ELITE WERE UNDER STRIcT INTRUcTIONS

Rita Baker, nee Colegate, attended between 1954-57, when the girls’ school was known as Maidstone Technical School for Girls.

She recalled: “One of the rules was that we all had to write in italic handwriting. We were taught how it was to be done.

“Miss Thomas, the headmistress, ran a very strict school.

“You did as you were told and answered when you were asked.

“She was constantly telling us we were among the top ‘x’ in the country for intelligence and we should act like it.

“She was very strict on uniform. I had a new pair of shoes one time and they had a very small brass tack on them.

“She saw it and I had to have it removed.”