School Years

I started at Maidenhead County Girls' School in September 1947. It was not easy to assemble the uniform and equipment as clothes rationing did not end until March 1949 and we were not well off.

A neighbours' daughter had been there and gave me a tennis racquet and hockey stick. My Mother made all my clothes already so she set to work on gym slips and summer dresses. We had to go to Marshall & Snelgroves on Oxford Street for the apple green cotton for summer dresses, navy serge for A-line gym slips and wool blazer fabric.

She couldn't buy the emerald silk braid so I had wool braid on my blazer, which was embarrassingly different from other girls. We later discovered that the school had a sale of second hand clothes on the 'gallery' at times and bought a 'proper' blazer there. I only had two all through my five years so I couldn't have grown much.

We also had to have a navy velour hat, straw hat and beret as well as a tie, emerald girdle for the gym slip, white blouses, navy cardigan, coat or macintosh, white and navy knickers as well as socks, stockings and various shoes and then badges to make it clear who we were. All this required clothing coupons, which were in short supply.

I enjoyed schoolwork and games were pretty competitive, and everyone was keen to see what our class positions were when the exam results were posted. We were not always good, lateness was punished with half an hour detention after school and talking was considered bad behaviour and deserved an hour. Two in a week was a black mark for our house and a visit to the headmistress's study. Good work earned a good mark and I often received both the same week.

A group of us formed a club that met in the ink cupboard under the stairs once a week at break. It was strictly forbidden, but that made it more exciting. We used to produce a mini-magazine with puzzles, poems and stories and go on outings, such as to Cliveden.

The school was divided into four houses, St George (mine), St Andrew, St Patrick and St David with flower badges on our tunics. We also had to sew on badges awarded for good posture, both walking and standing straight, early training which I still reap the benefits from. One could get a gym badge too, but I never managed that.

We went to the Drill Hall in Marlow Road for gym with proper equipment and changing rooms along the side under the gallery. Speech Days were held in this hall too. Miss Spooner used to stand outside and count to ten while we changed and appeared all tidy in front of her - we even had to change knickers in summer from navy to white, and she checked!

Once a week in summer we marched to the open air pool on Cookham Road, to learn to swim. Miss Spooner didn't come in because it was freezing, but stood on the side and yelled at us. I still can't swim today!

We also played tennis in summer and hockey in winter in Kidwells Park, which we all enjoyed. We walked up to the Masonic Hall in High Town Road for Music with Miss Law and 'Natural Movement Dancing', which I hated, being very shy and self conscious.

There were four classes in the Upper Third, but later we were re-grouped into three. We thought this was because we were naughty, but probably some girls had left. By the Upper Fourth we were grouped by ability for some subjects.

We had Maths with Miss White, with straight white hair and she could be guided into talking about the Greeks and ancient mathematics, History with Miss Stone, a really interesting and inspiring teacher and Miss Brown for French.

No English was allowed in her lesson and once the inkwell - liquid ink of course and dipping pens - had been overfilled and she sat on the desk to talk. We tried to stop her, but I couldn't think of the words in French in time! I remember gazing out of the windows at the trees and suddenly she would say, 'Jacqueline, vous etes dans la lune!' We learnt our French well though and I still have a wide vocabulary after weekly tests, even if my grammar has suffered over time.

English was taught by Miss Barnes, also really interesting as she was very well read and keen on the roots of language, something which has helped my understanding of words ever since.

We used to have a Country Dance party on the school lawn every summer. Learning the dances was a lovely change from academic work and it was always great fun. There was a vogue for square dancing in the early fifties and our country dance knowledge easily translated. I remember a big public square dance in the gardens by Maidenhead Bridge. 

We learnt some cookery in the lodge house on High Town Road with Miss Bell - taking a bowl of lentil soup home on a bicycle was a challenge. Early on we did sewing, a horrible peasant blouse I never wore, and weaving in St Anne's House across the road on Castle Hill. This house was the junior school for the Grammar School before free education for those who passed the scholarship examination began.

Miss Colls taught Art in a hut behind the Art School on Marlow Road and Science was in a lecture theatre there. We must have spent such a lot of time walking about the town to lessons, but it was a change from sitting in a classroom.

Careers guidance hadn't really been thought of then. We could teach, go into an office or probably nurse, but I don't remember that as an option. We had occasional talks from successful old girls to give us ideas, but as one was an opera singer and another a diamond sorter, not many could follow their lead!

When my time came to take O-levels - only the second year of them - and decide on a career I was strongly advised to go to university and then teach. I really didn't want to do this or go into an office, so Miss Colls suggested taking some work to the Art School and try to go there. I was good at Art and was accepted. I spent three happy and useful years there on a General Art course and Fashion, taking the City and Guilds exams as well, which laid the foundation for a lifelong career. I worked in London as a designer and pattern cutter, taught adults for 25 years and ran my own dressmaking business for 36 years. 

My good general education has been invaluable for business and bringing up four happy and successful children, now all settled with children of their own. I am really grateful to Maidenhead County Girls School; long may it continue.

A big thank you to Jacqueline Bond for sharing her school memories. If you would like to do the same, you can share your memories in the comment box or 50connect forum.

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