Memories sparked by letter from Australia

READING the letter from Lester Durbin, of York, Western Australia, I felt I must write with some of my very happy memories of attending Brackens House School, “Does anyone have a photo of old school?” (October 14).

I am unable to supply the photograph requested as living during the war years I don’t ’t remember many cameras being used.

I am 88 now, but attended from the age of nine, until leaving to start work at 14, 1941-46.

The school had begun in Brackens Lane originally, hence the name. I understand the house was part of the Harrington Estate. There were about 30 pupils (mostly girls). We had a large paddock beyond the garden for our play times. Mrs Wade would ring a large bell over the wall to call us back in.

Mrs Wade arranged several concerts at the Jubilee Hall, Nunsfield House, in Boulton Lane, to raise funds called the Comforts Fund, for the troops service in France to be sent to them. We had air raid practice going down the cellar incase there was an air raid, although these were usually during the night, when they were bombing Coventry etc.

I now live in Grange Road. The pub car park is now where the paddock was and the beautiful copper beech tree we used to swing on was removed several years ago,

lik like me, getting tti old, ld I suppose.

These are some of the names I remember: Brenda Baily, Margaret Bently, Doreen Nicholson, Margaret Fryer, Peter Lockwood, John Rayners, Pat Thompson, Margaret Brandreth, etc. Happy memories, but not an education compared with nowadays.

Also does anyone remember Hunts dress shop, St Peter’s Street, Derby? More happy memories. Margaret Crumbie (nee Geddes),

Alvaston