Chappies in its heyday. Click on the photo a larger image.
If you are one then you'll probably know, if you aren't then an ex-chappie is a former student of The Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art later known as The Birmingham School of Speech and Drama It was nick-named "Chappies" after the school's founder, Pamela Chapman, who was always affectionately known as Chappie.
IS THERE STILL A "CHAPPIES"?
The nick-name of "Chappies" has not been encouraged for a good many years so students who've left in recent years probably don't think of themselves as "ex-chappies". Worse still is that in September 2005 the school merged with the University of Central England and is now part and parcel of that university and has no independant existence of its own. It has been re-named The Birmingham School of Acting. Although there is an historical link between the Chappies I knew and the modern school it is no more than that and "Chappies" for all intents and purposes no longer exists.
This website is for those who think of themselves as Ex-Chappies.
The boarded up Church Road premises in August 2006.
Click on the Photo for a larger image