Jill Sparrow

This is the classroom where I spent my final year at Berridge. Our teacher was Mr Trevor Williams. In 1968, every classroom had a walk-in stationery cupboard built. All are still there. This one is on the left. We all agreed that there is much more wall display today, all over the school. Personally, I felt it was way over the top. Not a tiny space that wasn't adorned with bright colours and information. Even the classroom doors! I found it confusing and overwhelmingly 'loud' but perhaps today's children thrive on it.

Looking down from the first floor onto the wall that separates the old infant playground from the juniors. The brick piers of the old gate in the wall can be made out. That gate and the steps leading to it were removed in 1968 and the ramp installed. I was surprised to find it is still there.

The Brushfield Street entrance gate and, beyond it, the door to what was my first classroom. The room is now the kitchens and the gate a replacement for the original. As I stood here yesterday, I remembered the feeling of dread as I crossed that threshold every morning with my break time biscuits, wrapped in paper, clutched in my hand. My mother stood at this gate every lunchtime and home time to collect me. Very powerful memories. She passed through this gate herself from 1930, with the same sense of dread, whilst her own mother collected her at lunchtime and home time.

Approaching Berridge from Oakland Street. The old iron railings have been replaced by modern mesh. The school has recently been re-roofed which gave staff the opportunity to venture into the roofspace which is extensive. Berridge was built in 1884.

We took quite a lot between us so will post a few. Also had an early wander round the old streets. Bobbers Mill Road, where I was born. Oakland Street, Berridge Road, Brushfield Street, across Alfreton Road and up Radford Boulevard, Wordsworth Road, Prospect Street, Churchfield Lane and a wander round the exterior of St Peter's Old Radford where my parents were married 70 years ago this June. Both change and familiarity but I was dismayed by the apparent habit of dumping rubbish, especially furniture, outside houses, parking all over the pavements and, generally, the ta

Today was our Berridge visit. Along with PP Terry, David letsavagoo, my old friend Jane and myself, we had a wonderful time. There have been changes to the old place but it still felt very familiar. The highlight, for me, was going into the former infants' Headmistress's office..which is now the caretaker's domain and finding that the fireplace was still there, along with her Victorian desk, now shoved ignominiously into a corner. Took me back to my first visit when I was 4 years old. A blazing fire in the grate, whilst the stern Miss Smith peered at me over her desk and decreed that I should

He's only 21 really...a few times over. Have a wonderful day!

The Capitol? Bottom of Churchfield Lane. Now a church, I believe.

Looks like your moggies prefer mallards to mice, PP!

Yes, I remember it, BK, but don't know anyone who went there. Knew Garden Street very well indeed.

I have three cats of whom the same can be said! Nice life if you can get it!

I know what my paternal grandfather would have said. Unusually, for an Old Contemptible, he never stopped talking about the war. He was not in favour of the armistice either. If he'd had his way, Germany would never have caused any further trouble.

Apparently, I was misinformed. David Juggins attended Bentinck Road school.

Does anyone remember Mrs Platts from Berridge? She never taught me but I was terrified of her. Dark, curly hair and seemed quite old. Often did playground duty. I can see her now standing there with the brass bell, wearing her brown lace up brogues and woollen coat with a shawl collar. She lived in one of the Victorian cottages on Prospect Street, just round from Radford Boulevard. They are still there and rather nice. Years later, my sister, Julie, worked with a lady who was married to Mrs Platts son. She was at Berridge when Julie was there so Julie remembered her. I never thought of Mrs Pla

The Manning Badge was quite uninspiring, simply the letters M and S overlaid in school colours grey red and white. Inside the front cover of the school hymn book, which I still have... someone pinched mine and I had to buy a replacement...is pasted the school hymn. O loving Lord who art forever seeking/Loyal and true disciples of thy will... I can't remember ever singing it but, knowing me, I'd have penned my own version! The pasted in copy makes reference to "Thy free forgiveness in the hour of need" At Manning? You must be joking

No food for 29 hours?? Only one cure for that...the biggest, squashiest chocolate cake you can find. And don't share it with anyone! Speedy recovery, Carni.

The grandmother of a friend of mine proudly informed her GP she had stopped smoking. She was 90 at the time. The GP almost died laughing! Granny lived to be 96.

Hate flying. Terrible ear problems. Went deaf after returning from Italy many years ago. The doctor looked in my ears with the auriscope and said I had the most peculiar inner ear arrangement he'd ever seen! I once had a hearing test as part of a medical when I was 17. The doc said my hearing was way too acute for a human and I should have been a dog! So there you go, Loppy!! He also said I'd have problems on aircraft. He was right! don't ever whisper nasty things about me...cos I can hear ya!

I'm going back to the very early 1980s, before all the alterations at St Stephen's. I do recall now you mention it that there were two children. I don't think I was ever aware of where the family lived though. The church was going through a period of transition and things were getting too modern for me so I departed! Like it says, I'm a Mediaevalist

Well, this vegetarian won't!! However, the moggies are fond of bluebottles and spiders...which aren't insects. I'm told they taste like prawns?

Sorry to hear about your problems, Carni. Hope all goes well for you. Don't let hubby forget to raid Bird's cake department when it's all over!

Small world. I remember Josie Barron. She used to attend St Stephen's church when I was organist there. She had a son whose name I can't remember.

I have not eaten meat for over 40 years and for many years didn't eat fish either, although I now do. As I have 3 cats, I need to provide them with cat food and they cannot survive on a vegetarian diet, despite recent arguments to the contrary among vegan cat owners. I detest the idea of killing anything. Those who can tear their attention away from their smartphones for long enough to pay attention may have noticed that there are fewer and fewer swallows to be seen in the skies each summer, chasing fewer insects. We don't like bugs and insects but do we realise how essential they

Yes, that's the one. It was one of three clocks from my childhood. The others were Staddons on Radford Road and the Lewis & Grundy clock in town.

One of the most vivid memories of my childhood is walking up Radford Boulevard en route to Garden Street, running up and down Player's steps, gazing up at the clock and the smell of tobacco that permeated that section of the road. All of it, long gone.