Children interviewing Alma Brain

Q1. Why was the Rose Queen always sitting down?

A1. I don’t really know why that would be.  Perhaps it was because all the attendants were quite small attendants, so it levelled it out.  When they had to put the crown on the [Rose Queen’s] head perhaps it was easier if the Rose Queen was sitting down.

Q2. How many children were there in the whole school?

A2. Oh, I don’t know about the whole school.  I guess there was about forty to forty-seven children in each class, and there was only one teacher to take the class.  We used to have quite big classes so we had to be rather good.

[The children were asked how many they had in their class and they answered twenty-seven.]

Q3. Was the Rose Queen usually from the older children?

A3. Well, we used to pick the Queen to be in one of the top years, like yourself.  But we did go up to age eleven, as there was no Middle School.  We went straight from this class to either the Grammar School if you passed your 11 plus, or you went to the Senior School.  So they used pick the Queen from one of the older ones and the attendants were perhaps, one of the smaller children.

Q4.  What year did you start school in?

A4. I started in 1948, when I was five.

[Children said that they start at four, and that there are three reception classes.]

Q5. Who was your favourite teacher at school?

A5. I used to like Mr Alton.  I don’t think he was the Headteacher.

Q6. How many teachers were there in the whole school?

A6. I can’t quite remember that because there were such a lot of people and they had helpers.

Q7. How many teachers did you have in one class?

A7. Only one teachers to each class.

Q8. Were there any helpers?

A8. We used to have dinner ladies.

Q9. Did you have classroom assistants?

A9. No I don’t think so; it was just the teacher that took you.  They used to be quite strict especially when you got up to ages ten or eleven.

Q10. Did you ever get the D [dunces] hat on?

A10. No I don’t think there was one.  You did used to get the ruler.

Q11. Did the teacher ever shout at you?

A11. Well I suppose I must have sometime.

Q12. Was it embarrassing when you got told off?

A12. I suppose it must have been, really.  I think in those days you were more frightened if you got told off. 

[Children said that when they are told off in class, they just start laughing].

I don’t think you laughed when we were at school.  There wasn’t much laughing in the classroom.  They were very strict and there was none of this answering back.  They would have you standing on your chair if you answered back.

Q13. Did you ever have to stand on your chair?

A13. I can’t remember ever standing on my chair, but I may well have done.