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This story was submitted to the people鈥檚 war site by Rod Sutton on behalf of Graham Gape who collected it from Mary Carter (the author) for his History of Truro Grammar School and has been added to the website with his permission. He fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

This is not meant to be a chronicle of the war years but an attempt to recall those events which have stood out in my memory. It was a bright sunny day in early September 1938, when I first set foot in the all inspiring atmosphere of the Truro County School for Girls. I remember how small and insignificant I felt on walking down the long and terrifying corridors a new girl in brand new school uniform, two inches too long; one I was to be proud to wear until it was far more than two inches too short. During that first year, we were to see brief glimpses of a world of gaiety, too soon snatched from our eager hearts - visits to Kent's Cavern, Dartington Hall and archaeological sites at St Just, our one and only Christmas party, when for the first and last time we were to don long skirts and dance and twirl to our hearts' content. Then in the following September the blow fell. I felt no fear at the prospect of war, just a quiet expectancy mingled with feverish excitement. Here was something new, experience, with the prospect of new adventure. But the only adventure to come our way was German Measles. We revelled in it. The only ones to suffer headaches were the staff. We were isolated, used the staff entrance, had our own cloakroom and ate our meals in the classrooms. We worked and played in there for nearly two months. But in our isolation, apart from the rest of the school, grew a fierce spirit of independence. We did not mean to be troublesome but somehow we always did the wrong thing and everyone was cross with us. "We were so different" from the saintly IIIA our parallel class. There grew up an enmity between us that was hard to bear when we became amalgamated in IV A. I believe that trying though this period was, we acquired a character, an independence and maturity which was to stand us as individuals in good stead in later life. It says much for the staff to have held the reins so skilfully and directed our exuberance into useful channels. I remember the jolt I had when we heard that one girl a year our senior, had been deprived of her red girdle that coveted sign of seniority. Miss Foreman had left, and a new face was to greet us each morning at prayers, but our work which had gone from bad to worse during the isolation period the year before had to be improved. We all knew it, and now had to face the hard struggle back to popularity. It was no easy task and when I was denied my Biology marks (my best subject) owing to misplaced honesty, I was sure that to me at any rate, the girdle and certificate were unattainable. The day I was awarded my red girdle the sun began to shine again, and I was determined to do my best to show that faith in me had not been misapplied, but there were other hazards ahead.- on the receiving end. The Hall was full of strange uniforms. This was invasion by West Ham. It was the first of two such invasions; Stoke Damerel from Plymouth were also destined to pass through our doors before the end of hostilities. Little did we know then that one of our own staff would one day become Headmistress of that school. The life of the nomads had begun - moving all the time - in constant fear of forgetting the very book which would be required, the frantic search for those vital notes written upside down or in some margin of our much over-crowded rough books. Finding paper of the right kind, and being in the right place at the right time was a nightmare. Our home was now the Lab., our desk, a drawer previously the container for corks or glass tubes; our chairs, high stools; but worst of all we had to suffer our rival IV A in our midst. This was the year prior to School Certificate, when we strove to make cakes with little or no fat, and iced them with dried milk; when eggs came in packets, and even flour was a luxury to be purchased by the surrender of B.U's. Needlework was no less a problem, with the difficulty of clothing coupons making one decide between material for a new coat or for a new night dress. The walls during this period were always gay with poster competitions for War Weapons' week for some other scheme. Then came a year of peace - the reading room was our haven from the weary nomadic marches. The end of the year was to see us awarded our certificates. I do not know who was more surprised, my instructor or myself, to learn that I had gained a "credit" in Maths. I think neither of us had expected it. The School Council had started to bring its life blood into the beating heart of the school, excellent training in practical democracy especially if the decisions did not go according to one's own way of thinking. The Flower Competition was becoming an annual event - where Miss Lambert obtained all those flowers was a mystery in itself. Now at the end of five years the great decisions had to be made. What career was I going to follow? The decision was made easy for me. A pre-nursing course was to start - this was for me - I was in my element, the subjects I loved - all the inspiration I needed from staff - a sense of vocation. I had gained my Prefect's badge, and had become leader of my House's Red Cross Group - my cup was full. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't have been happier. All the time we were studying by the tennis courts in the sun during those last few months there was the nagging thought - the end was in sight. It was amazing how much work was done by the apparently lack-a-daisical group of students by the courts, as we waved the U.S. Army on to the "second-front" and to victory. I left reluctantly three months before V.E. day. As I looked out of the hospital window - for I had started nursing - and listened to the joyous voices of the crowds and heard them die away as they went happily to their homes relaxed and happy on the first night of peace - I was content. I had gained more than facts and figures from my school. I had learned toleration, co-operation, and had gained a sense of confidence and awareness. Everyone I had met during my stay had given me something useful, what more could a school - building, staff and fellow students - do for a fellow human being.

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