MY MEMORIES OF PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 
Rosa Paparo (Nee Longo)

I started at Piesse Brook School at the start of the school year about 5^th February 1940 and finished at the end of September 1945, as I turned 14 on the 1^st October and had to help on the family orchard. What can I say about my years there, they were happy and friendly days mostly. I enjoyed my school days with my friends. My first teacher was Miss Sloman, then there was Miss Peacock, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Miller and Miss Bagley. They were all very helpful especially Miss Sloman as she and most of my fellow students helped me so much in my first year to learn the English language.
 

I had arrived from Italy about the 18^th September 1939, just as war broke out and I remember being sent home to celebrate the end of the war on 15^th August 1945.

So many memories crowd in, my first birthday cake, bought to school for me by Gretchen Loaring, made by her lovely mother. That same birthday, my 12^th, Mrs. Bateman gave me a book “Little Women” for my own. I loved reading and read all the books at school and I remember us winning the prize for the best garden for a small school, with a trophy and books, for two years in a row. I was so happy. We all helped to carry buckets of water from the creek (as we needed the rain water in the tank for drinking) so we were able to water our vegetables that made us first!

Life is a see-saw, the good and the sad, and through it all we have to make the best we can. I have wonderful memories of the past, and look back with pleasure on my carefree days that were school days at Piesse Brook School.

Article:           Rosa Paparo (Nee Longo)

Copyright : Gordon Freegard  2008 - 2023