As mentioned in my last blog I started school in Groes Infants, age 4/5 years. The school had three classes. Class 1 was taught by Miss Thomas, Cass 2 was taught by Miss Smith and Class 3 by the Headmaster, Mr Vaughan.                                                                                                                                               

The two much prized pupil  posts were Ink Monitor ,who was responsible for the filling of the ink wells in each desk from a large earthenware bottle. But the most desired job was Milk Monitor, who each morning had to collect from the school gates the crates of the class milk bottles then distribute them with straws to his fellow pupils.

Playtime was always exciting, being adjacent to the woods. Next to the play yard was an old large Elderberry tree, very suitable for climbing and performing acrobatics on. Boys would hang by their legs from the branches, no trouble with short trousers. Whilst the girls would do the same with their skirts tucked into their knickers

All three classes would assemble together many times during the week to practice their times tables,supervised by the Headmaster, Mr Vaughan. When we would chant in harmony the 2 times up to the 12 times table. We learnt our tables parrot fashion and no pupil left that school not knowing the alphabet or his times tables.

Mr Vaughan, the Headmaster always carried a cane, this was age of corporal punishment measured by the severity of pain. The school was thus well disciplined and good behaviour was practiced by most of the pupils.

And this is where I was schooled up to the age of 8 years when I moved up to the Eastern School in Taibach.

Meanwhile it is said that ” a wise man can see more in the bottom of a well than a fool can see from the top of a mountain”