Thomas Gray School by Andrew Neil Brown

I was born in February '53 and started at Thomas Gray Infant School in September '57. We hung our outside clothes on our own pegs with animal pictures underneathin the cloakroom. There was no central heating and winters were cold back then. One of the classrooms had a central coalfired roomheater, surrounded by mesh to protect little hands. We stood around it, warming ourselves, feeling grown up. There was once a wall seperating the playgounds between the Infant and the Junior school but it had been recently demolished and we were trusted not to cross it. I do not think we did.

Moving up to the Junior School. The headmaster was Mr. Maynard. He would occasionally enter the classrooms and teach. I remember he taught us about the road numbers throughout the UK. This stood me in good stead for a future job as a London chauffeur! Two very good and kind teachers were Mrs. Whitely and Mrs. Watkins. The latter was cross eyed and would sometimes catch us out talking whilst apparently watching somebody else. I learnt a lot from them.The music teacher was a Mrs. Pleece, who was very strict. I thought that she was a Police lady. The playground, near the wood yard, was surrounded by what I assume was a brick built air raid shelter. I never plucked up the courage to enter it although I always wanted too. During this period a swimming pool was built between the playground and the hall where we had our school dinners. It was unheated. I got my 10 yards swimming certificate.

Whilst a loner then, and now, I fondly remember my friends. Graham Harris, Colin Brown, Colin Brench and Graham Taylor who's dad had a Jaguar and would sometimes give me a lift home in it. I also have fond memories of Gaynor Townsend. In the Nativity plays she always played Mary and I Joseph. We also partnered each other in country dancing, and both being on the large side used to charge through the other children. And Barbara Ockalotowitz. They were mainly happy days. They were very good, happy schools. I left Slough in '72 and now live in West Wales.

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