Keresley Grange Junior School, Waste Lane

Did anyone on here got to Keresley Grange Junior School next to Coundon Park in the early 70s? I think Mrs Westgarth was headmistress or Mrs Owen.

Yes I was there but a few years earlier than that. It would have been around 1953/54 when I started and W O (Bill) Thomas was headmaster. I can't for the life of me think why, but I've still got my sports day certificates, school reports and a few class photos. It's funny you should mention Coundon Park as I'm travelling up from the south coast tomorrow to plant a tree there in memory of my late brother who also attended the school.

I attended Keresley Grange School from 1950 to 56. The school was located quite near to the Jaguar factory in Browns Lane and the tester drivers used Waste Lane as part of their road test for all the cars. I was very keen on cars and the testers would park for a smoke and a drink, I recall often stopping on the way home to look at the cars, the drivers would let us sit in the car and sometimes rev the engine if we could reach the pedal. The best memory was when the driver was testing a C type racing model and me and my friend ‘Armo’ Took turns to sit in the car. I remember my time at KGS with a mixture of happy and fun times interspersed with quite severe and painful experiences if my efforts and endeavours were below ‘standard’ My teacher was Miss Bambrick, a very mature Southern Irish teacher who stood no nonsense but had excellent basic values for teaching the 3 R’s. At the time I was quite frightened but over the years have realized how much she cared for her pupils and wanted to prepare us for the future. The world has changed and young boys can’t sit in cars with strange men, teachers couldn’t rap your knuckles with the edge of a ruler to correct your spelling and Miss Bambrick’s values for commitment and hard work without entitlements have less significance after 70 years. Miss B definitely prepared me for my future, we still had food rationing when I started school and I will always remain grateful for her formative and firm guidance.

I used to go to scouts at the school - 29th Coventry/1st Keresley.

A belated welcome to 1750alfa