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Exhibition

50 Years of Memories - WMGSOPA

Wolverhampton Municipal Grammar Old Pupils Association

"50 Years of Memories"
An Exhibition of Pictures and other memorabilia, mounted by W.M.G.S.O.P.A.
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On a bright sunny day in June 2003, W.M.G.S.O.P.A. held an exhibition in the old school hall in Newhampton Road. The school itself is in a remarkably well preserved condition, with many original features still showing from its original construction. Although the interior does not now truly reflect schooldays - many of the classrooms have been re-fitted with modern "conference style" desking and seating, there is still a lot of atmosphere to help recall what has gone on before.
		"50 Years of Memories" exhibition - view of school hall from the balcony. The group in the centre are looking at the "R R Stephens" display. The floor is the original, although has been treated with modern coatings, and is much lighter than when the school was running. The stage, and associated furniture has all gone now, but the basic framework and doors are all as before.

View from the front of the hall, where the stage would have been, and Headmaster(s) would enter to take Assembly each morning. Rooms 5 and 4 can be seen in the background (left to right). The internal arrangements are different now, but the wooden claddings to dado level are still there. The group in the front are looking at photos from the R R Stephens era.


		This view shows a group of interested visitors discussing the contents of display cabinets on the balcony, one of which contains a blown up version of the 1963 school year photograph. The Classroom in the corner is Room 8, so long the domain of "JT" - Johnny Thompson, who was a mainstay of the school for many years. Notice the roof trusses still as originally constructed. The hall is so light and airy, due to the roof light windows above - still opened by a series of pulleys and ropes.
The lights under the balcony are a later installation post- schooldays.

This display relates to the G J Douel years, 1954 - 1974. He was the last Headmaster of the "Municipal Grammar", and retired due to ill health as the school was undergoing the transfer to Colton Hills. Photographs on the board depict the 1959, 1963 and 1970 years, and therefore covers the latter era of the school. Photos in the foreground on the table are of many of the sports teams during the years of his tenure. Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, one time cricketer, broadcaster and now director of Wolves Football Club, was the sports mistress until 1963.


Amongst the memorabilia on display, were a number of folders containing photograph of sports teams, school magazines and cuttings relating to information about the school. The school magazine was first published in 1921, the cover and style remaining largely unchanged until 1966 - when the first "modern design" appeared on the cover. The content however remained much as before. In 1967, under the more radical influences of the times, there were bolder changes. By 1968, it was understood that re-shuffle rather than revolution had taken place. Content remained largely as before, if the writing style had changed, it was probably due to the more colloquial expressionism we take mostly for granted today.	One of the saddest events of the change from Municipal Grammar to Valley Park School (as it was known in 1975), was the "misplacement" of the Lectern, Table and Chair, used By the Headmaster to take Assembly each day, as well as events such as the House Speech and Music Competitions. The Association remains hopeful, that these will turn up.
1967 - "in yer face!"
1968 - "Red Faced!"	By 1971, the Magazine had celebrated 50 Years of publication, and the 1971 edition had excerpts from earlier times. The Association now holds a large collection of these (as seen in the foreground of the picture above).
At the back of the school hall there was a corridor, leading to the Boys Prefects Room. Due to a number of "unacceptable pranks" during the 66/67 school year, its use as a prefects room was discontinued. The main change from the "old" days, is the well lit windowed arch and half glazed door - it was quite dark and dingy back in the sixties. The two doorways on the left are the old cloakrooms, used by 1st and 2nd year boys. The Prefects Room was used later as a book storeroom, and is today the Reception office of the Newhampton campus.


	This little corner was "Sid Parsons" room back in the mid sixties. As Deputy Head, one of his responsibilities was the enforcement of discipline. Many a fifth form boy (it was nearly always the fifth formers who were the most rebellious!), would wait tremulously, having been called to see him over some minor misdemeanour. There are tales of what punishments were meted out - but it was all a very long time ago!

Pictured on the right, are the old "Division Rooms". These were used essentially by 6th Formers studying in "sets" - small groups learning possibly Greek & Latin. The trees and the paving weren't there during schooldays, but the windows look original (no internal bars though, the students didn't need to escape!)

	The picture on the right shows the boys entrance - not nearly so grand as the girls entrance. The railings and ramp are post school days. (In case you missed it, there is a small door in the corner of the left hand wall). In the 60's when coke was king (we had a coal coking plant in the town), part of the wall near to where the tree is now, was obscured by tons of the stuff. Oil heating arrived about 1965.
View of the science block, largely unchanged. The Physics Labs were upstairs and the Chemistry Labs downstairs. The door to Room 20 is the one with the red sign over.

The views expressed in the foregoing, do not necessarily reflect the views of W.M.G.S.O.P.A. If you have any old pictures or stories of the Muni Days, and would like to see them on this site, then please contact the webmaster.
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