DATA BASE REF: Z/R 1021

MEMORIES OF SCHOOL DAYS AT CASTOR by Edna Trasler nee Pearson - written May 2002

My name is Edna Trasler, my maiden name was Pearson. I was the second daughter of the late Mr Sidney Pearson and Mrs Charlotte Elizabeth Pearson. I was born at 4 Long Row Castor, later called 79 Peterborough Road, the site now part of Carleton Court. My father was a technician builder and did lots of work locally and in the fens, but I was always proud as a child to say my dad worked on the Embassy Theatre, Peterborough, the Town Hall, Fox and Hounds Longthorpe, and the extension to the Fitzwilliam Arms Castor. My mother brought up 5 children (brother still lives in the village) but mum used to clean for Canon Carleton, later Rev T Adler and for 28 years worked at The Cedars Castor for the Hon Mrs Pelham. (Before marriage was in service at Milton Hall). I went to the Infants’ School and later the Village School now The Hall. Those days were happy days, strict at school and at home but this gave us a good upbringing for our adult lives. Money was short but always hot dinner and good home cooking. I have a wonderful memory, wonder if it’s because we had to regularly recite our Times Table and also spelling. Even today I say “i before e except after c and the word “chrysanthemum”, we were not allowed to forget that.

I was 3 ½ years old when I started Infant School but Miss Hales let me go. I loved the singing and the stories. In the afternoon I would sit with a huge teddy from the large cupboard/desk and go to sleep. On Sundays it was Sunday School, then walk in twos to Church, home for dinner and back to Sunday School or might be a special service in Church.

As years went by girls were in choir, we used to sit in the front row (not the choir stalls). Mr Salmon used to tilt his mirror so he could see us. After service if there were any loaves not collected from the shelf we were expected to deliver them to the people.

Canon Carleton used to show films with the magic lantern, then we would receive our prizes and later we had a current bun and lemonade (I still have my bible and books). School children always went to church on Ascension Day. Every year we had our Sunday School outings to Hunstanton, Skegness or Mablethorpe. Although we were Church of England, we went also with the Methodists, Ailesworth. The parents went too. They used to collect this money weekly so when the outing came it was paid for. I know mum was a collector.

From the infant’s school we went to the village school. In the long room was one round heater in which burnt fuel. The room divided classes with a huge curtain so at the back it was very cold and draughty. At the end of the room was a table with an enamel bucket filled with water and an enamel mug hanging on a nail (hygiene) yet we never seemed to have colds. During the war there were many evacuees in the village so we had to share our school. Every day we had to carry our gas masks, any air raids we marched quickly up the drive to the Cedars, there was a room under the stairs. We used to sing or spell until it was safe to return to school. Our P.E. classes were in the playground or at other times we walked through Darby’s Stackyard to the recreation. Girls played rounders, boys sport but they also had their gardens in Port Lane. In the playground was a flagpole, any special occasions the flag was flown – St. George’s Day, Empire Day – and we used to sing “Land of Hope and Glory”.

For 6 weeks of every year the senior girls had cookery classes, sometimes at the old village hall (now gone) or Ailesworth Methodist rooms. We learnt cookery, hygiene and cleanliness. We could buy our delights for about 2d. Mrs Graeame from Sutton was one of our governors and presented prizes; I still have my 2 cookery books.

During the war it was “Dig For Victory” and schoolchildren were asked to help by catching the white (cabbage) butterfly. If you collected so many and took them to school you were rewarded one halfpenny. We also collected rosehips for the syrup.

May Day was a celebration. We dressed garlands and went round the village singing, and had maypole dancing at the village hall. My mum was a grand organiser. We used to have Sharpe’s horse and cart for the small children and go to Helpstone Heath for a grand picnic. Everyone had rallied round with food etc. (funny: the Pearson children never had a ride on the cart – Mum would say favouritism!)

All children were encouraged to join Brownies, Guides, etc. I was a brownie, youth club member and St. John’s ambulance cadet. Nurse Bell was a real treasure. Our examination course was by Doctor Stein from which I have 2 certificates.

Mrs Pelcham ran the Girls Friendly Society (GFS). We were blessed in the Lady Chapel. We went to the Cedars 2 or 3 times a week; X Stitching rugs and altar kneelers for the church, winding wool to be knitted for the troops. Other times we helped to weed the walk up to the church.

School holidays some of us went pea-picking or potato-picking. Mum only let me go once – it poured with rain and we were drenched. Poor Mr Longfoot really got a ticking off.

As seniors at the school we always had our yearly visit with Mr Salmon to tell us about the church. I think we all know it for our essay. “Castor church is beautifully situated at the top of a hill overlooking the valley of the river Nene.”

He was right about Castor Church in what he said and all villagers should be proud of it. To me Castor Church is one side beauty and the other the nature that John Clare wrote about.

“I was 14 years old when I started work. But another story.”