Short Attendance

A Memory of Wembley.

In 1942 I should have attended Wembley Manor school but this was bombed and completely demolished, so we were split up and 2 classes went to Park Lane school.
This school was bombed at night 3 days later and slightly damaged at the opposite end to my class. It was opened again a week later.
My teacher was Mrs Newbury and she taught everything except history. I and others were shy and wanted to sit at the back of class, but she would have us sitting at the front.
My best memory is we received a big tin of Canadian chocolate which was shared out between all pupils; we each took home a smaller tin, which was placed in our walk-in pantry. I hadn't tasted chocolate since 1940 and sneaked down at night and helped myself; I couldn't stop myself eating and ate almost half the tin - it was so lovely. Dad came in from his National Fire Service night duty while I was eating and perhaps it was the chocolate or perhaps it was the fright but I was sick.
As a school trip we went to the Lyons factory and were allowed to eat samples. No-one could understand why I didn't want the chocolate roll!
The next time I tasted chocolate was in 1946.
Due to large numbers 2 classes were relocated to Sudbury Lane school; we were in nissen huts sited in the playground.
We transferred again at age 13 to East Lane school, although we still belonged to Wembley Manor school which had been rebuilt, indeed we went back there for Assembly once a month.
And our classroom this time? We were homed in the cricket pavilion which had an upstairs and downstairs; our meals arrived at lunchtime in containers, I assume from Wembley Manor school.