Great Alne - A village School in Wartime

I wrote briefly about Great Alne in wartime in an earlier issue but the following extracts from the Day School log books are very revealing. The Rector referred to was the Rev.G.W.Fenwick (1937 -1950). The headmistress who wrote up the log-book was Mrs Mahoney (1936 - 1958). The infants’ teacher was Miss Chamberlain (1938 - 1945) The number of children at the time was less than 80 The school’s catchment area included Morton Bagot and Spernall, from where children had been accustomed to walk the three miles to school. until school buses were introduced in 1931, They were of all ages from five to fourteen. (Comments in brackets are my own)

Sep.28	1938	The Rector called to shew the children a gas mask, which are being distributed (sic)
Dec.23	1938	Bitterly cold in spite of fires it was impossible to write, the ink was frozen. The children were given hot drinks several times in the day.
Jan.30	1939	The upper classes saw a film on National Savings at the cinema in Alcester
Aug 4	1939	17 cases of whooping cough
Sep. 11	1939	Children who cannot reach home must bring gas masks.In unlikely event of a raid, children shall scatter into the fields.
Jan 29	1940	Lavatories frozen up.Only 3 children present,sent home.
March 20	1940	H.M.I. called in connection with evacuation accommodation
Apr. 2	1940	30 children were taken to Birmingham pantomime.
June 26	1940	Air raid warning last night,children tired & sleepy.
Aug. 2	1940	Owing to the War the school can only have two weeks holiday. This school to have the first week in August and the first week in September.
Aug. 26	1940	23 bombs dropped on Alne Hills last night. Little damage and no casualties.
Aug 30	1940	Road closed - unexploded bombs bus cannot make detour
Sep. 11	1940	The siren went in the dinner hour. The children were taken into the school house until the ‘All clear’. (Daily air-raid warnings until Oct.25. No doubt the planes were on them way to Birmingham since the blitz on Coventry did not happen until November).
Sept.23	1940	Children collecting and drying herbs to be made into medicines,
Nov. 22	1940	Headmistress helped with the Coventry evacuees at Alcester (31 came to Great Alne, chairs had to be borrowed for them at school).
Dec. 6	1940	3 infants teachers working 2 sessions on and 1 off. (Miss Dudley and Miss Smith had come from Coventry with the evacuees and helped Miss Chamberlain)
Jan 20, 27	1941	Heavy snow, attendances 60% and therefore not included in the official returns
Jan. 7	1941	New stove has been installed in the schoolroom.
July 9	1941	School outing to Worcester Cathedral, Malvern Hills,Pershore Abbey and Evesham for tea and a river trip.
Oct. 16	1941	A party of councillors from Coventry interviewed the evacuees.
November	1941	Vegetables from the school garden are being used for vegetable soup for the dinners.
March 4	1942	Social evening for Warships’ Week, the children entertained.
May 18	1942	School used after hours by the Food Office staff.
Doe. 18	1942	Open Day. Raised Ł20 for Prisoner of War Fund.
Feb. 18	1943	The Rector - Senior A.R.P. warden examined the children’s gas masks.
Mch. 29	1943	25 cases of measles
Sep. 16	1943	Entertainment in the Village Hall in aid of the Prisoners of War Fund.
Dec. 22	1943	Staff, children and mothers entertained the wounded men from Ragley Hall Hospital, at the Memorial Hall, to a Christmas party. Also attending were the Marquess of Hertford, Lady Helen Seymour, Matron, School managers, members of the Red Cross Committee.
Jan. 12	1944	No water to be had from the well. It all has to be carried from neighbours’ wells and taps.
Feb. 3	1944	Telephone installed in school and school house.
May 1	1944	We have now been without water for washing up and for the lavatories for 4 months. it all has to be carried.
May 15	1944	Standpipe with tap installed just inside the school house gate (N.B. School Dinners had started in the previous year!) (Many references to the school being closed because so many children went potato picking)
Oct. 9	1944	the farmer phoned to say he did not need the children, but they did not come to school until the afternoon. They had been to see an aeroplane that had made a forced landing.
May 8 & 9	‘45	Holidays for V.E.Day