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I started my time there in 1938 when the school opened. I can remember on my first day that the girls who had come from Hastings Street School were already at ‘prayers’ in the Hall, they were singing the hymn ‘He who would valiant be’ I thought it sounded absolutely wonderful and I remember the sound of it to this day.
I remember Miss Pakeman who taught maths, she seemed very old to me, as she taught my mother at Hastings Street School.
Also if we were not looking at her as she spoke she would say, ‘I want your eyes’ or ‘Give me your eyes’ — most alarming!
For the last year or two that I was at Homelands I had Miss Yates for French. She also wanted you to listen to every word she said — and why not?
I also seem to remember that there was a barrage balloon anchored in front of the school in the early days of the war.
Also I remember that there were GIs waiting for some of the older girls at the school, outside.
Another memory is of going to Shottle on a train with other school friends to work on Mr Fletcher’s farm for two weeks. We had bell tents in one of his fields.

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