Memories
"When I started school in 1916, Miss Slade was the Head of the Infants. She was a large lady, and she had a lovely white starched apron on with a lot of Broderie Anglaise, and she gave me a wet kiss. She was very nice, very kind. I was very fond of sewing at school. Me first thing I made was a pair of bloomers. I did beading on dresses, and Broderie Anglaise on old fashioned nighties. We used to play different schools at netball, and we went swimming - I passed my 10 yards certificate. I can remember when the War was over in 1918 - all the schools went to the Park in New Town, and there were great celebrations."
Violet Robinson nee Berry
"It seems a long, long time ago to my first day at school, back in 1921, and I still remember squeezing through a gap in the fence, into the house next door for my friend to take me to school for the first time. Miss Hatter was my first teacher. I remember making paper chains at Christmas, walks out in the summer round the Town Gardens, and the odd times we had a lesson or two in the old Vicarage Hut in Bath Road Once we had cardboard coins learning all about money. I remember exercise books, desks, inkwells and pens, a big blackboard, chalk. Playtimes with the big boys hurtling around, leapfrog jump-tiddly-wagtail, tig, football with a tennis ball. The smell of dust, the puddles, sitting on hot water pipes when it was cold and being turfed off if the Masters saw us."
Eric Chandler
Please find attached a class photograph taken approximately mid 1920s. I only know one person in the photograph, my grandmother's sister called Joan Adelaide Glass who is in the second row from back, second from right wearing a check dress. Joan was born in 1918.
"When I began at school in1925, we were on the bottom floor, and I believe our teacher was Miss Slade, a plump comfortable lady. We began learning with trays of sand. By the age of seven we began learning in earnest. I remember Miss Goldsmith who taught us sewing, and if we talked she would tap us on the head with her thimble. I remember taking my artwork down to show Mr Adams, the Headmaster, and it going on the wall."
Grace Rogers nee Davis
"It was in the last few days of August 1939 that we were transported from our small school in East London, destination not known, until our safe arrival outside King William Street School, complete with haversack, gas mask, and what was left of our tuck box. I, with one younger sister and about thirty others, was taken to Brunswick Street. We two were taken in to be billeted at number 51. Integration with the local children already at school was no problem for us and we made many friends as time went on. I remember rather crowded playgrounds, and Drill - how I hated it when it was cold - in our navy blue knickers! One of our teachers painted snow scenes on the windows of our classroom with white poster paint at Christmas."
Chris Hunt nee Spence
"I started school in 1953 I think. Where the office and foyer are now, was the cloakroom, with rows and rows of coatpegs. I remember Mr Slade, the Caretaker, a tall chap, with grey flannel trousers, braces and rolled up shirt sleeves. He used to look after us. When my Dinky toy racing car was trodden on in the playground, he straightened out the wheels for me. Old Town was a very poor area then - one kid used to come to school with no shoes. We used to put cardboard inside our shoes when they began to wear out. I remember a lad called Adrian Hill throwing a dart at the Headmistress's door, and John Beasant ran by in front of him, and the dart stuck right into his shoulder."
Geoff Spooner
