It is interesting that whereas a number of older men write their autobiographies, usually for the benefit of their families, women are much less likely to do so.

Copies of some of these memoirs reach Romsey’s local historians to our great delight and we keep them safely.

One collection that did reach us was of a quite different nature. It consisted of five filing boxes of the significant papers in the life of May Grace, a local lady who spent her adult life as a teacher. She always lived in the family home at 5 Albany Terrace. Her father was a stonemason whose premises were in 3 Station Road.

May Grace won a scholarship to Barton Peveril School at Eastleigh, and spent six years there, gaining her matriculation (a predecessor of GCSE), with credits in mathematics and drawing.

In 1925, at the age of 18 she applied to become a pupil-teacher, which entailed an apprenticeship. The County Council to whom she was apprenticed said that attention to her teeth was needed and that she must be vaccinated before she could be accepted.

She became a non-certificated teacher. I do not know why she did not go to college and train to become a fully qualified teacher. She would have been paid more had she done so. She was only upgraded after nearly twenty years. As a pupil teacher she spent two years at Romsey Council School.

She was first appointed to Michelmersh school, at an annual salary of £93 where she spent eleven years. (Women teachers were paid less than men until around 1960).

In those days, it was necessary to present testimonials when applying for a job. A testimonial was given to the person involved, who then showed it to a prospective employer. Miss Grace had one from the Minister of the Congregational Church when applying for the post at Michelmersh. It reads:

"I have known May Grace for a number of years in connection with my ministry and have much pleasure in station that she is a keen and industrious student conscientious in her work and will discharge all her duties with credit.  Stanley M. Allen."

In 1936 she moved to Rownhams School, where she remained until her retirement in 1967 latterly under David Johnson who subsequently moved to Romsey Abbey School. Her retirement must have seemed like the end of an era to the village. She lived on into her nineties.