OUR thanks go to former Dudley Grammar School pupil Mike Jones for sending in this photograph of hardy swimmers ready to take the plunge on a chilly winter’s day, as he recalls: “I thought that this photograph might be of interest to your readers.
“It shows a class of pupils from Dudley Grammar School which dates from 1950 or 1951 (form 2B or 3B).
“It was taken at the side of the new Memorial swimming pool which was opened in 1950. I am the swimmer seated the second from the right in the middle row.
“I believe (but am not certain) that it is of the pupils of 2B as the pupil in the middle of the middle row is (Trevor?) Wade Dudley Boys Breaking The Ice whose poem won first prize (beating me into second place) when we were instructed to write about a recent newsworthy incident in verse. His topic was the 'Yangtse' event which occurred in late 1949.
“Unfortunately I can only place a few of the faces (and then only surnames) so perhaps your readers can help with filling in the blanks. Top row, far left, Onions. Middle row, far left Brookes, far right Aston. Front row, far left Moffat?, 2nd left Morgan, far right Hickman? “I well remember our eccentric Headmaster "Dave" 'abducting' some of the class so they could join him in breaking the ice on one very frosty morning!”
