Colleen Draycott
Colleen started at Studley in 1961
The teachers she remembers are Miss Skinner and Mr Earle.
She is a retired nurse and osteopath.
Sue Hemming
Sue Hemming (now Green) joined us in 1969.
Her memory of school: 'Great school great friends great teachers.'
She doesn't recall specific teaching staff, but had positive memories of all of them.
Sue now keeps accounts records for the family business.
Edwin Smith
Edwin joined us in 1961.
His memories of school:
I can remember (who could forget) Head teacher Mr Harper, Deputy Head Miss Skinner, Mr Weston, Mr Earl, Mr Jackson, Sid Coleman and Sam Johnson. I also remember my first PE lesson and teacher, Dicky Whitehouse.
He was inspired by Mr Weston at school.
After leaving school I went on to secure employment in construction, driving a JCB, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However I sought to better my opportunities and retrained as a spine grinder, working in a factory toolroom. Never forgetting my early years in construction, I and was a fencing contractor until I retired.
Robert (Bob) Smith
Bob joined Studley in 1963.
Bob told us:
My main memory was travelling to school in a cream coloured, Studley coach. I lived in Alcester together with many other pupils. You had to make sure you got there in time or else you were stranded and would have to find your own way home!
Bob remembers Mr Harper, Mr Jackson (Geography), Miss Skinner, Mr Earle (Art). He told us he was 'never keen on sports'.
Bob left school and went on to study at Hall Green Technical College to learn a trade in the building industry. He took his City and Guilds exams and as time passed he took a career change and joined Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade.
Bob served 28 years for the FIre Service at Kidderminster, Redditch and for most of the time Evesham, a job he tells us he loved.
Bob is now retired.
Julie Smith
Julie joined us in 1967. She recalls "one of my classmates locking the Geography teacher, Mr Derlien in the store cupboard during our lesson!".
Her favourite teacher was Mrs Hogarth.
Julie now works in retail.
Steve Smith
Steve joined Studley in 1968.
His memories include the school production of Macbeth directed by the inimitable Mrs Hogarth and his teacher Peter Beckhelling, who was an inspiration to Steve, "...his Maths tuition got me to college and then Swansea University studying Electronic Engineering."
Steve is now Managing Director at Intersound Music Ltd in Dursley, Gloucester, a company he started from scratch nearly 20 years ago and is now established as one of the leading guitar specialists in the South West of England.
Prior to this, Steve spent 25 years in the controls systems industry starting as an apprentice engineer at Leamington Tech College and then onto Swansea University to do HND analog electronics whilst working at a development laboratory in Swansea designing electronic calibration equipment for the offshore industry.
Over several years and via several companies, Steve eventually ended up at a large US controls company as an executive answering to the VP in the USA and also to the U.K. based Managing Director.
Steve says, "as I approach the retirement years, here I am running a business, performing in a couple of bands and enjoying life to the full....I've been lucky enough to open for the likes of Paul Young and perform and become friends with some terrific musicians who have graced stages all over the world who have played with artists such as Queen, Tom Jones, Squeeze Van Morrison and many others...."
Sue Smith
Sue joined in 1962.
She remembers her skirt length being checked by Miss Skinner, to make sure it complied to school skirt length rules!
Her favourite teacher was Mr Harris (Maths). She says Mr Harris "gave me the tools for my career in accounts."
Sue retired in 2011, after a career as Accounts Administrator for a global company based in China/USA/ South Africa/ South Korea and all over Europe. Multi currency and import and export documentation experience was very relevant and Sue was also responsible for the wages and HR for the company.
Previously Sue was the Accounts Manager for a recruitment company which also specialised in training for unemployed people via EU funding. Prior to that she was an Accounts Analyst for a local company and started there initially in the Cost Office moving to the Wages Office. Sue says, "Mr Harris definitely helped me to understand Maths as I spent my whole career in dealing with figures!"
Dave Weaver
Dave joined us in 1969. He remembers life as a prefect, "I used to get a lots of sweets, unbelievable!"
His favourite teacher was Mr Irons (PE) because he managed to persuade Dave to enjoy PE and exercise more.
Dave is now retired.
