Eighteen Years Ago(This article appeared in the 1974 edition of 'Image', the Eliots Green school magazine.) In the Spring of 1956 I first saw Eliots Green - I drove up onto a rough building site to meet a tall slim, rather younger-looking man than I expected, to look over the new school, still in its early stages. Together Mr. West and I climbed up to look at the laboratories, picking our perilous way over all the obstacles that one always finds when builders are in possession. I collected a three-inch nail in my tyre which blew out in Western Avenue on the way home. I was lucky not to be killed.
When the schooI opened in September, builders were still around and the middle corridor was curtained off with enormous pieces of sacking - all pupils had to go round via the ground floor to reach the Biology Lab, which was the only one available for use. Fortunately, staff were allowed to use the corridor 'at their own risk'.
There were only ten members of staff, so we all had to teach several subjects - I was Head of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geography and in charge of visual aids, and regular Poobah, (sic) Mr. Ormandy and Mr. Barrett helped out the Maths. dept. with 'sooms'. As only one laboratory was available-with only about four burner points and two sinks, we did only Biology until half-term when the Elementary Physics Lab. was more or less finished. Then we did half a term of Physics. After Christmas the Elementary Chemistry Lab. was ready and we did half a term's Chemistry.
It was a very much hand-to-mouth existence; apparatus ordered months before had not arrived, or, worse still, only parts had come, so we had to improvise and do the best we could. I think that we all missed not having senior pupils on whom one had come to rely for all sorts of help. However, the little second formers showed themselves to be very capable and self-reliant.
In the summer term we were officially opened by local big-wigs. On the previous day a van load of pot plants arrived and were tastefully banked in a number of strategic positions about the place. It was necessary to supply tea and solid refreshments to the guests and with no senior girls, doubts were expressed about providing them. But Mrs. Walters and the second form girls turned out an excellent repast, serving tea with an expertise which drew praise from the V.I.P's.
Alas! next day we returned to normal, and the floral decorations and potted palms were whisked away.
Those early days were hard work, but with only two hundred pupils and ten staff, we had so much room everybody knew everybody else and it was so easy, almost a family atmosphere. If I were asked what my strongest impression of the first day in the new school was, I should say that all the pupils looked so clean, neat and enthusiastic. It was the first and only time in my life when I have seen every single pupil in a brand new blazer.
Next term I shall be in again at the start of a new school, I wonder how it will compare with 1956?
E.C.C.
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