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This story has been submitted by Alison Tebbutt, Derby CSV Action Desk on behalf of Joan Woods. The author has given her permission, and fully understands the site's terms and conditions

I started my teacher training course in Hull at the end of October, 1939, aged 18. The start of term had been delayed, because war had been declared, while the college decided what to do.

There were many false alarms for air raids in the first year, but then they happened almost nightly. We had to grab warm clothes and rush to the shelters. Eventually, during Easter 1941, the college was evacuated to Bingley and our final exams were taken there. Food shortages started to be apparent and on Friday nights it was always suet pudding, or ‘dead baby’ as we called it.

In July 1941, I was interviewed by Jack Longland, the Director of Education for Derbyshire and started teaching at Clay Cross Junior Boys School a few weeks later. There were 200 boys, aged 7—11 years in the school and I had a class of 40+ lively 9-10 year olds. Clay Cross was a mining community, ‘safe’ enough to accept evacuees.

The air raid shelters in the playground were half above and half below ground, with a low wall all round them. They were never used for real, but evacuation of the classroom was regularly practiced. The boys thought it was great fun to go into the shelters, as there was always water on the floor. Gas masks had to be carried at all times, and any boy who came to school without his was sent home to get it.

The main school door opened into an area with coat pegs and wire cages for plimsolls. There was a long shallow sink with one tap. A quarter bar of carbolic soap was issued each week. There were also two roller towels, either side of the door. The towels were clean on Monday and dirty by Tuesday, but they also had to last all week. Before school started any cockroaches had to be cleared from the classroom — the caretaker had enough other jobs to do!

There was a shortage of equipment for lessons and play, but some ingenious solutions were found. Pencils for lessons were named and were collected in at the end of each day. Rubber bands round a piece of wood made a ball. A hobnail in a shaped piece of wood made a top. We made the most of natural resources. Outings were arranged to collect blackberries, rosehips and haws, which were then sold in the local Drill Hall to help with school funds.

In the evenings I would sometimes be on ‘firewatch’ which was one of a teacher’s duties.

A few days after V.E. Day the school had a party. Streamers and decorations were made in school and a Maypole was found from somewhere! Long trestle tables were set up in the school yard, and the children had to bring their own plate, cup (or enamel mug) and spoon. Everyone contributed what they could to the party fare and we all had a wonderful day.

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