Happy Days

Former pupils of Queen Street School returned to their old classrooms for one last look before work starts. Memories came flooding back as the group swapped stories of their schooldays at the former Church School over eighty years ago. Several were former classmates and enjoyed spotting old friends from their class photograph of 1926 which has been added to the Queen Street School Preservation Trust’s Archive.

Recollections included the open fire blazing away in the corner on cold winter days making it feel so warm and cosy. Mondays were special days as the head teacher always had the children show and shake their handkerchiefs in the School assembly. “Anyone who did not have one”, one former pupil recalled, “was given a sheet of newspaper as a substitute”. The only “boy” in the group recalls how all the boys were lined up in the yard and marched into the school. “On one occasion I was late for school as I had been scrumping pears”. When he did finally arrive he was welcomed with “three of the best”.

The Trust’s Vice-Chair, Jenny Watson, and long-time supporter, John French, chatted with the former pupils. “Many people have contributed to this project over the years”, said Jenny, “We have worked so hard to get to this point and days like today make it all worthwhile. It was a joy and a privilege to meet and listen to the group”.

The interviews were filmed and may be used in the displays. When the work is done and the School is open to visitors next summer the Trust will invite the group back to see how their old school has been restored.
If you have photographs or items which might be useful to the School’s archive and exhibitions, and you would be prepared to donate or loan them for display or for copying, please get in touch with Ian Wolseley.