St. Joseph's Nechells
RC Church & School
Birmingham
Did you attend St Joseph's RC School,
Long Acre,
Nechells,
Birmingham, England?
If so, then this is the web site for you.
Or do
you just want to know what this site is about?
Go to Site information page
Do you remember teachers like, Miss Sidebottom, Miss Scally, Mr Cassell , (picture below left.) Miss Martin or Miss Dobbin? What about Mr Whittle, Miss White, or Miss Grundy? Then again Sister Alfreda or Sister Marguerite? Do you want to find out where they are now or what happened to them? Again this is where you will get your answers. See Stories from Pupils & Teachers and the other story pages. Many are mentioned.
What former school friends
do you remember? John Tocker, Pat Brierley, Tommy Powell.
Mavis Hall or maybe Maureen Hawe. How about the Walsh sisters or the
Kimberley sisters. This site has knowledge of them all.
So if you attended St Joseph's School, or have any information about friends who did, contact me and let me know. Your messages will be greatly appreciated.
If you did not attend St Joseph's but are still interested in local history, particularly Nechells, this site may have some thing for you! There are many photographs and stories about the area and how life went on during difficult times.
Scroll down for more information.
Sunday 22nd July 2pm St Joseph's Primary School Rocky Lane, Nechells, Birmingham.
Recent updates 28th January 2012
New photo from Hockley c 1967
2 More new bus photos added.
New story from Geoff Kelland added to Busmans Tales
January Minutes from Heartlands
Look at our new Busman Tales Page
Email messages received from former Bus Staff. Do you have something to add?
Christmas 2011 reunion photographs. Thanks to Joe Harford. See link below.
Please look at the page called Busman Days. It originally was meant to show photographs of many of the staff who worked on the buses, particularly 55 and 14 routes. Since that time the parameters have changed and many other services and garages are included.
I would welcome more photographs and information. So keep watching!
Photographs remembering Bus staff that have passed away has now been started. Please help me add to this page with photographs of those former friends and relatives who have now no longer with us. See Busman Days page. I will need confirmation of death from a relative or friend before adding a name to this section please.
Whilst the following request does not appear to have any connection with St Joseph's, the nature of it made me consider that someone amongst our many visitors might be able to help!
The request was received via our Guest Book. Having followed it up I have been able to glean further information.
"I am searching for a lady called Mary Teresa ( Tess ) Johnson who
went to Cotteridge school in the 1950's 60's and who was in Shenley Fields
children's home, her family are desperate to find her. My friends have
been trying for years to find their sister. The children were all split up in
the 1950's when their mother died. They have found each other apart from the
only sister Mary Teresa Johnson ( Tess ) It did go out on Birmingham radio at
one time but no response. Mary was in Shenley Fields Children's Home
.
She was last known to be working in an Hotel in Moseley I think it was the
Rowton Hotel ( Rowton House) for men. about 1963. Her
NHS
number hasn't been used so we are wondering if she went to Ireland or abroad,
all we need is one person who may hold the smallest of details and we stand a
better chance. Anyway, sorry to have troubled you, Best wishes, Christine".
Any information to me please at
Mary Teresa ( Tess ) Johnson. Born 1945. Picture taken late 1950's when she would have been about 12/13 years old.
Information on John James Kyle 1793-1875 and his family added to Snippets Page
Are you one of the St Joseph's pupils who completed your schooling at Leigh Road, Washwood Heath, Birmingham following the closure of the school in Long Acre? If so, we have former friends of yours waiting to see you.
Colette Kirwan has contacted a number of former class friends and enjoyed a reunion!
Want to know more? Then go to St Joseph's-Leigh Road and read what she has to say and look at her photographs. Who do you remember. Is your name amongst those Colette would like to contact?
A great new project for all Brummies to be involved with, has been started by Eric Hill at
Heartlands Local History Society. I believe it will carry forward important details of individual
Birmingham born people, that future generations will be able to read and enjoy. YOU can be part of that scenario.
If you are interested go to http://www.brummies.org and read how you can become involved.
There are already some great vignettes of local people on the site.
I sincerely believe that Eric has started something good and unique with this project and feel that it is something which we at St Joseph's, fully support.
.
In the stories links above, you will read the memories of many former pupils regarding their times in Nechells and Aston. You will also hear from former Headmaster, Peter Whittle, Miss Sidebottom, a legendary St Joseph's teacher and also from Miss Frances Vaughan, a former pupil who would later return to the school as a teacher.
You can read the stories of the late Phyllis Arnold, who talked about her experiences, from being at St Joseph's, to her later life. There are stories from John Tocker, Kevin Rushe, Olga Waplington, Janet Kimberley, Pat Fennell and many more from the old School.
In the Snippets section will be smaller tales, which hopefully remind you not only of the person, but of other times that you may remember from those many years ago.
Have a look at the photographs from the past. See if you remember anyone.
If you have a story about St Joseph's or Nechells, that you would like on these pages, contact me. You do not have to have attended St Joseph's.
The grave list contains partial details of some of those who have been buried in St Joseph's cemetery. Unfortunately, the list is not complete due to lack of accurate records. You may find this is not surprising considering that the Cemetery has been taking burials since 1850. If you do have any enquiries about friends or relatives who may be interred, contact me.
If you like reading about old Aston, Nechells and the like, the stories are a must.
Do not expect to take them all in at one go. You might want to add your own tale
from the area? If so contact me.
Contact me!
Richard
on
Do you recognise any of these as former teachers or school friends?
Click on the photographs to enlarge
Look inside the pages and all the names will be revealed.
Put names to these faces as they are now!
Again if you do not know, you will have to look inside.
Please note all stories and pictures contained within this site are the sole property of myself and must not be copied or used for financial gain of any nature, or used in any other publication without my permission. The stories have already been subject of publication under my name. I may however permit any use for educational purposes.
If you experience any problems please let me know.
