1940 Battle of Britain. Balloon Barrage along the River Roding. Blitz. Evacuations. School stayed at Chigwell. Trenches dug in playing fields. Air raid shelters built at Haylands. 1943 Censorship of Press – instructions to Chigwell. [Norwood Report on Education]. 1944 Masonic Lodge set up for Old Chigwellians. [Butler Education Act. Ministry of Education]. 1945 MP Winston Churchill visits Chigwell village. [Direct grants controversy]. During World War II 50 Old Chigwellians killed in action. 80 Civilians killed by bombing [40 at Prince of Wales, Manor Road on April 19th 1941]. 694 High explosive bombs, 34 Phosphorus bombs, 14,000 Incendiaries, 22 Flying bombs and 45 Oil bombs were dropped in the area. During the same period Chigwell School obtained 9 Open Scholarships and awards to Universities. Headmaster D.H. Thompson 1947-71 MA Merton, Oxford. 1949-50 Grange Court purchased in memory of those lost in World War II. 1952 New classrooms built. Grange Farm opened. 1953 Field Marshall Montgomery’s visit. 1955 [Duke of Edinburgh Awards]. 1956 New classroom added to Centenary Hall. 1958 Science Laboratory built. 1959 [Crowther report. Beloc report on Education]. 1960 Godfrey Stott’s ‘History of Chigwell School’ published. 1961-2 Gymnasium built 1962 Walde Music School built. Pool at Grange Court 1963 [End of Direct Grant to Chigwell School]. [Newsom/Robbins reports. Department of Education and Science set up. C.S.E. established]. 1967 Princess Margaret’s visit.
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