1973 onwards
Stone Hall was opened on the 24th September 1973 as the new
daytime and evening adult education centre for Acocks Green. It
had been recognised that there was a need for daytime education
for adults that was not being met. John Garvey, the Principal
of Yardley Institute of Further Education wrote:
"It is an established fact that, in our changing and evolving
society, the demands for all kinds of adult education have increased
and will continue to increase. Adults, in their own right, have
claims for the provision of a service which can satisfy these
demands in appropriately adult ways and undoubtedly all areas
of education will be enriched if demands for the education of
adults are met. The value of such education, whether academic
or of a social or creative activity, is not to be measured solely
by any materialistic yardstick but by the quality of life it inspires
in individuals and generates for the community at large. It is
an agent changing and improving society; but for each individual
the means of change may differ and each must develop in one's
own way, at one's one level and through one's own talents."
Charged with running Stone Hall was Barbara Cherry, with June
Harvey and Pat Bonser. Barbara had discovered how few the educational
opportunities for women with children were. Stone Hall was to
have a creche to make adult education possible for such women.
Barbara Cherry photographed in 1973
Morning and afternoon classes and activities as of
September 1973
Around 1975 Barbara had an idea to commemorate the establishment
of Stone Hall as an adult education centre. This came to fruition
when a mosaic was unveiled on 12th March 1976. This combined elements
of the history of Acocks Green with other images symbolising the
Acocks Green of the day and the spirit of adult education.
The train reminds us that Acocks Green developed as a railway
suburb, the guns refer to Joseph Bourne, who lived at Stone Hall,
the fox refers to local wildlife (and recalls no doubt Fox Hollies
as well), the kestrel indicates the birds breeding at St Mary's
church, and a variety of other objects indicate the range of classes:
garden tools, a car wheel, a quill, a cotton reel, and a palette.
The hand of friendship that community adult education fosters
is in front of Stone Hall itself, which is seen alongside the
church.
This mosaic was produced by the pottery class at Stone Hall.
They made the tesserae, which were coloured using glazes made
in the class using John Wild's expertise. Two retired men, Sid
Bullowes and Frank Baldry, both students in the class, produced
the mosaic under Mr. Wild's supervision.
Stone Hall rapidly became not only a hugely successful adult
education centre but a true community centre as well. The common
room enabled people to sit together, have refreshments and a chat,
as well as go to classes. There were talks, for example a series
of summer coffee mornings in July 1975, and there were visits,
for example to Wedgwood and Royal Brierley Crystal. There was
even a residential weekend in 1975 at Windmill House to study
the 18th century. In May 1977 a Jubilee Garden Fete was held in
aid of East Birmingham Hospital's Kidney Unit for Children. Very
early on, in Autumn 1973, classes and activities were started
for people with disabilities and learning difficulties, and those
suffering mental health problems. Stone Hall also played its part
in tackling the problem of illiteracy, which was identified as
a serious problem in the 1970s. In 1974 START (Stone Hall Adult
Reading Tuition) began, using volunteer tutors under the guidance
of Pat Bonser, Vera Teague, Pat Robinson and Maggy Nicholson.
Later some of the first English as a Second Language classes in
Birmingham were held at Stone Hall, pioneered by Ruth Cross. Community lunches for local
agencies and voluntary workers brought together workers for cross-sector
communication.
Right from the start, Stone Hall had an innovative approach
to adult education. Under Barbara Cherry's leadership, a whole
variety of unusual and interesting courses and activities were
started up and flourished, which reached groups in the community
who had not been able to access adult education before, and who
now had a second chance to improve their skills, get qualifications,
meet people with a common interest, and have fun learning at their
own pace and level. Housebound learners were served by class members
and tutors who attended classes and then passed the information
to their linked students at their own homes. Each volunteer had
about six people to go and see individually. Chris Merriman, Sylvia
Allen, Janice Moorhouse and Bernard Banner were some of the personalities
who undertook this work, which was a lifeline for the housebound
people. At least forty or fifty people at a time benefitted from
this innovative service.
Stone Hall has continued to flourish up until the present day,
although changes in government rules on funding have meant a partial
shift in courses away from leisure and interest towards accreditation
in areas like computer skills. Barbara retired in 1994, and is
still very active serving the community ten years later, including
helping to run Arts and Media at the Green, a cultural events
group at Acocks Green Library. Also still active is Vera Teague,
former Assistant Centre Head, who was involved in adult literacy
even before START. She came to Stone Hall originally to run speech
and drama activities for the handicapped. Vera taught public speaking
and performance to many people over the years, and had a unique
ability to foster her students' self-confidence and make them
feel good about their abilities. Now retired, she still does voluntary
work at Stone Hall and runs a reading and performance group at
the Library.
Stone Hall's float in the Acocks Green Carnival procession,
adorned by the belly dancing class, 4th July 1987
Barbara and Vera at the 20th Anniversary celebrations,
September 1993
Maggy, Vera and Sylvia at Barbara's leaving do, 18th
March 1994
Stone Hall has been brought up to date over the last ten years
in respect of fire safety and disabled access. The latest electronic
teaching aids have been installed in the classrooms. Many classes
lead to accreditation in important areas relating to employment,
like computer skills. Free childcare is available. These days,
funding is more readily available for those kinds of learning,
rather than the broader subjects financed in the past decades.
Many improvements have been made, and the Centre continues to
play a vital part in the life of Acocks Green.
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