Recently we were fortunate enough to be visited by Hilda Hall whose father, George Shipp, was headmaster at Glenmore Road Public School from 1918 to 1925.

Hilda, now 87 years old, came to the school when she was only 7 with her elder sister, Dulcie, who is now 90, Olive who is deceased and her brother George.

They lived in the building we know as The Cottage which was then a three bedroomed residence, and Hilda recalled that it was so small that she and Olive shared a bed whilst Dulcie, as the eldest girl, had her own room and "poor George" had to sleep out on the verandah.

Because there was so little noise from traffic at that time, Hilda remembers that it was possible to hear the lions roaring in the zoo at Moore Park, and because there were so few buildings in the area, she cherished her extensive view across Rushcutters Bay. However she also recalls a less attractive feature of the Bay. She and the other children were taken there to swim in what she can only describe as "raw sewage". Swimming lessons were not particularly enjoyable!!!!

Before his appointment to Glenmore Road Public School, her father was a teacher at a country school in Addalong near Deniliquin. At that time, she remembers, there were about 35 children in each class and "my dad was very strict - he gave the cane quite often, but never to the girls!" All the children were very well behaved, she felt, because of this strict discipline.

She particularly remembers with fondness a young teacher called Mr. Samms whom "all the girls liked a lot" and she found it amusing that there is still a Mr. Wallace on the staff here, as she was in a Mr. Wallace's class way back in the 1920s.

When Hilda was in 6th Class her father was also her class teacher, and she was always "scared to be anything but a very good girl!"

Following Hilda's visit with her husband Bernard, also 87 and a former pupil of Edgecliff Preparatory School, Mrs. Koffel invited her to return to Glenmore Road to present the 1998 Honour Roll Badges, and staff, parents and children alike were delighted to listen as she shared her memories.





Hilda told us a lot about her life. She said she was 87 and her father was the headmaster of Glenmore Road. Her father was called Mr Shipp and she came here in 1918 when she was 7. They lived in the Cottage. Written by Elinor. Illustrated by Mercedes. 2 Viola




A lady came into our assembly and she was 87. She gave the badges out to the kids. Hugo - 2 Viola







Music Now Playing : Yesterday Once More



  



Go LEFT to the Contents Page - Go RIGHT to the "Families of Paddington" Page.