| Name: | St Michael's |
| Camp: | RAF Nicosia |
| Town: | Nicosia |
| Country: | Cyprus |
| Type(s): | All Ages |
| Notes A Primary and Secondary school are recorded as existing in Nicosia in the 'Coronation List' - a list of schools operational in 1952. However, the locations are not known. We know St Michael's school functioned in the 1960s and early 1970s. The zoom tool and satellite overlay on the map will show the exact location. St Michael's was initially a Primary but, as explained below, provision was made for some older children.
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Christine Jolley has sent us a wonderful description of St Michael's school:
"I will try and give you a snapshot of St Michael's school located in RAF Nicosia.
We were quite different to the other SCEA schools....in that we were relatively small and had a large intake of pupils from UN forces who were based in Nicosia, plus American children from their listening base.
RAF Nicosia had been the largest airbase outside of UK and after Cyprus independence it retained its presence as an airport in order to train local personnel to maintain air traffic control, crash, fire and rescue and the Met Office.
We had more civilians on the base than serving RAF and felt sorry for the Station Commander trying to control us young, free spirited girls.
The school was All Age ...from Reception to Year 9.
Prior to my arrival, eleven year olds and older had to travel across to Dhekelia each day in scorching summer heat along the Mesaoria with no air conditioning in the buses in those days.
I was to teach the older pupils who were to remain at St Michaels until 13.
We had to take outside pupils in order to justify our presence. An example ...in my class I had two girls whose father was Prem Chand (head of the UN), children of his bodyguard (who were Japanese), five from the American base ,a Finnish boy, a Bahamian, an Egyptian, an Israeli, two Greek Cypriots, two Turkish Cypriots and, of course, the UK pupils.
We had to maintain total neutrality ..... it was a wonderful United Nations !!!!!
We had many connections with UN contingents who were based either on the RAF base itself, the Ledra Palace or in surrounding areas.
Usually on staff notice boards there would be notices of visiting book fairs, meetings and seminars. However, ours were full of invitations to cocktail parties, barbecues, receptions and dinners.
We were a group of young females and very much in demand. All I am prepared to say in my defence is that we had a good time !!!!!
We were members of the Officers Mess and housed in Officers married quarters ....the life of luxury !!!
I had to pinch myself to realise where I was. I had come from teaching in a very tough secondary modern school in Stockport and lived in a working class area in Manchester (of which I am both very proud).
We lived in the lap of luxury.