Introduction to 'Fuzzers' - home of Barkers' Butts School
The site is a kind of online retro-scrapbook (both in form and content) and aims to rekindle memories of the former Barkers' Butts School in Coventry by ex-pupils or staff and aims to encourage visitors to submit photographs and personal recollections of both Barkers Butts and Moseley Primary School. If you went to Barkers' Butts, Coundon Court or Moseley Infants, please don't leave without dropping an email and recalling your own memories!
We have strong connections with Barkers' Butts Rugby football Club - the badge and kit almost identical to those worn by pupils at the school - some of whom continued to play after they left and a handful playing for major teams including England. The 'Boys' and 'Girls' stones which originally were to be found on the front of the school now adorn each respective toilet at Barkers Butts Rugby Club.
More Photos in our School Galleries section
The very fact that you are here demonstrates how the memory of those years lingers on. I just hope I have provided enough to keep you entertained for an hour or so but PLEASE try to help by sending in your OWN memories of your school years as it helps jog the memories of others and without this help, the site will become static.
We had a redesign in February 2008 - mostly to free me of the problems of trying to keep up with a forum (as well as hackers) and the site is therefore now purely information based, with an email link for anyone to get in touch, contribute content or photos. We can leave messages on your behalf if you urgently need to contact anyone.
The historical information at Fuzzers is (I freely admit), peppered with my own personal observations on Barkers' Butts or Moseley Junior so I can't guarantee that every single fact is written in stone and you may not share my view on all aspects of school life. The site is a culmination of almost ten years of wading through records as well as a wealth of comment made by others so is not complete by any means but is as accurate as I could possibly make it - with a little humour where needed.
Origin of word 'Fuzzers'
The 'Fuzzers' name is a reference to first year pupils, the exact origin of which is unknown but it continued throughout the schools history and seems (as far as we can establish) unique to Barkers' although the term spread to one or two other schools as pupils were transferred. We are 99% sure it was very much a Barkers' invention. I discussed this with classmates I have since located via the site and no one had a definate answer although the term was clearly passed from one generation to the next in the same way that playground games often are.
In terms of building the content, I regard myself as a 'Fuzzer' - I am barely scratching the surface I know. The site is partly a trip down memory lane (good and bad) but also a useful resource for anyone interested in Secondary Modern education in the last century. Draw from it what you will.
We also include some elements relating to the old Moseley Avenue Infants & Junior School which in 2007 was finally demolished to make way for a more modern although smaller school. Both schools were in many ways, architecturaly similar and many children transferred from one to the other. We photographed Moseley extensively prior to demolition (see galleries) including some 360 panoramas courtesy of Virtual Midlands.
Ralph
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Quick note: Queenie Cobham (I know your second name has changed) - can you get in touch as I can put you and Cath in touch! I have lost your email address m'dear. I believe Graham has a photo of you sprawled against your austin 1100?
Ralph
March 2009. Ex-pupil Alan Whitmore was kind enough to send us copies of letters written to him by the late Billy Tallon, butler to the Queen Mother and also a Barkers' lad himself. They can be found here.
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