Yew Tree Secondary

In 1948 Yew Tree Secondary was a wonderful school, largely due to Mr Smith, our headmaster. He was a fine man, of morality, of character. Trim, neat and lean with a small moustache he looked like a slimmer, slightly older version of Errol Flynn. He was an adept batsman at cricket, and he believed in God.

To prove it he made us all assemble each morning, regular as a bank opening its doors at 9 am. It was a kind of church service. We would sing hymns, then Mr Smith would give us his dailymessage with the object of making us good future citizens with an awareness of God, and in retrospect he succeeded. Even today I can remember the words of "There is a Green Hill Far Away". What's more I'm a full on believer - which surely would gratify Mr Smith if he could read this.

He did strap me one day though for using offensive
words to a girl classmate. "Go on, say 'Joyce T has periods'" one mischievous lad prompted me. Being
rather naive I did, not knowing the meaning at the time but Mr Smith didn't believe me, and I had to take six swipes of the belt on my backside. He made me apologise too. Joyce T - if you're alive - forgive me!

We had to respect our elders wherever we were, especially the teachers, and we had to address
them as "Sir" or "Miss."

For a post-WW2  "high school" as the Americans would call it, Yew Tree was very well equipped - the result of rare foresight and generous expenditure by the education planners. There was a big assembly hall and two huge playing fields with lush, green springy grass which were all things to all people. Play area, soccer pitch, running track, cricket field.
The classrooms were spacious.

Every boy and girl belonged to a "house" and each house opposed each other at soccer, netball, athletics and other sports. These "houses" were named after great British people of achievement - Slessor, Wilberforce, Curie, Livingstone. Great names intended I'm sure to inspire us all to equally
great exploits. Our school motto was "Aim True." We had to wear a navy colored blazer with a badge of a yew tree sewn on it.

Mr Smith's humanity and concern for all was shown dramatically one day. I was running - and then tripped, falling directly on to the upcoming heel of the boy in front. The result -a big gash above my left eye and lots of blood. Mr Smith took me personally and immediately in his car to a clinic some miles away with the blood pouring. It impressed me he didn't designate one of the junior teachers.

So that was my school - "secondary" in name but to me everything about it was first class. Just one exception - the school canteen - see Lunch with Aunt Doris.