We now meet Margaret Hickman Smith, a key member of our events team

What is your involvement with Friends of St Peter’s?

I’m a member of the Friends Events Team and we plan and run fund-raising events such as quizzes, BBQs and of course our monthly Saturday markets. I regularly bake for the Saturday markets and cook for the village Hall events. Since we started these events, we have raised nearly £50,000. Of course, being married to Terry who is managing the project I get involved vicariously almost every day!

Have you always lived in Forncett?

No, but I have been here for nearly 30 years, since 1996. I became head teacher at Tacolneston Primary School in 1990, but was living in Norwich at the time, so moving nearer to the school seemed to make sense. I fell in love with Chestnut Cottage, moved to Forncett and haven’t looked back! We’re lucky to have a big enough garden for us to keep chickens and a goose.  The chickens are very good at supplying us with eggs which are much needed for the baking I do for the Friends Saturday markets!

And what brought you to Norfolk?

That’s a long story! I was actually born in Dundee, lived in Leeds for a short time before being adopted by my parents who moved to Hampton in West London. When I left school, I decided I wanted to become a teacher and studied at the Church of England Teacher Training College in Fishponds, Bristol.

While studying we had a trip to Coventry Cathedral. My friend Bridget and I decided we’d apply for jobs in Coventry and we were both successful so that’s where I started my teaching career in 1964 at Bell Green School. Would you believe my monthly first pay check, which I’ve still got, was for £41 6s 3d! The school was situated in part of community centre in an area of newly built flats and totally unsuitable as a school, with large sliding windows and small rooms where the desks were wall to wall with very little space to move around.

As is often the case, it was love that prompted my move to Norfolk when my first husband Michael got a job at Keswick Hall.

And what about you – did you continue teaching?

Yes, I got a job at Trowse County Primary School. When Michael and I separated I was able to buy my first house because in those days teachers were offered the chance to get 100% mortgages. I took in student lodgers to help pay the mortgage. It was a busy time because I also volunteered with the Samaritans. My next job was as deputy head of the newly built Hethersett Primary School. When I was interviewed for the job, the school was just a circle of bricks in a field! It was officially opened by Mrs Thatcher when she was Minister for Education. I remember the day very well with protesters outside the school shouting “Margaret Thatcher Milk Snatcher” but she was very professional and also really good with the children. I was asked to get publicity for the school. My idea was to keep pet guinea pigs in the class, which was unusual at the time. It did get a lot of attention and led me to giving a talk about it at How Hill.

By now I was in a new relationship and had two children, which meant I had to give up teaching because in those days there was no maternity leave. When the children were old enough, I returned to teaching, this time at Angel Road First School in Norwich. It wasn’t long before I was encouraged to apply for a headship and I really liked the idea of running a small village school, so that’s how I came to be head of Tacolneston First School. I was there from 1990 to 2007 and under my headship it grew to become a Primary School.

Did you enjoy your time there?

I have many fond memories, not least meeting my wonderful husband, Terry. The school needed rebuilding and the architect appointed to manage the project was Terry who despite my initial impatience, always stayed calm with a warm smile on his face! I had met the children’s author James Mayhew when I was living in Norwich and he became a regular visitor to the school delighting the children with his drawings and story-telling. He’s now a lifelong friend whose partner Toto cooked wonderful Spanish tapas for my 80^th birthday last year.

I believe you’ve also got a passion for dancing?

Yes! I’ve had a lifelong love of dance going to ballet, tap, modern and National dance classes till I went to college. So, when I was out of teaching after my second daughter was born, I joined a contemporary dance class at the Crome Centre. This was a brilliant time as we met weekly and became a really good group, doing performances at the Cathedral, St Andrews Hall and other venues plus the weekly classes. This led to many lifelong friendships which add so much joy and delight to life. 

Wow, what an interesting life story you have! And thank you so much for all you do for the Friends of St Peter’s!