Karen Spence (nee Bird) 1964 - 1970

I am writing to say thank you for all the effort that went into St Michael's birthday open day. I was a pupil from 1964-1970 and my afternoon back at the school brought back many happy memories. Before going to the school I met up and had lunch with two old school friends who I hadn't seen for over 30 years which added to the occasion.

It was lovely to see that the school I remember so fondly is still a "great school" and that it retains a pride in its history. A particular highlight was seeing the films taken by Dr Holmes, I was the child holding the wasp nest, found when the old hall was being demolished before the swimming pool was built and the Queen of Hearts, in the fancy dress competition, my brother was hiding under the Mickey Mouse head.

I thought you might like to hear some of my very happy memories of the school.

When I first joined the school the two infant classrooms were where the staff room and offices are now. There were 4 junior classes, in the current reception classroom, library and Y2 classroom and in a terrapin on the outdoor classroom area. We used to have assembly in the current Reception classroom, there was a stage at one end and it seemed much bigger than it is now. I remember there being a chart on the wall that we had to get stars on by learning our times tables, we got a gold star for the X12. Later we had another terrapin and one of the infant classrooms was used as an art room. Just outside the entrance to your y2 classroom we used to be given a small bottle of milk to drink. In the winter it used to freeze and in the summer it was warm and horrible. I never enjoyed having to drink it.

I can remember many of my teachers' names and the subjects I used to enjoy them teaching me, I particularly remember Mrs Randall who was very strict but used to read Enid Blyton stories to us. Mr Wallace was a great science teacher and Mrs Morton taught me French.

We were divided into three school houses for sports day St George (red) St David (yellow) and St Andrew (blue). I remember on sports day winning the 3 legged race because my friend Karen was so much smaller than I was that I just picked her up, carried her on my hip and ran. I also remember that we always had an ice-cream van at the field driven by the father of another friend, Julie Dyer.

I enjoyed seeing the mosaic of the school badge as I helped to make it.

My friends and I remember playing lots of games in the playground, including chase, elastic, two ball against a wall, skipping with a long rope and clapping games. There were also some climbing bars.

We didn't wear uniform very often, which I think was a shame, but when we did it was a tie with a white shirt and navy jumper. School dinners were not good and were the same most days, meat cabbage potatoes and gravy, unless the money was short and then we got cheese potato and beetroot which was revolting. Shortly after I left the school cook changed and the food improved considerably, my mum was a dinner lady and she used to make some of the puddings at home and I still cook some of those recipes.

I really enjoyed looking at all your work in the hall and the work on the first moon walk reminded me of a project I had to do that summer as homework.

Thank you again for all the work that you put into the celebrations and may St Michael's have another happy 150 years.

Karen Spence (Karen Bird)