The other day as I was watching the kids in our street yelling and playing football,

having just broken up for the summer holiday, I started remembering my own schooldays.

Our summer holiday consisted of four weeks in August and as it was during the War,

and there was no going away to the seaside,

we stayed to help the farmers gather in the harvest.

I was an EVACUEE from the city

and my learning curve in farming was inevitably very steep and very enjoyable.

From the ages of seven to twelve I literally “mucked” into all aspects of farming,

coming back to my lodgings to hear cries of

“get those stinking wellies off, leave your filthy clothes outside and get into the tub”!!

So much for my attempts to aid the war effort. 

It was always pleasant though, when the farmers came knocking on the door asking for my help.  That help was always given.

 As the kids were playing, someone started singing.

The song sounded like an anthem and it took me back to my old school song.

After giving it much thought the School Song came back to me in full ...and I’ve been singing it ever since.

It went to the tune of ‘Do you ken John Peel” …

and here are the words; they were written, I believe, by a former pupil,

whose name I never found out …

The Old School

When our schooldays end and we are far away,

And we are out in the world at work or at play

In the toil and stress of the work a day

We will never forget the Old School

So here’s to the School with its girls and its boys

To the football games and the cricket joys

To the hours in class, and the playground noise

And the name and the fame of the Old School.

~ Dusty