Betty lifts lid on 19th Century school days

A former history teacher has completed her second book based on Kidderminster which concentrates on land gifted to the town by John Brinton in the days of the town's thriving carpet industry.

Brinton Park remains at the centre of a community that has seen many changes over the years.

Betty Park's book, Brinton Park And Sutton Common, deals with the early days and formation of the town park.

It also provides a fascinating glimpse of life through extracts from school log books dating back to 1862. Mother-of-four Mrs Park, aged 79, from Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, has been a member of the Bewdley Historical Research Group for more than 20 years and was a founder member of Worcestershire History Forum.

Having already completed one successful local history book, entitled Horsefair And Broadwaters, Mrs Park was given access to log books from St John's Schools which totalled about 3,500 pages. Born in Birmingham, Mrs Park moved to Hereford and left school at 14-years-old. Later in 1963 she moved to Kidderminster and became a history teacher at Stourport HIgh School before taking early retirement.

Mrs Park said: "The book has been funded by a lottery grant and proceeds from the previous book. It has taken two-and-a-half years to write."

The book, published by Kidderminster Civic Society in partnership with The Friends of Brinton Park, is on sale for £8.95 at WHSmith in Kidderminster, Bewdley Museum and Kidderminster Library.