When Eliots Green BeganThe school seemed so enormous and so empty. It sat in a sea of mud, with its lifeless windows reflecting the empty sky. Everything smelled so new. Damp plaster, new wood, wet paint, new uniforms. The desks with little splinters that caught at your knees. Books so new that they creaked when opened, and the smell of fresh print was still strong.
There were mysterious forbidden regions such as the 'Bottom Corridor', a dark gloomy cavern, lit only by naked bulbs which hung from festoons of black-flex. New curtains arrived for the stage smelling like a furniture shop. New curtains for the hall, which were 'not to be touched'. Shoes were to be changed on every possible occasion 'to protect the floors'. It became confusing. 'Which are my outdoor shoes and which my indoor.'
The huge earth-movers roared outside. Workmen distracted lessons with their shouts and whistles. At Christmas, one workman read a lesson in the service of nine lessons and carols. 'Peace on the Earth'. The machinery was quiet for a while.
With only ten members of staff, some teachers took lessons which they thought they'd left behind with their school days. Mr. Barratt took Arithmetic. We recall endless gardens with paths around lawns, and areas of carpets in rooms too large for them. Mrs. Walters taught R.E. in addition to Domestic Science, but captured our interest with a horrifying account of pigs having their throats cut as in the days of Jewry. One Christmas a group of us went around the school singing carols by candle-light. We even had Father Christmas with us until he became ignited by a candle-flame. There was no music-teacher at the start, and Daphne, Josephine Bates and Kathleen Richardson took it in turns to play the hymns for Assembly.
Staff-dinners served in the staff-room, were carried up by pupils, and transferred from the trays to the tables by our pulling our cardigan sleeves down over our hands, as the tureens were so hot. Mr. West thought we looked like 'little grey rabbits'. (Cardigans were grey at first, not purple).
The flower beds in the Quad and at the front were kept by the four houses in competition with each other. I think Brembre usually won. Our house, Mandeville, had the best stinging nettles.
The Library was almost empty at first, with just one block of fiction and a few scattered reference books.
One or two subjects are remembered especially. In particular, the making of a map of Northolt from the Doomsday Account. We were thus inspired to join the 'dig' at the Manor House site behind the church, and later, at college, Janet made the 'History of the Northolt Poorhouse' her History Thesis.
Many years have passed but some memories seem to grow clearer. Our very best wishes to all the Staff of those early years and to all 'Foundation Pupils'.
JANET AMBLER (nee HOLLIDAY)
DAPHNE HARGREAVES (nee HOLLIDAY) 1956-62
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