My classroom in the 1970s #Nostalgia

My first year of teaching started in September 1972.  I was given a class of 41 seven year olds in an old lofty Victorian school.  The walls were tiled and the windows started above my head, so bright colourful displays were essential.  After a year’s postgraduate “training” in teaching 8 to 12 year olds I felt very unprepared for this mixed ability group.  With no classroom assistant or any other help, it was quite difficult to hear the children reading regularly.  There was a large blackboard and an enormous box of coloured chalk, the remains of which I have to this day!  From time to time I wheeled in a tall TV on wheels to Watch BBC Schools “Merry-Go-Round,” making sure my timing was accurate since we had to watch it live.  On Teaching Practice I managed to jam the Banda machine (Spirit Duplicator) so that an engineer had to be called, so I was cautious now, but I loved to use different colour masters to make interesting worksheets and the smell reminded me of pickled cockroaches.

Next term, half of the school moved to a new building a mile away, taking the Library with them so I started a Library for the 7 to 9 year olds in a small extra room we had.  I had the fun of handwriting tickets for each book and pockets for each child and it was a peaceful place to go at lunch time and read with some of the children.    Every Monday morning was a nightmare collecting in the dinner money and adding it up before Assembly.  I organised my first class day out in the summer term.  We went to Chessington Zoo which I suppose was vaguely educational, but there were no Risk Assessments in those days; we just took lots of Mums with us.  One day after break I realised one little boy had disappeared.  I sent a message to the secretary, who discovered he’d walked home thinking it was lunchtime.

At 4.30 the cleaning lady (the caretaker’s wife) came into the classroom and told me to go home.  She said she couldn’t have me cluttering up the room and they wanted to lock up by 5 pm.  During my probationary year a County Inspector came occasionally to watch a lesson.  On the first occasion he said, “I don’t expect you bother teaching them their tables these days, no-one does.”  My reply was, “Well we do in this school!”  There was no proper syllabus, Maths followed the textbook, History followed the Unstead books so I taught Cavemen to Normans and we had some lovely Nature books with beautiful pictures for “Science”.  Music was “Singing Together” with the radio.  I asked if I could introduce French, which added variety, but if I wanted to spend all day talking to the children about Birds, I could. 

The children believed that the Deputy headmaster had a Slipper in his office which he would use on naughty boys.  I’m pretty sure he never did.  One of my colleagues had a guinea pig in her classroom and one day, while I was teaching her class, I realised that it had died.  I managed to talk a lot and distract the children until playtime.  Later I had fish but they lasted for ever.  I loved the Nature Table where we would have conkers, Autumn leaves, tadpoles in a tank, fungi including the excitement of the Shaggy Inkcap.  Happy days!

#Wordless Wednesday The Cathedral of Evora #Portugal

Sé de Évora

Lost Children

Every day I love to look at the old photographs which Lynn Heiden uploads to Twitter and Facebook as they give us a fascinating window into the past.  Often she is able to trace details of the lives of the people in the photographs, using census returns, trade directories etc.but sometimes there just aren't enough clues.  I was particularly struck by this group of unknown children so just for fun I thought I'd make up character sketches of them.  

Teddy was born early in the century, a much loved second child after the death of his brother.  Photographed, age 2, he is yet to be breeched so his mother has dressed him in a spotless, lace edged frock, cleaned and pressed by the maid, but he can’t resist trying to slip off his uncomfortable shoe.  Later his sister Muriel will be born, but he will always be his mother’s favourite and she is so glad, that just as he is about to be sent to France to fight, the “war to end all wars” ceases.  Sadly he decides to become an army officer and dies early in the Second World War, leaving a wife and four children.

Little May is very nervous, as she stands leaning against the wicker contraption in the photographer’s studio.  Why does she have to stand so still in front of that strange “camera” and why has the man hidden behind a tablecloth?  Ma says, “It’s for Da.  He’s gone a long way away to “fight for his country” and we need to send him something to help him remember you.”

Stanley has always been a character.  Almost as soon as he was born he had a dirty laugh and he loves to take off people he knows, in his broad accent.  Borrowing his Dad’s pullover and his best hat and umbrella Stanley is trying to look like the rent man who comes round weekly, licking his pencil and writing down the payments, so he’s using his copy book as a prop.

Connie is usually happy.  Mother takes her everywhere, whether it is helping at the church bazaar or going to buy a yard of ribbon at the haberdashery shop.  Her brothers have gone away to boarding school, but Connie goes to a small local school with other little girls.  She likes the scene behind the bench in the photograph, as it is the largest picture of the countryside she has ever seen.  Soon Jim and Georgie will return for the holidays and she can run after them through the fields.

Gwenne was born just after World War One when her father had returned from the war.  Daddy was always very quiet and would frequently disappear for long walks.  Gwenne can’t remember seeing him smile, although Mummy said that he used to love taking her dancing.  He died two years before this photo was taken but Uncle Fred, Mummy’s brother, has always been more like a father to Gwenne.  He’s nor married so he always comes to Gwenne’s house, every week, for Sunday lunch.  Ten years later, he will give her away in marriage to young Hugh whom she’s known all her life.  Hopefully when Hugh goes to war in 1940 it will not change his life as drastically as it did to Gwenne’s father.

Elsie was born in London.  She has two brothers and two sisters.  She is the middle child but she is also the boss.  She looks after her youngest siblings while her mother does the laundry and housework and she expects her big brothers to do exactly what she tells them.  As soon as she can, she wants to help her father run his stall in the market.  She has the voice and the confidence to attract customers to the, “lovely juicy apples” and she loves the jolly atmosphere in the market street.  It won’t worry her that she will need to be up before dawn to fetch the produce and she is prepared to work hard.  One day she might have her own shop.

Please visit Lynn's Waffles to see her research on other pictures from her collection.

The Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval

If you are ever lucky enough to visit the UNESCO Heritage city of Evora, in the Alentjo region of Portugal, don’t miss visiting Cadaval Palace.  Sited opposite the remains of the Roman Temple and near to the Cathedral you might feel you have had a cultural overload, but the charm of the palace is its homeliness and beauty.

The present house dates from 1648 when it was built on the site of the original medieval castle, it is now a large stately manor house adjoining the Loios Church.  Its style is a blend of Gothic, Moorish and Manueline architecture.   The latter can be seen in the Belem Tower at Lisbon.   Above the house is the Tower of the Five Shields named after the coat of Arms of the Cadaval family which shows 5 shields on the background of a St Andrews Cross.  The Cadaval Duchy dates from the support given by the family to Portugal’s independence from Spain in the 17^th century.  They are a branch of the Braganza family.

     

The palace was the temporary residence of several Portuguese monarchs of the Alfonsine dynasty. The third Duke of Braganza was imprisoned here before his beheading in 1483 for plotting against King John II.  On a more cheerful note, Vasco da Gama was commissioned at the palace to command a fleet to discover the sea route to India round southern Africa.  The present representative of the family, Diana Alvares Pereira de Melo, was married in Evora cathedral to Charles Philippe, Prince of Orleans, in 2008 and they held their Reception in the Palace.

Inside the Palace, visitors can see a gallery of ancient documents and the bronze tomb of Rui de Sousa who signed the treaty of 1494 dividing the world into Spanish and Portuguese spheres of influence.  There are many beautiful old paintings but there are also exhibitions of contemporary art.  While we visited I particularly liked the “Passion of Poissons” gallery.

Betty in Germany in 1945

October 1^st 1945

This morning we sadly left Brussels.  Having put our kit on the lorry we set off for the office further along Avenue Louise to load all the things to be moved from there.  At 9 am we started to drive through the flat countryside of Belgium and then Holland.  I was comfortably installed in an arm chair in the back of the lorry with Jack and George.

As we crossed the border just past Venlo, into Germany, the air felt fresher.  The countryside is more varied but badly war-scarred.  We stopped at Munster to refuel and Jack went to scrounge some tea for us.  Munster is terribly badly damaged.  I don’t think one house was unscathed. 

By the time we reached the autobahn, it was dark and we finally reached Herford at 8.30 where Pat was waiting to whisk me off to the YWCA for supper before taking me to a temporary bed in her room.

ATS Billet in the old school

October 2^nd 1945

By 9.45 we were settled in our new office and started work as there is a lot of back stuff to make up.  Finished and went back to the billet with Pat where we discovered that we could have a room together so we set to, scrubbing the floor and planning how we could alter things.  We made sure that the fire worked beautifully. 

October 3^rd 1945

This afternoon we went to the riding school for an hour which was very good.  After that we went to cookery class at the YW and had fun.  Ate the spoils afterwards before joining Staff and Jack at a dance.

Betty and Pat's room

October 4^th 1945

Our room is beginning to show signs of comfort.  In fact, we’ve had a good mark for it already.  We collected a table from George’s billet which Pat has painted.  I set to and made little frills for the cupboards.  Once we were happy with the room we made tea for Margaret coming back from work.

St Jakob's Church, Herford

October 7^th 1945

It was a glorious morning so we walked through the woods to the tower on top of the hill.  Had a wonderful view from the top.  Called in at the beer garden on the way down.  After lunch we walked to Bad Salzuflen.  It is a lovely place.  We had tea there then walked back by way of the woods.  I felt tired after covering about 16 miles.

Betty, Staff, Pat and Jack in the beer garden

October 14^th 1945

Today we had an office trip so I wore slacks.  We went to Hamelin via Minden, through lovely countryside.  When we reached Hamelin we had a picnic lunch helped down with sweet cider.  Jack, Pat and I went for a walk and went into the cave which was only a dark hole.  Called in at Bückeburg for tea on our way back.

November 5^th 1945

Caught the overnight train to Brussels from Bad Oeynhausen.  We enjoyed going round the gaily decorated shops.  The toys are wonderful.  We spent most of our money in odds and ends and fruit.  We returned to the hotel for dinner then went to the ENSA cinema to see a Bette Davis film which was excellent.

Over the next 3 days they visited their Belgian friend Winnie, saw Arabian Nights in technicolor, had chocolate and cakes while listening to the band at the Grand Place and dined in style.

November 17^th 1945

We have a radio now so we can listen to the news which is good as we haven’t received any mail for several days.  Jack and I walked further round the town this afternoon and found that it was very badly bombed in some parts.  We went along the river and saw swans and moorhens. It doesn’t seem possible that Jack is leaving.  Couldn’t bear saying goodbye.

November 25^th 1945

An early start for our office trip to Dechenhohle.  We went through lovely countryside but didn’t arrive till 2.30.  We seemed to be right on top of the world.  The cave was very interesting with stalactites and stalagmites.  Tea at the YMCA and home by 9.30

November 26^th 1945

Set off from the office at 8.15 and Margaret and I managed to bag a seat on the bus so we were quite comfortable.  We reached Lippstadt at 10.15 and after tea at the NAAFI we went to watch the Q in C’s inspection.  It was very cold standing about and started to rain during the march Past, but it was very impressive.  Monty’s speech (Field Marshall Montgomery) was nothing to write home about.  On the way it started to snow.  Lovely to receive a letter from Jack today.

During December Betty worked late most night and also on Saturdays so she was glad to have home leave over Christmas.  Previously she had flown back to the UK, but this time it was train to Calais and a rough crossing.

January 1^st 1946

Brought the year in on the train between Victoria and Folkestone.  Pat wrote, "Wot no drink," but we had NAAFI tea!  Arrived at Folkestone at 2 am so straight to bed.  Called at 7 but had to wait around till 11.  Voyage not so rough so we weren’t sick this time but we saw a mine.  Arriving at Calais we discovered there was no room on the train so we sat in the Rec Room frozen stiff.

After boarding an unheated train next day it took them till midnight on Jan 3^rd to arrive at Bad Oeynhausen.

January 4^th 1946

Waited until 1am but no sign of the truck to take us to Herford so we hitched back.  Slept till 11 then soaked in a bath for ages.  We were furious to discover they had used our room and made a real mess of everything.  Pleased to hear from Margaret that she and her Jack are getting married in 2 weeks.

During January Betty and her friends continued to work long hours and spent their free time playing badminton, going to play readings and Scottish country dancing.  In February she was sent on a demob course to prepare for civilian life.

February 12^th 1946

Set out at 9.30 and it was freezing cold in the lorry.  We stopped at Hanover which was very badly bombed.  Like Herford everywhere was flooded from all the rain we’ve had.  After 150 miles and many detours we reached Göttingen for the course.  Reported to the adjutant and found my billet.

February 13^th  1946

After breakfast I decided to explore the town. Göttingen is a very old fashioned place, lots of 15^th century buildings like the Schwarz bier Tavern, the Rathaus and Jakobi Church.  We walked along the city wall to Bismark’s cottage, a quaint old place and then had coffee at the NAAFI.  After lunch we walked up the Hainberg hill through the wood to where it overlooks Göttingen.  Today the sun was shining with a slight covering of snow on the ground.

February 14^th 1946

This morning we went to the university and were sorted into groups according to our demob plans.  I went on the banking side and I’m the only girl among 30 men.  The major who took us this morning was terribly funny.  Had tea with a Sergeant when Geography was cancelled then returned for English Lit.

February 15^th 1946

Still enjoying college life and finding the classes very interesting.  Arthur keeps a seat for me as we get on well and I have also met a very nice Scottish Lieutenant called Ron.  After tea Arthur collected me and we went to the Variety Theatre to see a German company.  The acrobats were very good and the contortionist excellent.

Saturday February 16^th

Went into town to have my hair washed and set at a hairdressers.  After tea, I put on my tartan skirt and went to the Toc H dance.  I was in a bit of a fix as I’d arranged to meet Ron and Arthur but I met a few more lads first.  In the end I shook most of them off and stayed with Ron and Jock who were good fun.  Ron walked me home.

Sunday February 17^th

Went to the church service and then after lunch I met Ron.  We walked up to Bismark’s house.  It was snowing but we didn’t mind.  Had a lovely view from the top, the air was good and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Had tea at the Toc H then went to the Sergeant’s Mess party.  Danced with Ron and had champagne.

Betty returned to Herford and corresponded with Ron who was based in another part of Germany.  They managed to meet up three times before Betty was demobbed on May 20^th.  Civilian life was not easy for any of the wartime service people and the romance died out.

Kowloon Walled City Park #SilentSunday

Since 1995 the old walled city in Kowloon, Hong Kong has been a Jiangnan garden in the style of the Qing Dynasty.

All photographs taken in 2012 by Peter L. Lloyd.

Saint Elizabeth, Queen Isabel of Portugal

Seeing as God made you without peer

In goodness of heart and goodness of speech,

Nor is your equal anywhere to be found,

My love, my lady, I hereby tell you:

Had God desired to ordain it so,

You would have made a great king.

Princess Isabel was born in Saragossa, Spain in about 1271. As the daughter of King Pedro III of Aragon she became a valuable asset to be married off to another powerful family.  She was wooed by the Kings of Sicily and France and was sought as a bride for the son of Edward IV of England, but her father chose King Dinis of Portugal as her spouse.  Married by proxy at the age of 12, she only travelled to Portugal a year and a half later and probably saw little of her husband for many years.

Isabel had been brought up studious and devout and she was described as very beautiful.  Her husband King Denis (or Dinis) was a good ruler but an unfaithful spouse, who had seven illegitimate children.  Isabel was a dutiful wife and a daughter, Constanza, was born after the couple had been married for eight years. A year later their only son, Afonso, was born.

Renowned for her modesty and cheerfulness, Isabel spent her days caring for and tutoring all of Denis’s children as well as establishing orphanages, a hospice, a hospital, churches and a convent.  In fact, she directly supervised the erection of these buildings, drafting the sketches herself, and managing the projects. Twentieth-century scholars have identified the buildings by their common architectural features, and have concluded that she developed her own style.

Her generosity and compassion extended to hands-on gifts to the poor.  An apocryphal story tells of how she hid bread beneath her clothing to take out of the palace and that when challenged by the King the bread was discovered to have changed into roses.  This Miracle of the Roses explains why she was later beatified as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal.  Roses are symbols of beauty and love and their short life connects with martyrdom.

 

Santa Isabel de Portugal by Francisco de Zurbaran

The King was not quite the tyrant he is claimed to have been.  Known as the “troubadour king," for his acclaimed poetry, Denis was fully aware of his wife’s virtues. In one verse he wrote,

I don't know how to justify myself to my lady,

Should God lead me to stand before her eyes;

Once I'm before her she will adjudge me

Her betrayer, and with plenty of reason.

Isabel’s other name was the Angel of Peace.  Her calming presence was usually very effective.  But Afonso, her son was jealous of one of his half-brothers whom, he believed, their father preferred, so Afonso led a revolt against his own father.  Isabel did her best to bring peace between her husband and son, each of whom led an army.

 

Isabel Reyna de Portugal by Jose Gil de Castro

When King Denis died in 1325 Isabel retired to Poor Clare’s Convent which she had founded at Coimbra.  She died eleven years later as she rode between the armies of Alfonso XI of Castile and that of her son, Alfonso IV of Portugal.

Rainha Santa as Saint Elizabeth (Isabel) is called is remembered on July 4^th.