Mary Ward (Hood) (1941–1948) Remembers The Tiffin Girls’ School During WWII

On a rare sunny day in November, I had the privilege of visiting Mary Ward (née Hood), a former student of The Tiffin Girls’ School, at her home in Crowborough, East Sussex. Mary, who attended the school from 1941 to 1948, shared vivid memories of her time there during the Second World War, complete with school photographs and tales of her life after school.

Joining Tiffin Girls’ School

Mary joined The Tiffin Girls’ School in 1941, and was put in the X stream specifically for students who had been evacuated. Mary herself was evacuated twice: first to Berkshire during the blitz which delayed her entry to the school, and later to Sheffield during the dangerous months of the doodlebug raids (June–December 1944).

Joining late was intimidating, Mary recalls, and she required special French lessons to catch up. Her second evacuation, to a mixed school in Sheffield, initially felt like an adventure, but the novelty of the attention from boys quickly wore off. She missed her friends in Kingston upon Thames and even sang the Tiffin School song proudly at her temporary school in Sheffield during their speech day when they were singing their own school song!

Life During the War

The war years were frightening, especially after France fell to the Germans, but Mary remembers everyone keeping a “stiff upper lip.” Fear was something unspoken. Practical adaptations to wartime were also a part of school life. Showers, for example, were forbidden during the war in case of air raids; they resumed after the war after PE lessons. Mary recalls that her PE teacher, Miss Bomford, insisted students wait until the end of the lesson to shower, often making them late for their next class!

Rationing affected everything, even Domestic Science lessons. Students had to choose between cooking and needlework or embroidery and art. The limited supplies often made cooking lessons an exercise in creativity. Mary recounts a mischievous moment when her class added odd ingredients to a casserole destined for the teachers’ lunch—thankfully, no one seemed to notice! Mary opted for art, which she loved, studying it for the Higher School Certificate alongside English and Biology.

School Rules and Rebellion

Mary notes that the majority of students left school at 14 or 16, which was standard at the time (the leaving age was raised to 15 in the 1944 Education Act). Only about 30 girls stayed on for the sixth form. Sixth formers were required to wear school uniforms and remain on school premises, though Mary and her friends occasionally bent the rules. One favourite illicit excursion was walking by the river to the Half Mile Tree, a thrill that fortunately went unnoticed by the staff.

For those aspiring to university, studying Latin was a legal requirement, but the war’s disruptions meant no Latin teacher was available until the sixth form. Students hoping to attend university had to cram seven years of Latin into just two or spend three years in the sixth form. This requirement was lifted after the 1947 Education Act, but many girls chose teacher training colleges instead. Mary initially considered teaching but changed her mind after serving as a prefect for a particularly unruly class – form 1V B, deciding the career wasn’t for her!

Friendships and Memories

Mary fondly remembers her close-knit group of friends, including Wendy Lane, who had cerebral palsy, excelled academically, and later became a French teacher after studying at Exeter University. Another friend, Marian Aldred, was a talented academician and athlete.

Life After Tiffin

After leaving school, Mary joined the Hovis Bread Flour Company as a trainee company secretary, but decided against taking the Chartered Institute of Secretaries exams. She married artist Gerrard McIvor at 21, but after their separation, she married his best man, Lewis, who also worked at Hovis. Mary describes the company as a highly social workplace, with staff enjoying weekends of cricket, tennis, and football at the company sports ground.

The couple had two children, Jane and Jon, and eventually settled in Crowborough. Once her children were older, Mary became the school secretary at the local primary school and took on leadership roles in the local RAF Association, serving as both Secretary and Treasurer.

A New Chapter in Later Life

After her husband’s passing, Mary embraced new adventures. At 88, she obtained her first passport and travelled across Europe. These days, she enjoys exploring the UK, with recent trips to Yorkshire, Wales, and the Isle of Wight.

Reflections on School Days

Looking back, Mary wishes she had spent more time studying, recognising now how fortunate she was to have had a grammar school education. “I didn’t realize then that my time at school was for me, for my benefit,” she reflects. “But I gained so much—good friends, great memories, and confidence. I think grammar school gives you the confidence to lead.”