« Back

School memories

Lilian Allen (right) at the school

As part of our 300th Celebrations we tried to find the oldest surviving pupil of the school, this appears to be Mrs. Lilian Allen, aged 94, who still lives in Raunds.

When I started thinking about putting together a few notes for the 300th Birthday, I did not realise what a wealth of information I would unearth.

Catherine Pepys and her family were no doubt wealthy, educated and creative people who gave not only to Raunds but the wider world. Past pupils and staff, together with people from the community have further built on the history of St. Peter's CE Junior School throughout its 300 years. It is their memories and recollections of their school days which give the children in our school today, a sense of belonging to both the past and the future.

Many thanks must go to everybody who has lent photos, pictures or given time to talk to us and especially to Richard Asbury who has gathered to together the "memories" of past pupils. Special Thanks must go to David Hall who tracked down a copy of Catherine's will, together with other really interesting information for us as well as allowing us to use his pictures from his book about Raunds.

Your memories

The following writings were given to Mr Asbury, a teacher at St. Peter's when he was undertaking some research about the old Victorian building before they moved to the present site. Use the form at the bottom of this page to add your own memories.

Mrs F Bence: The headmistress was Miss Hall, a very nice person. Later on I went up to the 'Big School'. The headmaster was Mr A.D Rawlings, also a very nice man. On Friday afternoons we used to have spelling all round the room. This I used to love because I was pretty good at it, also music.

Mrs R Simms: The only thing that I can remember from the infant's school was having to walk down a sort of tunnel to get to the Manor School, this was because the infants did not have a big enough hall for special occasions such as prize giving, Christmas plays. The junior school used to have outside toilets. I can remember washing-up the teachers' cups at dinner time in a very tiny little room and Mr Rockley's study used to be a stock room. The headmaster used to live in the house next to the school. Mr Gaunt was the caretaker. He lived in the house opposite the gateway. He also ran a taxi service. His wife and daughter, Julie, used to dish up the school dinners in the Parish rooms.

Mrs A Putt: Children had much more respect for teachers and teachers had more control. Everyone was happier than today.

Mrs B Souter: Each morning started with prayers in the hall and then we marched to each classroom. The boys sat on one side of the room and the girls on the other side. Each class teacher took all the subjects in his or her class.

Mrs B Frankham: We would have to go to Church twice a day. Then after we left Sunday School, the girls went to the vicarage class and the boys would go to the vestry class. On high days and holidays the church would be packed and forms were placed up the centre aisle for people to sit on.

Mr D. Wood & Mr H. Skinner: There was no changing from school to school. You attended one school until leaving at fourteen.

Mr S Pollard: I started school at the age of three at the C of E school and then transferred to park Street Infants school when it opened in about 1914. I should have left at the age of 13 but the leaving age was raised to 14, so I had to stay till then. Children were punished with the cane when naughty. Boys had woodwork one morning and gardening and the girls had cookery and needlework. We started the day with prayers in the main hall, marching in to the music from the piano.

Mrs E Putt: The school rooms were very cold. The children often had to sit around a coke boiler to keep warm. The clothes were not very nice either. Very often the boys had big patches in their trousers and in their long black socks.

Have your say

Send us your own memories of St Peter's Junior School, Raunds. Please use the form below to send us your comments. Patricia Lovell. I have my great grandfathers bible inside is written:- Raunds National School .William Lovell.In remembrance of :- The Rev.d Edward B Lye 34 years Vicar of Raunds who died Nov 6th 1854.I would love to know anything about that time and place Helen Harrison Hello, I am trying to locate ancestors who came from Grafton Underwood, so may have attended your school. Could you inform me where I might get information on past pupils. Thanking you in anticipation Aidan Hall hey i went to st peters in 2001, my form tutor was mr brown and he was ace ...see ya Jordan st.peters is the best school any child would love it there it is the best school I have ever been to lian i relly enjoyed school it was the best time of mylife your site is good lian 12 Mrs.Sally Anderson i went to st.peters from 1959 to 1963,i have only fond memories of my days there,mrs.coles,mr.newman,also miss kirk taught me and mr.ellison the headmaster highly respected,i was schooled with his son robert,five generations of my family were taught there,my youngest grandaughter jessica attends there still,lovely happy memories of school days in st.peters. Tracy Miller I attended the school from 1975 until moving on to Raunds Manor School in 1979. I have wonderful memories of a warm 'proper' school! Mr Ellison was a superb Headteacher who commanded respect but was loved by all. Monika hutchings im still in st peters im leaving soon to manor skool st peters is one of the best skools that eny1 could possibly go to Steve Pettitt I remember the toilets were outside in the playground (well they were for us kids). As for laptops, we didn't even get abaci. While I'm on the subject how on earth did I learn to read without synthetic phonics? Lisa Turner nee Carter I left St Peters school in 1982, and cab honestly say that I spent some of my best years there. The teachers were strict but fair, and Mr Ellison was a lovely headteacher. Unfortunately he died in service, but he was replaced my Mr Rockley. He was a lot stricter but still approachable. I remember the fire that was started at the school and as a result the final year of my schooling was carried out in the room at the side of the parish rooms. I was taught there by Mr Asbury. It was a lovely homely feeling school and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I now live in Somerset, my parents still live in Raunds and they keep me up to date with the news and events that take place. christine andrews - age 17 my mother works at the school and my youngest sister goes also. the 300 year celebration was extremely funny - well done to the punk styled children! miss s hudson, age 13 I only left St Peters School a few years ago and alot has changed (only in the modern school) like on the school field, the new headmistress has build play equipment on it and the year 5's and 6's have got lockers to put their bags in at lunchtimes, the students also use laptops instead of computers. Now I'm at Manor School and I would much rather be at St Peters School now Name: Comment:

In Weekender