TGS 120 Chapter Mary Boyton (nee Ward) TGS 1957-1964

Reading the poem from Jacque brought back so many memories of tramping up and down Pembury Road to and from the station strictly in twos with prefects checking whether our hats were still on – big 1950s felt ones which were later changed to smaller ones with optional boaters. Eating in the street was strictly forbidden although in my senior years, when it was really hot we would buy an ice cream cornet from Millsons whilst waiting at the bus stop.

Living in Cranbrook initially involved the nightmare of the first formers having to race across the bridge at Paddock Wood station in the afternoons to secure a compartment closest to the steam engine. I have no idea why we needed to be in the front of a two carriage train but we did! We were allocated to a carriage of eight with a carriage prefect and a mix of ages and this was strictly adhered to – the end of term feasts with Tizer and huge cream ‘hedgehogs’ from the bakery en route are still remembered fondly. Someone who will be nameless celebrated at Christmas by travelling in the luggage net which was about the limit of our high spirits. We were very aware of representing the school and we behaved accordingly. Transport to and from the rural stations was laid on – in Cranbrook it was an old ex-army lorry with canvas sides. Pending Dr Beecham’s cuts, from 1958 we had a packed double decker bus service round the villages shared with about 6 or 8 poor Judd boys and about 4 girls from the Tech. If you missed the bus it was a 2 hour trip home via Tunbridge Wells on public buses so any after-school activities were not so attractive.

Every day there was a school assembly - “Prayers”- complete with hymns chosen by forms in rotation, with the Catholics staying outside the doors until the notices were announced. Mrs Breed played the march out with great gusto – the Radetzky march was my favourite (still provoking memories!) and occasionally Miss Kerr (French) was roped in but she played the piano with less panache. However, for the first couple of my years, Prayers were held in the Annexe Hall and because of numbers it was divided into Juniors and Seniors so coming together in the new hall was much more cohesive.

Deportment was considered an important part of acknowledging we should wear the uniform smartly (all bought from Frank East’s). The green and white Deportment Girdles (worn around the waist) were awarded termly and looked very smart against dark green tunics or the grey skirts for the seniors and were a source of mild envy for those of us who would never qualify. I think tunics for juniors were phased out from 1958/9. Hair had to be tied back as soon as it reached the bottom of the collar which was a constant source of irritation, especially in the 60s, with “old” Miss Wood (games) being especially diligent in her disapproval. The length of skirts were also a focus, so kneeling checks regularly took place when fashions began to change.

All our school books were kept in our form room desks (no lockers until the sixth form) so it was essential to be organised for consecutive lessons and of course there was absolutely no running in the corridors! Every lesson had a door monitor who waited for the member of staff and shut the door behind her, whilst we stood up until told to sit down. The only male I remember was a supply teacher - an “ancient” Mr Thomas who to my horror turned out to have taught my own father in mid Kent some forty years earlier. He insisted on calling us by our surnames which he slowly phased out as we had a Darling in our class!

Miss Wolverson, known as the Wolf, was a very tall scary Deputy Head but I gather now she was really delightful out of school! And who could forget Miss Mallard’s loud footsteps stomping down the top corridor – booming, say, “Page 25” as she swept in! I was lucky to have Mrs Eames teaching me junior biology and geography and also Miss Debney who was a kind, constant presence throughout 6 of my 7 years giving me a life long interest in industrial history.

The school hall and gym were in construction when we arrived but not opened officially until May 1959 – and Miss Todd (art) was commissioned to make a slightly controversial sculpture of a woman striding out into the world which she called Womanhood.

From my 1959 diary there was great excitement when we used the run-through showers for the first time in March . The following week the fire alarm went off for a fire drill whilst we were showering and Miss Arnold was furious, telling us we were the stupidest girls in the school as we had stopped to put some clothes on! We felt very aggrieved. However, Miss Arnold knew every girl’s name and was very much in charge but with a ready and friendly smile.

The “temporary” huts by the old annexe were my classroom for two years – the coal stoves by the staff desk meant that those of us at the back could be chilly – (Mr Manser, (?) the caretaker stoked them up in the mornings) but it was nice popping out between lessons in the summertime. When the new science block was opened we were suitably impressed as it also had a sixth form study for our eventual use, and science lessons were then in light and airy rooms as opposed to the dark old 1940s (?) ones on the top corridor. My favourite memory was of the fun to be had surreptitiously chasing little balls of mercury across the bench – something that invokes horror in my grandchildren!

Games in the summer were a lovely change and throughout the year were always a class activity so there was never any choice. Before stoolball was introduced, we played rounders and also cricket when I could disappear way down by the outdoor theatre and hope the ball never came near me – or tennis which I did enjoy. Prior to Sports Day, athletics figured when everyone strived to do well for their house. In my first couple of summer terms, we were marched down to the old open-air unheated public swimming pool which I always thought was a dubious pleasure. Operation Quickswim was started and there were numerous fund raisers resulting in the much nicer pool being opened for our last summer. Winter terms saw only gym, netball and hockey – played in all weathers in “gym kit” – with possibly a jumper if it was very cold and we complained enough.

Lunch was the highlight of my day with a wholesome set menu of mostly tasty food. I don’t remember anyone bringing a packed lunch but Catholics were allowed the alternative of salad and cheese on Fridays. Grace was said before anyone could start to queue for food – and we had to wait for the table to be checked as being properly cleared before we could get up and leave.

We had jugs of water on the table and with the little bottles of milk in the morning break they were the only liquids we had during the day – although there was a drinking fountain in the new changing rooms - the ever present water bottle seen nowadays was a long way off. We all had various allocated cloakrooms with racks beneath our coat pegs to hold our indoor shoes and our plimsoles. Gym kit was stored in bags on our pegs until it needed a trip home once a week for washing.

Learning how adventurous current pupils are, our travel opportunities seemed to be limited to three- week-long exchange visits to either France or Germany – although I did also go to Stratford for a weekend seeing three Shakespeare plays in two days with the English A level group. I do know there were stays at Juniper Hall near Dorking for the Biology students so maybe there were other trips arranged for other subjects.

General career advice consisted of one interview with Miss Arnold in the lower sixth – the choice was very limited comprising mainly teaching, nursing or secretarial training. University was only for the brightest – less than 10 from about 60 in my year went on to graduate. One enterprising girl decided to take articles at a law firm which we felt was very unusual and very ambitious (she went on to have an extremely successful career too). I ended up taking a secretarial course in London using my A levels and in those days jobs were varied and plentiful.

I have very happy memories of the seven years I was fortunate enough to enjoy – and I have kept in regular touch with a several of my friends over the years. Looking back, I feel very privileged to have been a part of a school that I consider to be a very special place.