Balfour Road School

A 97 year old ex-pupil

By Janet Whatling

One of the first pupils

Having recently discovered your website I thought you might be interested to know that my 97 year old mother, Lilly Whatling nee Hymas was one of the first children to attend Balfour Road school when it opened in the early 1920s.

Lived in Gordon Road

Her first school in Loder Road was then demolished so that a small estate of council-owned flats could be built, one of which she and I have lived in since 1967. In the 1940s and 1950s, my brother Alan and I, together with our cousins Brian and later his brother Barry Blacker, also went to Balfour Road school, as did many of our friends in Gordon Road where we lived in those days.

Mum worked part-time

My mum, by then a war-widow, worked part-time at the school looking after children during the midday break and sometimes helping serve meals in the canteen. We remember Mr Slater very well and also Mrs Moore, Mr Divall and the formidable Miss Cowtan. I can also remember Mr Divall whacking me with a ruler for talking in class. No doubt I behaved myself after that. Happy days, well most of the time anyway.