‘That’s right, Daphne,’ said Lily. ‘Well done.’

‘Like worms, Miss,’ said five-year-old Arnold Icklethwaite.

‘Or mebbe a mince pie,’ suggested Veronica Poole.

Suddenly everyone was shouting out.

‘Let’s make a list on the blackboard,’ said Lily.

After morning break John gathered all the children in the hall. He had been in the loft to bring out the old wooden Christmas post box.

‘Now, children,’ he said, ‘we’re all going to write a letter to Father Christmas and post it in our special post box,’ and some of the older children shared secret smiles. ‘All your letters will go to Santa at the North Pole.’

The children returned to their classrooms and were each given a sheet of paper and a pencil. Lily had written on the blackboard, ‘Dear Santa, please may I have …’ and the children had copied it carefully followed by their requests.

Lizzie Buttershaw had asked for a dolly’s tea set. Daphne Cahill showed her individuality and wrote, ‘Dear Santa, there is a black doll in Woolworths. Please may I have one?’ Veronica Poole requested a Noddy annual.

Phoebe Fawnswater had asked Santa for one of the new Rosebud dolls. She had seen one in York in a shop window and on the side of the box it read ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Doll’. For Phoebe, nothing less would do.

Meanwhile the older boys and girls in John’s class were a little sceptical about writing to Father Christmas but went along with the writing exercise. Reggie Bamforth spent a long time on his letter. He had set his heart on a model of the famous oceangoing liner, the steam ship Queen Mary, for 2/6d. He had drawn a wonderful picture and added, ‘It’s a bargain, Santa, for half a crown.’

Reggie was a true supporter of Father Christmas. When he had finished his letter he handed it with significant solemnity to John Pruett and declared, ‘Ah know that Santa is real ’cause las’ year ah got a bike an’ my mam an’ dad couldn’t afford anything that expensive.’

All the letters were posted with great ceremony, followed by John Pruett insisting that only good boys and girls would receive a gift on Christmas morning. Finally, the morning ended with a newspaper-folding exercise resulting in every child wearing a pointed hat like a pirate.

At lunchtime Lily sat at a table next to Phoebe Fawnswater and Reggie Bamforth, who were keen to share their news.

‘We’re going to London at Christmas, Miss,’ said Phoebe.

‘That’s wonderful,’ said Lily. ‘What will you do there?’

‘We’re going to see Bertram Mills Circus.’

‘And Phoebe’s mum has got one of those new television sets,’ said Reggie, ‘and she lets me go and watch.’

‘That’s good, Reggie,’ replied Lily. She wasn’t surprised that Mrs Fawnswater encouraged her daughter to play with this well-behaved and polite boy. ‘What’s it like?’