Brief Memories Of My First School: Noak Hill

A Memory of Noak Hill.

It was 1947, when my parents were told they would be able to move from their one room in a house to a Prefab in Harold Hill. My mother was pregnant. You didn't start school until you were 5. The closest school was Hilldene Primary, off of Straight Road. I wasn't yet 5. My parents were told of Noak Hill School. They went and spoke with the Head Mistress, I believe, who accepted me to start school - but when I turned 5 I would have to transfer to Hilldene. I've had vivid recollections of that first year of school.

My day started with walking to the bus stop to get the low decker bus, the 238. I had to make sure I was at the bus stop in time to get the scheduled bus that would get me to Noak Hill before school started. On occasion I was not quite at the Bus Stop but the driver got used to seeing me and would look out - if he saw me, he waited until I was safely across the road and on the bus. The conductor always made sure I got off the bus okay and into the school ground.

I remember being given a desk to sit at, paper, a pencil and crayons. The actual lessons - I do not remember. We acted out nursery rhymes, 'Oranges and Lemons' and 'In and Out the Dusty Bluebells, and more. I do remember we had to take a break - a nap. On the desk top we laid our heads resting on our arms. Sleeping or not we stayed in that position until the teacher said - 'heads up'. It seemed like a long time but, of course, it wasn't. I think our class for this age group was in a small hall, and I remember a small stage of sorts.

Of course, memories play tricks - I recollect the school being larger than what it was; the playground being larger than it was; and big black railings around the front. Whatever memories I had were wonderful.

School hours over it was time to go home. Outside was the 238 bus waiting for the few who needed to ride home. The bus conductor would let me off at my stop where my mother was waiting for me.

Many, many years later married with children of my own I went back to see my old school. How sad and disappointing it was, the school was no longer there. It had been turned into a restaurant. That's Life.