Bob’s sister Sally followed him to Midsomer Norton Grammar School. She did not go to Keynsham as allocated. Having children in Secondary Schools miles apart would have been very disruptive particularly for families without a family car. These are Sally’s memories of Timsbury Primary School:
Memories of Timsbury Primary School consist of country dancing; frozen milk in the winter; outside toilets which also froze. We had time off school. I remember the big old fashioned stoves with guards that we leant against. I remember spellings every day with Mrs Young and a sweet if we got ten out of ten. Occasionally we had a big spelling test and the reward for full marks was a threepence. She also told us bible stories using fuzzy felt. We also did embroidery with her, starting with a felt needle case, which I still have. She told us the story of the Titanic.
I remember singing with Mr Millier. He could sing! We made a newspaper when I was in his class. I was put up a year with Lynette Davenport and Ben Russell. I did not like it much.
I remember that we won the cup at the district sports at Writhlington. I was third in the high jump! We shouted ‘we won the cup’ on the bus all the way home.
I remember a school trip. We stopped by the statue of Romulus and Remus on the Mendips. Mr Blake told us the story.
Christmas parties were a great excitement and I remember that we had a film. I think that we had ‘A Christmas Carol’ and I was scared; but I might have imagined that bit! Mr Blake was forever reading us Jungle Book and doing silly voices. It got on my nerves, but I can see now that he was trying to stimulate reluctant readers. I remember Miss Purdey doing actions with I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly. I enjoyed that.
I remember being scared on the morning of the 11+ and crying when I was allocated to Keynsham Grammar School.
I remember group reading, and the day a new word entered our language – Sputnik- and Mr Dando talking about it.
It seems in retrospect, like a very cosy world where everyone knew everyone else. I think that small village schools might still be like this.