I feel very old as my childhood was in the late 40s and early 50s, cane in school for being late, 100 lines for something, cross country runs for miles that I hated, errands for next door for which I got 6 old pence , just enough for a quarter of sherbet lemons!
When King George died I was at school and around 10 in the morning the bell went for the entire school to go the the hall, when we got there the headmaster told us the King had died and that we were being sent home for the day. Imagine today sending infants and primary school children home alone with no guarantee anyone was home. But factories etc also closed for the day , my mother had to sew black armbands on our school Blazers, the radio had closed down, no TVs of course, cinemas closed,everyone seemed to close all their curtains, would be different today. I was in the church choir with my brother and for next few weeks all choristers and clergy only wore their black cassocks for services, no white top . After the Coronation all our school were taken to the cinema to see a colour film of the Coronation as only a very few had minute, black and white TV sets. Our school was near Cadburys factory so we all got a mug filled with chocolates and lots of other sweets. Not sure but sweet rationing only just ended then.
When new Queen broadcast to the country, we were at school, and teachers made us stand up for entire broadcast . Street party for coronation in pouring rain!
I remember being ill with severe scarlet fever and being sent in to school,as it was the 11plus exam to decide our next school.
I can remember the last tram running in Liverpool, the first non steam train, the Deltic, running up and down the line by school with no steam coming out! It was painted bright blue and yellow and marked the end of an era, as soon all steam trains confined to history.
How many boys today would wear short trousers and a cap to school? Not many I think
Free school milk and clinic orange juice and everyday a spoon some malted stuff full of caster oil. Ink wells at school as we were not allowed Biros then, nibbled pens and lots of spill led ink and stains! Deltic by the way stood for Diesel Electric.