I AM quite sad to read that the old Newton St Cyres School has been demolished.

I went to Newton St Cyres School when I was five-years-old.

It was wartime, and due to the bombing in Exeter, where we lived, my Uncle, Bill Shapland, said we must go to stay with him in Shaplands Cottage, which we did, until it was safe to return to Exeter.

So it was at that time that I started at Newton St Cyres School.

On the first morning my Mother walked me up the hill to school and prepared to hand me over.

However, it seemed I was not too thrilled at the idea of school and, as my Mother, turned around, I was gone, running back down the hill, before my Mother could catch me!

When she did, as I reached home, she firmly grabbed my arm and smartly marched me back up the hill and, this time, handed me over to a teacher.

I was then taken to the Headmaster who firmly told me "we don’t do this sort of thing here"!

I never tried it again.

I also remember that all the pupils would walk down the hill to the Parish Hall for their dinner but as I lived just opposite in Shaplands Cottage, I had dinner at home.

After my dinner, we all met together and walked back up the hill to school for afternoon lessons, when we used a slate and chalk for writing on! Happy Memories!

Derek Shapland

Waresfoot Drive

Crediton