Post by sean1981 on Mar 21, 2014 16:25:31 GMT
Haworth nursery and primary school
Some time has passed since I wrote a little blog but I bumped into five girls 'ladies' from Haworth having lunch in our local pub and after sorting out who was who and, ' was it your sister that I went to school with', etc we had a great time chatting.
It was an old school photo that was mentioned that made me start thinking back. In the September of 1946 when I was not quite three years old ( b.Nov '43) I was taken to the nursery. I don't think it was anything to do with the war effort by then, though mum had worked in an engineering factory at some time, but rather that I was shy and an aunt said it would be good for me. Well the nursery was a prefabricated white building at the top of the playing fields in Haworth and ringed with a secure fence. Believe it or not I remember being carried in and viewing the entrance and passage leading to the little hall/play area, the smell still evokes memories too. Mum says it was probably day two I remembered because I howled that time knowing what was coming.
We went to bed on little low beds in the afternoon for a rest and I still remember some children having little 'accidents' and needing to be changed. We had a nice play area inside and of course we had a swing outside and room to get some fresh air. I remember holding my sister's hand through the railings at lunch time once and wondering why I was there.
One thing we had to do at the morning break was to queue up to be given a spoonful of cod liver oil. The secret I found was to keep it in my mouth until the next person gave us a beaker with NHS orange juice and to swill the mouthful down that way. The final thing we got was a rusk that was a finger length toast sort of thing.
Christmas party time I remember in a later year when Mrs Roebuck and Mrs Bottomly sang, 'knees up mother brown'. I told Mrs B that in later years and she just laughed and said, 'yes that would be me'.
The transition to the primary school at five years old was easy and Clara Bancroft, who taught the first year children, was brilliant at getting us to read and write and do our sums. I still see the painted posters on the wall with little animals and corresponding dots with a number next to them, I am not sure whether I still visualize these when adding up now. I think I read well because I was allowed to sit on the windowsill and look out for the bus coming down 't Syke (Lees Lane) since this would tell Clara how near to break time we were. Sometimes she would send someone out into the hall to report back where the big hand and little hand were pointing on the clock there.
One thing that makes me smile was that she always asked what sweets we had with us. Not many then of course but we had to hold up our little white bags (if we had any) and she would have a look and take one if it took her fancy. Rolling her teeth round a toffee and pulling her 'bra strap up was a trade mark a few will remember fondly. I still have a photo of the class of 1948 I think it is and between us my friend from those days and I can name all the children on it.
Sometime in 1987 I think it was, I heard that the nursery was to close and be demolished so I went round one lunch time and asked the people in charge if I might have a look round. They were kind enough to let me do that and of course I then realised just how small the place is to adult eyes. It did not change my memories though.
John - March '14
Some time has passed since I wrote a little blog but I bumped into five girls 'ladies' from Haworth having lunch in our local pub and after sorting out who was who and, ' was it your sister that I went to school with', etc we had a great time chatting.
It was an old school photo that was mentioned that made me start thinking back. In the September of 1946 when I was not quite three years old ( b.Nov '43) I was taken to the nursery. I don't think it was anything to do with the war effort by then, though mum had worked in an engineering factory at some time, but rather that I was shy and an aunt said it would be good for me. Well the nursery was a prefabricated white building at the top of the playing fields in Haworth and ringed with a secure fence. Believe it or not I remember being carried in and viewing the entrance and passage leading to the little hall/play area, the smell still evokes memories too. Mum says it was probably day two I remembered because I howled that time knowing what was coming.
We went to bed on little low beds in the afternoon for a rest and I still remember some children having little 'accidents' and needing to be changed. We had a nice play area inside and of course we had a swing outside and room to get some fresh air. I remember holding my sister's hand through the railings at lunch time once and wondering why I was there.
One thing we had to do at the morning break was to queue up to be given a spoonful of cod liver oil. The secret I found was to keep it in my mouth until the next person gave us a beaker with NHS orange juice and to swill the mouthful down that way. The final thing we got was a rusk that was a finger length toast sort of thing.
Christmas party time I remember in a later year when Mrs Roebuck and Mrs Bottomly sang, 'knees up mother brown'. I told Mrs B that in later years and she just laughed and said, 'yes that would be me'.
The transition to the primary school at five years old was easy and Clara Bancroft, who taught the first year children, was brilliant at getting us to read and write and do our sums. I still see the painted posters on the wall with little animals and corresponding dots with a number next to them, I am not sure whether I still visualize these when adding up now. I think I read well because I was allowed to sit on the windowsill and look out for the bus coming down 't Syke (Lees Lane) since this would tell Clara how near to break time we were. Sometimes she would send someone out into the hall to report back where the big hand and little hand were pointing on the clock there.
One thing that makes me smile was that she always asked what sweets we had with us. Not many then of course but we had to hold up our little white bags (if we had any) and she would have a look and take one if it took her fancy. Rolling her teeth round a toffee and pulling her 'bra strap up was a trade mark a few will remember fondly. I still have a photo of the class of 1948 I think it is and between us my friend from those days and I can name all the children on it.
Sometime in 1987 I think it was, I heard that the nursery was to close and be demolished so I went round one lunch time and asked the people in charge if I might have a look round. They were kind enough to let me do that and of course I then realised just how small the place is to adult eyes. It did not change my memories though.
John - March '14
