would usually be cleaning our sports kit from Sat Morning games….