Joyce Brown (1947- 49) remembers. . .

Joyce Brown was one of the first batch of students to go to Keswick Hall. She now lives in Cambridge.


At the beginning of the Autumn Term of 1948 a group of 41 girls from Norwich Training College moved in to Keswick Hall. We were the second-year students doing what was then a two-year teacher training course. The beginning of term was delayed for two weeks as Keswick Hall was being adapted to accommodate us. Most of the rooms were for twos or threes but there were a few single rooms. We were able to have a certain amount of choice as to our room-mates for this second year.

The washing facilities consisted of washbasins in two rows on either side of a passage (each one screened by a curtain). Our dining room, where we had all our meals, was down on the ground floor. The chapel was the bow-ended room on the first floor above the room which in later years housed the Library. Morning and evening the bell was tolled for chapel and those of us willing had a turn at leading, probably because Rev. Cyster had to take chapel with the first-year students back in Norwich.

Miss Pearson and Miss Buttery and the cook lived at Keswick Hall with us. As it was soon after the Second World War may things were still rationed and we had our own jar of jam or marmalade (and I think butter and sugar too) which we had to eke out, until the next ration was due.

As we were in Keswick while the rest of the college was in Norwich we needed transport for P. T. , hockey, choir activities and for 'School Practice'. The college bought a bus which was known as Ethel. One of our year was bus monitor and had to organize the arrangements. The bus was driven by Mr Cole, or sometimes by Miss Pearson. Mr Cole and his wife lived in the converted stables at Keswick, and he did various jobs besides driving the bus. I remember a great deal of singing on the bus.

For our own trips into Norwich we had either to cycle, catch a bus from the main road, or walk. I believe we had to be in by 10. 30 pm.

The College Dance was a highlight for many. Another highlight for the members of the choir was singing in Norwich Cathedral accompanied by Miss Johnson on the harp. That year we also had a bonfire on November 5th and sang songs around the fire.

The Royal Norfolk Show was held in the field behind Keswick Hall that year, as it had several times, before there was a permanent site at Costessey. From our bedroom windows some of us had perfect vantage points from which to watch all that was going on. It was a time of very hot weather and that, together with a water shortage, led some of the animals to break out of their pens and stampede.

A field of thistles was ear-marked by the college for a hockey pitch and we were asked to pull up the thistles with the help of stout gloves.

Having started at Keswick two weeks late we had to stay an extra two weeks at the end of the year. In pleasant summer weather we were able to enjoy the unspoilt surrounding, our hard work behind us.