Pupil Memories

Memories of a pupil at Woodheys 1940- 1948:

The local area

Back in 1940, the area around the school was very different to how it is today. Meadway, part of Manor Ave, Cherry Lane and part of Woodhouse Lane were all unmade roads or tracks. In the winter they turned into quagmires. Coppice Ave did not exist and there were fields from Greenway Close to Woodhouse Lane. The Meadway Clinic did not exist and there were still 300 year old cottages on Woodhouse Lane at the junction with Washway Road.

The Headmaster

The Headmaster was Mr Bessant. My memories of him are that he had iron grey hair and appeared to be about seven feet tall. When he took morning prayers and led the pupils in singing he used to wave his arms about conducting us. In his right hand he always had a bible or prayer book and we all wondered what would happen if he let go of it on the up stroke! He never did.

Teachers

On the whole, the teachers at the school during the war years were dedicated and very capable and brought the best out of the children in their care. Discipline in the school was fair and was enforced but nevertheless it was a very happy school. There was little acrimony between pupils and bullying and stealing were non-existent. You could leave anything about and it would be there when you went back for it later.

Heating

The school was heated by a coke fired central heating system which frequently broke down or ran out of fuel in the winter. There were three steel pipes round the walls of each classroom and the idea was to be first in class so you could get next to the pipes. Lessons were never cancelled and when there was no heat we were allowed to wear our coats.

School grounds

The grassed area in front of the head´s office was out of bounds and woe betide any pupil retrieving a ball without permission. Bessant seemed able to see you every time. The playground was surfaced with hard tarmac edged by kerbing stones. The fields were out of bounds in the winter and the six air raid shelters and the woods were out of bounds all the time. The shelters had a side entrance and a vertical ladder emergency exit. The pre-fabs were two extra classrooms built after the war.

Milk

Milk was delivered to the school by horse drawn cart from Knathall Farm on Cherry Lane. All pupils were given a gill bottle of milk each day. We all had turns at being milk monitor. We used to collect milk bottle tops. In those days, the tops were made of greased cardboard and fitted in the neck of the bottle. The centres could be pushed out and a straw inserted. There were many different types, makes and designs of milk bottle tops so they became prized collectors items for the boys. A thriving swap business ensued.

Memories of a pupil at Woodheys 1964- 1970

Staff

There were 53 in my class when I started. Mrs Merrill Jones was my first teacher. My subsequent teachers were: Miss Holt, Mrs Lunt, Mrs McDowall and Mrs Mark.

The main things that spring to mind when I think of Mr Foster, the Headmaster, are to do with his appearance- ´military´ style moustache, brown or grey jackets/ suits and forever wearing brown shoes. The children used to call him ´Mr Foster went to Gloucester´ but never within ear-shot, or else I think we might have been!

The School Secretary was Mrs Cochran, who was small, with brown hair and wore glasses. Other teachers, whilst I was there, included Mrs Evans, Miss Gordon, Mr Marsden and Mr Mercer. The only other member of staff that I can recall was Mr Moore, who was the School Caretaker, who lived on Woodhouse Lane.

When I started at Woodheys the class sizes were large as there were so many children born around 1958/1959, and as Woodheys was the only Primary School in what was a large and developing area.

Uniform

The school uniform was a grey ´v´ neck jumper, with a dark blue and red banding on the neck, grey short trousers or skirt, white shirt, dark blue and red tie, grey socks, with red stripes.

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