SOUNDS
Elizabeth started school in Stockton-on-tees in the 1950s. Her family later moved to a Cambridgeshire village where she found her passion for the arts. Her voice may be recognisable as she later became a stage and TV actress.
Irene remembers the end of World War II, the old Victorian building in which she was taught, with fires lit in the classrooms and her struggles with a pint of milk.
Anne and Margaret share memories of their time at school in the last years of World War II.
WORDS
I started school in 1949. The school desks with ink wells were wooden, old and smelly. My next school had been a Royal Navy camp in the war. I remember the school dinners were terrible – someone said it might even have been horse meat.
In 1957, I went to Secondary school. That place always smelt of sour milk with crates, bottles, straws and milk tops everywhere. I remember boys too poor to get milk – I gave mine.
Most of the men gave the slipper mostly for stupid things. These men had been in the war and were very hard because of it I suppose. Corporal punishment had to stop, of course. I saw fights between boys and teachers because of it. I suppose I liked school. I left aged 16 for 2 years at Art College.
1977 – 1981. My happiest school memory is of my 4th year at junior school. I had a brilliant teacher who encouraged me especially in sport which I loved. I became house captain and our house won sports day! I remember doing ‘early morning running’ before lessons started, which really set me up for the day. I enjoyed being part of the netball and rounders teams and had some good friends, some of whom I am still friends with today.
Sadly, my secondary school experience was not so happy, but I have good memories of junior school and playing leapfrog on the field. I did well in all my subjects at primary school as I enjoyed school then but sadly didn’t do so well in secondary where I wasn’t so happy. So a happy education is a good education.
1976 Convent School. Sister Mathews was in charge of the ‘difficult’ girls and I was one of these. We were not supposed to achieve much as we were so ‘difficult’.
However, Sister Mathews told me that I could sit my O level English early and offered to teach me on Sunday afternoons.
I passed my O level English at 14 – but still ended up staying in the naughty class until I left at 16. I went back to education in my late 20s and now have 2 degrees and work in Child psychology.
Thank you Sister Mathews for believing in me.
1970s First day of school. My mum took me to school. I didn’t want to go. We finally got there and my mum said, “Paul, if I let go of your hand, will you be a good boy and go in to school?” I said yes? So mum let go of my hand! I ran all the way home! Mum took me to school again. Met by the Headmaster. He took my hand and I started school.
1960. I remember the exciting day we moved from using pencils to ‘dip’ ink pens, I recall being given clear instructions to prepare the new nib. This required licking the new nibs to enable the black ink to flow smoothly as I took tentative first strokes with the pen.
1960s. We used to have milk monitors who gave out small bottles of milk with silver foil lids. You had to pierce then with a straw. One child was milk monitor and the other gave out the straws. I really wanted to be milk monitor and was so chuffed to be chosen – I was worried I would drop a bottle but I didn’t.
2001. I remember school being challenging for my age. I loved school and enjoyed my time there. The teachers were firm but fair. They helped me with my social side which benefited my way of life later. I’m a bubbly person now because of school.
2005. My geography teacher was truly inspirational. She instilled a love of the environment and nature which led me to do environmental science at uni.
1980s-90s. I attended a small private school and had small class numbers. Only 32 per year and so we all knew each other. It felt like a family. I am still best friends with my best friend from school.
2002-2012. School taught me that I wouldn’t be successful unless I had top grades but now I’m an artist doing a job where I need no qualifications. I’m glad that I’m not part of the corporate ladder and instead I’m self-employed and expressing myself daily.
2017.My first day at school was exciting because I wanted to learn new things in life. I still do.
1980s. I remember feeling like school was requiring me to learn things that I wasn’t interested in and that socially I had to not be myself so that I wouldn’t be a target for bullies. What I really knew was that I was a dancer and a lover of nature. After I left school, I was free to grow into ‘me’ and pursue my passions.