Memories of The Village School

Never, when we accepted with gratitude the series of articles on the Village School by Graham Stocks, did we imagine that we would open up such a treasure trove of memories. We are pleased to bring you further memories from former pupils and staff of their time at the school As usual, we would be pleased to pass on any messages to our correspondents.

Mrs Lily Callaghan, who featured in the last issue of "The Quorndon" receiving a bouquet of flowers from the Mayor of Charnwood at the May Day Celebrations, was a caretaker at the school. Here she gives her views on:

The Other Side of Quorn Old School

As a caretaker of St Barts School, it had two sides to it. The staff including Eric Adkin were a lovely, kind staff; hard working too.

When I started there, I was allowed 3/6 (17½ pence) a week to buy Vim, Black Lead, Brasso, matches and sticks, for 11 fires a day to keep going and clean 7 rooms, cloakrooms, office and toilets. In the winter, Mr Briers and I went into school two days before the children returned to boil water to thaw the frozen toilets.

After coal fires came coke - 11 dusty fires daily with 100 buckets of coke to carry in. Later on came paraffin stoves. They were even worse to clean. One or two of the teachers ran them too high, so there were sticky black cobwebs hanging over them.

In the main holidays, there were 5 floors to be sealed with Brown Seal, on hands and knees with a bowl and whitewash brush. These were done three times. (Sore knees followed.) The two large rooms' floors were renewed, with 150 tons of rubbish wheeled in from the street entrance, then Marley Tiles laid - not the easiest to get black marks off after the children had been sliding on them.

I started at 6am until 9am, 3.30pm until whatever time you finished, 7 or 8, and then back at 9 in the winter to stoke up; for £5 a week, and no extra pay for the nights when Mr Pinkett came to give violin lessons until he spoke to the Head Caretaker. He did his best to catch you out in case you finished 5 minutes too early, but how much later didn't matter.

But I had 17 years with the children and staff, and enjoyed most of it. Would they do it today, I ask though?

Dear Quorndon

Through the kindness of friends, I receive regular issues of the magazine, and the letter from David Millington ~ (we were in the same class and I can still recall David's 'Oh for the Wings of a Dove' when he was 'but a lad' in the Church Choir) prompted me to fill in a few gaps.

Miss Lofthouse taught the beginners, Miss Barrer (I am unsure of the spelling) the middles, and Miss Moore, being Headmistress, the 'old' ones. I still remember Miss Moore telling us stories about India where she had spent some time in her youth.

At 7+ we went forth to the BIG school, where Miss Sturman was our first teacher. Each week we wrote out a hymn of our choice, and many of us became very proficient in the words of "Through the night of Doubt and Sorrow, onward goes the Pilgrim Band". I still have the Hymn and Prayer Book issued to me in 1934 by The Leicestershire Education Authority, and recall with nostalgia our fervent renderings of "God be with you 'til we meet again". Mr Mervyn Jones thundering on the piano to stir us to ever greater effort. I also have the letter from Mr Jones, being unable, through prevailing circumstances in 1938, to take advantage of my 'Scholarship' success, assuring parents that by remaining at St. Bartholomews I would have an excellent education. Looking back I realise that he was right.

Fond memories are held of Miss Horspool, who in lived in Meeting Street, and Miss Sutton (both Edith) who resided in High Street near to the Wesleyan Chapel - a building dear to my heart in that one of the foundation stones was laid by my forebears, Thomas and Elizabeth Bramley. (I thought it meant that we owned that little bit.)

I was one of the early 1st Quorn Brownies. Miss Margery Brookman was Brown Owl (I can't remember who was Tawny Owl) and I recall with pleasure our graceful(!) cavorting round the Toadstool - a present to us all from old Mrs Farnham. (Is it still in existence?). I was an 'Elf' and sadly never rose to the dizzy height of Sixer.

My sister Joyce and I were both enthusiastic 1st.Quorn Guides, under the Captaincy of Mrs Nihill Preau, ably supported by Miss Doreen Brookman. I was in the 'Bluetits' Patrol, and remember attempting, albeit with more determination than skill, such diverse tasks as sewing, bandaging, knots, Morse Code, tracking in the grounds of Quorn House, and, on one never to be forgotten Saturday, walking to Rothley Common to do Signalling. Our Patrol Leader- I think her name was Iris Iliffe -lived on, or near, the Common.

In 1939 the Company camped at Chapel St. Leonard's - I wasn't included because a cheaper alternative was to send me to stay with an Aunt in the East End of London. Instead of paddling I counted Barrage Balloons, and watched London preparing for War.

In my teens I was a member of the YPF, enjoying many happy rambles and bike rides, and even happier participation in the Nativity Play, supervised by the vicar Rev W E Pilling. We were married by the Vicar in 1951, and both children were baptized there -William in 1954 and Katherine in 1964. I never gave up hope that one day we would return 'home' but sadly; Reg died in March of this year.

I meant to list the names of my contemporaries - I remember them all - but time has run away with the day.

Yours sincerely,
Brenda Nash (Spence as was)