Sir keeps the lads in order for this playground pose
YOU have to wind the clock of ages back sixtyfour years to complete a successful roll-call on these young boys who all attended Park Lane Secondary Modern Boys School in 1954.
Park Lane, one of Tipton’s finest, was the last of seven schools to be opened by Tipton School Board, which was formed in 1871. The foundation stone for the school was laid on May 20, 1903, by Mr Atkins Hinton, Chairman of the Board, and it opened the following year as two single sex schools for children aged 11 upwards. These lads were part of its 65 years of independence after it merged with Tipton Grammar School to form Alexandra High School in 1969. The Park Lane site continued to be used on a part-time basis until complete closure in 1990. It was demolished the following year.
Recall
Having spotted the picture of the Park Lane Boys School senior XI football team in Bugle 1366, Derek Cox was encouraged to furnish us with another cracking picture from the same school. He told us: “This photograph, taken in 1954, of Year 1B includes some of the players who featured in the winning football team of 1957/58. I’ve managed to recall most of the names, including our teacher Michael Miles (at the back), but wondered whether fellow Bugle readers might be able to fill in the blanks.
“Anyway, eyes down here we go. Back row from left to right:- (?), Tony Taylor, myself Derek Cox, Barry Penn, Bill Perry, Michael Bunce, Eddy Chilton, Tommy Harris, Freddie Flute (you can just see the top of his face), (?), (?), Derek Butler, Norman Randle, Ivan Isherwood, Glen Halford, Derek Isherwood.
“Second row:- Michael O’neil, Roger Timmins, Tony Hemmings, Archie Goodwin, Brian Perry, (?), Stanley Willetts, Freddy King, Michael Prtichard, Monty Lloyd, John Oakley, (?).
“And last but not least the front row:- Stanley Day, (?), (?), (?), Ken Stephens, Michael Ralph, Geoffrey Savage and Terry Carr, the first chap in the school to sport a crew-cut. Sadly at least one I have named, Derek Butler, has died.”
If you can name the missing schoolboys from 1954 or have other photos or stories to tell from that era of Black Country school life, please contact us here at the Black Country Bugle. All the contact details you need can be found on page 2.