SCHOOLS AT WAR

Sub-titled 'A Story of Education, Evacuation and Endurance in the Second World War', the book marks the first time that the extraordinary tales of drama and trauma experienced by many English schools has been collected into a single book. It has been made possible by the Association of Representatives of Old Pupils' Societies (AROPS). Founded in 1971, this group of old boys' and old girls' organisations had at the time of publication more than 260 members. It decided to conduct a survey to discover what actually happened during the years 1939-45 and tracked the movements of schools and the stories that emerged covered a truly amazing diversity of experiences. Here are schools in the heart of the country who are virtually untouched by the global conflict, schools in towns and cities where staff suffered the knowledge that, after the previous night's air raids, they would not be seeing some of their pupils again, and there are stories of hard work, commitment, bravery and doggedness and often humour. The extreme disruption and privations on these young lives is difficult to imagine today. With over 200 contributions, the list of schools begins with Adcote School in Shrewsbury, and includes Batley Grammar, City of London School for Girls, Croydon High School, Lancing College, Pocklington School in York which hosted Hymers College from Hull, Walthamstow Hall in Sevenoaks to Wycombe Abbey School High Wycombe where for four years girls spent their lives in enforced educational exile at such schools as Malvern Girls and Cheltenham Ladies' College. Wycombe Abbey rejoiced at their reunion in May 1946. Entries differ in length. Slim 80 pages, 20 archive photos of good quality, 2005 rare Phillimore publication.