Schooldays during war
The September of 1939 will always be remembered by our class. We were departing for new senior schools, Grammar and Girls High for those who passed the "scholarship" and whose parents could afford sports equipment, uniform and books. The remainder to senior girls and boys, to be called Secondary Modern.
The war was about to start, some of our fathers and uncles had been called up for reserve in the Armed Forces. The Territorial Army had been mobilised to action and were in the Drill Hall, together with local lorry drivers who had been commandeered.
ARP practice was daily and we were plastering our windows with tape to avoid splinters. The first air raid sirens practices were taking place.ÊGas masks were in the town for distribution. Local men were building air raid shelters.ÊThe war was to be over quickly but we were 11 years old when it started, 16 when it finished.
Our eighth reunion will take place on Saturday, October 28, at the Bankhouse Hotel, Church Street, Uttoxeter, starting at 10am and finishing at lunch time. A varied menu of food will be available afterwards. All enquires to me at 118 Birches Barn Road, Wolverhampton WV3 7BG, telephone 01902 338904, email mellorredfern@aol.com
This may be the last occasion. I have been ill and my active local colleague, Barbara Hoptroff, has also been ill. We are all near 77 or 78, some 79 years old. We shall welcome any person of any age who went to our school at any time. We are still trying to locate our school friends in Derby, Stoke, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Shrewsbury.
John Mellor, Birches Barn Avenue, Wolverhampton.
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