OUR French classes were led by Mrs Harrison. Back in the 1960s most families would holiday in the UK so it was deemed pointless by us children to have to learn French.

We had no real expectations of travelling abroad and, therefore, when would we ever go to France? How I wish I had paid more attention back then.

Anyhow, Mrs Harrison would greet each class with a cheery "Bonjour mes eleves, asseyez-vous".

We had to stand at the beginning of all our classes until the teacher told us to sit. Hours were spent copying verbs and declensions from the blackboard and more time trying to memorise words in French for the bakers, the butchers, the chemist, department store, tobacconists and post office . I bet that there are many of her pupils who remember opening and shutting the classroom door to the group chanting sounds of "ouvrez la porte" and "fermez la porte".

Mrs Harrison had a collection of Paris Match magazines in the store cupboard that were got out on special occasions and the classroom walls were decorated with Men T-Shirts Clothes exotic posters for French cigarettes like Gaulloise and Gitanes.

I think there might even have been a poster of the handsome pop star Sacha Distel.

There was also a large map of La Belle France, with all of its departments, and a poster of the white horses of the Camargue.

I'm sure that Mrs Harrison used to drive a 2CV to work as well and I have vague recollections of us kids playing up a French exchange student who came to teach for a few classes.

In the fourth year, there was proof that people did actually travel abroad when the school put on an educational trip to Austria and Switzerland for the Prada Replica Handbags pupils. My parents couldn't afford to let me go and I'm sure that you had to buy skis and ski boots to take with you and possibly never use again.

It wasn't all study at school and, before the Christmas break, we would have a party with food and dancing. We were allowed to wear our own clothes and some kids were trendier than others. I don't think that we were allowed to attend in jeans but most of the boys would have had flares or bellbottoms by the third and fourth year.

As usual, most boys stood awkwardly to one side of the hall and practically had to be dragged blushing from head to toe across the hall floor to dance.

The plan was that we would go into the gym space for some food and soft drinks that were laid out on big tables.

In my last year, there was even lit candles in candle sticks - we felt very grown up.

After the food Fake Swiss we'd make our way next door to the assembly hall for a disco or barn dancing. There was March of the Mods, where the music got faster and faster, as did the giggles, and the Paul Jones, where the boys went one way and the girls the other. When the music stopped the person opposite you was your partner.

I expect there was some pushing and shoving during that one to get to dance with the person you fancied.

One Christmas, a teacher called Mrs Harvey created a mural around the school hall walls depicting the 12 days of Christmas and we had to have a go at singing it each assembly The school had a strong moral code and was keen on instilling Christian and spiritual values.

Darwin School pu
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