Database : School Magazines, 1883 -1952

1938 March

Frontispiece

Photograph of Miss H Bourne.

£6,000 has been raised or promised for the Grangethorpe fund. A bazaar is planned for next year.

There have been school visits to Paris "to see the Exhibition"� and to Germany after a group of German girls came to Manchester in July 1937. The guides and cadets camped at Anglesey and there were visits to university camps.

The Dramatic Society is preparing a play.

A Film Society has just been set up.

Miss H Bourne retired in July after 37 years on the staff. Her place has been taken by an old girl, Rhona Barlow.

Margaret Ashton

Regret at the death of Margaret Ashton who has left £200 to the school.

Appreciation of the work of Miss Helena Bourne. In the Jubilee issue [1924] of the Magazine, Mme Lamb, one of the first pupils described gymnastics as consisting of a weekly callisthenics lesson given by "a very dignified lady always well dressed in black silk or satin, tight fitting with a boned and buttoned bodice and black or white kid gloves." The pupils did graceful arm movements with elastic chest expanders and fancy marching including the goose step. The lesson ended with a low curtsey. By 1900 when Miss Bourne was appointed girls did drill lessons with Swedish gym as a optional extra. They wore "baggy blue serge knickers coming below the knee and a blue serge long-sleeved tunic modestly hiding the knickers". Miss Bourne soon changed this. In 1902 the interest in gym was such that the gymnasium was too small and the present play room was also fitted out for gym. The original gym is now the lunch-room. She instituted the Gymnastic Corps which "gave a training in self control and in self government at a time when the code of rules in most girls' schools aimed rather at securing rigid obedience to authority than at developing initiative. Only by degrees has this principle of self government in schools been generally accepted." For the last 15 years Miss Bourne has been in charge of the Gold Rule Society. She has also been involved in other activities in the community [details given]. Mrs Herbert pays tribute to this work [details given] which she first became involved in through Miss Fanny Harrison.

M G Clarke

In Memoriam - Margaret Ashton

Appreciation of the life of Margaret Ashton. She was the governor representing Manchester City Council from 1911 - 1920 and after the death of her sister, Lady Broadhurst, she returned as the Hulme governor for the last 13 years.

Appreciation of the life of Florence Robinson, pupil until 1891 who became one of the first women doctors. Details of her training and work with Dr Helen Saul and Dr Chisholm at the Manchester Babies' Hospital [the Duchess of York Hospital for Babies and the Princess Christian College].

Gifts [details given] have been made by the following: Margaret Ashton, Rev Manson, Hilary Newell, Mr Taylor, Prof Webster, Mrs Young,    Miss Willis.

Mr Farrell, father of Jean Farrell [V Science], in 1937 gave "a handsome chased silver cup" which has been "awarded for form tennis doubles in the Lower School."

Head Prefect:  Joan Shatwell

Deputy Head Prefect:  Marian Nicholson

Prefects:  Kathleen Barnes, Joan Bennett, Margaret Brabbs, Beatrix Charlton, Margaret Dowler, Josephine Greaves, Joyce Greenwood, Phyllis Harry, Janifred Justham, Christine Mason, Margaret Norbury, Margaret Oliver, Doreen Peake, Margaret Shrewsbury, Joan Smith, Nora Warhurst

Congratulations

Miss G B Ayre has been awarded the OBE. Miss Ritchie has had two paintings accepted for the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts exhibition and the City Council has decided to buy one of them, a watercolour entitled Piloch Tirol.

Miss Clarke thanks those who sent Christmas and New Year greetings.

Kathleen Ball [Upper IV A]

Grangethorpe - The School

The first gift to the Grangethorpe fund was 2s made on 14 December 1936. By the end of January the school had raised over £420 [details given]. Poem about fund raising activities.

"Regional groups [were] organised as a result of the parents' meeting in April 1937." Description of their activities, eg of the Prestwich, Whalley Range, Withington and Altrincham groups.

Verbatim account of the speech by Prof Manson. His theme was the importance of doing things in the right spirit.

Description of a visit to Manchester of a group of German girls with their teacher, Fraulein Wicke and the exchange visit of the English girls who paid host to them.

Muriel Baker and Louise Hawthorn [Upper V Arts]

Visit to Germany 

Description of a visit with Miss Mackean to Brunswick as an exchange for the visit of German girls to Manchester. "We were invited to several meetings of the girls' section of the Hitler Youth Movement. Nearly every German person is a member of this organisation from the age of 7 upwards. We were much struck with the variety and number of the uniforms worn. Incidentally our MHSG blazers attracted more than enough attention as no uniform is worn is German schools."

Winifred Hobson [VI Arts and Science]

Visit to Paris September 1937  

Description of a visit to Paris with Mrs Herbert and Miss Lever. 

Mary Livesey [V Science]

University Women's Camps

Description of a camp for girls at a boy's school near Hertford organised by the University Women's Camps for Schoolgirls. There were German, Russian and a Czech girl.

Camp at Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, September 1937

Description of a guide camp on Anglesey. The "visitor" was Miss Hibbert. Thanks to Miss Dimmock and Miss Ashton.

Rita Goldstone [Senior VI]

The University Settlement Holiday School

Description of work at a University Settlement Holiday School for children in Didsbury in which the following took part: Winifred Johnson, Flora Thomason, Peggy Adams, Joan Heywood, Barbara Worsley.

The mistress was an old girl [unidentified]

An Interesting Nature Lesson!

Description of a lecture at the school on nature by "Romany of the BBC."

Music Notes

Details of the programme of the School Concert at which a piece by Miss Warburton was played and the performers were the Friday Choir and other groups and the following: Winifred Johnson, Vera Lamb, Joan Spencer, Nanette Gregg, Eleanor Gray, Ursula Rodd, Elizabeth MacGregor, Sheila Finnemore, Joan Marland, Irene Leonard, Felicity Bridgen, Katherine Coupe, Barbara Moor, Kathleen Holt, Barbara Melling, Joyce Greenwood, Eileen Walker, Ruth Appleby, Margaret Norbury, Joan Shatwell, Noreen Clayton, Maureen Consterdine, Phyllis Harry.          

Description of visits to the Halle concerts. Regular lunch time concerts have not resumed owing to all the activities for Grangethorpe but there have been two concerts at which pupils of Miss Arthan and Miss Webster, Miss Sargisson and Miss Brownson performed.

College Letters - Manchester University

Description of the Women's Union at which old girls are very often seen.  There are fortnightly dances with the Men�s Union. Description of living in Ashburne Hall and Langdale Hall. Asna Boltiansky is the Debates Secretary of the Women's Union. The following are first year students [subjects given and involvement in sports]:  Barbara Bailey, Margaret Barber, Mary Cooke, Marjorie Crookes, Dorothy Elkin, Kathleen Hilton, Betty McKie, Irene Moss, Marjorie Owen, Nancy Penney, Una Radcliffe, Merle Robinson.

The second year students are [subjects given and involvement in sports]:  Joyce Bamber, Enid Garstang, Patricia Goldsbrough, Margaret Manby, Jessie Thompson, Margaret Wade.

The third years students are [subjects given and involvement in sports]:  Marjorie Burgess, Stella Fildes, Mary Garner, Margery Hampson, Margaret Hodgson, Barbara Longbottom, Irene Salter, Anne Somerville, Margaret Stansfield.

The fourth years students are [subjects given]:  Marjorie Adams, Asna Boltiansky, Olive Elkin, Mary Fleure, Barbara Jessel, Lorna Mettam, Vivian Snow.

Joan Heywood

College Letters - The Rachel McMillan Training College, Deptford

Description of the history of the Rachel McMillan Training College for the training of nursery nurses including its foundation by Rachel McMillan and Margaret McMillan and a visit by Queen Mary. Margaret Haworth is also studying there. Description of life at the College.

M E Wood [nee Ethel Greengrass]

Extracts from Letters from Africa - Johannesburg

Description of life in Johannesburg including the mining work there.

Extracts from Letters from Africa - Cape Town

Description of the different peoples in Cape Town and the surrounding landscape.

Bunty

Poem about a dog.

Unnamed

Poem about a tidy girl.

The Rosebush

Poem about fairies.

Sarah School Mouse and Harriet House Mouse

Story about a mouse which lives at Manchester High School. It is thin because there is hardly any food because "girls wearing badges on their arms" come along and pick up anything that has been dropped and "the kitchens are so tidy." The mouse decides to live in a house instead of the school.

Pride Goeth Before a Fall

Story about a difficulty with a diving board.

Births to the following have been announced:

Marjorie Petch [nee Derbyshire]     

Diana Finch [nee Conway]

Edith McClymont [nee Bentley]      

Muriel Tattersall [nee Strange]

Phyllis Hamblin [nee Sharp]           

Betty Clegg [nee Haggart]

Molly Martin [nee Gibson]

Marriages

The marriages of the following have been announced: Maureen Arnold, Alice Coates, Olive Garner, Molly Faulkner, Joyce Bratherton, Sali Lobel, Monica Job, Maureen Armstrong, Doreen Ellis, Ina Milroy, Grace Billings, Agnes Holmes, Eileen Fowden, Mildred Needham, Muriel Hargreaves, Ruth Isaacs, Beryl Pughe Morgan, Lilian Finburgh, Enid Hartt, Barbara Hadfield, Freda Strange, Kathleen Alpass, Sybil Gould

Deaths

The deaths of the following have been announced: Margaret Ashton, Florence Robinson, Sylvia Roditi [aged 19].

Thanks for Christmas greetings. Her book, Frances Mary Buss: An Educational Pioneer has been published [details given].

Information given about the following: Miss Clarke, Miss Adams, Dorothy Bailey, Dorothy Bardsley, Rhona Barlow, Asna Boldiansky, A M Clark, Enid Dobson, Katie Dreyfus, Eleanor Faulkner, Enid Garstang, Elsie Geiler, Molly Graham, Nellie Gronno, Jeanette Halpern, Gwen Harper, Clare Hornby, Marjorie Hovell, Nancy Kerr, Miss Limebeer, Helen Marshall, Mary Morrison, Gladys Murray, Margaret Noble, Mary Parkes, Madge Peacock, Eileen Perkins, Irene Pike, Marjorie Swain, Nora Turner, Winifred Turner, Judith Walton, Daphne Wilde, Philippa Esdaile, Dora Hern [nee Allen], Constance Baker [nee Lightbrown], Edith Ross [nee Ogden], Theo Coatman [nee Pitt], Eileen Evans [nee Threlkeld], Margaret Sharp [nee Tout], Elsie Harrison [nee Simon].

The Old Girls' Federation

The Manchester Society

Hon President:  Miss Clarke

Acting President:  Isa Wood [nee Morrison]

Treasurer:  Frida Sorenson

Secretary:  Kitty Liebert

A small meeting was held at which Miss Clarke, Sara Burstall and "a few of the older Old Girls" were present. About 140 attended the Christmas meeting. Miss Clarke was not present but Miss Scott represented her. Regret at the retirement of Mrs Wood and welcome to Irene Brown [nee Carter] as the new President.

Hon Presidents:  Miss Clarke, Sara Burstall

President:  Mrs Heilbrun

Treasurer:  Mrs Moss

Secretary:  L D Webster

A meeting was held at the Ladies� Residential Club by invitation of Doris Milner. Few members attended but Sara Burstall was there and Miss Clarke sent a letter. Since the Federation's financial year ends in March the Treasurer will take office from April.

Elsa Plant [Secretary]

The London Society

President:  Sara Burstall

Secretary:  Elsa Plant [nee Burstall]

Treasurer:  E Openshaw

A meeting was held at which Lady Russell presided and Philippa Esdaile gave a talk on her visit to the Sudan and Uganda. At the lunch Sara Burstall presided and Eileen Evans gave a talk [details given]. There are "well over" 200 members.

E M Tower [Secretary]

The Midland Society

President:  Sara Burstall

Secretary:  Mrs E M Tower

Treasurer:  E Hampson       

Miss Clarke attended a meeting at which she reported the progress made at Grangethorpe. Sara Burstall attended a meeting in February. Meetings have been held at Wyggeston Grammar School by invitation of Miss Caress. There has been a response for new members.

H Strong [Secretary]

The Scottish Society

President:  Sara Burstall

Vice President:  Bessie Brown [nee Fulton]

Secretary and Treasurer:  Helen Strong [nee Birtwell]

The AGM was held at Falkland Mansions by invitation of Bessie Brown [nee Fulton]. Sara Burstall, Margaret Seddon and Mollie Martin [nee Gibson] were present. Mollie Martin [nee Gibson], Betty Gladwell [nee Brentnall], Bessie Brown  [nee Fulton] and Mrs Strong have invited members to tea. A sale was held at the house of Bessie Brown and raised £14. Articles were supplied through Margaret Fulton made by the patients of the Aberdeen Mental Hospital. Mollie Fulton and Sallie Adam [nee Lowe] have visited Scotland.

Clare Hornby [Secretary]

The Yorkshire and North Eastern Society

President:  Dr Bonser

Secretary and Treasurer:  Clare Hornby

At the invitation of Dr Bonser and Dr Stewart, a meeting was held at the Pathological Institute, Leeds. It was decided to combine the offices of Treasurer and Secretary. It was decided to hold a meeting at Fountains Abbey with Dr Moody as a guide.

The Western Society

Secretary:  Maureen Forrest [nee Armstrong]

There are 8 new members. A meeting was held at Bristol. Mary Morrison has retired "to start and run a laboratory for a dairy farm in Hounslow." Mrs Forrest [nee Armstrong] has taken over.

Eileen Walker and Vivienne Wallis [VI Arts and Science]

Babies' Hospital Auxiliary and Golden Rule Societies

President:  Miss Clarke

Committee:  Miss Goodwin, Miss Lever, Miss Marten, Miss Callinan, Kate Brett, Margaret Dowler, Eileen Walker, Vivienne Wallis, Brenda Burkill, Nancy Pursglove, Jean Marlor, Barbara Worsley

The Babies Auxiliary and Golden Rule Societies have been run by the same committee this year. About 500 garments and many parcels of toys were sent to the Babies' Hospital, the Heyrod St Girls' Club, the University Settlement, the District Nurses and the Jewish School in Derby St. Thanks to Miss Bourne for her many years of service for the Golden Rule Society.

Broughton House Society

President:  Miss Clarke

Vice President:  Miss Mellor

Treasurer:  Miss Ellis

Secretaries:  Rita Goldstone, Barbara Moore

Committee:  Miss Hawcridge, Miss Scott, Miss Holman, Dorothy Edge, Kathleen Wade, Jessie Million, Margaret Nicholson, Maureen Consterdine, Edith Saxon, Sheila Riddle

An innovation this term is that 2 senior girls have made a poster which is "handed round to each form as its turn comes for the weekly collection of fruit, chocolates, cigarettes and magazines." The collections have improved from most forms. Three girls accompany Miss Holman to Broughton House on Thursdays. Miss Holman took gifts on Remembrance Day and the Senior VI went at Christmas to sing carols.

Captain:  Miss Dimmock

Company Leader:  Doreen Peake

Secretary:  Janifred Justham

 Badge Secretary:  Eileen Walker

Treasurer:  Vivienne Wallis

Patrol Leaders:  J Justham, C Mason, B Moor, E Walker

The Company decided to break away from the usual tree patrol emblems and there are now Coots, Porcupines and a Jamboree patrol which concentrates on international knowledge and is currently learning Esperanto. There is also "a flourishing, if sublimely ignorant, crew of Sea Rangers known as the Sea Horses belonging to the SRS Hecla." Most members attended a Ranger Day.

Margaret Hope

Guides

Captain:  Nellie Walker

Lieutenants:  Margaret Brydon, Joan Hardman

Company Leader: Margaret Hope

Patrol Leaders:  Dulcie Blakey, Joan Bridgen, Margaret Crawford, Joan Greenhill, Ruth Hall, Jane Hodgson, Cynthia Johnson, Patricia Lord

Regret at the loss of Miss Honeyburne, Miss Burgess and Miss Longbottom. Welcome to Miss Walker, Miss Brydon and Miss Hardman. The group took part in a swimming gala. There have been several new recruits and at the recruitment ceremony Miss Clarke and Mrs Bentley made speeches. Contributions have been made to the Grangethorpe fund and to Miss Ashton. Hampers have been collected to distribute to poor people at Christmas. There will be weekly instead of fortnightly meetings.

Winifred Johnson [Secretary]

Debating Society

President:  Miss Clarke

Chairman:  Mrs Herbert

Secretaries:  Winifred Johnson, Sylvia Bernard

Committee:  Miss Malloch, Miss Roberton, Jean Marlor, Dorothy Edge, Margaret Jones, Margaret Mildenhall, Margaret Hope, Heather Oldfield

Debate held: "The practice of euthanasia should be allowed in this country." At this debate the chair was taken by a member of the Society. Proposed by Jean Fletcher and Barbara Seddon, opposed by Margaret Dowler and Margaret Jones. Motion lost.

Debate held: "Homework should be abolished," proposed by Margaret Hope and Margaret Holmes, opposed by Jane Hodgson and Jeanne Brassington. Motion lost.

Joan Shatwell and Phyllis Harry

Dramatic Society

Fortnightly meetings have been held. Details of plays read.

Kathleen Liddell [Secretary]

Report of the League of Nations Union

President:  Miss Clarke

Vice President:  Miss Whiteley

Many members of the Upper IV have joined the Union. Lectures [details given] were given by M Sean Inebuit and Mrs Ormerod. Thanks to Miss Whiteley.

Mary Mellor and Marguerite Deakin

The Orchestra

The orchestra continues to play on Monday morning prayers. Regret at the loss of Suse [sic] Laemmle and Gwynedd Lewis. Welcome to new members, one of whom is only 10 years old. At the School Concert a piece [details given] by Miss Warburton was performed.

E J Dobson

Cricket 1937

Results of matches played. The Second Team was unbeaten. The First Team won the League. Thanks to the scorer, Sylvia Bernard and to Miss Mellor. Comments made on the standard of play of the following members of the First Team:  Joan Bennett, Daphne Wilde, Barbara Roberts, Phyllis Harry, Margaret Haigh, Margaret Norbury, Janifred Justham, Margery Briggs, Margaret Dunkerley, Enid Dobson, Thelma Christopherson.

Margaret Shrewsbury [VI Arts and Science]

Netball

Regret at the loss of Margaret Cutter. Dorothy Croasdell and Sarah Davies have played in her place. Thanks to Miss Dimmock and Miss Barlow.