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I was born in Wheathampstead in June 1932 and spent my formative years there leaving in September 1964.* 1937 saw the Coronation of King George VI, it was also the year my schooling began at St Helen's Church of England Elementary School,** not the place of high achievers in fact looking back it was typical of the education meted out prior to and during the war years, which generally meant those who could were encouraged, those who could get by were left to do just that and if you were not too bright you were forgotten at the bottom of the class. Lessons consisted mainly of the legendary 3R's none of which I particularly excelled. The two teachers in the infants classes were Miss Warren and Miss Young both quite competent, W J (Johnny) Houseden the Headmaster was a legend in his time but none of the other teachers left a lasting impression. Progression through the school was infants and juniors where hopefully one learned to read and became competent in basic math's or arithmetic as it was known to us, when we were drilled in the times tables by rote. Then on to the senior school when the curriculum was expanded to include wood and metalwork for the boys learning the intricacies of mortise and tenon and dove-tail joints (the teacher was Mr Willing) and cookery for girls. In the final year gardening was included when each boy was given a plot to cultivate and the resulting produce finished up as school dinners. The Rector, the Reverend Baird-Smith made the odd appearance at the school assembly and also contributed to religious education and after his retirement the Reverend Rowe took his place. 1939 saw the outbreak of WWII bringing with it gas masks, identity cards and air raid shelters although the only one that I remember was constructed for the school, I think it was only used once in anger. I don't remember the famous 11 a.m. declaration broadcast by Neville Chamberlain on that fateful Sunday in September but I can vaguely remember the air raid siren wailing. The war was to change social history throughout the world forever adding to the massive changes that had been brought about by WWI. The immediate changes that affected school children was the influx of evacuees from London, they arrived on double-decker buses and my over-riding memory was the smell of vinegar, possibly they had fish and chips on the way. Among those who were living in the village were the Gradleys' who lived for about three years in Ely House on The Hill, there were others whose names escape me now. The main change for the school was that a shift system was adopted, one week the locals attended in the mornings and the evacuees attended in the afternoon, the next week we swapped round, this didn't enhance the education standards for the school. I can't remember how long this arrangement continued, probably not very long. The first pupil to pass the 11 plus exam (to the best of my knowledge) was a boy by the name of Bracey and the Headmaster was so pleased he gave every one a half day holiday to celebrate, afterwards there were others who were successful but sadly no time off for us. The war was an exciting time for children of my age, soldiers were billeted in the village at Garden House (no longer there) and paraded in the station yard, tanks and army lorries appeared on Nomansland Common training for the battles to come. 1940 was the Battle of Britain and I remember on a sunny day in September watching a dog fight between German and British planes in clear blue skies and saw some pilots bailing out from aeroplanes and with others we looked for and found some spent cannon shells. As a family we always made a point of listening to the radio news and the items that stick in my mind are the sinking of HMS Hood and later the Prince of Wales and Repulse in the far east. The fall of Singapore was a disaster for us because some of the locals who were with the Beds & Herts Regiment were taken prisoner. I can remember two local men who were killed in the early part of the war mainly because my parents knew both very well. They were George Swallow and John Rolph. Although the war brought its hardships with rationing of both food and clothing, I can't remember being short of food particularly as my father had a kitchen garden and two allotments, I now wonder how he managed to keep them cultivated because he served in the first war and was gassed twice, then wounded causing him to lose a leg and be taken prisoner. Looking back now it must have been a tremendous effort, anyway it kept us in vegetables all the year round. We also kept chickens and rabbits to supplement our rations with the occasional pheasant thrown in. While still at school for a period I delivered the morning newspapers to Gustard wood and Blackmore End, maybe for about 18 months or more. As part of the school contribution to the war effort we were allowed time off to go potato picking (with parents consent) and were paid six pence an hour the equivalent of about 2.5 pence decimal not a bad rate for a school boy or girl in the 1940's. A few bombs were jettisoned in the area and apart from a few broken windows didn't cause too much damage. The real damage was done by a doodlebug which fell directly on Bury Farm. A few incendiary bombs fell during the the blitz and we youngsters looked and found souvenirs quite close to home. Entertainment consisted of film shows in the school when a Mr Hart of St Albans rigged up a projector in the school hall, the films usually consisted of westerns with Roy Rogers and Tom Mix among the favourites with a few cartoons for good measure. School outings did not happen during the war. The Cubs and Scouts, Brownies and Guides were part of village life for most children at some stage during school years, Miss Robbins was the Cub Leader, the Scout Masters name escapes me. During the five war years there were activities to raise money towards armaments such as Wings for Victory and Battleship Week. I remember as part of one of these events (correct me if I'm wrong) Stars in Battle Dress entertaining the locals in the school hall when the star of the show was Charlie Chester one of the headliners of the music hall, who also had a weekly radio show, and later appeared on television. Finally the war ended in 1945 and I can remember the bonfires and fireworks to celebrate VE Day in May but the fighting was still raging in the Far East and continued until August when VJ Day was announced. Eventually things began to change slowly with the street lighting back again and the fear of air raids over. My contemporaries in the village during my schooldays were Des Saunders, Philip Fletcher, John Fuller, Roy Chennells, Freddy Bangs, Barry Euinton, Joy Fisher, Barbara Young, Jack Ward, Paramus Webb, June Crawley, Jimmy Fisher, Vida Hebb, Lorna Parsons, Roland Hunt, Colin Saunders and so the list goes on. Apologies to those left out also to those who are in and would rather not be. I left school in July 1946 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * My Grandfather and Father were born in Wheathampstead. May 2004 |
