15th April 2003 - Roy Underdown Pavilion

We held our Annual General Meeting on the 15th April and, when business was over, Tony Sedgwick led a discussion on Schooldays. He talked about Highfield Church School, Netley and Butlocks Heath, and in 1939 he joined Hamble Senior. During World War II some pupils were trained as aeroplane spotters, and spent time on top of air raid shelters with binoculars, looking for enemy aircraft. He mentioned school dinners, especially mutton stew, and he wasn't the only one. Several members of the audience recounted their experiences, and all of them mentioned the meals, even one who was raised in Yorkshire! Some told of being caned, sometimes for no apparent reason, and often with traumatic results. They remembered the 'Houses' they were in, being Milk Monitors, and weighing and measuring other pupils. The 'Bike Shed' was mentioned, but not what went on behind it! An entertaining evening and, when I read my notes, two things recurred. Most schools did not enjoy good toilet facilities, and everybody hated tapioca!

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