My First. . .

HOME: A small, stone-built house overlooking Dalton-in-Furness. We had gardens at the back and a large green where we could play and have our birthday parties. There was a wood at the bottom where we had many a game of Robin Hood and cowboys and Indians. Within walking distance there were four shores, one sandy, one pebbly, where we gathered periwinkles, one grassy, where we played games, and one with marvellous swimming.

MEMORY: Sitting wrapped in a blanket on a couch very late at night. A warning had come that a Zeppelin was coming to bomb a battleship due to be launched from Barrow shipyard. Luckily for the war effort, the navigator missed the estuary and the bombs were dropped on Grange over Sands.

SCHOOL: The council school, Bolton-in-Furness.

HOLIDAY: We had relations in Bury and we went there many times.

TEACHER: Miss Jarvis. She was very kind and I remember the beautiful pictures she drew on the blackboard, especially a white horse going to Banbury Cross.

DAY AT SCHOOL: I remember my first day because I loved gingerbread and my mother gave me a piece for playtime. I was so nervous I crumbled it under my seat and a little boy told Miss Jarvis I had done something there!

JOB: At Feniscowles County Primary School. Blackburn was a new area for me, but I was made very welcome by the teachers, children and villagers. The school grew from 150 to 450 pupils, so every year was a challenge. I also remember the evacuations from Manchester during the war.

CLASS: On my first day at school I had a class of seven and eight-year-olds. I can remember most of my class and some are still in contact. They were friendly, helpful, loveable children.