Ruby's Memoirs

Part 3. Aftermath of War

The twenties were here and so was the aftermath of war. The bad old days were gone and here was a life to be enjoyed, and the young of that era were over willing to take part. So many of their predecessors had gone for ever and those who returned were only too glad to forget the horrors they had witnessed; so it was on with the dance.

School still remained but even that had changed over the last two years. We had a new head, a delightful person, a Miss Zachary. I can see her now, standing by her fireplace, and her soft voice giving me a quiet dressing down for some silly prank I had a part in just to be noticed. "What a pity," she said, "it spoils all your other hard work." I had climbed out of a school window to the roof of the cloisters for a dare to retrieve a ball. The drop down was all right but the climb back was impossible even with willing hands to help. A few lines and a detention was all I got for a punishment, but the quiet "What a pity" stayed with me all my life. It was far more effectual than a few strokes of the cane. She was a wonderful head and our school went from strength to strength under her guidance.

Our uniform didn't alter very much, except that our Hard Straw Hats were exchanged for panamas in the summer and felt hats in the winter, both of which got far more shabby than our hard boaters did with rough usage; also our navy bloomers, which had always been very voluminous in the past, with a pocket for a handkerchief were now of much more reasonable proportions. Gym slips were the same but as you grew they became very much shorter. They were not very often replaced as they were quite expensive, even in those days, and shorter skirts had come into fashion for all after the war, so you hung on to your tunic for as long as you could. Hair was either tied back with a navy ribbon or in one or two plaits, but the American Bob had arrived and was taking England by storm, especially in schools, so that was allowed. Many of us had this done and I got my mother to cut mine. Of course done properly it was perfectly all right, but I looked so awful I had to be rushed to the nearest hairdresser to do something about it.

That was the last of long hair for me for the rest of my life. The next big change was the coming of the school blazer which we could wear in school during the winter and as a coat during the summer. It had the school badge on the pocket which boasted the Godolphin Eagles and the famous Latymer Cross, under which was our motto Franca Leale Toga.

The higher you went in the school forms the work load rose with it, two hours homework was usual and this had to be handed into the Captain of the Form on the following morning. Any excuses had to be reported so there was no escape. There was a great incentive to work as if you didn't you got a low mark in the end of terms exams which meant you went into a lower class for the ensuing year. So you would be bereft of your school buddies who became very important to you over the years. Most of us stayed together for the whole of our school life.

During these years there were many things of interest you could join. If you made any of the school teams for sport all practices and matches were held on Wednesday afternoons, on which day there were no lessons, or after school other days. The school choir was after school, as was any dramatic or musical productions of which there were plenty; also one advanced gymnastic class for those who had earned the coveted badge, which was worn on your tunic, two dolphins with twisted tails encircled by the school motto, all embroidered in red silk. It was the pride of my school life and again a great incentive to stick to the rules otherwise it would be taken away.

The sports day was the highlight of the Summer Term which was held in the field at the back of the school with a Band for a massed drill, marching and Country Dancing. There were the usual races, a high jump, and a slow bicycle race. The school buildings were open for the crowds of parents and friends who had tea in the grounds. Boys were not allowed as this was a girls school. It was really a great day and worth all the preparation that went into it.

Ruby Bullock