War evacuee talks to the Prep children

On Tuesday 17th January Mr Hope Simpson talked to years 4 and 6 how as a boy, his boarding school was evacuated from Norfolk to Cornwall during the war. He also described his experience of teaching for over 40 years, almost half of which took place at Sherborne Prep school.

George - Year 6

Mr Hope Simpson described how many of the best teachers at his school were called up to fight and that their replacements were not as good at their job. The men were either too old or too ill to fight.

He then talked about the sport that they played in Newquay, where his school was evacuated. He liked swimming and told us a story about a boy in his year that was swimming in the harbour which was the only place they could swim as there was no pool. Suddenly the tide went out and the boy was swept so far out to sea that a boat had to be sent to pick him up. Another boy was frantically trying to swim to the steps with no success, but a girl from the local girls' school came to rescue him.

He also talked about before the war when they used to get into groups and be given nine pennies each to go into town and buy food to cook on a fire.

Amelia - Year 6

Interview questions and answers:

Did you always want to be a teacher?

Almost always but my father advised me not to as you weren't paid as much as you were in other jobs.

How much were you paid?

I earned a degree in history and a diploma in teaching at university. I was paid 600 pounds in my first year.

How old were you when you first began teaching and what was your proudest moment?

I was 23 but 18 when I left school. I did 2 years National Service before I went to university. The first school I taught at was a day school in London. When children reached year 6 they took their 11+. Everyone from my class for two years passed their 11+ so I was very pleased.

Constance - Year 6

Mr Hope Simpson came to talk to us about his school being evacuated to Cornwall from Norfolk, where they stayed in two hotels near the sea. It was very interesting. I didn't actually realise that whole boarding schools could be evacuated so I learned a lot.

Posted: Thursday, January 19, 2012