Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú

This contribution to WW2 People’s War was received by the Action Desk at Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Rosalie Davis Gibb (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Mrs Nita Nicholson.

I lived in Norwich form September 1949 to July 1947. From September 1940 to July 1942 I was a student at the Norwich College of Education in College Road, doing the (as I was then) 2-year Teachers’ Diploma Course, under Miss Duff, the Principal.

In April 1942, the entire College building was destroyed by enemy bombs. The students (some 250) managed to get out of the burning building and took shelter in the dug-outs under the tennis courts. We went on to spend the rest of the night in Colman Road Rest Centre. On our way back to the College area, at 6.30 the next morning, we had to run the gauntlet of time-bombs igniting all around, on the pavements and the road. The WVS were a wonderful support at the College area. They had prepared a field-kitchen, and as we had only pyjamas and dressing gowns, they provided a bank of adequate day clothes, sent from Canada.

I made my way down to the city station, which had been heavily bombed. I saw many sad sights on the way and eventually walked along the track to catch a train to Fakenham where my parents were then living. 3 days later, I returned to make-shift lodgings near the College, in order to sit my final exams in the gymnasium which had survived the bombing untouched.

Being the only Advanced Music student, I was also much engaged in preparation for the Valedictory Service now to be held in St Thomas’ church opposite the junction of College Road and Unthank Road. I left all my special music in readiness in the organ loft the night before the Service. At 3a.m. the raids began again, and this time St Thomas’ was struck and completely gutted. A group of us stood on the pavement opposite and watched it burn. Some of my own personal music and manuscripts were there, so in a sense I had lost everything twice.

Later, in September 1942 I began a job as Music Specialist at the brand-new Bowthorpe Road School, where I had a very odd interview. Within a short time, the school, which was a mass of plate-glass, was dive-bombed during school hours. In January 1943, I was moved to Avenue Road Senior Boys, just round the corner from College Road. I stayed there until 1948. Mr Beeston, the new Education Officer decided men only would teach in Boys’ Schools. On my departure, the most poignant gift the boys gave me was a pair of bookends made by them of charred wood from the College ruins. I am prepared to pass them on to you and any details you may be interested in.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.