School Magazine Editorials 1930s

1933-34

Autumn Term

As we went to press last term our thoughts were centering round two important end-of-term events, Parents'' Day and the Folk Dance Festival. Of the former we can offer very real appreciation of the amount of work which had been put into the preparation of the field by the organisers. When we looked round at the ''barbed-wire entanglements", the levelling, the appointment of every "man'' to a job, and the happy crowd of spectators, we realised that that labour had not been in vain. The weather on the night of the Folk Dance Festival caused many upward glances, but, black though the clouds were, only a few spots fell once during a most enjoyable evening. The beauty of the grounds lent itself to the picturesque dancing and undoubtedly enhanced the enjoyment of the visitors.

Holidays scattered us all to spend our leisure as we would, or, in the case of Miss Wright, as we would not! We were very pleased to welcome her back after her operation and we wish her a complete recovery. Among those to whom the holidays meant days of pleasure, our campers with Miss Harrison and Miss Kenward at Filey, are specially to be mentioned, and congratulations must be offered to Miss Harrison upon the success of this, the first School camp.

With the end of the holidays came the examination results, and we have to record that, though we gained a greater number of matriculations than in previous years, we also had a greater number of failures. The Head Boy, A. Ramsden secured a County Major Scholarship, and T. W. Marriott a County Technological Scholarship, and to both of them we offer our congratulations and good wishes.

At the beginning of the term we received the gift of a grand piano from the Headmaster's family, and the thanks of the School were voiced by the Head Girl, Sybil Howson, on the morning of its first use in the Hall. The twelfth Speech Day of the School was held in the Hippodrome on November 8th, when we were able to welcome the Chief Constable of the West Riding, Lieut. Colonel Brook and Mrs. Brook as our guests. As Armistice Day fell on a Saturday this year, the Headmaster addressed the School on the Friday and a sale of Poppies was held which realised the sum of £4 13s 10½d. The Osiris Players, who gave us such a splendid performance of Richard II. last year came on November 15th to play Macbeth, and there can be no doubt that once more their skill was appreciated. The thought of acting and of Shakespeare brings us to the end of term and the Schooi Play, which this time is the Merchant of Venice, to be produced on the 13th and 14th of December.

To the Headmaster, the Staff. and all our readers we offer our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

1934-35

Autumn Term

With a piercing gale howling round the window, and a huge fire burning in the grate, it is difficult to think of such things as Parents' day, and a Country Dance Festival. Yet these things have been, and from the dim recesses of our past, we can rake up memories of a glorious afternoon for our Sports, and a fine, if somewhat chillsome evening (to our spectators of course) forr the Festival. We also have very definite recollections of "breaking up", of the joy with which we locked the doors of store cupboards, and emptied shelves, and of how, with beaming faces we all joined in declaiming lustily "Labor ipse voluptas." But did September, 19th, still find us echoing that sentiment? We hope so, and that new members of the School will soon learn the meaning of our motto.

We welcome to our Staff this year, three new members Miss Nicholson, who comes as Junior English Mistress, Miss Bromley as Junior French, and Miss Euler as Domestic Science, and we hope that they will spend a very enjoyable time with us.

The details of our examination results will be found in later pages of this number, but we should like to congratulate Millicent Webb on obtaining for us our first State Scholarship as well as County Major.

Speech Day is being held this year on November, 14th and we are to have the pleasure of a visit from Mrs. Hone, wife of Rev. Canon Hone, Rector of Barnsley, and Mr. A. L.  Rouse, M.A.., Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, who is a former pupil of our Headmaster.

Our film enthusiast has again started his winter course of film shows for the School, and it is rumoured that our own particular film will be shown at no distant date. Many will be the surprises it will have for members of the School who have unconsciously played a star turn!

The School Play, "Much Ado About Nothing" takes place the last week of term, and we hope it will prove a success.

We would offer our deepest sympathy to Miss Wright whose Mother died at the beginning of this term, and to Mr. and Mrs. Collette, in the loss of their little daughter, Margaret.

We should like to thank all those who expressed their approval of the first copy of our new style of rnagazine. We were glad that the photos were so much appreciated, as they form such a pleasant record of School life, and we hope to be able to publish some more in the near future.

We have been reading, with much interest, the first number of this magazine and cannot refrain from quoting from the foreword as a reminder to our readers of the aim and scope of this magazine since its incepton. "It is our wish to make this magazine a complete record of the various sides of School life; consequently School news will furnish most matter for it.  At the same time, original stories, poems, letters, sketches, etc., will be welcomed, and if worthy of publication, they will find a place in our papers. But they must be original, and let none be deterred by occasional  rejection."

We were most interested to see that the School hoped to have two tennis courts by 1924, and  we are pleased to be able to assure them they will have two by 1935.

The first Speech Day of the School, held on December 13th, 1922 provided some statistics which present pupils may like to hear. The School opened November, 8th 1921, with 101 pupils, as compared with September, 1934 455 boys and girls.

Speaking of education, the Headmaster said that a practical education meant one "which would fit a child for the conduct of life, train it to live, interestedly and intelligently, to understand things and to know what was good and what was bad. Latin by its logical precision, helped towards a habit of clear thought and expression in a way no other subject did. Out of 100,000 words in the English language, no less than 60,000 were of Latin origin." The School motto, "Labor ipse voluptas" means "Find pleasure in work." The old monogram of the School "H.S.S." had a significance of its own: "Haec Schola stet," - "Long stand this school".

Spring Term

School broke up for Christmas on December 21st. The last week was a busy and enjoyable one for all those who took part in the School Play, which this year was "Much Ado About Nothing". We returned to work on Jan. 9th, and practices for House Competitions began at once. The House Dramatic Competition takes place on February, 14th, the test prodtction being "Fat King Melon and Princess Caraway", by A.P. Herbert. Dr. Pyecroft has again very kindly consented to adjudicate. The House Music Competitions have been fixed for the end of the term. We would wish our Choirs every success at the Pontefract Musical Festival. The House Games Competitions have just started, and keen rivalry is being shown by all the teams.

Summer Term

Last term ended with the usual anticipation of holidays and plans for the filling of each day of the three weeks. Perhaps the most excited were the girls who were going to Devon with Miss Griffiths.

The Summer Term started on April 29th, but at the end of the week we celebrated the King's Silver Jubilee with the two days' holiday granted by the West Riding. Each boy and girl received on the Friday an inscribed founain pen to commemorate the occasion. Most glorious weather favoured the holiday and much sunburn was in evidence when School reassembled on Wednesday.

The School Concert took place on Wednesday, May 15th and Miss Wright and all the performers are to be congratulated upon the most successful evening. The debut of the Percussion Band created much amusement and we look forward to their future efforts. A full account of the Concert will be found elsewhere in our pages.

On Sunday, May 19th, the Headmaster and some of the Staff represented the School at the Civic Service in Hemsworth Parish Church, when members of the various Civic bodies attended. This was a revival of an old custom and the first time the School had joined in such a gathering. According to the local press our academic dress lent a touch of colour to the sombre appearance of the other representatives, and we understand that this gathering is to be a fixture for a future generation of Staff.

The Inter-House Reading Competition took place on Friday, May 31st, and we were again privileged to have Dr. Pycroft as adjudicator. He complimented the School on the improvement in its reading, and certainly we would like to congratulate those readers who took part in the final test, especially the Seniors, who were called upon to read a portion of the Board Meeing Speech from Galsworthy's "Strife", a most difficult speech.

The Huddersfield Inter-School Sports were badly marred by the rain on June 5th. Nevertheless we came in second on the total number of points, and brought back the Junior Plaque. The details of the Sports will be found on a later page. On our return from the Whitsuntide holiday a deputatation from the Pontefract Musical Festival visited us, and amongst them we were glad to see two old friends of the School, Mrs. Schorah and Captain Hallam. They came to present the two Banners which were won by the Girls'  and Boys' Choirs at the Festival last term.

School examinations, School Certificate and Higher School loom ahead, and we wish all entrants success. Parents' Day is fixed for July 17th, and the Folk Dancing Display for July 6th, and we hope that fine weather will once again favour us. The much needed and eagerly awaited Tennis Court is assuming shape at last, but at the time of writing is not yet finished. We hope it will be ready for Parents' Day.

The engagement of Miss Wright to the Rev. H.V. Saunderson, Curate at Hemsworth Parish Church, was announced at the beginning of the term, and we offer to them on behalf of the School our best wishos for their future happiness. To Mr. Scourfield on his approaching marriage we offer our best wishes for happiness in the future.

1935-36

Autumn Term

School reassembled on September 18th to be greeted by the smell of fresh paint and newly coloured rooms. Our numbers remain about the same as last year, a few short of 450, and the Staff is unchanged also. The examination results at the end of last year gave us nine full and four part Higher School Certificates; forty-seven School Certificates and fifteen Matriculations.We would congratulate H.S. Perry and R.H. Thorpe on gaining County Major Scholarships. Thorpe was thus enabled to take up his Parker-Rhodes Scholarship at Sheffield, which he won last year. In Commercial Subjects, four gained Intermediate R.S.A. Certificates, and thirteen Elementary Certificates. Twelve of our past Students are in residence at Universities and Training Colleges.

As usual the last day of the Summer Term brought with it the excitement of lists and House Points. Details of the House Cups will be found on a later page, but we offer our congratulations to Price House upon winning both the House Challenge Cup and the Sports Cup, and to Talbot upon gaining the Arts Cup. Half term was arranged for the first week-end in November, the King's grant of a day's holiday to celebrate the Royal Wedding made the break a long one; though we are sure that no one thought it was too long.

Speech Day took place on November 8th in the Hippodrome and we were honoured by the presence of Lord Halifax, Minister of War, and ex-President of the Board of Education, and his wife. A full account of the proceedings will be found on a later page. Armistice Day was observed by the whole School, when the Head spoke of the significance which the day has for those who know nothing of what the War meant. The hymns "O Valiant Hearts," and "For all thy Saints", were sung; the Two Minutes were observed most reverently, and after prayers, the singing of the National Anthem brought the Remembrance Service of the School to aclose. The sale of Poppies produced the sum of £2 - 17 -10½

On Thursday, November 14th, The Osiris Players once more visited the School, and gave a most enjoyable rendering of "Twelfth Night". May it inspire our School Certificates aspirants next July! For the second time Mr. Hamilton with the help of Clarkson, has produced a film of life in School to which has been appended the name of "Scholasticantics". In spite of its name, however, it represents a day in the life of the School. We look forward to seeing the School Play on December 18th. and 19th, which this year is .A. Milne's "The Ivory Door", produced by Miss Nicholson.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hyde we offer our congratulations on the birth of their son on July 17th, and to Mr. and Mrs. Collette on the birth of their son on August 14th.

Our readers will notice the absence of the pages usually devoted to Old Students' Notes. We much regret that this connection with present students should have been broken, but the Annual Meeting of the Old Hilmiens' Society decided to discontinue the subscription to the Magazine. We feel very strongly that this is a step in the wrong direction, and urge the Society to reconsider their decision, and to make use of the space offered than in the Magazine, until such time as they can afford a Magazine of their own.

School breaks up for the Christmas holidays on Dec. 20th, and returns to work on Wednesday, January 8th. We wish the Headmaster and Mrs. Jenkinson, the Staff, and all our readers a very Merry Christmas.

Spring Term

Last term ended with the usual excitement and enjoyment of the School Play, which this year was A.A. Milne's "The Ivory Door". We would congratulate Miss Nicholson heartily upon her excellent production which was thoroughly appreciated by large audiences. This term began on January 9th. Miss Euler did not return owing to illness and her place was taken temporarily by Mrs. Liversidge and Miss Morrison. Miss Bromley has also been away since half-term through illness. The School assembled in the Hall to listen to the Proclamation from St. James' Palace, and later in the day to the one from India and to Stephen King Hall's Speech to Schools. On the day of the King's funeral the School was closed. The House Musical Competitions have taken place early this term so as not to interfere with the Pontefract Musical Festival on March 12th. We were extremely fortunate in having Canon Hopkins, the Provost of Wakefield, to judge the competitions on February 18th. His criticisms were most helpful and his explanations clear and interesting. The results for House Points were 1st Talbot, 38 points; 2nd equal Holgate and Guest, 26 points; 4th Price, 10 points. We offer Miss Wright and the Choirs our best wishes for their continued success at Pontefract.

On Wednesday, February 19th., the Upper School listened to an interesting lecture on Italy and Abyssinia by Mr. Locke, which was rendered more instructive and interesting by his numerous maps and pictures. Half-term was observed, on February 21st, and the annual General Knowledge Paper was tackled by the whole School on the Friday previous. The Test Examinations for the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate began on February 25th. The House Dramatic Competitions have been fixed for March 13th and we look forward to this Annual Event. Rumours are in the air of a Staff Play to be given at the end of the term. Memories of our enjoyment of "A Hundred Years Old" make us hope that we shall see a Staff Play again this year.The Easter holidays begin on April 7th., and School reopens for the Summer Term on April 29th.

Summer Term

Last term ended with the excitement and enjoyment of the Staff Play, which this year was A.A. Milne's "The Fourth Wall". Mr. Hyde is to be congratulated on his first appearance as producer in which he was very ably supported by his stage manager, Miss Nicholson. School broke up for Easter on Tuesday, April 7th. We said farewell to Miss Wright who has left us to be married to the Rev. H. Saunderson. She had been a member of the Staff for eight years, and we offer her our best wishes for her future happiness. We returned to School on Wednesday,April 29th. Miss Townsend has joined us as Music Mistress and we hope that she will enjoy her work with us. Miss Euler has been absent most of the term through illness, and we wish her a speedy recovery. During the week beginning May 11th the School had its General Inspection. On May 20th the School were again represented at Huddersfield Inter-School Sports. Mr. Austin was responsible once more for the coaching. On May 22nd., a party of 140 boys and girls accompanied by members of the Staff spent a very enjoyable day at Oxford. Empire Day fell on a Sunday this year, but the Headmaster addressed the School on the Monday, and read Earl Meath's and Earl Beatty's letters. The Inter-House Reading Competition took place on May 28th., and we were again fortunate in having Dr. Pycroft as adjudicator. Half-term and Whitsuntide were combined this term, and formed a good break, though the weather was not very kind. School Examinations took place during the week after Half-term. School Certificate and Higher School Certificate start on July 6th., and we wish all our candidates success. On July 24th and 25th., Miss Harrison produced a children's Ballet with Forms 1, 2, 3, and 4, in the Quarry, which was very successful, and very much appreciated by large audiences. Parents' Day is fixed for July 22nd., and the Folk Dancing Display for July 15th. Term ends on July 30th., and the School re-opens for the Autumn Term on Tuesday, September 22nd.

Dr. Pycroft

To the great regret of his many friends, Dr. Pycroft will be retiring shortly from professional work and will be leaving the district. His loss will not be felt least by those to whom his enthusiasm for literature and the dramatic art was at once an aid and an inspiration. It was this enthusiasm, combined with a tireless energy and the most scrupulous attention to detail, that enabled the South Elmsall Fellowship of Players to achieve such a high standard of success. And the same enthusiasm, the same attention to detail, the same sympathy and encouragement were evident in those inter-house competitions over which he presided here, to our great advantage and to his own obvious enjoyment. We shall miss his presence and his kindly help, and we take this opportunity of thanking him again for his many services to the School, and wishing him a long and happy retirement.
A.G.J

The New House Cups

L-R: Mr. Flavell, Mr. Jenkinson, Betty Mulheir (Head Girl), Dr. Pycroft,, Firman L.W. (Head Boy), Mr. Betson

On Friday July 2nd., the School were made richer by two silver cups presented by the trustees of the South Elmsall Rugby Union Football Club. Dr. Pycroft and Mr. Betson on behalf of the trustees came to give the cups, and Dr. Pycroft offered the School some excellent advice on loyalty and playing the game. Mr. Flavell paid a tribute to the work of Dr. Pycroft and thanked him for the cups. The Headmaster then offered the thanks of the School to Dr. Pycroft for his constant interest in them which would never be forgotten.

1936-37

Autumn Term

Since the last School Notes were written the School has enjoyed two fine days for the great events of the Summer Term, Parents' Day and the Folk Dance Festival, both of which attracted a record number of visitors. The term ended on July 30th,and reassembled on September 22nd. Examination results showed some improvement on last year, with 6 H.S.C. and 45 S.C. of whom 16 gained Matriculation. We would congratulate Betty Mulheir on gaining a County Women's Scholarship (of which only two are offered), Clarkson on his Junior County Art Scholarship, an Art Exhibition at Reading University, and a John Pybus Trust Exhibition, Ineson on a County Technological Scholarship and King on a Junior Technological Scholarship.

We welcome Miss Hamilton as temporary Domestic Science Mistress, and hope that she will have an enjoyable time during her stay with us. We are glad to report that Miss Euler is slightly better and wish her a speedy recovery. This term saw an innovation in the form of a full time Physical Training Master. We extend to Mr. Nelson a warm welcome in this new post. Our caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. Manning, who have been here since the School was opened on November 8th 1921, have left this term. An electric clock was presented to them by the Staff and an electric fire by the pupils as a mark of appreciation of their work and of good wishes for their future prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Cliffe have been appointed as the new caretakers, and we offer them our best wishes for their success.

November 2nd and 3rd formed the Half-term holiday.

Speech Day this year took place on Armistice Day in the Hippodrome. The School assembled for its usual service of Remembrance in the Hall when the Two Minutes were observed and the Head addressed the School on the meaning and lessons of the Day. In the afternoon we had the pleasure of receiving, as our guests of the day, the Lord Bishop of Pontefract and Mrs. Hone. On November 19th., the Osiris Players again visited the School and gave a realistic and enjoyable rendering of "Julius Caesar".  We are very sure that our School Certificate candidates are much helped by these annual visits, and that the rest of the School gain much from seeing a Shakespeare Play well acted. Our only lament is that such opportunities come but once a year. The Imperial Airways Company sent their representative to School on November 20th., and from him we received a most interesting and instructive lecture illustrated by fine slides. A party of Sixth and Fifth Form boys and girls accompanied by Miss Griffiths and Miss Shortridge visited Leeds on November 22nd, to see "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme". The School Play this year is De la Mare's "Crossings" produced by Miss Nicholson, and we wish her and all members of the caste every success. Christmas is in the air as we write and we are looking forward to the holidays which start on December 22nd. We offer our best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Jenkinson, Miss Griffiths and all members of the Staff and School for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. School reopens for the Spring Term on Wednesday, January 13th.

Spring Term

School reassembled after the Christmas Holidays on Wednesday, January 13th. Last term had ended with the excitement and enjoyment of the School Play, which this year was Walter de la Mare's "Crossings", produced by Miss Nicholson. It was an exceedingly good performance, and one which reflected great credit on Miss Nicholson and the actors. The influenza epidemic reached us in the second week of term and our classes were much depleted, our highest number of absentees being one hundred and seventy. Half-term took place on February 22nd., and the Fifth and Sixth Forms returned to their Test Examinations. As we write, School activities are in full swing. Rehearsals are taking place for the Junior House Dramatic Competition which is to be judged on March 22nd. The play chosen for this year is "The Musical Box" by Beatrice Mayor. The Pontefract Musical Festival took place on March 11th. We must congratulate Miss Townsend on the performance of our Choirs. The Boys' Choir retained the Banner, and our Girls' Choir was second to Wakefield. Hockey, Netball and Football House Matches are taking place when the weather permits. The Staff are giving their annual Play on March 17th and 18th, and this year it is "The Romantic Young Lady" by Sierra.

We would congratulate Mr Crossland on the birth of his second son on January 17th., and Mr. Scourfield on the birth of a son on January 25th. It is with the greatest regret that we have heard that our Headmaster has intimated to the Governors his intention of retiring in July. We shall write of what the School owes to him in our next issue.

1937-38

Autumn Term