The following is an extract from the story of Shoreham Grammar School, an independent boys school in West Sussex as remembered by E. E. Gray

Autumn 1939 and the outbreak of war. Shoreham became a reception area and for a time some of the pupils of Westminster School were housed with us. After the 'phoney' war and Dunkirk, however, Shoreham became an evacuation area and it was therefore essential for Mr. Kirkman the headmaster to seek premises inland in order to house the boarders together with the dayboys that were able to go.

Suitable premises were almost unobtainable, but at this time Milland House, near Liphook, which belonged to the Thompson (Shipping) family came on the market and a lease was negotiated. The move of the boarding section took place in August 1940 and Mr. Kirkman left Mr. Podd as Headmaster to run the remaining day section in Shoreham.

We remaining dayboys numbered about 150 boys, using only half of the school at Shoreham, with the run of four classrooms on the north side where the General Assemblies were held, plus two other forms on the south side of the corridor to the Masters' Staff Room. We also used the Music Room for Forms 1 and 2 and the Lab.

One entered the school by the front door, which was on the east side opposite the Chapel. This was where the fearsome 'Dora' Mrs. Barrell, issued stationery, and as there was a War on, her byword was 'Waste not, want not'.

We had to produce the old pencil ends, which were then replaced, and only one pen-nib at a time was issued. When one's old books were exchanged for new ones only half-inch margins were to be left and woe betide anyone who left space at the bottom of a page.

This economy was good training and I am sure that all boys who underwent this will remember it for the rest of their days. Dora had been a teacher all her life and had married late to Mr. Barrell who returned from Milland to become Headmaster at Shoreham in August 1941.

There were two other characters that remain in my mind. Mr. Marsh, the Music master, he could be severely cutting with his remarks. He also took games and some of us smaller boys for general subjects. He was a dedicated person with a great musical talent.

The other person that stands out was Mr. McConagley, 'Conk'. He did not take small boys as he was interested in higher things - maths - which I believe he really loved and he put his whole effort into passing on his exceptional talent. He was also the Nelson House Master.

The school found it difficult to procure teaching staff during the war as many had gone away to join the Forces, as had our Mr. Bennett and Mr. Hull. There were many other difficulties and distractions from school work, not the least being the two air-raid shelters.

They were dug on the south side of the playground - they ran parallel for about fifty yards in length. At first there was no lighting other than candles, so that when the sirens went, everyone tried to get near the door, and you can imagine the noise.

Enemy aircraft were often about during the early part of the war. This was frightening but exciting. The school never suffered a direct hit but there were many visits to the shelter, which usually ended the work for the day concerned.

During the war the centre block of buildings at Shoreham (where the 5th Form used to be and behind the milk sheds) was leased to the National Fire Service. This comprised approximately half of the school ground area.

The Fire Brigade had to cut an opening in the milk shed in order to be able to drive the fire engines in and out and an opening was also cut in the west boundary wall. The noise when these engines were called out was quite unbelievable, and at times we did not seem to be a school at all.

Also during the war the south block was leased to the Canadian Forces, with consequent further distractions.

For most of the war there was a Cadet Corps which wore the 1914 uniform when I first joined. It used to take ages to roll the puttees, and the thick belt and flat hat were most uncomfortable and, of course, they all had brass buttons. There was also a band for a short time.

School hours were from 9 am to 12.20 pm and 1.50 pm to 4 pm for four and a half days a week. On Wednesday afternoons we had sport, which took place in the playing field situated on the north side of Connaught Avenue, a short walk from the school to the west.

The Gym was not used as it had also been taken over by the Army. One of the most welcome facilities to return after the war was the Tuck Shop. This happened about the same time as the borders came back to Shoreham.

It was situated at the south end of the old lab, and was run by that loveable character, 'Pop' Chitty, who was always the same to everyone, pleasant, helpful and industrious.

Although sweets were on ration - the old E. and D. Coupons - and there was no ice cream, there was no shortage of cream buns and some of the boys may remember my appetite for these which were purchased from Giggins shop, situated on the corner of Western Road.

One can often remember the fun and trouble one got into and I well recall the time following an army manoeuvre on the Downs when there appeared masses of small silk parachutes in the playground. These had been fired from mortars to light up the sky at night. However, someone had also found a quantity of unexploded lights, which were full of cordite and this was passed round the classroom.

When the Headmaster found out about them there was big trouble as the Downs were out of bounds and cordite can be very dangerous. We all had to turn out our pockets but by this time the classroom floor was like a desert sands as cordite is yellow and everyone had disposed of it as best he could.

The outcome was that all parachutes and cordite were confiscated and there were many boys caned at General Assembly.

On Saturday mornings there was the dreaded Red List where many of us met regularly. This form of detention comprised doing 'squares' and 'square roots', which never seemed to end. If one did not finish the punishment it was carried on the following week. Some boys were never on this list - I was not one of them!