WELCOME TO THE OLD TETTENHALLIAN WEBSITE

Dear Tettenhallians - past and present.

It was a great honour to be asked to take the role of President of the Old Tettenhallians' Club. I have spent a year as the Vice President, playing an active part on the OT committee and attending functions at the College. I carefully observed the previous President, Andy Mottershead, in the hope that I would know what I have to do over the coming year and I am now really looking forward to it!

It was lovely to spend time with so many ‘old' friends at the reunion in June when I officially received my chain of office and to have support from the friends I made whilst at the College from 1982-84, many of whom have remained close friends since that time despite my moving away from Wolverhampton. Not that I went very far away - Birmingham and more recently the Tamworth area.

For those of you who don't know me, I am the Head Teacher in an infant school in Nuneaton, although this year I have been seconded to a Primary School near Tamworth. I left TC in 1984 and went to Birmingham University from 1985-88. Having graduated with a BA Hons Degree in Music, Drama and Dance, I then went on to complete a PGCE in Primary Education and began my teaching career in inner city Birmingham in 1989. I loved teaching although it could be extremely challenging at times. I was able to use my degree to support the Creative Arts within the school and had great fun.

In 1992 I married and moved to Tamworth. In 1994 my daughter Hannah was born and later my son, Matthew, in 1998. I also changed job and began working for Warwickshire Education Authority. I began teaching at Galley Common Infant School in 1996 and have remained there, with the exception of an Acting Headship for two terms, ever since. In 2003 I gained the National Professional Qualification for Headship and luckily was offered the Headship at Galley Common. I adore the school, the children and the community and it simply feels like home!

I continued to pursue my interest in theatre, performing with an amateur society in Birmingham and then becoming the Chair and Director for their Youth Theatre in 1989. I held this post until 2002 when I set up my own Youth Theatre, again based in Birmingham, called Youth Onstage. I continue to take the roles of Chair, Director and sometimes Musical Director. I have been very privileged to have worked with some fantastically talented children, many of whom have gone on to train and join the profession. My own children are members now as well and so the tradition continues!

Memories of TC: I have fond memories of various performances at TC and taking part in the House Drama and Music competitions for Bantock! I remember the Madrigal Choir and singing in chapel. Music lessons were always fun with only 4 of us at that time. Oh, and I also used to love watching the lads playing Rugby. There were numerous parties which were always fun! I think that somewhere along the line I did some work too!

I am sure that I will thoroughly enjoy my year as President and hope that I will see many of you along the way, be it at events at TC or reunion events such as the Wine Tasting in September, the London Reunion in November or the Dinner Dance in March and, of course, the main Reunion in June. Please use the website to keep yourselves posted and to book your tickets! All the best, Deb Brook