Frank Noakes was one of the brothers who didn’t emigrate to Australia but remained in England. Unforunately, I've found very little concerning his life but, at least, he’s mentioned several times in the Hooe School Log Books – not always, in good terms!
For example, my grandfather wrote the following in the Log Books for 1901, 1902, and 1903.
1901 Dec 9 – With deep regret I found last Friday some pictures in school Readers had been rendered indecent by some boys. The worst boy is Alfred Taylor. He has always given trouble (See page 379). Frank Noakes has followed his bad example.
I have had a thorough search of all the books. Those pictures I wrote of have been removed and burnt.
I am writing to the boys’ parents about the matter.
The boys acknowledge themselves guilty and declare they did the drawings while in charge of the monitress during Reading and Transcription.
One wonders what the lads had done but can only guess. My grandfather, a true Victorian and devout Christian, brought up in a strongly religious household, certain of what was right and what was wrong, would have been easily offended. Not that he wasn’t right, but I know he felt strongly about the morals that the modern society – come to think about it, much like me – a truly, grumpy old man! Hang all of them, I say!
1901 Dec 11th – I find I caned Alfred Taylor and Frank Noakes for damaging Readers on November 4th.
From the School Log Books, my grandfather, as a Victorian, obviously believed in the use of the cane, but many times he shows a more caring side, a Christian side, as the extract below shows. Also, I left in the paragraph about the ′hips′ and ′haws′ out of interest.
1902 Oct 9th – Frank Noakes, being absent this morning with a sore throat, I went to his home and made enquires. Afterwards, I sent his brother Walter home until it was shown there was no infectious disease.
This afternoon I found the reason for the children not answering an ′inspector′s′ question on ′hips and haws′ some years ago. The reason is ′hips′ here are known as ′rose berries′ and ′haws′ as ′hog hazels′..
1903 October 26th – Frank Noakes met with an accident during the dinner hour. My attention to his wound delayed the afternoon opening seven minutes.
In late 1912, Frank married a Mary Ann King and they three children, Frank, in 1912, Ellen May, in 1914, and Lily, in 1917
Mary Ann died in 1975 and Frank seven years later, in 1982; they are both buried Bodle Street Green, Hailsham
The headstone gives the following information –
Mary Ann Noakes, 24th October1975 aged 82, and Frank Noakes, 13th January 1982, aged 90
