Memories of Barkway and Nuthampstead
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This page will be used to recount some of the memories held by longstanding Barkway residents. The aim is to inform as many people as possible as to how life in Barkway has changed over the years. There will be many interesting accounts of life as it used to be, compared to life as it is today and how longer term residents cope with the changes. We are awaiting our first submissions but will be looking to residents to send in their memories through this website. Click here to add your memories.
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Royal Visit to Canada
 
47 years ago there was another royal visit to Canada..by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.  Mrs Cranwell and class 2 followed the tour on a  map of Canada and added pictures of Mounties, scenery and Royal occasions.  But they were concerned for the safety of the royal couple. Special prayers were said daily for their safe return
The prayers were answered. Class 2 was so relieved they composed a letter to the Queen saying how glad they were she was back.  Signed by everyone, folded and stamped, who was going to post it?
'We'll all go' said Mrs Cranwell and they trouped the short distance from school to post office. 'Now who is the youngest here?' said Mrs Cranwell   'You can hold it ready to post; everyone shall touch it and then you can drop it into the box'
Three days later came a reply from the Queen  great excitement for Class 2
But who was the youngest in class 2?  Do  you remember the excitement - and what the letter said?
We'd like to  know.....
 
From a conversation with Irene  Cranwell  6th February 2007
 
Barkway school

We started at 5 years of age, in my case in 1933. In the infants we had Miss Parker, and the middle class Miss Hurry and Miss Lambert. Top class was Mr. Williams, headmaster.
I liked school; Miss Parker was strict but good. If we did a drawing or painting that she liked we got a sweet. Miss Parker sold stamps for National Savings certificates. Of course we were taught the 3Rs, had religious instruction, and the inspector would come to inspect us. We were taken to church at times and the vicar would visit the school regularly. The middle class was separated by a curtain from the top class. We were first taught by Miss Hurry, and then by Miss Lambert, a very young teacher. The top class was taught by Mr. Williams who was quite strict and gave the cane with some force. One boy who received a good caning went back to his seat and glared at the headmaster who said to the boy “It’s no good you giving me the evil eye, I’ve got a heart of stone”, but he maintained discipline. The union flag used to fly on Empire Day from the school flagpole. We were told the the sun never sets on the British Empire, and shown the map British red covering all the lands we controlled. By this time the Second World war was on, and evacuees had arrived with extra teachers. Trenches were dug in the field behind the school, and I only remember going in them once. We did a little digging for victory as it was called, and there was the school garden in the vicarage. I remember Godfrey Pledger in his Tiger Moth airplane flying sideways between two oak trees when we were in the school gardens. His mother was headmistress before Mr. Williams.

Anonymously posted 20th January 2012