b'Mr ConwayINVESTIGATESROBERT WEIRGood to meet you Robert, (iv) How completely nave I was now I look back as I and thanks for agreeing to thisleft primary school for HGS. I felt like a small lost fish in a big sea of students, who later became a big fish world exclusive interview. in the pond!First of all, can you tell me what your early (v) I remember a chemistry class with a mate, Chris In what is a new regularmemories of Handsworth Grammar School are?Starmer, in 2LR when it became the distilled water feature for The Bridge,squirting contest. Chris and I somehow got into a roving reporter Mr ConwayThere are so many early memories. Here are somewater fight using distilled water bottles. As the battle will be hitting the road inrandom recollections came to what I thought was the end, Chris walked search of world exclusives,(i)Mr Downey was a French teacher at HGS, andup to a table, put down his bottle and walked away, overcoming all obstacleshe did various other duties at the school. He oncethen whipped out a second bottle as I approached (someone will do his breaklost the keys to his storage room and could notand soaked me in water! duty on Thursdays), andfind the spare set and therefore had no access. sparing no costs (we gaveMembers of staff asked me to open the door as atHow did you first develop an interestMr Conway his bus fare).the time I was quite a bit bigger and stronger thanin athletics? This year, through hiswhen I first arrived at HGS. So I went up to the doorI was interested in sports from infant school and tireless effort, Mr Conwayand gently nudged it a couple of times. Then I reallyliked competition. There was no formal sports (known as C.C. in Fleetnudged it. It did open it and also broke the dooractivity at that age so at playtime we would run Street circles, as well asframe in two! around the grounds, and it was a fun time playing other names) managedoutside. Sport for me really took off when I came to to track down Olympian(ii) At the Sports Day competition for the then eightHGS because it was formalised with a set schedule and former Handsworthhouses at HGS, the circle in which to throw theof different events throughout the year. I did not student, Robert Weir, anddiscus was in the corner by the fence. The runningrealise this until later because I also think that it was discovered an amazingtrack to my young eyes seemed a long way away.in part because of my mum. She wanted us to be Olympics story. But in reality it wasnt. How did I come to realisekept occupied so that we did not end up in gangs, this? When I was competing for Guest Houseso we joined the Boy Scouts and were involved in a few years later, they had to halt some of theextracurricular activities, one of which was joining running events because the discus would land onthe local athletics club, Birchfield Harriers. So, the track lanes! athletics for me really started with my mum and then (iii) One of the competitions for House cup waslater at HGS.a drama event and each house would have to put on a show or a play. The headmaster andWhat other sports did you play at school?a couple of teachers would judge the winningIn my time at HGS I did chess, soccer, swimming, performance, awarding points towards the Housecross country, athletics, and water polo through Championships. The headmaster at the time wasHGS Old Boys Club. I was also a member of Guest Mr David Heap and the performances took placeHouse while I was at HGS.in the assembly room. In one scene, I was the Devil and I had to give chase to a lead character! HoldingDid you enjoy HGS andwere you aa garden fork for the Devils weapon, I arrived ongood student?stage and gave chase to the main character, whoI enjoyed HGS immensely. I have friends from my ran past the table where the headmaster andtime there that I am still in contact with today. Chris the teachers were sitting before exiting theStarmer, Tim Pepper, James Pepper, Anthony stage. It was a scary scene especially forNewby, Jahwair Naik, Robert Wadley and Winston the headmaster whose head nearly receivedMaynard are examples of some of my contacts. the rough end of my garden fork! I am not sureRegarding my studies, I think that I was more if it was a factor at all in his decision, but weinterested in sports than academics, but I do have a won the drama competition!16'