Central Grammar School Panoramic Photos
A Regular occurrence throughout the history of Central Grammar School was the taking of a panoramic photo of the whole school – students and staff. This was generally a fairly well disciplined affair, with the Teaching Staff seated equally on either side of the Headmaster and the boys arranged in what seemed to be fairly random positions around the staff – supposedly by which Form they were in.
At the start of the event chairs and benches were arranged in a semi circle, either side of the Headmaster’s chair, and the forms lined up to be called into position. First years generally were seated on the floor, 6th Formers and Prefects stood behind the staff, with the rest of the boys joining to stand, with some precariously perched on benches, high at the back.
Eventually everyone was ready and instructed to look towards the tripod-mounted “motorised” panoramic camera and it’s operator at the centre of the semi-circular arc. Due to the need for the Sun to be “behind the camera” this meant “squinting” was the order of the day for many (me included!)
And so the camera started its slow journey from one end of the assembled crowd to the other. Rumour has it that certain individuals who were located at the “Start” end, hot footed it to the other end before the camera caught up, so appearing twice! From the photos below, you have the chance to check the rumour!
Viewing and Download Instructions
In order to see a high resolution version of the photos simple click on “View High Resolution” under each photo. This will open the Hi-Res image in a new Browser tab.
Click on the image to magnify to full size and you will be able to scroll around within the frame.
To download the High Resolution version to your PC, simply “Right Mouse Click” anywhere on the photo, and in the menu select “Save image as”.
1974 – The Final CGS Panoramic Photo
This was the last Panoramic photo taken at the school before the merger with Byng Kenrick in 1974. View High Resolution
Since this would be the last CGS photo of its kind – Teacher and keen photographer, Brian Hutton took a couple of photos of the event. (Click on the photo to Enlarge)
CGS 1959 – First Panoramic Photo at the New Gressel Lane Site
This was the first Panoramic Photo taken at the New School Premises in Gressel Lane. In the middle of the photo is a teenage John Lodge who went on to fame and fortune as Bass Player and Singer/Songwriter in “The Moody Blues”. Known as “Skiff” to his friends, at the time of this photo he wasn’t yet “Just a singer in a Rock And Roll Band!”
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CGS 1956 – The Last Panoramic Photo at Burbage Road/Cherrywood Road
This was the Last Panoramic Photo taken at the Cherrywood Road Site. Unfortunately we currently do not have a better copy of this year’s photo, which was dated September 1956. This photo is courtesy of Old Central – Bill Orton – who attended the school in the 1950s
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CGS 1950 – Burbage Road/Cherrywood Road
Photo taken at the Cherrywood Road/Burbage Site. This photo is courtesy of Maxine Price, who found it in a house that her mother had bought in Edgbaston, Birmingham in the 1980s. A former resident of that house is undoubtedly on the photo.
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CGS 1947 – Burbage Road/Cherrywood Road – possibly the first full School Photo taken since the End of World War Two
This photo is courtesy of Susan Sharp of Sutton Coldfield, whose father attended Central Grammar School after World War Two. He is in amongst the boys near the front of the photo.
In contrast to later photos in the series, the headmaster – Sir Rodney Paisley was not seated prominently in the centre of the picture in the Headmaster’s Chair!
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