Fred Pincott's photo still resides on the wall of "The Carpenters' Arms" in the village

Mr. Smith moved from Eastling in 1889, and then began the uninterrupted reign of thirty-six years of Mr. Fred Pincott, from 1889 to 1926. The school continued to flourish during this period and all the H.M.I. reports are glowing in praise of the work. It is impossible to condense this period adequately, but I must mention the fact that on two occasions Fred Pincott was instrumental in saving the school from burning down!

Log entry, April 22nd, 1905:..

"School cleaner having put a quantity of hot coals in the scuttle, went home and left it standing on the floor. The heat caused the floor to ignite, Master having occasion to go into the school, found it full of smoke and the floor burning, but managed to extinguish it.  

Log entry, October 27th, 1914-

"This evening while preparing the requisition list for 1915, the lamp fell from its support and did some damage to the floor, two desks, and some books. It was a wonder the whole building was not destroyed."

Fred Pincott is still remembered with affection by ex- pupils. Recently, an eighty-seven year-old lady wrote to me from Alberta, Canada, telling me some of her memories of the old school. Here are some extracts:-

"My earliest school memory goes back to an Eastling School picnic in 1897, held in the Parson's Glebe. It was Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. I was four years old, too young to run in the races. Mr. Pincott gave me a little toy whip for my rocking horse."

She goes on to say how happy she was when she was promoted from the infant class and was given her own slate, her own water bottle with a hole in the cork, and a rag to clean her slate. Previously the infant class slates were cleaned by the teacher from one water bottle. She tells how she had to sharpen her slate pencil on a wooden box fitted with two files, the dust dropping into the box.