Remembering Chillingham Road School

By Dorothy Nelson

When I was five I think I was a little unusual in that I was longing to go to School, I’m not sure how I felt once I achieved my goal.

The Primary Department, headed by Miss Lunn, seemed to be a happy place.

My first teacher was Miss Jean Scougal; she was lovely (she was a Sunday School Teacher at St. Marks Church, where I attended,) so having a familiar face probably helped me settle in.

I made many friends some of whom, along with me, joined St. Mark’s church choir when we were 13. One in particular remains a friend to this day, even though she now lives in Scotland.

Miss Childs was head of the Junior Department, an awesome lady of whom we were in fear. Most of the teachers were single ladies and quite strict. It was not unheard of for even female teachers to use the strap to punish naughty children. It certainly was a deterrent. When one teacher told me to “go upstairs and get some clips” (the stockroom being in the Senior Boys Department,) it made me giggle, but I didn’t dare let her see this.

Rain or shine, along with friends living near me, I walked to school each day and home again for lunch. Living at the bottom of Simonside Terrace, it must have taken quite some time but no doubt kept us fit.

When it was fine we played in the schoolyard. In primary, when wet, we would be entertained by Miss Brown playing the piano. One of her favourites was English Country Garden and we would happily dance around to the music.

Miss Dickinson, with her fair hair flowing, would skip around the yard and we would follow her, just like the Pied Piper, which would annoy her and she’d get quite upset.

Music seemed to be of importance to the school. In Primary we competed in the North of England Music Tournament at City Hall, where as a small choir singing two or three songs we were highly placed.

In the Junior Department we were taught several North Country Ballads such as Water of the Tyne by Miss Leighton.

Maths to was drummed in to us and as a high proportion of my particular year went on to Grammar Schools, the hard work seems to have paid off as we achieved our goals.

1041 saw several attacks on Heaton and the New Bridge Street Gods Station. The Railway junction and sidings were targets for German bombers so we would huddle into the air raid shelters (located in the yard) when the sirens went, relieved when the all clear sounded and we could come out into the fresh air. Several streets near the school were bombed and some people lost their lives.   We were very patriotic at school and paraded before the flag on Empire Day.

Tramcars ran along Chillingham Road past the school to Gosforth Park. One day a school pupil was run down by one as he made his way to school, I believe he survived the accident.

We collected for the war effort (magazines,) and for the cot fund. We had a little black sambo with an outstretched hand. You put your coin in his hand, which he raised and put in his mouth. This was to raise money for cots at the RVI.

After the War a teacher brought in some lovely apples for us al, quite a luxury in those days.

I hadn’t been at school long when I developed scarlet fever. As this was highly infectious I spent several weeks at the Walkergate Isolation Hospital. My House had a cross put on the window so that people would be aware of the lurking infection. I was very homesick in hospital and wanted to cry for my mother but didn’t dare as the nurses put you in the air raid shelter on your own to make you stop. I never saw my mother at all during that time which seemed interminable.

I would describe Chillingham Road School as a good basis for Education. The school gave me a love of both maths and music for which I am grateful.

After a year at North Heaton I then went on to continue my education at Dame Allan’s School, Fenham.