OUR recent Nostalgia piece on Myland Primary School brought back painful memories for reader Owen Hay.

Mr Hay remembers experiencing corporal punishment - a ruler across the back of his legs - during his time there...but insists it was a case of mistaken identity.

He dropped us a line after reading Colin James’ piece about flooding at the bottom of Horkesley Hill and seeing his picture of Myland Primary School.

Mr Hay was also a pupil there, from 1946 to 1952, and remembers teacher Freda Digby, who was mentioned in the original piece on May 5.

“Your article brought back memories of being taught by that dear lady, albeit slightly before Colin,” he said.

Gazette:

Class act - this picture was sent in by Colin James and shows the children at Myland School in 1955. It was used as part of our nostalgia spread in the Gazette on May 5. Mr James is in the middle row, fourth from the left

“It reminded me of comments about her from a former pupil that appeared on Friends Reunited.

“The writer said ‘I was in her class for two years. A very big lady with short hair. She used to wear a thick green dress with bobbles on it. She was quite strict but very kind’.”

Mr Hay said: “She was kind but strict.

"She was the only primary teacher I came across to resort to corporal punishment, once applying a ruler to the backs of my legs.

"It was, of course, a case of mistaken identity.”

Mr Hay, 80, said Miss Digby returned into his life when he started attending Headgate Congregational Chapel, in Chapel Street (now Christ Church URC, in Ireton Road).

Gazette:

Church-goers - Freda Digby appears in this picture entitled ‘Noble Women’. It was taken in 1937

Miss Digby was a deacon there.

“Recently, in helping gather things of interest to take to the Essex Record Office, I came across several references to her, plus a summary of her life, presumably given to the church on her passing on December 6, 1992,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dan Gregory also made contact to share another picture of Myland Primary School. He dropped us a line via our We grew up in Colchester and Tendring Facebook page to share a picture of Coronation Day (June 2, 1953).

It was taken on the Severalls sports field, in Mill Road.

Gazette:

First school photo - Gazette reader Owen Hay, pictured in 1946

Gazette:

Headgate deacons - Freda Digby is second from the right in the front row. It is believed this picture was taken in 1961

Gazette:

Coronation day - Dan Gregory’s picture of children from Myland Primary School. It was taken on June 2, 1953, on the Severalls sports field, in Mill Road

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