大象传媒

My first infant school was Duncombe Road Infants, near St John's Way, London. and it is still there today.

I must have been under five when I first attended school, and I clearly remember the name of my first teacher - she was Mrs Tanner, and I can still conjure up a picture of her today.

It was 1943/4 when I started school. The V1 and V2 Rockets were doing their worst, but of course we children did not realise this.

There were occasions when we were told to leave the classroom and follow Mrs Tanner to the nearby staircase.

These stairs were made of stone, and led down to the basement. The basement was the domain of the Caretaker, and forbidden to us children. But, as we approached the door to his 'domain' there came a rush of warm quiet air. I say 'quiet' because, this was to change rather rapidly.

Once seated with all the other children, we were given musical instruments. Toy instruments it has to be said; there were drums, trumpets, recorders, toy pianos, whistles, tambourines, and many more.

Then the fun began, the teachers encouraged us to sing, bang the drums, blow the trumpets and stamp our feet as loudly as we could. In fact, we were encouraged to make as much noise as we were able. We had a wonderful time.

It was many years later when I realised what was happening. We were apparently covering up the sound of the air raids, etc.

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