a suburban primaryschool classrooms free school milk absenteeism from
school teachers' favourites the 11-plus exam May Day at school
Reception classes, classrooms and teachers
in a suburban primary school, 1940s UK
A 21st century photograph of what was Edgware Primary School, courtesy of Tony Woods.
The reception class
The first class in 1944 was known as 'The Babies', and my teacher was Miss Reebold. That was how her name sounded, but I have no idea of the spelling.
Although the main playground was at the front of the school, we 'babies' had our own small grey stone-walled playground leading off our classroom. I always thought how neat and friendly it looked.
The classroom furniture was tables and small chairs.
My class at Edgware Primary School, but I can't remember the year, but the children look about six.
I never knew how to spell my classmates' names, and their names here are as they sounded to me. Left to right, where I can remember:
Back row: Christopher Cooper, -, Harvey Selby, Michael Shiner, James Ballantyne, Stephen Newing, -, Stephen Golland, Robert Levin.
Second from back row: -, Christopher Richardson (Kit), Roger Warrington, David Arnold, Roy Boskin, Colin Brooks, -, -, Ian -,Tony Wilson..
Middle row: Rhona -, Janet Steele, Helen Davis, Pamela -, -, Ann Dempsey, Brenda Mialls, Daphne Field, -.
Second row from front: Myra -, Hazel Waterfall, -, -, Janet Saunders (Ginny), Pat Clarke (me), Jennifer Moss, Margaret Rennie.
Front row: Susan Knapp, Ann Rogers, Corrine Less, Jean Breedon, Susan Turner.
Other classes, classrooms and teachers
All the classrooms after the Reception year were simple large rooms, and the furniture was identical to what my mother described for the early 1900s classroom: a wooden high desk and chair for the teacher, a wooden-framed blackboard on an easel and two-seater desks for us children. There were, though, no tiers. All the classrooms were flat.
The teachers included Miss Reebold for the Reception year, Miss Ackroyd, Mrs Harmer, Miss Scutt, Mr Dashfield, Miss Sturdy, Mr Duckett, Miss Weinstock and Mr Perrett.
Guest contributions
Miss Weinstock was my first teacher at Edgware Primary School and I always remember her kindness when Mr Bird summoned her to come and collect this very frightened little girl on her first day there, and how she held my hand all the way to the classroom and was kindness itself in helping me settle in to a new situation.
Sally Lawson (formerly Sally Porte)
My one recollection of Mr Dashfield was his caning of four or five boys from a higher year group in front of our class. Perhaps he was standing in for our teacher. Subsequent to the punishment, one of those caned stated that he had been innocent of whatever it was the lads were charged. Mr Dashfield retorted that he should have said that earlier!
David Morris
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