WEST BROMWICH HATELEY HEATH, Searching for what is left of MENZIES SCHOOL
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- HOME PAGE / @awalkwithphil
WEST BROMWICH HATELEY HEATH, MENZIES school lasted only 46 years, why so hasty with the demolition? Whatever problems the SCHOOL had surely they could have been put right? After a quick walk around the estate I visit the PHOENIX COLLEGIATE to see what remains of the old MENZIES school
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Fond memories 0f hateley heath growing up grandparents lived in Selkirk avenue, first job leaving school in 83 was a yts scheme at Simpson builders merchants opposite menzies.and that slide was fantastic
It came as a huge shock to get an update on the history, especially as I was one of the uptake who moved from the Annex in the town to the then brand new West Bromwich Grammar School. Apart from the short time in the town Annex, I lived out of Hamstead and therefore spent the most of my school years at the new school. I have so many memories of life there which are still fresh in the mind.. Then there was the welcoming feature of the two main blocks with their connecting bridge where we all congregated at break to grab a gill bottle of milk. (It was a test of status to see who could down the most bottles.) By the way I recall that the front boundary wall for us was planted with beech cuttings with the promise that it would one day form a hedge; and look now at the huge sprawling tree barrier. From the top road the entire site was visible. I thought the sports field with the football pitch would have been carved up years ago and sold off for development. Memories there were of us being forced in sports kit to play a football match when snow and ice were on the ground and it was nearly blowing a blizzard. We were all traumatised I'm sure and imprinted with that memory. The lower blocks are still a fresh memory. I recall looking forward to woodwork even though teacher Mr Wood was so strict.... I wonder how many of that intake are still alive. How many still remember being part of the trips to Plas Gwynant adventure school in the shadow of Snowden. My god those times were the best of the best, laughing and joking with pals in the tents to the background of water sucking in the ground. Then worrying into the night in case the Trollenberg terror came to get you lol... Those trips really did pull us together socially back at the school. In the video I missed the chip shop just up from the school on the right where dozens of us went at dinner time for a bag of chips. The shop was also a home from home and I often wondered how long it lasted... or is even still there.... Thank you for your video even though I know from now the school and life then remain only in memory. By the way... my school house was Spartan. I was under my birth name then Rod Reynolds for any old Throstles still alive to read this my time there was 1964 - 1969 (now almost 74 and still with plenty of gas in the tank) 🙂
Those are brilliant memories, this channel is all about attempting to show what once was. Im sure I will be popping back to this area from time to time. Many thanks for your comment
Hope you enjoyed this short look around Hateley Heath in West Bromwich. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content.
As always, all comments, questions, and feedback are welcome. Thanks for watching!!
My comment has gone mate?
@@wildcat5904 Apologies, the first Menzies film was cancelled and re uploaded because for some reason I used John Menzies instead of Menzies, must have had the name of the John Menzies newsagents in mind
@@awalkwithphil ahh no worries Phil, 👍🏻 glad you walked on Essex Avenue, my mom still lives there. We go back every couple of months.
@@wildcat5904 Pleased you caught sight of the house its always my intention that someone will spot a house they once lived in or someone else who did. Many thanks
The crying shame of Menzies being demolished was the breaking up of the Organ that was in A Block. I believe this came from the old Grammer school in Lodge Road. It was a lovely sound when it was played by Mr Harker, one of the music teachers.
I enjoyed the walk today thank you 😊
Hi Phil enjoyed the walk around Hateley Heath my auntie & uncle lived on the estate and me & my mate enjoyed a drink in the goughs all the best Paul
Menzies was the school used in the film Clockwise starring John Cleese
A walk round the new estate , that was chirchfields school might be a good call .
Never knew some of clockwise was filmed there phil.
Many thanks for the suggestion, I have now added the Churcfields New estate to the list, will film it very soon. If there is anywhere else you would like me to take a look at just let me know, thanks again
@awalkwithphil OK I will have a think .
Menzies wasn't demolished in 2010, that was only when it changed name. I visited a few times in the 2010s and the old buildings were still there. As far as I can tell they were demolished in 2018.
Many thanks for that. Not sure where I obtained the demolition year from maybe I should have said it closed in 2010. Appreciate the update
All gone from my day and now just a boring concept by the looks of it. Could correct you about some of the entrances etc, but why should I. It's how you see it and that's what matters. As regards Hateley Heath, it's very green now which is nice. It was very concrete back in the day. I think grass verges left to grow are much prettier and do a far better job for wildlife. The overgrown problem is cars that park all over them !
Ahh yes, Menzies High School what memories, used to love Sports Day track & field events . Wonder who owns this mega land as it's ripe for Housing Development and is no doubt worth an absolute mega investment fortune!!! Shame it's all overgrown and just wasting away... someone's gunna make a FORTUNE! Haven't been here for years. Council can't even keep their own house in order let alone grass verges... Why so many vehicles parking fully on FOOTPATHS wherever I go nowadays, deserve instant fines. Good memories back in the 70s 80s BUT so much has changed now, in my humble opinion for the worst. . . BoingBoingBaggies.
No standards these days, thanks for posting
Hatley Heath was rough in the 1980s
50 yrs since I left Menzies christ.😂😂😂😂😂
I remember clockwise great film shame about the old school
My old school 91-96
Mine was Churchfields but there are no reminders at all on the old site now. Many thanks for the comment
That shop on coorner yoi wanted to no was londis
Thanks for the info James