Friday 8 June 2012

Off to School

In 1947, at the age of 4, I started infant school at Hermitage House in the  Lansdown suburb of Bath.   I cannot now recall my class teacher's name, but I do remember thinking how nice she was and if it had not been for her, I suspect I would have run away from school, as I hated the place! Morning break times were always dreaded, as we each had to drink a third of a pint of warm milk. This was supplied  at that time to schools, in metal crates of special size bottles. I think these are no long made and the school milk must have formed part of some government decree!  Did everyone hate it as much as I did?  Presumably this was done for health reasons, but it was really foul.   I loved milk otherwise and as long as it was either cold or hot, I would drink as much as required, but luke warm milk I hate to this day!   

At the end of that year, my beloved teacher left  this school and moved to a small and exclusive boarding school, The Collegiate at Winterbourne, a village just north of Bristol.  The Collegiate had been founded nearby in 1903, but in 1946, the site of Winterbourne House was purchased and the school re-established. I must have been a very spoilt child, as without further ado, my parents arranged for me to transfer there, and I became the youngest boarder that the school had ever had at that time.   Because of my age, I was not put into a dormitory at first, and the owners and head teachers of the school, namely Mr Rex and Mrs Susannah Hopes, treated me as their own.  Rex Hopes was a talented artist, designer and poet and at one stage did windowdressing work for Austin Reed, the tailors. The Hopes did have a daughter Margaret, but I remember her as being somewhat older than myself.   Not only did I have a room to myself, as I went to bed a bit earlier than the others, but the prefects used to come and read to me at night!!  
In school uniform!
These were very happy schooldays and I remember the great cook that we used to have there, and also the lovely old gardener, both of whom used to spoil me, as I was the youngest in the school.  I often sneaked into the out-of-bounds kitchen and came out with something special to eat in a quiet place.  The school buildings were beautiful, having formerly been Winterbourne House; I believe it dates back to about 1698.   The preacher John Wesley used to deliver sermons there in the late 18th century. The property has  recently, I believe, again been renamed as Silverhill School, but the facilities have been much expanded since my days there .   It has the most wonderful 18th century staircase which stands out clearly in my mind. 

14 comments:

  1. You were a pretty little girl. What was the reason for boarding away from home?

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  2. Rosaria we lived in Bath, and the school was in Winterbourne which was about 15 miles away on a very busy road. I wanted to be where the teacher was so I was more than happy to be a weekly border. I came home each weekend. It worked out very well for all of us. Diane

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  3. A different but happy early school life.

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  4. I remember the milk. My school was near the top of a mountain, in Wales. In the winter the milk would sometimes arrive frozen and the crates would be put on to the stove to 'warm up'!.

    I hated it too!

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  5. Diane B it was a very happy life at The Collegiate, I loved it there, but then everyone spoilt me :)) Diane

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  6. Gaynor, I will never forget that milk, it was quite disgusting. Nigel said he also hated it as well, but he is still not that fond of drinking milk. I love cold milk. I am glad to hear that you also felt the same way. Diane

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  7. It seems we all hated the school milk. gosh you were sent away to board at an early age, even younger than my husband was. I am so pleased to be back blogging and able to be here to catch up, loving these stories.

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  8. Linda I was young but it was my choice. I am also glad that you are back blogging I missed you. Diane

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  9. You look so sweet! :-) What a lovely portrait.

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  10. Thanks JM, pity I am not quite as sweet nowadays LOL. Diane

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  11. Oh Diane you are so adorable with your curls. I would have spoiled you too!!

    I think you were very brave to be going away to boarding school at such a young age. I wonder if that adventurous spirit is what led to your living in so many different countries and adapting yourself so well :)

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  12. Dolly I have always been very independent so maybe that it the beginning of it all, being away so young. I seem to adapt to changes very easily, this has been the most difficult tho' as I just cannot get to grips with French. I wish I had done it at school as Nigel did, but it is not good crying over spilt milk!! Thanks for the comment Diane

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  13. I love your uniform Dianne! I think that your smile can melt any hearts, so sweet!

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  14. chubskulit, ha ha, wish I could have that effect on people now I am much older..... Keep well Diane

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