Alumni: Five Ways Edwardians
A Brief Background
Purpose
The Association exists to provide “the primary means by which former pupils, staff and friends maintain contact for their mutual interest and benefit and continue to contribute to their school.”
Beginnings
The school has had an Alumni (originally “old boys”) organisation for many years. Its early history is shrouded in the mists of time but it is known that Mr Eyles reformed it back in 1955, with later long serving Chairman Peter Grace acting as registrar whilst still a pupil! The Five Ways Old Edwardians Sports Club, now based in Hopwood, has always been closely linked to the school and to the “The Five Ways Edwardians Alumni Association” (as it is now called). Alumni activity was re-energised in 1979 by Mr E.L Osmend on his retirement from teaching at the school for 40 years. It developed enormously under his stewardship and that of his successor Colin Spencer. After a brief lull, it was then reinvigorated by a school appointed Alumni Officer, Liz Fox, whose modern approach improved networking and careers integration.
Five Ways Edwardians can be found around the globe and the Five Ways Edwardians Alumni Association provides a focus for past students and staff as well as providing facilities for the school.
KEFW Alumni Officer
Mr Stuart. F. Shephard
A teacher at Five Ways for 31 years and counting, Stuart is the school appointed representative, and leads on all Alumni based initiatives. Find out a little more about him.
Stuart Shephard
Stuart, a Camp Hill old boy, started his teaching career at Five Ways a mere 31 years ago in September 1993. And for his sins is still going strong. After a brief hiatus, the school having recognised the value of having a designated member of staff, appointed him Alumni Officer in September 2023. The Physical Education specialist, who has also taught History and Geography, has previously undertaken a variety of responsibilities, including; Head of Year, Educational Visits Coordinator, Academic Interventions Coordinator, Health and Safety Leader, and Careers Advisor. Many will also be aware of his cricketing prowess, which led him to facing the Australian tourists and the late great Shane Warne, as well as other legends such as Sir (Lord) Ian Botham and David Gower, amongst others. Indeed, he served as Five Ways’ Director of Cricket for 27 years.
Safe to say that he knows the school, and many of its former pupils, rather well! His Alumni focus includes targeting the very latest leavers, reconnecting with recent ones and consolidating links with our more mature Old Edwardians, and the Sports Club. Stuart thus looks forward to hopefully meeting many of you, with events and opportunities likely to expand year on year. All in the context of us continuing to carry “the pride of Edward’s name”, and as our school song further implores: “Long live the good old school then”!
For the time being, Richard Fox will continue to edit the newsletter, whilst both can be reached using the email address: FWE@fws.kevibham.org
Become a Five Ways Edwardian
All our past pupils and staff can join the FWE Alumni Association for free.
Register here to receive our monthly Newsletters and help stay connected with the “Grand Old School” and each other!
Notable Edwardians
- Kate Ashfield (actress),
- Keith Fielding (international sportsman),
- Tom Parsons (Olympian)
- Dan Fox (Olympian)
- Mark Aldred (Olympian)
- Ben McCarthy (BBC Journalist)
- Ben Wright (BBC Journalist)
- David Cannadine (Historian)
- Michael Checkland (ex Director General of the BBC)
- Tom Butler (Bishop of Southwark)
- David Parsons (England Cricket Coach)
- Oscar Deutsch (founder of Odeon Cinemas)
- John Kenneally V.C. (born Leslie Robinson)
- Joe Lycett (comedian)
- Paul Ready (actor)
- Megan Richter (Paralympic swimmer)
KEFW Foundation Archives
The King Edward VI Foundation Archive, has an area specific to Five Ways, where you can access a huge range of photos, magazines etc. This includes most school publications and many of Colin Spencer’s Old Edwardians newsletters, should you wish to re-visit your time at school.
The Foundation has now opened a Twitter/X account:@KEVIBhamArchive, regularly publishing items of interest about all of the Foundation schools. If you have school artefacts in your possession and think they might interest the archivist, please contact Charlotte Gallant and Rachel Brown (email: keviarchive@ske.uk.net)
What we do – How to get involved?
Become a FWE and join our mailing list for the monthly FWE Newsletter (register here for free)
Endeavour to support periodic events (e.g. golf day and monthly lunches at Harborne Golf Club)
Attend reunions to reconnect with old friends and make new ones
Consider supporting our careers programme at the school (e.g. attending Careers Fayre, delivering talks, providing work experience opportunities)
Contact us with material/news for use in our monthly newsletters
Put forward any suggestions for new Alumni initiatives
Financially support us, through supporting periodic projects or by setting up a monthly Direct Debit (link and more details coming soon)
Where to find us
Email: FWE@fws.kevibham.org
Twitter/X: fwe@kefw.org
Facebook: Search “King Edward VI Five Ways Old Edwardians”
Archive: Digital Archives
Sports Clubs:
