Tag Archives: Effie Pitman

Mary Lord: Free Time Guides Pantomimes 1950s

Front of stage Mrs. Hans Hamilton, writer and producer, with Sam McDonald who provided music for Guides and Brownies' pantomimes.

Front of stage Mrs. Hans Hamilton, writer and producer, with Sam McDonald who provided music for Guides and Brownies’ pantomimes.

The concerts and pantomimes  arranged by Mrs. Hans Hamilton and Win Davison were a really important part of our lives. By the time we were ready to put them on, it was often Easter.  Rangers, Guides and Brownies were always involved, music and dancing.  Effie was usually the principal boy, with Mollie Mallett – they both had good singing voices. By the time we actually gave the performance, I was usually word perfect for the whole play, everyone’s part. Mary Lord nee Hayles b 1936

Eileen Smith: Free Time, Brownies and Guides 1930s

Eileen Smitth , Effie Pitman:Brownies at Wootton 1929

Eileen Smitth , Effie Pitman:Brownies at Wootton 1929

My aunt was one of the original Girl Guides and I joined the Brownies. The year after I joined, we had a coach trip to Wootton to meet up with other Brownie groups. Effie was there too.
On Armistice Day and Empire Day at school, we were allowed to wear our uniform. There was a big British Legion then too, and they used to have an important Armistice Day ceremony. One year I was the flag bearer for the guides, I was so proud.

On summer evenings, we used to go down to Rofford’s Field, and cut out a turf and make a campfire to cook our supper. Oh it was lovely! We used to wade in the marsh, sometimes with the mud right over our wellingtons, and collect moorhen’s eggs to cook.  They were like pullets’ eggs, gorgeous. There weren’t coots, only moorhens. Eileen Smith

Effie Pitman: School days and school trips 1930s

I loved school; I was so happy there. The teachers were very strict but I think it was better then.

Mr. Stanway used to shove you in the back. I liked Miss Chambers ‘though.

We went on a trip to London, when I was in the senior standard, to visit museums and so on. Oh it did make our feet ache! Miss White, our teacher was with us. I remember she massaged our feet at the end of the day, she was so kind.

Yarmouth School trip of 1933 with Miss White

Yarmouth School trip of 1933 with Miss White

School trip 1933 Effie middle row left, Eileen, back row left,
Phil Kelsey front row second left, Miss White centre left with Head teacher Mr. Stanway

When I left, they gave me a special award, for 7 and a half years continuous attendance, I hadn’t had a single day off in that time. Imagine!

I remember one day Miss Chambers had to go home. She wasn’t well – a dog had bitten her leg. They left me in charge of the little ones, 12 of them. We had the rocking horse, and I looked after them. That was the best day for me. I always wanted to work with children.
Effie Pitman b 1921

Eileen Smith: School days

Yarmouth School 1927

Yarmouth School 1927

My grandfather went to Yarmouth School, my mother and her two sisters, I did, and my three children.

The last year I was at Yarmouth C. of E. School, there were 126 pupils and 4 teachers; Mr. Stanway the headmaster, Miss Troman, Miss Ireland and Miss Chambers, with the Headmaster’s wife, Mrs Stanway, helping out sometimes.

We started school at 5 years, no matter what time of year, and left at 14. Some people went on to Newport if they passed the scholarship.

Miss Ella Chambers had the first class. She was lovely; everyone was fond of her. If you met her in the town years later she’d say ‘Hello Eileen, – one of my girls.’

Every day we had half an hour’s scripture, and prayers. We had to learn the hymns off by heart. Reverend Marshall came from Thorley once a year to test the senior students. He was a bit deaf and he mumbled so you couldn’t always understand his questions. When he gave the prize, I think he guessed who knew the most.

The boys had gardening and woodwork, the girls knitting and sewing and embroidery. There were cookery lessons at Ningwood Institute for the senior girls – we travelled there by bus. Someone came out from Newport to teach us. We had old oil stoves, with a hob and an oven. Every week there was a draw to see what chores you had to do. I always seemed to end up cleaning the stoves – they were filthy old things.
Eileen Smith b1921