Downshall Secondary School
A Memory of Seven Kings.
I have very fond memories of Downshall Secondary where I was between 1958 and 1962. I used to live in Downshall Avenue, and we used to walk everywhere, to school, to Seven Kings Park and the park up Meads Lane. We also used to walk to swimming lessons at Ilford Baths which was quite a way. I enjoyed the art lessons with Mr Dean, but not the needlework lessons with Miss Howe, who seemed to have it in for me! My form teacher for three of those years was Mr Burrows who taught maths. We had a youth club in St John's church hall which was run by Eddie Wheddon. We thought we were very grown up to belong to that. There were enough shops in Aldeburgh Road for us to survive without going to Ilford which was our "big" town. Obviously my name has changed now, but I was Pauline Willan then. Mr Tucker (Woodwork teacher) and Mr Crisp (History) used to arrive at school on motorbikes. Mrs Whetton used to be in charge of the Library. At break-times the "bun lady" used to come across the road with currant buns and crips to buy. My friend Carol didn't like the currants so she used to pick them out. In assembly Mr Quinn the headmaster, in a broad Yorkshire accent used to bring to the school's attention pupil's misdemeanors, by beginning " Some silly Baby...." which was always followed by their chance to own up in front of the whole school. There was a square building in the girls' playground where girls used to take cookery.
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I remember Mr Crisp - our form teacher was Miss Prentis and she married his son. I would complain to her that he would teach us the feudal system each term....I think he was getting on and would forget. I do clearly remembering him telling us about being woken up in WW1 to see a zeppelin coming down and being told "you'll never see anthing like that again son"..."but he was wrong"...
Mr Quinn caned me unjustly when I went from the lovely nuturing of the junior school and over to the animal pit of seniors. I'd stayed behind with others to watch 5 a side in the playground. We were told to leave so went to the playground on the Meads lane side and the caretaker told us we had to see the head in the morning. I was too stupid to explain I didn't know we weren't allowed in the other playground. Duh! Unjust nonetheless.
I knew people in Downshall Ave - it backed on to my house.
We'd play badminton in St Johns church hall...and we often shopped in Devonshire Stores, which was on the corner of Devonshire road and Aldborough road. There was Hubbards the builders mearchant/hardware store, Wicks the sweet shop, the chippy and the chemst on Aldborough road. There was an electrical shop for years by the church too...
I'm guessing you knew some of my family.