Sunday School

Hi Johnnie, Did you know the Richards family? Both sons went to King Henry prep school, the dad looked after Stoke Hill Guildhouse hostel. They lived in MacDonald Rd, before having a purpose built house on the estate. I remember MacDonald Rd, unadopted, with cobbles, no tarmac.

Thanks to everyone for keeping this kind of subject as an easy to read topic. So much in life we are pre-conditioned, who knows what my take would be if brought up in a far eastern type home. That's why I will never point fingers at anyone. A STORY. Are you sitting comfy! During my late teens, I was asked to play piano for a Coventry city centre youth meeting at the Sibree Hall. I was deputising for a lady pianist, a one time musician of the year calibre. I will show them, I thought. Over 400 youngsters, plus a huge festival choir. All went so well, I had practised until my fingers had bled. At the end, the Sunday school chorus "The Thank You Chorus" . Each verse went up in pitch a semitone. There are musical techniques for changing keys midstream, no problem for big-head me, until about the third verse there was screeching & coughing, so bad. There were still four verses to go. I then realised that I was putting each verse up a whole tone. Not a forgiving lot, 400 youngsters, as the event turned into a circus. Thank goodness it was the end. I did get over it, & was asked back several times after, but it was often a talking point.

Hi Philip I don't think I knew the Richards family. I remember the two Wendies - Bull and Bray, and Richard Brock (who famously let us know early one Christmas Day that Santa had brought him a trumpet - and a loud one too! ) - all of whom were in my year at Ravensdale.

I appear to be the odd one out here. I was born in 1950, my local church was Ss Mary & Benedict, 52A Raglan St, Coventry. To this day I am a practicing Catholic.

Kevin, nothing odd about that. Well done!!!!!

Hi & thank you, Kevin & Mick. I agree. Whilst doing a job at Birmingham university campus, during a lunch break I walked along to the Birmingham Oratory, where even though I was only viewing, I was made most welcome. I had conversation with a cleric, that was a sheer delight. He knew his stuff.