NG5 Arnold April/May 2022

Robert Mellors Old Boys
Local councillor John Parr is still receiving lots of heartwarming stories from students
that used to attend Robert Mellors School. Here is another trip down memory lane from
ex-students. Please do keep your stories coming.
I was born in 1934 at the chauffeurs house at
Ruddington Grange.
When I was six we moved to Daybrook and I
attended Daybrook School where Mr Weddle
was headmaster. I then moved to Robert Mellors
where I was assessed by Mr Paling and placed in
the B stream. I progressed through Mr Nichols,
then Mrs Keeble (slipper AKA) then Mr Marshall
and finally Mr (Billy) Burgess.
On sports day, I
won the 100, 250
and 440 yard races
as well as the long
jump. I was also the
top goal scorer for
the school football
team in the 1948/49
year, with 14 goals
to my name.
In 1949 I left school
and went to work at
Raleigh Industries.
I kept up my love of football and played for
Arnold Rovers up until the time we won the cup,
beating Sheepbridge Steel at the Forest ground. I
also played for Raleigh and a few other noteable
teams in Nottingham over the years.
For my two year National Service, I joined the
Royal Air Force, based at Stafford where I was in
the Maintenance Unit, supplying aircraft parts all
over the world.
Ken Pritchard 1945 - 1949
In 1962, I left Raleigh and set up my own
business, Ken Pritchard Repair Centre, repairing
motorbikes and scooters. During this time I also
raced motorbikes as well as motorbikes with
sidecars for the Italian team, Agrati Sales UK Ltd.
Eventually I graduated to restoring classic and
vintage cars, Daleside Road Motors Classic Car
Workshop, where I am still working with my
son John Pritchard (who also went to Robert
Mellors).
I have very fond memories of the old school
despite getting the slipper from Mrs Keeble, the
stick across my hand from Mr (Hedgehog) Carter
and wacks on the backside from Mr Clemence.
Mr Clemence was the woodwork teacher and
owner of the famous 2ft long piece of 2 x 2 wood
know as the ‘excaliber’. This was used to make sure
the boys all used the woodwork tools properly!!
One of the happiest days of my life was turning
up at the Astoria Ballroom to meet a girl who
eventually became my wife. I was married to
Betty Marshall for 65 years. Sadly she passed
away in 2019.
I went back to Raleigh where I became head tester
of motorbikes, mopeds and scooters. I would
clock up over 1000 miles per week! I then went
into the test house to develop 2 stroke engines.
** Can you spot anyone you know in the team shot?
We would love to hear from you. **