I started at W.G.S. in 1944 at the old Junior School with all red caps, to be worn whenever we were in school uniform. I cycled halfway to school from Bilbrook, leaving my bike at the house of a friend before getting the bus for the rest of the journey to Clark Road. then a walk up to school. Later when I started to cycle all the way to School, I used to travel along Tettenhall Road past the Girls High School on the way home, always just as the girls were leaving as I went past. I had a very temperamental bike which developed pedal/chain/brake trouble just as I was passing them and I had to stop to fix it. Not one of those girls ever stopped and offered to help me! I went off girls for at least 10 minutes.

Then off to Big School, with black caps with a narrow red band. My first classroom was adjoining the Main Hall (Big School) and an entrance door near the end of the stage. I can remember bottles of milk being collected and drunk at morning break. Also "Ink Monitors" daily went round each classroom topping up inkwells with cans of ink with little spouts. Did they volunteer or were they the "naughty boys"? Eventually I progressed from a simple pen with a detachable nib to a fountain pen and a bottle of "Quink" ink.

Then there were exercise books which you received for each subject at the beginning of term. When they were full you had to go to a little window in an annexe just off the side of big school and you were given a new one. However, the old one was thoroughly checked and if half a page was unused you were told to go away and fill it before you got a new one.

Another memory (I cannot remember the date) was of all pupils attending a session held on the stage in big school when each of us had our feet measured. If they were above a certain size your parents received extra coupons for clothing; rationing was still in force at that time.

Wednesday afternoons were sports afternoons and on Thursdays we went to school in Army cadet uniform and spent part of the day on exercises, drill, marching, learning Morse code or on the rifle range. Once a trip to R.A.F. Cosford was arranged for us and a group of us were able to have a flight in an aircraft. A few got a flight in a Tiger Moth (only one passenger) but the rest of us went in an Anson for a flight of about 20 mins. Wow! Later it became the C.C.F. (Combined Cadet Force).

On wet days we were allowed to stay in our classrooms at break or dinner time, I can remember we used to organise table football matches. They were played on a desk lid with the goals marked with chalk at each end. We used a penny (1d not 1p) coin for the "player" and a 5d or a silver 6d for the ball. Each player used the end of a ruler in turn to try to knock the "ball" through the posts to score a goal. I got quite good at this and one year (5th year) I became champion. I received a cup from my classmates, made from silver milk bottle tops.

In 1949 I joined a group of boys who went on a cycling tour around the Cotswolds. A tour organised by Mr. Viner (Art Master). We stayed each night at a Youth Hostel. One morning I went to collect my bike from the storage shed only to find the front wheel had gone and was replaced by a scruffy Old one. Mt. Viner, after some detective work, managed to get my wheels back for me and off we went for the day. *Reference to the Cotswold Tour in Wulfrunian 1949

I was not a "highflyer" as a pupil at school, more of an average pupil (or late developer!) In a football game played on a "valley" pitch, I once scored a goal direct from a corner kick but unfortunately there were no Wolves scouts about so a career in football was out.

After a spell in the R.A.F, I Worked for Courtaulds at Dunstall Park making synthetics in their laboratory.

In 1958 1 moved with Courtaulds, to Lincolnshire to help start a new factory there as a Senior shift chemist.

Finally, I changed career and qualified as a School teacher in 1968, teaching Chemistry and Science until I retired. A big Thank You to Mr. Batty, who taught me at W.G.S. for instilling my interest in Chemistry and Science for the rest of my life. I look back at my school years at W.G.S. with pride we all received such a good foundation for our adult life.

David Robbins (OW 1953)

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