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It seems plans are afoot to close Dunnington school. I started there in 1940 when it was just the actual building which doubled as a church. It was used as a school from about 1898 but actually dates back to the 18805.
When I was a pupil you entered through a porch which doubled as a cloakroom: it had leaded windows and a large brass belt in an open tower on the top which was rung by way of a wire rope inside. At the bottom end was a lectern and communion was celebrated there regularly. There were rather primitive toilets and a slatted shed for bicycles. During the war the number of pupils increased because of evacuees
Since I left, other classrooms have been added. The building was donated for education by the Hertford family and I remember the late Lady Helen Seymour visiting the school regularly, especially at Christmas. The teacher when I first arrived was a Mrs Beswick, who was preceded by Miss King and Miss Gibbs; the latter is still living in the Birmingham area. We had school dinners delivered from Alcester by employees of Alcester Co-operative Society. Each week we had a visit from an attendance officer on a cycle, his name being Haines:
He retired and was replaced by a Mr Waite. It seems sad that this old place which has fond memories for many people should be deemed for closure
In 1939 I spent my first school year at Haselor, living in the toll house at the corner of Alcester Rd and walking to the village each day. They have also put this school on their hit-list, so if Dunnington goes and, of course, Bidford was knocked down, all trace of my education will have been erased. It seems the education chiefs want to disown me.
The school at Haselor is a beautiful little building with two storeys, one of which was used as living accommodation. It dates as a school from the late 1800s and it still retains its Victorian look, apart from a false ceiling. Miss Morris was headmistress and each playtime made the pupils a cup of steaming Horlicks. As things are, if the school goes, there won't be much left, apart from the quaint church on the hill, which I believe is dedicated to St Mary. It is a very picturesque building. The pub called The Crown, that stood above the road has closed, so too has the post office, so the village will just be another place with no facilities. I have just visited the village on a sunny day in winter: with the sun shining on the church, it was such a serene setting. They even let me into the school - it seems strange it not having altered much in 50 years. It would be sad if it ceased to function after all these years.