The infant school was a set of stone buildings occupying the same plot of land as St. Judes Church, and its vicarage. Our house in Queen Margaret’s Grove overlooked the vicarage garden. The ‘top class’ teacher was a Mrs. Poole, a slim lady with a subtly mischievous sense of humour. The next teacher was Mrs. Jones, a short plump lady with a very loud Welsh voice.

For school dinners, we were marched every day to a hall about half a mile away in King Henry Street. This hall was also the venue for the school clinic where lots of children went to get bits of themselves painted a bluish purple. Also here, was the church’s Sunday School.

The junior school was across the railway bridge in King Henry’s walk, and it’s peculiarity was a playground on the roof overlooking a cemetery. The teachers I had there were Mr. Griffiths who led the singing. Miss Wasborough, who took the picture on the roof. She used to use the ruler a lot as a punishment. Mr. McCobie, who left not long after being reported for peeing in the washroom hand-basins. Mr. Jones, whose main interest was football. And, finally Mrs. Hammond, who had a bark like Peggy Mount, but had a heart of gold.

The junior school has since been demolished, and the new building now incorporates the infant school. The old infant school has since become a private school.

Random notes about elsewhere in the area ...

Some of the houses in St. Judes Street (including West’s greengrocers) have been demolished and there is now a green space there. Ridley Market is as filthy as ever, despite there being a shopping arcade there. Dalston Junction Station is closed, and trains now run through Kingsland (station is opposite Ridley Road). The Waste is pretty much as it was, except there is no sarsaparilla stand or apple fritter stand. Newington Green has some nice lights up in the trees, and Ferntower Road is now closed off by a small pedestrianised area.

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