One of the Christmas presents that I got at school was a set of toy cardboard barrage balloons, we also used to go down Dale Road, past the hospital to watch the searchlight batteries and make a general nuisance of ourselves.

One night a German plane came down on the golf links [Torkington] I think that the kids got there before the police or home-guard, as the next morning a lot of the kids had bullets and souvenirs from it.”

1941- 1947

Name: Betty Simpson

Headteacher: Mr. Revill

“I remember when there were no water toilets - just a drain with a board with holes in it over the top.

Mr. Revill ruled us with a cane, he didn’t use it a lot but we knew it was there. He used to walk up and down the rows of children as they were writing or doing arithmetic, rolling chalk between his hands and it clicked on his ring. I always knew when he was behind me watching what I was doing - I could hear the click click of the chalk.

He was a kind man though. I thought I could take the chalks home when I first started school. I put them in my pocket. A prefect reported me for stealing so I had to go to the headmaster. He explained that the chalk was for using at school not to take home. He gave me a sweet and said, “Don’t do it again”. The prefect was waiting outside his office, “How many times did you get the cane?” she asked. “I didn’t,” I replied, “He gave me a sweet.” She was very surprised.

We had to walk to the Carver Theatre for dinner. Mrs. Lister presided over us there. She was a very smart lady with well made up hair that was always immaculate.

As it was war-time when I was at school, we didn’t see any fruit. One day a girl brought a banana to school - we had not seen one before. The teacher told us that her mummy had died and this was a special treat for her.”

All Saints' Staff around 1945