Dear Mr. Hermon,

 How much we enjoyed reading your happy memories of Eastling School. This gave us the incentive to jog our memories and delve into the not—so—distant past, to write of the very happy times we spent at Eastling School.

 We started school in 1968 at the age of 5. Our earliest memories are of playing in the infants’ class. Many hours were spent rolling out pieces of plasticine and joining them up to form a huge snake that wended it. way round the small tables and chairs.

An early exciting event in our infant class days was the arrival of a new boy, Renato Pivano, whom we had the privilege of sitting next to at our table. Our offerings of “playing with the bricks” broke the barrier that might have been felt by a new little boy arriving at what, to us then, seemed like a huge school. In fact, we came to appreciate the small family—like atmosphere over the years. The infant days included reading books such as “Up and Away”, having spelling games, doing basic sums and writing “news” — which our parents dreaded reading as the intimacies of family life were revealed to the teacher, Miss Waters I The story and song at the end of the day were most relaxing after a day spent screaming round the classroom, showing off new tricks and covering ourselves in sand and milk! In truth, we were. not quite that rowdy!

Having reached table 6, we were old enough to progress into the juniors. This wa8 particularly enthralling as not only were we to have a new teacher, Mrs. Pearce, but we found ourselves in a new mobile classroom, which unnerved, us when we were told that it would have to be evacuated in the event of a very strong wind! We spent many happy hours sticking pieces of paper to make impressive collages. The astounding clowns’ heads we produced out of papier mache one week were incredible!

The “top” class, as it was called, was a great change. Not only were we now in Mr. Davies’s class, but we were in a new building with adjoining “library” (in effect a small area cordoned off, full of encyclopaedias and Penguin books). This modern building blended in well with the older buildings surrounding it. Once in the top class, the school took on a new outlook. We were the ‘big people”, and were allowed to do needlework, and the boys, craft. We even indulged in country dancing, although this was not appreciated by some of the boys, who saw it as sissy! Nature walks with Mrs. Fraser were interesting, as well as being a good excuse to get away from work - unknown to Mrs. Fraser, of course! Needlework classes began with a puree. By the end of the year, our sewing skills had progressed to cushions and even rag dolls! !hose not enjoying needlework bad the trick of “accidentally on purpose” tying a knot in their cotton, and spending the next hour at Miss Waters’ desk! Many “interesting” balsa wood boats and bookshelves were made and shown off by the boys.

Sport played a large part in the school curriculum. Netball, boys v girls was always won by the boys - I wonder why Football was taken quite seriously. The great triumph was when the boys won the inter-schools’ football tournament. Quite an achievement.

 The swimming pool must have been the ultimate favourite, many happy hours being spent splashing around the pool. Table tennis also was beginning to achieve a good standard.

  Playtime and lunchtime were times for all children to relax. The younger ones played on the swing and bars, whilst the older children indulged in a game invented by our group, called “Spaniard.” This involved capturing comrades and taking them to camps of hostages! The occasional graze or bruise resulting from a rather too boisterous struggle brought the game to a halt while Mr. Davies was brought on to the scene, medical kit in hand, ready to administer first aid.

 How grateful we must be for having had the facility of music. How envious other schools must have been, knowing we had a good choir and a recorder group. The Christmas Carol Service involved all musicians and was enjoyed by all. Without the encouragement in music at Eastling, I, Caroline, wonder if I could have conceived of carrying out my intention of taking up a musical career.

  “School dinners” must bring groans to many schoolchildren. In the infants, once on table 6, we had the opportunity of being rewarded with a toffee every Friday, by a “dinner lady”, if we ate all our meal! Tricks to hide food under potato were often carried out.

 The highlight of the year was the Christmas Party. It was the time of year when there was much excitement in the air as we could all dress up in our “party dresses”. Everyone spent an afternoon making “party hats”. There were many shapes and sizes, varying from small, brightly coloured Easter bonnets decorated with tissue paper flowers, to large coronets with falling streamers which, by the end of the day, Were mere shreds!

 In the morning of the party we played games. “Spin the plate” was the favourite, especially for the boys, who could show off their skills as acrobats a. they careered across the polished floor in their “Sunday best”, in order to snatch away the plate so as to avoid a forfeit, which might be to imitate an animal or to sing the National Anthem. But the forfeit we all looked forward to was that paid by Mr. Davies — to kiss the hand of Miss Waters!

In the afternoon were the films. We would gather round the screen, eyes fixed, ready for the usual films which were shown every year. One of them which springs to mind is the film with chimpanzees who jumped about doing silly things— and who threw custard pies at each other. The films created much laughter, including the times when the projector broke down and we waited patiently, or for some, impatiently, for good old Mr. Davies to save the day with his funny jokes and stories.

Before tea, we were sent out to play while the teachers and dinner ladies prepared the long trestle tables with-“the food”. Meanwhile, we would discuss who we were to sit next to.

We were finally called in and entered the vast hall, which was brightly decorated in tinsel, Christmas lanterns and a Christmas tree, covered in coloured lights. The tables were loaded with food. We each had a plate, holding such things as sandwiches, rolls, jam tarts, buns, cakes and biscuits. Some would swap a salmon paste sandwich for an egg roll, and there was an abundance of orange squash.

Nothing went spare, as it was set out on trays and handed out to us the following day, slightly stale, but still delicious.

  The mystery of the day was, “Who would be Father Christmas?” Would it be the village policeman, the shopkeeper, the vicar, Mr. Davies, or even Father Christmas himself?? No one knew, but we all had our ideas and discussed them with fervour. Sometimes, we recognised the big voice behind the huge plastic face, red cloak and welly boots • He would enter the hall, ringing a bell, and shout, “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas, children₁ I’ve brought you some presents.” We would all cheer and stand mesmerised by this mystery man with a jolly laugh. Then, much to our enjoyment, be would give us all a little bag with an orange, an apple and some sweets, such as “Spangle& and an “Aero”. We would all then go home, full up, and with the feeling that Christmas was truly here. Mind you, had it not been for all the work of the teachers, dinner ladies and parents, who prepared the party, none of it could have happened.

The saddest day in the whole of the school life was the last day of the summer term, when we would say “goodbye” to the leaver. who were going to the “big schools”. It was a sad event, handing back our old books, although I, Christine, was pleased to see the last of the maths. book, It would be our last school dinner, our last playtime, our last assembly in that dearly-loved school. We would all choose a “leaver’s present” and these were given to us on the last day in the end-of—the—year ceremony. Some had asked for geometry sets, felt pens, or book tokens, and the boys’ favourite was a cricket bat. We would all sing the hymn, “Lord, dimnie. us with Thy blessing” and we all remembered to bring extra hand­kerchief a to school. Then Mr. Davies would give a moving speech, beginning each year with

 “Today is the saddest day of the year, when we say goodbye to those wbo are leaving us.”

 Well, we certainly needed the extra hankies as by the end of his speech we would all have tears streaming down our faces, including those who were not even leaving*

 The leaver would also give presents to the teacher as a sign of their gratitude, There would be months of secret meetings about what we would buy, and how much we would spend.

 Those happy memories of Eastling School, — they would not have been possible had it not been for the teachers, and especially Mr. Davies, the headmaster, who provided us with so many hours of laughter and enjoyment, and who so rightly earned the nickname of “Daddy Davies”.

As you can see, dear Mrs. Hermon, we had just as much fun at Eastling School as you did. And we, also, left with a sound knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic, thanks to Miss Waters, Mrs. Pear. Mr. Davies, and our part-time teacher, Mrs. Fraser.

Caroline and Christine Fraser

born 15.12.63.

attended Eastling School Sept. 1968 to July 1975.