Meanwhile, around 16 children in Rushmoor were in the bottom fifth for deprivation. Of these, nine were deemed not ready for school, whereas 27% of children in the wealthiest fifth were not ready.

In 1939 I was 11 years old and I lived in Shefford, Bedfordshire. I started school in Shefford but continued at Rushmoor School in Bedford from just before the war.