Netball on the Homestead on Friday afternoons. Drill (P.E.) at the back of Dent's Bakery, Norwich Road. Mrs. Chambers teaching us "My Bonnie Lie’s Over the Ocean" and "Little Man You've Had a Busy Day" - such contrast!

Needlework in the 'big' room, knitted ribbed vests which seemed to go on forever, grey socks, ­always grey - turning heels, shaping toes, cutting out and sewing Wyncette nightgowns - French seams, run and fell seams (whatever were they?). Raffia mats and slippers, darning, embroidery - French knots, lazy daisy and chain stitches, and the dreaded canework, resulting in very sore finger­tips.

Miss Pollintine standing on the school step doing playground duty, the girls' playground being the piece of road outside the school (on New Street).

The annual Bird and Tree Exam. The thrill of winning a book for an essay on "The Poplar Tree"(Dinah Aves - won the same year for an essay on "The Robin)".

The daily chanting of tables - never forgotten ­if only they were taught in the same way today. Wet playtimes, steaming coats on the fire-guard ­I can smell them now!

Nature Walks down Jerry's Loke, Maurice Dack finding a Roman coin, such excitement! Nerve wrack­ing Scripture Exams by Cannon Marsham, learning the Catechism - I can hear it still  My name is • • • (name said underbreath) Who gave you this name? My Godfathers and Godmothers at my Baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ, a child of God and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The eighth commandment was the easiest to learn - THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.   
The seventh commandment puzzled me, but I hoped I was not "committing adultery" thereby breaking one of the laws of God.

Paying bank money on Monday morning (sixpence) also milk money (2.5p today) - bottles of milk standing round the fire-guard to warm, being milk monitor and washing the bottles in the yard at the back of the school.

Counting with beans, writing on slates with screeching 'pencils' - later progressing to small boards and chalk. Making Recorders from Bamboo sticks - such a terrible noise! Purple History books - tracing a picture of Sir Thomas Moore and learning about him, I still remember his dates, 1779 - 1852.

Miss Tuthill, teaching us number rhymes – "Two little Dickie Birds sitting on a wall", also Nursery Rhymes. Country dancing - Rufty Tufty, The Keel Row, and Circassian Circle - all performed on the Rectory Lawn at the Church Fete.

Playground games, Hop Scotch, The Farmer's in his Den, What's the time Mr. Wolf, The big ship sailed through the Ally Ally 0 - and of course Mothers and Fathers.

The day Freddy Gaskin helped me to draw a map of Australia, only to be rewarded with a stroke of the cane for his kindness, my punishment to "stay in" - dear Freddy was lost at sea during the War serving on HMS Cornwall. A memory I still have is a copy of it "Alice in Wonderland" It given to me by Mr and Mrs. Chaffey when they retired; each child was given a book.

Discovering the joy of reading and never losing it. The fun of painting, even greater fun washing out the brushes and pots over the drain in the yard at the back.

Dinah and I being pushed to school in a pram by her sister Mollie after a very heavy fall of snow. Making slides in the playground and having to put salt on them before we went home, it made a lovely crackling sound.

Christmas party games, Oranges and Lemons, Squeak Piggy Squeak, and A Hunting we will Go, - not a favourite of mine, I hated the thought of putting a fox in a box - still do.

So many happy memories, such happy days, I loved every minute and fifty years on, still go to school regularly each week, and still love it.

by Eileen Lawrence . (nee Saunders)