My first school in Watford -'Watford Fields'

Watford Fields school from 1940

By Arthur Hall

I started at Watford Fields School late 1940.

I can at this moment remember only four names of my Teachers. The Headmaster was a Mr Coleman, my Teacher was a Miss Clark, and the Music Teachers were 2 Miss Horns, both were Sisters, 1 Senior & 1 Junior. They were responsible for the daily morning prayers, and hymns prior to starting lessons.

Because of World War II, our lessons were frequently interrupted by ‘Air Raid Sirens’ which came from ‘Benskins Big Bertha’ siren, we then had to take cover under the wooden shelters erected in the ‘Main Hall’ until the all clear sounded. ‘Big Bertha’ was a steam siren attached to a chimney in ‘Benskins’ and would give intermittent blasts when there was an air raid, similar to that of a ships siren, and a long lasting blast when it was all clear.

I can remember our coach driving through floods which would occur between Croxley railway carriage sheds, and under the railway bridge in Wiggenhall Road. This footpath was eventually raised for the benefit of pedestrians. Also, that Terry Thomas, who at that time went to Watford Grammar School lived at Watford Fields.

Our happy times were when ‘Ceresales’ the ice cream man would arrive once a week in a horse drawn ice cream float, to sell ice cream, from a tub encased with crushed ice. I believe the ice cream float may have been Italian, as it had a fancy canopy supported by 4 gold twisted shape poles.

Happy Memories of Watford Fields.

This page was added on 07/11/2013.

Comments about this page

  • I left the school in 1956. Mr Coleman was headmaster and my teacher was Mr Spouge. Two names I remember of guys in my class was Gold and Wiggins.
    I live in Devon now but would love to contact anyone who remembers those days or even me. We had a challenge when there to run around the court marked out in the playground, I remember our tuck shop well.
    Look forward to any one who would like to contact me

    By Geoff Hulley (17/02/2022)
  • I was at the school as a junior until 1949.
    After taking my 11+ exam my parents moved to Woodford Green Essex.

    By David Manicom (18/07/2020)
  • Was it not Terry Scott who lived on Watford Fields? (Rather than Terry Thomas?)

    By Steve Hull (12/06/2020)
  • My parents lived on a new estate in carpenters park, my first school was bushey infants and from their I went to Watford fields school in 1945 the last year of the war.
    I have very happy memories except when I contracted ring worm and had to go to another school until I was cured.
    After the 11+ my parents moved to Woodford green. So I had no further contact with my early friends

    By David Manicom (11/05/2019)
  • I went to Watford Fields between 1962 and 1968. I used to walk to school down Ladies Close and along a path that went through the Benskins Brewery. There was always a strong smell of malt.

    By John Elsen (13/11/2018)
  • Like a few others I have just found this website. What memories, even though mine predate the second world war having been to Watford Fields and then a short time at Victoria I was taken out to Australia in 1939 and never saw my home town again for 28 years. Now living in Devon but have to have an annual visit to the old town in spite of many missing landmarks. Keep the stories coming in !!

    By Eddie Aldridge (28/01/2014)

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