Deaths

Thelma Mannington has been added to the Who’s Who of pupils. She attended the school from 1949 till 1955. Sadly, Thelma passed away on Monday (18 May).

Timothy Dickinson’s sister Naomi Shaw has been in contact wondering if anyone knew and remembers him. Sadly, Timothy died last year.

He was at the school from around age 6 to 10. This would have been from 1976 to about 1981. Naomi would love to hear from anyone who knew him. Please get in touch via the Contact Form and your contact details will be passed on to Naomi.

Bron White, who left our school to go on to Mary Hare in 1981, sadly passed away on 16 February following a long battle against cancer.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this time.

News has been received tonight that former pupil Elaine Ronan (nee Brownhill) passed away just before Christmas on 22 December. Our condolences go to Elaine’s brother Derek, her family and friends.

Paul Harper has been in contact to say Melvyn Oughton, who left school in 1959, sadly passed away on 12 September, aged 82. Melvyn and Paul had kept in touch ever since they left school. RIP Melvyn.

We have heard news today that former pupil Susan Jenkinson (nee Osborne) died last Monday (25 August). No further details available at this time.

News has been received that Margaret Hutton (nee Linton) recently passed away. No other details are available at this time. Margaret left school in 1964 and later married another ex-pupil, William Hutton, who left Birkdale in 1962.

It has also been confirmed that Andrea Whitehall died in 2024. Andrea left Birkdale about 1963 to go to Mary Hare.

Former pupil and Reunion Committee member Bob Bayley died yesterday morning (18 August). He had been ill for some time but this was not widely known.

Bob left our school in 1973. He offered to get involved with organising the reunions in 2018 after Billy Lamont and Steven Brayshaw stepped down.

Our thoughts are with Bob’s wife Denise, family and friends during this sad time.

UPDATE 29.08.2025: Bob’s funeral will take place on 26 September at 1.45pm at Sutton Crematorium, Tamworth Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B75 6LG. The service will be live-streamed and recorded, which will be available online for seven days afterwards.

UPDATE 22.09.2025: The funeral for Bob Bayley will be live-streamed at 1.45pm on 26 September at the following link. You will need a PIN to access the video. Please get in touch to request the PIN if you wish to watch the service.

We have had news that former pupil Tommy Gambles died peacefully today at 3.25pm in Spring Hill Hospice. He had been suffering from bladder cancer. Tommy left our school in 1967.

News has been received that Carole Vince’s (nee Came) sister Beverley Came has sadly passed away. Both sisters attended our school.