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Two and a half years in Feltwell by Paul Barker

I was nine years old when, in August 1959, my family moved from RAF Locking in Somerset to RAF Feltwell.  I spent two years at the Edmund de Moundeford Primary School in Feltwell.  Like Corrine Allen (number 15 on the Feltwellian list) my two years at the school were spent in the old school building, a bit further up the road, from the new school building, and our teacher was Mr Don Feltwell.  Pupils sat at double desks and Corrine sat behind and to the right of me.  She was a lovely, very quiet girl who sat next to Susan Watts, a very boisterous red-head.

Don was a marvellous teacher who lived in a house at the end of the old school building.  His lessons were never boring, he treated us with respect and he had a sense of humour.  I was never happy at any school that I went to after leaving Feltwell.

The Headmaster was Mr Charlesworth.  He presented a weekly award for the student who gained the most merit points during the week.  The student’s name would be announced at the Monday morning assembly, after which, he took a photograph of that student which would be posted on the school notice board for a week.  I have attached a copy of the photograph taken when I received the award.

The school caretaker was Mr Bacon.  His twin boys Richard and James were in my class.  The only other class names I can remember are Richard Smart, Manfred Edgar (both are in the school soccer team photo) and Alison Caitley

My family spent two and a half years at Feltwell and it was a wonderful time.  The school was so well funded that I used to feel sorry for the pupils who attended the small primary schools at the villages nearby.  I played soccer and cricket for the school team and this led me to visit many of the local primary schools.  Feltwell Primary was so dominant that we won every match. I also visited these schools when we had country dancing competitions and choir contests.

Our house at RAF Feltwell was in a street that led straight into the village so we could walk to the shops, school and church.  (All the other RAF camps I lived on were isolated from the local population which I found a disadvantage in many ways.)  Where our road joined the village there was a large area of undeveloped land (probably between Payne’s Lane and High Street) where Bugs Circus would set up twice a year.  It is hard to imagine these days but the circus, as small as it was, had an elephant and all the children would visit the site during the day to stand and stare at this great tethered beast.  Of course, in 1959 there were very few homes that had a TV so a circus was very exciting for children of all ages. 

On our journey to Feltwell we travelled through Brandon and were surprised to see the main street full of bunting announcing the pending arrival of commercial television in October 1959.  Commercial television had been available in Somerset for many months so it was a bit of a shock to find that we had to go back to having only one channel to view.

I left Feltwell in August 1961 but have returned on a couple of occasions, once when I was living in Fakenham (1977 – 1982) and again on a return visit to England in 2005.  It still retains a feeling of peace and serenity, so dearly missed in these days.

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