My Happy Helmdon Days

an article by Andrew Gulliver

Andrew Gulliver.
My name is Andrew and for those of you who know the Gulliver family, I am the middle of 3 sons – 5 years younger than Geoffrey and 5 years older than Phil. I went to Helmdon County Primary School, and then used my 11+ result to go away to boarding school at Kimbolton. I then went to University at Aberystwyth and moved to Grimsby for my first job and still live here, so have scarcely lived in the village since 1954.

I loved school – there were only 3 classes for all pupils up to the age of 14 so there were 2 or 3 year groups in each class but my year (with 9 end of the war babies) was comparatively large. I remember one arithmetic test written on the blackboard, with a separate test for each year group and I was in the youngest cohort. I duly did the test only to be severely rebuked for “being precocious” as apparently I had done the test in front of me which was actually for the oldest age group and only then did my parents realise I needed glasses.

Helmdon Primary School today.
The Head, Mr Sims and later, Mr Mills lived in School House, but the other two teachers, Mrs Hopkins and Miss Furborough (and Mrs Clark for one year) all came from Woodford Halse and travelled by train to the “top station”. After school I would ride up to the station to see my teachers off and then watch the goods train shunting. It gave me a life long interest in the historical development of the railway network. We had gardening lessons in the afternoon – not my favourite activity and I soon learned the art of escaping those lessons when one of the seniors threw some dirt across the garden and got sent indoors – so I often copied him. When I was 16 I represented Huntingdonshire in the inter-county schools athletics; after my mile race I was in the spectators’ area and turned round to see Mr Mills in the crowd. He asked me if I had learned my lesson and stopped throwing dirt across the garden! I didn’t confess. I was a milk monitor in my last year at school and would manage to clear up any left over/surplus bottles. Again a trait I still have.

Helmdon Baptist Chapel.
The Baptist Chapel played a big part in our family and I would attend Sunday School in the morning. The worship services were timed at 2.30 and 6.15 to fit around milking times and the 5.55 farmers’ weather forecast. My Sunday School teachers were Beryl Watson (Juniors) and Jack Bazeley (Seniors) and I am eternally grateful for Jack who explained how to become a Christian. Before the Sunday School room was built (in1952?) we met on the balcony in the chapel and the trick was to start on the back seat and surreptitiously move to the front to drop a hymn book onto the seats below. The first half of Sunday School was in the balcony, for the second half we moved downstairs. We did the Scripture Exam each year and then on Good Fridays all the Towcester and District Sunday Schools had a special united service when the exam results would be announced and the Shield awarded to the winning Sunday School.

Andrew Gulliver, 2020.
One year the service was at Helmdon, but I had forgotten to take my collection so held my hand over the plate as if I were contributing only for Andrew (Beau) Ratledge to announce, loud and clear for all to hear, “Gulliver ent got no collection”. From about 1957 onwards we held Towcester Sunday School Camps at Long Handborough, Shoreham and Aberystwyth. I loved every minute and went every year as camper, and later as a leader. At the “Spot the Leader” game at the Shoreham camp, I was bandaged up to conceal my identity and got lots of sympathy from folk I met down the street, but my sister who dressed up as a nun was somewhat embarrassed when she met a real nun.

I will always be grateful for those happy Helmdon days and my gratitude means I am still passionate about my Christian faith, about the Cobblers, the Saints and the County Cricket team.

Andrew Gulliver
2020