Birmingham Bits

[michelej1]

Birmingham Post, May 16, 2005

HEADLINE: PUPILS RETURN TO THEIR BELOVED BRUM SCHOOL

BYLINE: BY JASBIR AUTHI

HIGHLIGHT:
Diane Soobray, Jane Chapman and Anne Clifford, who were in the Class of 61 (below right). Jane and Anne are seen in the second row centre and Diane is in the second row from back centre; Bob Ball (student 1930 -33), Barbara Ball (31-34) and Muriel Reay. Below: Barbara is second from right centre row, and Muriel Reay is right centre row

BODY:
Former art pupils travelled from as far afield as Australia yesterday to attend a reunion at one of Birmingham's leading schools.

Nearly 400 pupils from the prestigious Moseley Secondary School of Art caught up with old pals and fondly reminisced about their time there.

The school was once regarded as a hotbed of creativity and budding artists from all over the city were sent there to develop their talents between 1901 and 1976.

It's glittering alumni include Christine McVie, lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, Peter Phillips, who was one of the four founders of the 1960s pop art movement, Trevor Beattie, the brains behind the eye-popping Wonderbra and **** advertising campaigns and members of Birmingham band UB40.

Despite it's flourishing reputation, the school was closed in the '70s by the Labour Government and the Grade ll star-listed building soon fell into disrepair.

It was later acquired by the British Association of Muslims who partly renovated it and turned it into a community centre.