I attended the old Central School after passing a scholarship at the age of 11 in 1930. Six of us from the former, now demolished, Oxhey School, wore our green, red-trimmed blazers with pride. Panama hats in summer, black velour ones in winter. Tunics with cream blouses.
Two of the Oxhey school girls were especially bright and they went to Watford Grammar School to mingle with the elite fee-paying children, who were probably not as brainy themselves.
The Central School children were all non-fee paying, so equally intelligent. One of our subjects was learning the French language. I wondered why - I would never go abroad, would I? But of course now we have all been on foreign holidays and I have studied Spanish too.
We were divided into four "houses", Clarendon (blue), Cassio (red), Essex (purple) and Monmouth (green).
We had homework to do every night which was rather daunting. I was no good at art yet have taken up water colours in my old age and become reasonably good at it.
We had botany lessons with Miss Ransom to learn about the birds and bees, which I never connected with human reproduction. We were strictly segregated from the boys, either sex each side of the hall for prayers and assembly each day. There were 40 pupils in each class.
We were taught to speak beautifully sounding our h's and after "w" - which, where, why and what. Our spelling and grammar were concentrated on and I feel pleased that to this day I can type a concise and useful letter to any necessary authority, including this narrative to your good selves. I have a photo of pupils if you should need it and one of the teachers whose names I remember.
I used to love playing hockey at the field in Greatham Road, which was the nearest land available to us. We swam at the newly-built Hempstead Road baths, where some years later I officiated at galas.
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