When he was eleven years old he moved to Wallasey Grammar School which was a day school. However as World War II progressed Merseyside came in for heavy bombing and Thomas and Ethel decided to move to a safer part of the country.
Kapag siya ay labing-years old siya inilipat sa Wallasey Grammar School na kung saan ay isang araw ng paaralan. Subalit tulad ng World War II progressed Merseyside nagmula sa para sa mabigat na pambobomba at Thomas at Ethel nagpasya na lumipat sa isang mas ligtas na bahagi ng bansa.