Early in the proceedings, she informed us that whilst were were boarding she would carry out the same role as a mother or guardian would.

I still recall the murmuring in our dormitory group as we sat on the floor around her when she said this. No doubt some, unlike me, had experience of parental discipline.

Our Housemother would have been perhaps in her mid to late 30s and tended to dress in light, cream or white blouses, and dark skirts, favouring various coloured cardigans that she would wrap around her shoulders.

The girls soon noticed that she wore a wedding ring, so it was assumed her husband was perhaps connected in some way with the school.

Quite a naive thought really – but we were young children.