Tom Stewart, J.P. says:

I recall living in Aycliffe Approved School in 1942. This was a junior Borstal for boys 9-16 who were at risk or who had committed minor crimes. I was placed there as being “out of control” by my mother. My father was a POW in Germany and I was very self-willed. The Principal was Mr. Gittins, a very tall man. My House parent was a Mr. “Taffy’ East who had played cricket for Glamorgan pre-war, he was very strict but popular. I recall that on the property there was a Sewage farm. We were made to go to School and after school hours worked at gardening, painting and general maintenance work around the school. There were very few absconders as the school was pretty remote. I enjoyed Boxing and being in the School Army Cadets.