"My mother attended the Bluecoat School from 1930 until 1938, and I used to love hearing the stories about life then, things like at that time it was an orphanage, the kids never had any sweets and my mum used to walk around the schoolyard eating toothpaste! And how every Easter the city of Liverpool donated a huge chocolate egg that would be broken up and distributed to all the kids. Also how at aged eight the girls all had to knit their own full length woollen stockings.

"My Mum's maiden name was Joan Elizabeth Lambert, and she attended the Bluecoat from 1930 until 1938 along with her sister Edna (Edna resides in Houston, Texas, U.S.A.) I don't recall many other stories from my Mum, just that her best friend Frances died of T.B. which I am sure was rampant in those days, and that she had a teacher called Miss Hipkiss, and all the kids would go behind her back slap their hip and blow a kiss!!

"My Mother was born in 1922 and taken to the U.S.A. with her parents and siblings as her Father was in the American Navy. He passed away aged 28 years and my Grandmother decided to return to England. However, her in-laws had different ideas and kidnapped my Mother!! My Grandmother returned to England and my mother was sent back 18 months later. I guess in those days it was very hard to try and rear three kids without a Father, so that is why they were put in the Bluecoat.

"After my Mum left the Bluecoat she worked in Grange Lane, Gateacre as a Nanny to a Major's children. (In later years I went to school at Gateacre Comprehensive and used to go past this grand house every day!!!). Mum later went on to join the WRAF, and there she met my Father and they were married and had my brother and I, and then we emigrated out here."

SANDRA HAMLETT
Australia

March 2001