Resources Search Results - full record

Title INTERVIEW WITH MRS MARY HORTON (NEE LETTO)

Description I came to Hemel Hempstead Grammar School in September 1938 and was very happy there.

The first effect of the war was that Domestic Science lessons ended. In the year that I did this subject I learned to make potato cake, how to wash and iron my school apron and how to make soft soap from bits of leftovers. This last skill came in handy during the war.

On important feature of the school during the war years was the diversity of the pupils. This was noticeable in a quiet sleepy town like Hemel. Children came to Hemel Hempstead from all over the UK and from Europe. These European children were mostly Jewish. One or two came with their parents but some came by themselves. Their parents went to great lengths to help them escape. They didn?t want to talk about their experiences at first but opened up later and had earth shattering stories to tell. They were wonderful students. They began the school year not speaking English but learned very rapidly. It was a lesson to the English pupils.

There was an air-raid shelter in the school in the girls cycle shed which ran under the cloakrooms. The arches in the cycle shed were filled with sandbags and the area was divided into sections for classrooms, one for each form. When the air raid siren went pupils went the correct place in the shelter and were registered. We had to bring a stool and a tin of iron rations (my tin had barley sugar in it). We were not a bit scared. We did not think of the danger and it made a change from routine. The teachers must have felt terribly responsible. The shelter was not used often because most of the air raids were at night. Teaching carried on in the shelter. One English teacher was a Scot with a ringing voice who could be heard by all the other classes.

I remember one bright, blue February day we were playing house matches when two masters rushed out to warn us. A German plane was emptying its guns along the Boxmoor Valley and the children had to get to the shelter. The warning siren went quickly followed by the all clear. It was an incident I remember well.

Children brought money to contribute to a farthing fund. This began before the war but was then used to support a mine sweeper called the Lord Keith. Mr Screeton, the Headmaster announced one day that the sailors on the ship would like to receive letters from the pupils. I wrote to the engineer, Mr Everson, who had 3 older children. He wrote back wonderful informative letters. Some time later, in assembly the skipper of the ship came to thank the pupils and presented a cup that was to be awarded to a pupils who was a good all rounder rather someone who was best at something.

I remember one incident in which two girls came to school on roller skates. At the top of Cemetery Hill they were seen by Mr Screeton who was in his little beige motor car. During the assembly notices were given out and he said, ?I?ve never thought to forbid journeying to school on the back of an elephant. The same applies to roller skate wheels?. Nothing more was said but the message was understood.

Interview by Lucy Hughes and Samantha Rees

Keywords Hemel Hempstead School, refugees, air raid shelters, Lord Keith, interview

Collection Hemel Hempstead School

Place Hemel

Year 1940

Conflict World War Two

File type html

Record ID number 61

Return to the search results?

Can you add any more information to this resource?

If so please complete this form and we will be in touch

Change text size -

Title	INTERVIEW WITH MRS MARY HORTON (NEE LETTO)
Description	I came to Hemel Hempstead Grammar School in September 1938 and was very happy there. The first effect of the war was that Domestic Science lessons ended. In the year that I did this subject I learned to make potato cake, how to wash and iron my school apron and how to make soft soap from bits of leftovers. This last skill came in handy during the war. On important feature of the school during the war years was the diversity of the pupils. This was noticeable in a quiet sleepy town like Hemel. Children came to Hemel Hempstead from all over the UK and from Europe. These European children were mostly Jewish. One or two came with their parents but some came by themselves. Their parents went to great lengths to help them escape. They didn?t want to talk about their experiences at first but opened up later and had earth shattering stories to tell. They were wonderful students. They began the school year not speaking English but learned very rapidly. It was a lesson to the English pupils. There was an air-raid shelter in the school in the girls cycle shed which ran under the cloakrooms. The arches in the cycle shed were filled with sandbags and the area was divided into sections for classrooms, one for each form. When the air raid siren went pupils went the correct place in the shelter and were registered. We had to bring a stool and a tin of iron rations (my tin had barley sugar in it). We were not a bit scared. We did not think of the danger and it made a change from routine. The teachers must have felt terribly responsible. The shelter was not used often because most of the air raids were at night. Teaching carried on in the shelter. One English teacher was a Scot with a ringing voice who could be heard by all the other classes. I remember one bright, blue February day we were playing house matches when two masters rushed out to warn us. A German plane was emptying its guns along the Boxmoor Valley and the children had to get to the shelter. The warning siren went quickly followed by the all clear. It was an incident I remember well. Children brought money to contribute to a farthing fund. This began before the war but was then used to support a mine sweeper called the Lord Keith. Mr Screeton, the Headmaster announced one day that the sailors on the ship would like to receive letters from the pupils. I wrote to the engineer, Mr Everson, who had 3 older children. He wrote back wonderful informative letters. Some time later, in assembly the skipper of the ship came to thank the pupils and presented a cup that was to be awarded to a pupils who was a good all rounder rather someone who was best at something. I remember one incident in which two girls came to school on roller skates. At the top of Cemetery Hill they were seen by Mr Screeton who was in his little beige motor car. During the assembly notices were given out and he said, ?I?ve never thought to forbid journeying to school on the back of an elephant. The same applies to roller skate wheels?. Nothing more was said but the message was understood. Interview by Lucy Hughes and Samantha Rees
Keywords	Hemel Hempstead School, refugees, air raid shelters, Lord Keith, interview
Collection	Hemel Hempstead School
Place	Hemel
Year	1940
Conflict	World War Two
File type	html
Record ID number	61