Page 49 - Through a glass brightly

certainly not me - my limit was an egg-cosy and a needle-case. And then Queenie granted us 2 days extra holiday!
Ruth & Cary - the cellars, the mice and the attics - wow! My only misdemeanour of a rather goody-goody childhood (responsible eldest child etc etc) is writ large here. 4 of us I think, Cary, myself, Sue (Baker) and probably Pat Ross, were caught red-handed by the caretaker after school one day in the roof space above the Main Hall. (Val had to go home for a music lesson or would definitely have been involved too!). We were marched off to Miss Balaam's study, made to wait while we contemplated our imminent expulsion, then treated to the most humane and wise dressing-down ever. Amongst other things she explained that if we had stepped off the beams, we would have plummeted through the hall ceiling to the floor beneath.... to our fate, and of course to the detriment of the school's reputation. I don't think she even reported the event to our parents, did she Cary? I do know that our admiration and respect for her soared even higher - a wonderful lady, lost too soon.
Keep the memories coming and stay safe all.
From Janet at 11.03
Hi - what were you all doing in the roof space then?
I have no recollection of the netball game but definitely remember the classroom and Jen opening the door. Selective memories! I also seem to recall our lining the way down to the canteen too - or am I really wrong? I had remembered one doll but not the Tudor one and not the relief map. I wonder which archive store in Buck House they are kept in? if they still exist even?
Jenny is right, I did do O level Spanish in one year and enjoyed it. I went on to do it as a business subject at college but never used it. That is until the mid 00s with the first consultant I worked for in Birmingham when I translated a booklet for parents on Tourette's syndrome which had been written by a consultant professor in Barcelona in Spanish. I still have his complimentary email saying that I had a good knowledge of medicine and an even better one of Spanish - thank you Mrs Lowe!!
Am I right remembering that the staff who smoked were banned from the main staff room and had to smoke elsewhere - in those days still inside the building not down Meadway!?
Lovely day today - just deadheaded the daffs as Monty Don told us to do last night on Gardeners World!
You have all evoked some long, long memories - Take care all
From Val T. at 13.56
My memories are quite similar to yours Pat. I remember playing netball on the top court but don’t remember the classroom afterwards with Jen opening the door to the Queen. I certainly remember us all curtsying as the Queen came through the hall to the stage and we definitely would have looked like a Mexican wave! I also remember the dolls presentation and do wonder if they still exist.
Because I lived in Borehamwood and was always rushing to get the first possible bus home about 4.00, I missed out on all your explorations of roof space above the hall and cellars. My life at school would definitely have been more interesting if I had stayed behind longer but it’s great to read all your reminiscences and to see what I missed.
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