Grandparents go back to school to talk about their toys

DECADES may have passed since their schooldays but they line up with their favourite toys in their hands and smiles on their faces.

“Can we come in, Miss?” shouts 73-year-old Edwin Braithwaite as the bright blue door is unlocked and today’s excited visitors are welcomed inside.

This is Grandparents’ Tea and Toys Day at Melsonby Methodist Primary School, in North Yorkshire, and the same event is being held nine miles away at North and South Cowton Primary School.

Both are part of The Federation North and South Cowton Community and Melsonby Methodist Primary Schools – and it’s going to be fun.

As part of the history curriculum, grandparents – and great-grandparents – have been invited into the schools to talk about the toys they loved playing with when they were children.

“It’s a way of bringing the generations together and bringing history to life,” says Helen Robinson, Executive Headteacher for the schools.

(Image: Peter Barron) A box of old toys has been borrowed from the Dales Countryside Museum, at Hawes, to supplement those brought in by the guests, and the memories are flowing.

Dolls, spinning tops, tea-sets, jigsaws, puppets, toy cars, and even a primitive pair of ice skates (pictured below) are on display, to the wonder of the computer generation of children.

(Image: Peter Barron) “For me, it was a metal toy tractor with rubber wheels, and Meccano – I played with them for hours,” says Edwin, who grew up on his parents’ farm and went on to be a digger driver.

“Toys were simpler in the old days – it’s all computer games now,” says Edwin, taking the chance to fit a new set of tyres onto a toy wagon as he chats happily to his young audience.

The admiring children include his six-year-old great-grandson, Edwin Brown, who’s named after him.

“This is a lovely school and it’s a great idea to bring the generations together like this – I’ve loved it,” adds Edwin the elder.

Carol Adamson, great grandma of Piper Bridge, has brought in her beloved doll, Susan. “My mum and dad didn’t have much but I got Susan when I was five. I’ve loved her ever since, and Piper loves playing with her now too.”

Brought up in nearby Darlington, Carol remembers when there was a dolls’ hospital in Grange Road. When she wasn’t playing with her dolls, she was on her roller skates or ‘whip and top’.

“The prices have changed, of course, and, as soon as they see it on TV, they want it these days,” she adds.

Kay Watt, grandma of Amelie Grundy, has also brought in a doll, though she can’t remember its name. “It’s too long ago!” says Kay, who grew up in a pit village, near Crook.

“My dad used to make paper kites, and I had a trike, but I also just used an old broom as a pretend horse. Some things have changed but, in the end, it just comes down to having fun.”

Retired teacher Jill Jones, who has grandson, Toby Jones, at the school, has popped in with Babette, the rabbit, and Tessie, the teddy, who’s seen better days.

“I got her when I was tiny, but she went through a twin-tub, got hung on the washing line, and hasn’t been the same since,” she admits.

That said, Jill’s loving the chance to come into the building, where she once worked.

“The school is a lovely, safe environment – it feels like a family,” she says.

“Days like this work both ways – it’s nice for the children and nice for the grandparents too because it brings back memories,” she adds.

Playtime over, the school staff serve tea and scones to the Melsonby grandparents, who also include Deborah Adamson, and Jeanette Diack.

Meanwhile, they’ve also been bringing back childhood memories, at North Cowton, where Margaret and Gordon Woodcock, Sian and John Moore, and Paul Middleton have been the visiting grandparents.

(Image: Peter Barron) A dusted-off Meccano set, tin of marbles, and tiddlywinks are among the favourite toys from an age when the worldwide web was unimaginable. A battered old bagatelle is also proving quite an attraction. Pull a string to fire a metal ball around a wooden board and hope it lands in a hole with a score. No wi-fi necessary.

Back at Melsonby, it’s home-time, and teacher, Georgia Butcher, calls on the children to join together in saying thank you to their visitors.

“It’s been magical to see the generations interacting – it’s made our lessons about the history of toys come to life,” she says, reflecting on the success of Grandparents’ Tea and Toys Day.

For young and old – six-year-old Edwins and 73-year-old Edwins – playtime’s been a lot of fun.

TOY MILESTONES FOR YESTERYEAR

1958: Lego – named after the Danish phrase leg godt, meaning ‘play well’ – is patented.

1961: Fuzzy Felt bring out Noddy finger puppets. Airfix launch Betta Bilda sets at 10 shillings each. Scalextric slot car racing sets, are among the year’s best sellers.

1962: Chad Valley launches the Give-a-show projector, and Dinky’s First Engine is the first model vehicle to feature flashing lights.

1963: Matchbox introduce toy cars with opening doors, and the board game Diplomacy arrives on the market.

1964: It’s the year of the latest craze, Booma Boomerang.

1965: The James Bond Aston Martin Car is the first Toy of the Year.

1966: Action Man – the first doll for boys – is Toy of the Year, and party game Twister is a hit.

1967: Spirograph is the Toy of the Year, and Etch-a-Sketch is launched.

1968: Sindy is Toy of the Year, and the Go-Car game features a breathalyser test as a hazard.

1969: Hot Wheels cars are Toy of the Year, and Newton’s Cradle (Klikkies) sells well.

Melsonby Methodist Primary School (Image: Peter Barron)