Memories of Coddington School
From Rosemary Frost
Rosemary Frost née Geeson.
Three classrooms
Headmaster John Fordham cycled from Newark .
Miss Gomer took 7 to 10 age group. She lived in Almond Cottage Newark Road.
Mrs Bailey infant teacher, widow with daughter, Rita
There were no pre – school play groups then and I started school on my 5th Birthday, 7th May 1945 – I was most disappointed to have a holiday on 8th May due to V.E. Day!!
I walked to school with Mary Campion crossing the A17 and went home for lunch.
Miss Gomer was very strict and we had to sit still and chant tables etc. We did a little sewing, making handkerchiefs out of cloth flour bags, decorating them with cross stitch.
Miss Gomer retired in 1950.
When we were 10 (the scholarship year) we moved to Mr Fordhams class with all the seniors.
The four “big” girls, Mary Campion, Hazel Maltby, Marjorie Clark (Beaconfield) and Anne Horton had some pink or cream material to make a skirt each. It was lovely material.
Lavatories at the bottom of the yard emptied at night in a dustbin on wheels.
We had B.B.C. Schools Radio in 1950 and heard Singing Together. Previously I only remember singing sea shanties with Mr Fordham.
We occasionally had sports and rounders, walking through the kissing gate and stiles to Feeding Close, Hall Farm.
In 1944 I believe the boys received their first football and cricket bat. The “big boys” used to do gardening on a Friday afternoon.
The infants could take one of their own toys on a Friday afternoon.
Mr Ross, a School Manager, used to come and check the registers regularly.
Three of us wrote in the dust on Mr Pattison’s car (School Attendance Officer) . Unfortunately we put our initials so we were soon caught!!!!
1946 – I don’t remember any special celebrations for the School’s centenary.