My memories of school are mainly happy ones. We lived close to the school behind the Tin Tab in Fitzroy Avenue. My normal route to school was over the fence behind the Tin Tab. If I had forgotten anything I went home after assembly by the same route to collect it.
Some of the time I went home for lunch but at other times I stayed at school, but always played football on the patch. The patch was an area smaller than a tennis court with a slope almost like the north face of the Eiger. A further thought on school dinners, while in the lowest forms we liked to be forced into the first sitting (girls) because the girls made sure we had more than our share of food. This did not happen in the second (boys) sitting.
We spent our first year in the Glan Yr Afon hut. I seem to remember a boys only class. In the second year we became mixed, back with many of the girls from junior school. As I lived near to the school I was known in the local shops. The woodwork master (name I forget but not Emrys Plumber) took advantage of this to send me out for cigarettes which were in short supply. I never failed to get them. The time spent did not matter as it was years before we had wood – we spent our time drawing tools. Eventually Peter Marchant, Brian Knapman, John Marks and I made a lectern for the school assembly. Where is it now? New regulations meant a number of us were too young to take our O levels and spent an extra year waiting. Terry O’Leary had to wait two years.
My father who was at the school before me (also my mother) was a contemporary of Mr Reese and his tennis partner at the tennis club. My father was involved with the Past Students Association and for some time was the chairman. He, together with my mother, were both keen bridge players, introduced bridge to the PSA and ran a bridge evening in the school for many years. They taught many people including Frank Evans and Eric Finney. Prior to this, throughout the war, 8 ladies played bridge every week rotating the venue. The names I remember are my mother Edith Jones, Miss Hughes, Miss Lindberg, Mrs Ewart Williams, Mrs Coward and Miss Vera Chard (Aunty Vera to me). Mrs Coward (together with her husband) had a grocery shop and I seem to remember extra butter when my mother was due to host the evening. After the war the PSA bought a book case for the school in memory of pupils who had given their lives. I remember the drawings of the book case before it was commissioned. Where is it now?
Peter Marchant was a friend of mine even before infants school, he lived only yards away and his father had been a keen hockey player as was my mother and I believe both had played in the same team at some time. During the school holidays Peter and I roamed the school roofs looking for balls, usually with great success. My mother often talked of seeing us appear over the apex of the Tin Tab.
As a final thought, I could go on for ever, Miss Lindberg frequently told me I was not as good as my mother in the gym. At this time the boys were taught PT by Miss Lindberg who made sure that we took a shower after the session. Josh Jones said the same thing about my father and Physics.