WHILST having my loft cleared out recently I came across a certificate which was presented to me by the County Borough of Bournemouth in 1951 for attending East Howe Secondary Girls’ School from September 10 1946 until July 1951 continuously for 1,925 attendances during which period I was never late and never absent.

This was signed by the Chairman of the Education Committee and the Chairman of the School Attendance Committee. If they did this sort of thing today I wonder how many pupils would achieve this.

I was 11 years old when I started at East Howe and during this time I lived with my dad and four brothers and had to get myself to school every day.

I walked to and from school in all weathers as there was no such thing as being dropped off by car so this was quite an achievement. I wonder if there are any other pupils around my age (now 77 years old) who received one of these hand-written certificates.

MARGARET HOUGHTON, Chandos Avenue, Poole