Fresher Heirs

About the Book

For the teenagers who grew up during the restrictive era of world war II, the late forties brought a feeling of emancipation. However, as Britain was still picking itself up and reconstructing, many careers had to be put ‘on hold.’ Young males were called up for compulsory national service in the Armed Forces, gaining useful experience. We girls were more fortunate, progressing smoothly from school to college with the benefit of hands-on teaching experience. Each had its merits. Fresher Heirs is a diary of life at the newly formed Lady Mabel College of Physical Education, Wentworth Woodhouse, or, Rotherham, Yorkshire, 1949-52.

About the Author

Pearl Riley (nee Sutcliffe) was born in Lytham St. Annes where she grew up and still lives. Known more generally as Penny, she has had two careers and also brought up six children. After teaching PE full-time for three years at Blackburne House, Liverpool, she had a short spell in Preston before moving back to Lytham; here she continued to teach swimming part-time in between feeding babies and nappy washing. At the earliest opportunity, she accepted a small part-time post at her old school, Queen Mary School, Lytham. She taught mainly swimming, lifesaving, and educational dance, her hours increasing as her children became more independent. After some thirteen years, she began working with children with special needs. She later retrained to work with adults with learning difficulties, spending a further thirteen years at Park View Training Centre until her retirement. She now has five grandchildren and two ’greats.’ Penny’s hobbies include lifesaving work, swimming, ice dancing, and tennis—and in quieter moments, knitting, calligraphy, and reading. Unfortunately there is still considerable animosity between herself and the computer!