North Elmham VC Primary School 1959-65
This article may amplify Arthur Lake's account of his school days (July 2010)
Miss Dawson, the Head Teacher married after her retirement in 1966. Her husband, formerly a Major in the Army, had a similar interest in Siamese cats.
Now and then, the ruler was used with great dramatic effect and "Fatheads" (mainly girls) were reproved with necessary frequency. The redness of their complexions indicated, not only the extent of their misdemeanours, but also their honest intention to behave better.
It is impossible ever to forget that wonderful poem beginning " When icicles hang by the wall" or the stirring German song "O Tannenbaum,O Tannenbaum wie treu sind deine Blatter (O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, how faithful are your leaves) which was sung to the tune of The Red Flag.
Everyone's favourite dance had boys and girls standing opposite while clashing hands similar to trains running into a buffer.
School meals were nutritious. "They all have beetroot" (repeated as many times as necessary) was the complete and authoritive answer from Mrs Harmer, the cook, to those silly enough to complain about fish and chips. She knew what was right and there was nothing else to be said. Rhubarb tart followed.
The terror of "Stingaargh Nettle Day" is well worth preserving for history. That happened every so often in the morning. Brats with an evil grin would be encountered on the road to school holding 'genus urtica' in gloved hands!
One extraordinary morning, there was even singing on the way to school - "Bits and Pieces" by the Dave Clark Five was exactly what ten year old boys in 1965 wished to sing.
The Billingford children when they joined us in 1964 were given a kind reception especially as we now had enough boys for two football teams for games on the Green Field.
HARRY CARTER was the nephew of Howard Carter, famous for his discovery and excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamen. He (Harry) was an easy good natured artist who never forgot but would, nonetheless, always give a reference to those not elsewhere approved!
Ed's note; Apologies for making Miss Dawson a Mrs in July's edition.
Mostly Cloudy -1 oC