"I started at Husborne Crawley School when I was 3 years old. Our class teacher was Florence Yates. We called her Teacher Floss. There was no central heating in the school then, only open fireplaces in each classroom. On cold days we would try to huddle round them except the teachers would always stand in front of the lovely warm flames so the heat wouldn't reach us! There was one big blackboard in each class and we all sat at wooden desks. I remember we had to learn how to sew and patch and how to knit socks.

School dinners were not provided so everyone would have to walk home for lunch, but the roads were nothing like they are today. When I was at school there were hardly any cars, it was mostly horse and cart and you would often see Mr. Dove the baker, pushing his bread cart along the lane. His cart is now in Bedford Museum! I was happy at school. Our Headteacher, Mrs Lawrence, was very kind."