Mr George Harold Sutton was the successful candidate. The other permanent staff appointed were Miss D. Hale, the Chief Assistant Mistress, Mr G. Griffin, Mr W. Cheesman, Miss E. Jessop, Miss M. Folland, Miss L. Tyler, Miss V. Warry, and Miss D. Charles.

Miss C. Hamsher, Miss G. Knights, Miss I. James and Miss T. Edwards went to the school as temporary Supply Teachers but within weeks Miss Hampsher and Miss Knights were appointed as permanent members of the staff.

Mr and Mrs F. Westwood were appointed as the school’s first caretakers.

In the following months there was a succession of changes to the temporary teachers working in the school and some of the permanent staff also moved to other schools. With so many changes it was an unsettling time for the children and one that called for considerable management skills on the part of the Head Teacher.

In March 1931 Miss A. Davies, succeeded Miss Hale as the Chief Assistant Mistress and a few months later, when the school was informed it could also appoint a Chief Assistant Master, Mr J. Rapp was chosen from the ninety six men who applied for the post.

In the meantime, the local Education Authority had decided to make Dolphin Lane School into two separate autonomous Departments and Miss Hood, the Head Teacher of Clifton Road Infants School, was recommended as Head Teacher of the Infant Department.

When the Infant Department opened on the 4^th July 1932, there was a reorganisation of the school’s existing staff with Miss Charles and Miss Knights continuing their teaching careers by joining the other teachers specifically appointed to the new school’s staff. The movement of these two teachers necessitated the appointment of two new junior trained teachers.

Miss Hood noted:

As the years progressed there were inevitable staff changes in both schools. Mr Seal replaced Mr Westwood as the school caretaker; Mr Rapp was promoted to the Headship of St. Mary’s Council School and Mr V. Perry became the Senior Master.

A number of resignations, including resignations ‘to be married’, added to the staff turnover. Miss Tester, Miss Hamsher, Miss Wooldridge and Miss Tranter from the Junior Department and Miss Parker from the Infant Department were some of the young female teachers who left the profession for matrimonial reasons. The tribute paid to Miss Hamsher was –

Although it was wartime, Mr Sutton was extremely anxious about the range of duties expected of his teachers -

‘I feel very keenly the position of the staff in connection with the many extraneous duties which we are now performing. In all cases I believe the work is valuable and in every respect necessary, though it is certainly unfortunate that teachers specially trained for the purpose of teaching are called upon to perform duties for which their time is sacrificed.

The extra duties listed included School Meals: dinners – money and supervision; School Milk; School Bank; National Savings and Civil Defence.

As the difficult war years drew to a close there was a mini staffing crisis in the school. Two of the senior teachers, Mr Perry and Miss Folland, had pleura-pneumonia and were unable to teach for many weeks. Relief teachers were temporarily loaned from another school but Dolphin Lane was not alone in facing staffing difficulties -

Mr Sutton noted he had ‘reached his 60^th birthday’ but with no teachers he could call upon he would have to ‘take two classes in the Hall’.

At the end of March 1945, permission was granted for the appointment of Clerical Assistants in the city’s schools. The scale of pay was based on the number of children on roll -

Over 400 15 hours per week 30/0 (today £1.50)

This help, it was thought, ‘ is long overdue. …. The teachers may now be able to devote their time and attention to the job for which they are specially qualified’.

There was no delay in appointing Mrs G. Phillips as the school’s first Clerical Assistant. Her responsibilities were –

‘the collection and banking of Dinner Money and making returns, collection and preparation of accounts for Milk Money, collation and direction of National savings in the school, the School Bank – collection of money and control of ledgers, assist in other ways – checking train and bus tokens, milk return figures, canteen returns including free dinners.’

Two long serving teachers left the school in the summer of 1946. Miss Hood retired as the Head Teacher of the Infant Department and Miss Appleton moved to another school. Tributes, recognising the contribution each had made to the school, were paid to them. Of Miss Hood, it was stated -

and Miss Appleton received this compliment -

With Miss Hood’s departure, and less children in the school, the Education Committee decided that rather than advertise her post immediately it would consider the possibility of combining the two Departments. Until a decision was made Miss Hale was to act as Head of the Infant Department under Mr Sutton’s direction.

As music played such a significant part in the school’s curriculum, the departure of Miss Appleton meant a suitably qualified replacement had to be found. A young teacher, Miss J. Hughes, was found to be the ideal person for the role and she had the opportunity to build on the strong musical foundations that had already been laid.

A year later Mr Perry, Chief Assistant Master, completed … ‘Pensionable Service’ … and retired.

A few weeks before his own retirement, in July 1949, Mr Sutton received news that Miss Hale, a long serving member of staff, was seriously ill in hospital. Sadly she never recovered and died two weeks later. An acknowledgement of her career was brief and simple –

With Mr Sutton’s own retirement imminent it was confirmed that Miss E. French, then teaching at Nansen Road Secondary Modern School, would be the new Head Teacher at Dolphin Lane with effect from the 6^th September 1949. His final comment on retiring was -

A new era for the school had begun. When Miss French took up her appointment as the Head Teacher, her staff consisted of - Mr Spencer, Miss Callow, Mrs Holder, Miss Folland, Mr Taylor, Miss Hughes, Miss Belman, Mrs Arnold, Miss Tawlks and Mrs Jones.

Miss French’s first major appointment, dating from the 1^st December 1949, was that of Mr O. Hayles, as Chief Assistant. A year later Mr Palser joined the staff and during his career at the school he played an important part in developing boys’ team games and other sporting activities.

Mrs Holder, the longest serving teacher at the school, retired as Mr Palser joined the staff. Her career was summed up in a sincere tribute –

a very loyal and valuable colleague who has given her services selflessly and freely to all school- work and activities. Mrs Holder has never spared herself and we shall find it hard to fill her place’.

As time progressed there were routine changes in the staff; some gained promotion and others transferred to other schools to further their experience. Among those who joined the staff was Mr Best. In addition to having musical ability he developed gymnastics at the school and, with Mr Palser, helped the boys to excel in both football and cricket.

Miss Hughes, who played a vital role in further enhancing the school’s tradition for musical excellence during her career, resigned her post in 1956 to get married.

In July 1959, after ten years at the school, Miss French left to become the Head Teacher of Summerfield Primary School. Her successor was Miss C. Stitt.

Memories of ex-pupils
Most teachers are remembered by name only and some not recalled at all. However, for a variety of reasons – perhaps their kindness, a reputation for being strict, or even personal good looks – other teachers more readily come to mind as these memories from past pupils illustrate.

Mr Sutton
‘He was a nice Head Teacher’ Eunice Essex (nee Nicolle)

‘… we all respected him. He was a very good Headmaster, always looked very smart in a grey suit complete with tie. … he always walked round the classrooms with a cane up his sleeve; usually the same few lads were recipients of this’. Ena Hodgkisson (nee Foster)

‘… suited; fierce; frightening.’ Sid Bardell

‘… then the Headmaster who we thought was quite strict and I remember he always walked around with a cane hidden behind his back. I hasten to say I am not condemning him for this, for we certainly had great respect for him and indeed all the other teachers.’  Vera Foster (nee Humphreys)

‘I remember the Friday afternoon assembly in the hall and Mr Sutton, together with one of the teachers playing the piano, took the school for a good sing song.’ Evelyn Reeves (nee Stevens)

‘I remember Mr Sutton as being very strict. I also remember going to his house …. to collect some paper, or some such wartime task, and he was quite charming.’ John Bird

‘… was our wonderful Headmaster.’ Eunice Bevan (nee Rainey)

‘… was white haired and rather frightening.’ Gordon Parsons

‘He walked around the playground with a cane up the jacket of his suit and had a Monday morning caning session for boys who misbehaved. It would be called child abuse today but a bit of discipline did no harm and probably made us better adults.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)

I have lovely memories of Mr Sutton. He taught us to sing ‘We are Dolphins, we’ and told us the story of Percy Pig.’ Eunice Bevan (nee Rainey)

‘… he used to walk around with a cane in his jacket. He was very strict but fair. We all respected him.’ Doreen Simons (nee Gower)

Miss Hood
‘…. a small lady and she did insist you tiptoed and were very quiet wherever you went. She deplored noise.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)

Mrs Holder
‘I very much favoured her. She was motherly and had grey hair. She wore her watch on the inside of her wrist.’ Sidney Bardell

Mr Hayles
‘ … of whom I was very fond ….. very kind.’ Linda Harrison

‘ … had a scary reputation and the parents knew if you’d been naughty as you were imprinted with the chalk duster on your jumper.’ Lynn Hardy (nee Sharp)

Mr Perry
‘… was a good teacher. When he taught history he made it very interesting. He had a big map of the world pinned on the blackboard to inform us how the war was going.’ Dennis Simons

‘… who called me cherry nose when it was cold. He would tell us stories of his exploits in the army.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)

‘… he entertained us with the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.’ Syd Parsons

‘… assured us that when we grew up we would come to recognise that John Buchan was the greatest English writer.’ Gordon Parsons

‘… made such a big impression on me. The greatest teacher I ever had; even to this day he often crosses my mind. A lovely teacher. We had a picture of Montgomery and Churchill on the wall.’ Doreen Simons (nee Gower)

Mr Hewlett
‘I will always remember him because he was always "caning" me across the open hand as my hand writing was not up to the standard that he demanded; the writing was probably worse afterwards because I could not hold the pen.’ Donald Layfield

Miss Folland
‘… who just to look at you put the fear of god into you. She was small, had her hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. She ruled with a rod of iron.’ Carol Whopples (nee Tindall)

‘… a small person – very fierce. Children were often sent to her for punishment.’ Sid Bardell

‘was very strict and could not stand anyone standing near her.’ Doreen Simons (nee Gower)

‘I have never forgotten she hit my right arm with a ruler because I painted over the line of my drawing.’ Ena Hodgkisson (nee Foster)

‘I was never in her class thank goodness; as if she was on playground duty and you misbehaved she banged your head against the nearest wall.’ Eunice Essex (nee Nicolle)

‘… was also very strict but I loved her classes, exciting to learn something new every day.’ Pat Collier (nee Timmis)

‘… she kept you at arms length if you approached her too closely.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)

Mr Best
‘… was everyone’s favourite teacher; all the girls had a bit of a crush on him.’ Pat Collier (nee Timmis)

‘… loved by all the girls.’  Barbara Dodd (nee Bolstridge)

Miss Bellman
‘… was a very kind lady. She gave me a jumper because mine was somewhat threadbare.’ Brian Henbury

Miss Hale
‘We received a boiled sweet for bringing polish to clean our desk on a Friday.’ Brenda Dainty (nee Nicolle)

‘… a large lady who smelled of perfume.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)

Miss Jessop
‘I remember as being quite strict but I was somehow conscious that she was a very good teacher. I think it was she who instilled in me some keenness for the English language.’ John Bird

Miss King
‘… had lots of knick-knacks in a special cupboard – if you did good work, had so many stars etc. you got to have a pick of this Aladdin’s cave. I remember a model farm… beaded bracelets, necklaces – all things we were proud to be given.’ Eunice Essex (nee Nicolle)

Mrs Roberts
‘… was, I remember strict. I was always concerned she may ask me to stand up and sing on my own.’ Pat Collier (nee Timmis)

Miss Appleton
‘… who kept a doctor in the cupboard. Said doctor being a cane.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)

‘… was rather plump but had a happy face. If we misbehaved she would say go to the cupboard and get the doctor out, I think you need a bit of medicine – which of course was the cane.’ Doreen Simons (nee Gower)

Miss Morgan
‘… painted lovely pictures on the classroom windows.’ Barbara Dodd (nee Bolstridge)

Miss Callow
‘Lovely. She told us stories of Worzel Gummidge.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)

‘Her class was always warm and cluttered. How we loved to hear her read Worzel Gummidge in our needlework lesson. It was magic.’ Doreen Simons (nee Gower)

Introduction – Goodbye Green Fields and Country Lanes

Getting Started

Buildings – Meeting the Changing Needs

The School Staff – Comings and Goings

A Broader Education – Talks, Festivals and Visits

Concerts and Performances – A Chance to Show Off

Christmas Celebrations

Royal Occasions – Visits and Celebration Holidays

Physical Activities – Athletics, P.T. and Games

Fund Raising – Helping Others and Supporting Ourselves

Medical Matters – The Doctor, The Dentist and the ‘Nit’ Nurse

Accidents and Misfortunes – Cuts, Bruises and Even Worse

Transgressions – Naughty, Naughty!!

The Air Raid Shelter Saga – Keeping the Children Safe

Evacuation – From Birmingham to the Countryside and Back

Appendix 1 Birmingham Educational Districts & School Lists

Appendix 2 New Pupils’ Previous Named Schools

Appendix 3 Sketch Map of the Local Roads Housing Dolphin Lane Pupils

Appendix 4 Memories – Dennis Simons