It was lovely to read the letters from former pupils of Donnington School in Oxford (Memory Lane, March 9, 16 and 30).

I lived in Cornwallis Road and attended the school in 1942 or 1943 (I don’t know the exact date).

I was two-and-a-half.

My father was killed in Egypt at the end of 1942 so I had to go to school early as my mother had to work.

I remember the little camp beds being pulled out on to the grass on a nice day so we could have an afternoon nap.

I also have a vivid memory of all of us sitting cross-legged under a tree to be read a story.

Miss Salmon was the infants’ headmistress. I can remember my mother telling me she took an interest in all the children and their backgrounds.

Then there was Mr Hart, the headmaster – he was a kind man.

Unfortunately, I cannot remember any of the teachers’ names.

Does anyone remember when the siren sounded? We all had to get our gas masks and line up outside the school to cross the road to our prefabricated shelter.

ELIZABETH THOMAS (nee Montgomery)
Reading