June recalls a time before teenagers and technology

Happy memories: June Golding shares a joke with headteacher Charles Smith (above). Still happy: June, who taught at Walmer Secondary School when it opened in 1958.

WALMER Secondary School opened 50 years ago this month and June Golding was among the first staff to teach at the school.

It was her first job after finishing teacher training in London and it brought the 20-year-old right back to her roots in the area where she grew up.

The 70-year-old, who now lives with husband John, a 71-year-old retired lecturer, in Courtland Drive, River, spoke of her memories.

June said: “I was born and brought up in Walmer in Downs Road on the edge of the school field and my father was involved in the building of the school

“When the first headmaster Charles Smith came down to Walmer to look at the new school, which was still being built, my father met him.

“The education officer took Mr Smith to the pub near my father’s office and they met there. It was all a bit close-knit.”

When the school, which is now called Walmer Science College, opened it caused a stir because girls and boys were taught together, which was a first in the area.

June who taught English, said “Walmer was a conservative place and there was discussion about whether the girls and boys should be put together.”

In a teaching career which lasted 40 years, and included spells at both of Dover’s grammar schools and some local primary schools, June saw many changes, and the rise of the teenager.

She said: “The youngsters were far more biddable, they did not have the confidence they have today.

“The idea of teenagers was very new, the children knew they had to go out to work at 15.

“I think life was much easier for teachers in those days. There was far more respect.” It is not just the pupils who changed in the 40 years June spent in the classroom, technology also developed at a pace which would have been unimaginable in 1958 June said: “The only thing we had was a radio in the secretary's office and if there was a schools programme on the Home Service we could listen to it on speakers in the classroom.

“We came over to Dover one evening to the college to learn about the reel-to-reel recorder and how we could us it in the classroom.”

There will be an open afternoon at Walmer Science College between 1.30-5pm on April 21 to mark the 50th anniversary.

It will feature a display of photographs, school magazines, programmes and other items from 1958 until today. All are welcome to come along.