Added September 2002
September 1939.
Herbert Lingwood, 1936-41, posted the following on 3rd September 2002
I was reading the paper this morning when I suddenly realised it was September 3rd and my mind immediately went back to that day in 1939. We had arrived in Swindon the previous day and our class 4B was billeted in houses in the more affluent area of Swindon in Marlborough Road. As instructed, we met at 10.15 at the corner of Downhall road where a master, Mr Packer, checked on any problems that might have arisen.
Some of the householders were unwilling to have boys for more than a few days and it was arranged for Swindon's billeting officer to call and discuss the problems. I was very lucky in having a friendly couple who went out of their way to be helpful.
We learned that the headmaster, E T Andrews would be meeting the education authorities on Tuesday to discuss schooling arrangements and it was stressed that our school would operate as a separate unit and we would not be integrated with Swindon classes. Meanwhile, we must continue to wear our school cap at all times!!Having been dismissed we returned to our new homes in time to hear Mr Chamberlain's broadcast that war had been declared. Nothing was ever the same again.
Looking back after so many years it was a remarkable time which I have never forgotten.