Highgate School

A Memory of Hawkhurst.

I remember so well my first day at primary school in 1943. I was in Miss Barnes' class, there was a wooden and glass partition between that and the next door class of Miss Martin. I was terrified, the noise seemed so intense and I cried all day! From then on I found every excuse possible not to go to school but somehow shortly afterwards nothing would keep me away from school (swat) despite being scared of the headmistress, Dorothy Furneaux Harris. Even if I had done something well and was sent to the head for praise I still shook in my shoes waiting outside her office. Another rather fierce teacher was Miss Bell who taught the older children and the kindly Miss Lee. I remember the nit nurse and having swabs taken from our mouths in case we were carrying the diphtheria bug and later on, having the vaccination given in school.
I was at the school from 1943 to 1949 if anyone remembers me, Pauline (nee Bird).