Memories of BGS

Memories of Bristol Grammar School in the

1930s & during the Second World War.

I was born on the 1st of May, 1924, the youngest of four children of Frederick James Steel and his wife Daisy (née Cross). The others were Arthur George (8/10/1917), Cyril Frederick (29/11/1920) and Constance Susan Emily (6/7/1922). We lived at 46 Shaftesbury Avenue, Bristol, but moved up the hill to the more salubrious 20 Upper Belmont Road when I was three, so I cannot remember much about my first home. I was also very ill there and only survived because of dedicated nursing by my mother. “That’s more than I do!” and so started a new phase of my life. At BGS I did well at first and, on Arthur’s advice, selected the “modern” route of Latin, French, German, Maths and Science etc. in contrast to the “classic” route which included Greek. My progress

The late 1920’s and early 1930’s saw the ending of social conditions that had existed for a very long time. We walked almost everywhere, unless lucky enough to possess a bicycle. Cars were almost unknown and had to be garaged when not in use, so onstreet parking did not take place to any extent. Public Transport was mainly by electric tram, which could be quite exciting on the open top deck! Longer journeys took place on steam-hauled trains. “Bone-shaking” buses covered other routes.

We all went to Sefton Park Junior School, which provided a good education. After Sefton Park School, Arthur went to Cotham School, Cyril went to North Bristol Central School and Connie went to Fairfield School. In 1935 I was awarded a Christchurch Exhibition Scholarship at Bristol Grammar School and this entailed an interview in their Vestry. One of the interviewers asked me if I knew how an aeroplane worked. When I replied that I did, he remarked

BGS – “SHELL” FORM (1935-1936) Front Row: Centre – Peter Steel, Right End – Alan White 2nd Row: Centre – M Guerra (Form Master & French Teacher) Back Row: 3rd from Left – A Dudley Osborne

MAIN ENTRANCE - Library on the left, “Fives” Court on the right

faltered in the 2nd year (Form 4b) until I realised that homework was important, after which I regained a better position. In the 5th and Lower 6th Forms, Mechanics, more Maths and Science (which I enjoyed) enabled me to achieve good grades in the First School Certificate in 1939.

I attended the 6th Science Form for two years, studying mainly Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, with other subsidiary subjects such as Art (including Architecture). During Air-raid Alerts, pupils evacuated to four underground trench shelters in the playing field, while the 6th formers were allocated fire-guard duties. With several others I was assigned to guard the Preparatory School (now 6th Form Block).

First School Certificate – July 1939

I served as a daytime fire-guard until the building was destroyed in the night air-raid of 24/11/1940. Air-raid trench shelters were situated under the bank on the right

Memories of BGS Memories of BGS

BGS Preparatory School

The war did not affect us much at first. After Poland had been over-run by Germany and Russia, an uneasy calm set in (the “phoney war”).

On 9th April 1940 the war suddenly erupted. Norway and Denmark were invaded by Germany; Denmark surrendered but Norway put up a fierce resistance, aided by hurriedly rushed in British and French forces. German air superiority won the day, forcing the final evacuation from Narvik on 9th July.

Meanwhile, on 10th May 1940, Germany attacked Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Holland surrendered after four days and the Nazi armies swept into France, by-passing the defensive Maginot Line, leading to the evacuation of British and some Allied forces from Dunkirk on 29th May. France surrendered on 22nd June and on 30th June, the Channel Islands were occupied. This had certainly been a “Blitzkrieg” (Lightning War) and an unexpected disaster for the Allies. The totally unexpected fall of France now meant that German bombers could reach the whole of Britain. Small scale night-time air-raids on the Bristol area started in June 1940 and many hours were spent in air-raid shelters. We had a brick and concrete one in the back garden, fitted with bunk beds.

During all this time, school proceeded normally and as I did well in the Exams, I was awarded quite a valuable prize, comprising a number of books. These had the school coat-of-arms in gold on the front and a label inside stating “for proficiency in Science” etc.

At school, we had a grand-stand view of two incidents during the Battle of Britain, the daylight raids of 25th & 27th September 1940. In the first, about 70 bombers in formation passed over the City at about 4,000 metres high to bomb severely Filton aircraft factory. Much damage was caused and about 100 people were killed. Antiaircraft fire brought down a Heinkel bomber at Failand. The raid two days later was a different story; 18 RAF Hurricane fighters were on patrol and attacked the formation, which broke up and scattered, jettisoning bombs. Ten bombers were shot down, with the loss of two fighters.

Major night air-raids started on Sunday 24th November 1940, although many air-raid warnings had been sounded in previous weeks. I was off duty, but following the alert siren at 6.21 pm, parachute flares were dropped and it soon became clear that many bombs and incendiaries were landing. I reported for duty 18.50 to 00.15, but nothing happened in our sector. The main target was the city centre and enormous damage was done. Great fires raged out of control and water supplies failed due to damaged mains. One of the areas destroyed was the Castle Street shopping district, which has never been rebuilt but now forms the Castle Park open space. Heavy bombs were also dropped further out and one, in Falmouth Road, caused damage to Horfield Baptist Church, where Connie and Cyril were sheltering after the Evening Service had been halted. At the University, the fine Great Hall was destroyed by fire and at the Grammar School, the Preparatory suffered the same fate, so my services as a fire-guard were no longer required there! Nearly 200 were killed, but in a few days the City was operating again, despite the loss of much property.

Life at School proceeded normally and I passed the Higher School Certificate in Physics, Chemistry, Pure and Applied Mathematics, which meant that I was qualified to enter University. I applied for a State Scholarship and thought

Higher School Certificate – July 1941

it would be interesting to study Chemistry. To my surprise, in August I received an offer of a City Senior Scholarship worth £30 per year towards the fees of £42, to enter the BSc course in Civil Engineering at the University of Bristol. This sounded even more interesting, so I accepted.

And so ended my time at Bristol Grammar School!

Peter H Steel

(1935-1941)