Back in the shelter after 75 years
When 20 former pupils of Maidstone Grammar School for Girls during the Second World War met up, they jumped at the chance to revisit the underground air-raid shelter where they took cover during the Battle of Britain.
They sat with their backs to the concrete walls, on benches, where they had last been more than 75 years ago.
Some of the lessons from that time can still be seen chalked on the walls.
For many of the past-pupils, now in their 80s and 90s, it was their first return to the school since the 1940s.
They are all now engaged on helping former MGGS head teacher Mary Smith write a history of the school during the war, to be entitled: A Schoolgirl’s War.
There are no photographs of the air-raid shelter – affectionately known in the school parlance as “the trenches” – in use during the war, but the school has plenty of drawings done by the art teacher of the time, Helen Keen.
One ex-pupil, Hilda Wells, gave this account of school life during the war: “One day the siren went while we were in the train coming to school, and so we did not hear it.
“When we reached school we were at once directed down the trenches. On that occasion the lights had fused and although there were torches at each corner, it was very dark in the middle and so we had to grope our way along what seemed miles of trench between girls, most of them with their legs stretched out, so that we were continually tripping.
“We finally came upon our form – who greeted us with cheers. In the trenches sometimes, if it was possible, we continued the lesson, if not, we sang.
“Gradually, however, there were fewer and fewer air-raids. Then came the doodlebugs.
”The first day, when it was not known what they were, the siren went for every one.
“Nearly all that Thursday morning was spent in the trenches.
“When it was known what the doodlebugs were, the siren was not sounded for them, but there was always a mistress on lookout duty.
“She rang the bell when one came over and we all then dived under our desks.
“The doodlebugs seemed to make it a practice to come over when we were in the middle of our dinner. We all disappeared under the tables and then carefully reached up a hand to bring down our dinner.
“Then came VE day. We had a holiday that day. The next we spent pulling off the protective netting from the windows and then cleaning the panes.
“After that there was no more carrying overcoats wherever we went, to put on down in the trenches and no more interrupted lessons or meals. Peace, perfect peace.”