Roy Twells looking back on school days in Shardlow in the 1930s.
IN the early years of the 1930s, the pace of life was much slower than it is today. The words idyllic and tranquil come to mind.
No-one had any idea of the horrendous war that was just around the corner and that the world would never be the same again.
I was a pupil at Shardlow Parochial Boys School. Mr Evans was the headmaster and his assistant, whom we irreverently called "Polly", was Mrs Dexter.
Every year at harvest time we had a special treat. At the Harvest Festival service held at St James Church in the village, there was always a large loaf of bread made to look like a sheaf of corn or some other harvest emblem.
Each Monday after the service, the loaf would be brought into school where it was duly sliced and spread with butter and homemade strawberry jam. It was then cut into portions and distributed around the class so that everyone had some. It was delicious.
Another treat that we had was courtesy of the Sunday School at Wilne Methodist Chapel. We were provided with a tea which consisted of red salmon sandwiches, followed by cakes and pastries, homemade by the ladies of the chapel.
After the tea, we all retired to a nearby field where we spent the rest of the afternoon playing cricket, taking part in running races and generally enjoying ourselves until it was time to go home.
At the annual chapel anniversary we – the Sunday School members – were expected to "sit up" on the raised platform to sing the special anniversary songs we had rehearsed over the previous weeks.
My brother and I always had a new suit for this day. A man named Mr Withnall, who was a tailor, would come and take our measurements a few weeks before the anniversary and the new suits were provided in time.
Another memorable day was the annual prize-giving. Whenever you attended Sunday School, your attendance card was stamped with a star and, if you had enough stars at the end of the year, you would be rewarded with a prize. The prize was usually a good book but the thrill was in hearing your name called to walk out and receive it.
Normal attendance was on Sunday morning and afternoon and you were frowned upon if you did not stay on for the adult service which was held at three o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Happy days!
