From the archives

100 Years Ago

LHS in 1921

1921 saw the birth of The High School Magazine. As the Editors, M. Allcock and M Towle, pointed out, ‘a school of the size of ours ought to keep some record of its doings’, although a further motivation seems to have been to make it ‘a keen rival to the Loughburian’ (the boys’ school magazine). Certainly, any school archivist is immensely grateful for the institution of such a magazine as those copies are the single most important historical item for giving those of us looking back an idea of what the School was like and the significant events for its inhabitants. The editors hoped that, through contributions from across the school, the magazine would ‘reveal much genius’ and they particularly appealed for Old Girls to make contributions (as they were included in the distribution list). Note that there was a charge to receive the magazine.

The thoughts of an Old Girl (Isobel Thornley at that stage teaching History at University College London) on the new magazine are printed. She hoped that the creation of this magazine ‘should help to maintain a living tradition of achievement and success which should fire the imagination and ambitions of other generations of Loughburians’. Isobel writes passionately in her encouragement of girls at the school to aim high and grasp the new academic opportunities that now lay before them at the start of the 1920s. After describing her career path through to a Master’s degree and her imminent departure to take up a position of AssistantProfessor at an American University, she encourages ‘let them be ambitious for these desirable things; they are not so hard to attain’ and advocates a university education as bringing more opportunity than just the previous principle route into school teaching: ‘since the war brought wisdom, employers in almost every business and profession are anxious to secure the services of University women, and the Federation of University Women has developed machinery to supply the demand. The possibilities of the situation are endless.’

The High School Magazine is but one of the many new initiatives Miss Edith Bristol, appointed Head in 1920, was pursuing. The school had ‘advanced towards self-government’ that academic year by instigating prefects and form captains and a new system of marking work implemented with five possible grades: Red A, A, B, C and D. Girls achieving three As in succession were allowed to sign their names in an Honours Book.

In Miss Bristol’s letter to the girls, she appeals for them to ‘stay longer at School’. It seems many were leaving at 14 or 15, but Miss Bristol feared for their job prospects in the economic climate; she felt that the real experience of school life didn’t begin until they became ‘senior girls’ and had the ‘opportunity of representing and serving the School, of giving as well as receiving’.

This year saw the acquisition of the first school trophy, the Handley Cup, awarded for ‘gymnastic work’. This was provided by Mrs Allcock (née Handley) who had just become one of ‘three Lady Governors of the School’ and presented to the winners by a Miss Fernyhaugh whose presence in school seemed to cause much excitement. The School hoped to receive more such trophies and encouraged the girls to think of ways of improving their fledgling library, recommending the ‘delightful custom’ of some other schools ‘whereby girls who are leaving present, either individually or in groups, one or more volumes to the Library’. We have certainly found snippets of evidence in the archive that suggests this initiative did begin and was sustained for some considerable years.

Miss Mary Walmsley, the previous Head, was welcomed to that year’s Speech Day, taking place in the Corn Exchange, in order to distribute the prizes. She was received with cheering from the ‘270 white-robed maidens present’ as she made her thank you speech on receiving a gift.

For many years the Grammar School had celebrated Founder’s Day in memory of Thomas Burton but in 1921, the High School were invited to join this commemoration in a much grander version at the Parish Church. Miss Bristol points out to readers of the magazine that as well as understanding ‘the debt we owe to our Founder’, they should also take the opportunity to remember ‘the unnumbered and perhaps to us unknown folk , men and women, whose devoted service in the past has secured for us the educational and other advantages which make it possible for our life to be so much wider and fuller than that of our grandmothers.”

Buried in the notes of News of Old Girls, but quite rightly highlighted again elsewhere in the magazine, is news of another role model for the girls: Margaret Wintringham (LHS 1897), recently elected as MP for Louth.

100 Years Ago

LGS in 1921

On Wednesday 16 March, the School’s War Memorial was unveiled by Bingham Dixon Turner, late Headmaster of the School, who had initiated the Memorial Fund before he had left . Relatives of the fallen, and other friends of the School, assembled around the bronze tablet and the School (now numbering 271) were massed outside the entrance door. Prayers were read by Rev George Briggs (Class of 1893), Rector of the Parish Church, and two hymns were sung – Fight the Good Fight and For All the Saints. The Rev Briggs was to write the School Hymn two years later. Aft er Bingham Turner’s address to the School, the National Anthem was sung.

Although the School had more than doubled in size in the past three years, this was not yet reflected at the senior end of the School. Two days later there were only 17 competitors in the Cross Country Race and four days aft er that just eight boys competing in the Gymnastics Competition. It is interesting that neither of these competitions were ‘House based’. That was not the case with the football where, in the Senior Cup, East beat West 5-1 but the Junior Cup had to go to a replay aft er the final between West and South ended in a 3-3 draw (West finally won 2-1). It was not as close in the Athletic Sports, held earlier than usual on 21 May, where West also won by 43 points, doubling the score of the runners-up East.

Both the School’s football and cricket teams had mixed fortunes. The footballers ended up both winning and losing 15 games with three draws, whilst the cricketers won six and lost nine with two draws. They seemed to have a familiar problem: ‘The chief weakness in the 1st XI has been lack of confidence in batting, so that if the first wicket fell cheaply there was usually a collapse.’ Tennis, however, really struggled with just one victory in their ten matches.

The amount of sport posed as many problems back then as it does today with the Literary and Dramatic Society having a period of ‘enforced inactivity, for the calls of the cricket field, courts and river have rendered a large programme almost impossible.’

Although ‘Founders Day’ had been observed for many years at both the Grammar and High Schools, it was on Sunday 5 June that the first Burton Service was held at the Parish Church. A crowded congregation included, in addition to the governors, staff and pupils past and present, the Mayor, Town Clerk and members of the Town Council. The sermon was preached by Canon Chappel, Sub-Dean The sermon was preached by Canon Chappel, Sub-Dean of Coventry and the late Headmaster of King’s School, Worcester. A month later, Emmanuel Parochial Hall was the venue for the annual Summer Term Concert, held on Friday 1 July.

Prize Day, held in the Town Hall, on Wednesday 9 November, saw every ‘Deputy Head’s nightmare’ when the proposed chief guest, the M.P. Charles McCurdy, had to withdraw at short notice due to his Parliamentary duties and the prizes had to be distributed by the Chairman of Governors. Its format was somewhat diff erent to what most Loughburians will remember. ‘The entertainment opened with songs which were sung by the School Choir. A French sketch was then acted by members of the School’ before the Chair of Governors and Headmaster Stinton spoke.

However, the most significant event of the year occurred a week earlier: ‘a formal inspection by a contingent of His Majesty’s Inspectors. As we heard a month later that the School had been recognised for additional grant we concluded that they did not entirely disapprove of us.’ Its final conclusion was that ‘The School is an eff iciently conducted institution apparently assured of a suff icient supply of fit and suitable boys and can reasonably be expected to take that part in the provision of educational facilities at which it aims.’

John Weitzel LGS Archivist

50 Years Ago

LHS in 1971

July 1971 marked the retirement of Miss MH Griff ith who had been Head of the Music Department for 26 years. She is noted as having ‘brought an indefatigable energy to her job, and a seemingly infinite capacity for hard work’. Her outstanding contribution to school music, as well as many other aspects of school life, is celebrated with aff ection and gratitude in the school magazine. She was to be replaced by Mr Turton. The activities of the Music Department that year were, as always, numerous.

House plays were adjudicated by Miss Ironside with Hastings maintaining a tradition of excellent production. House matches however were not as well supported as would have been liked. Storer regained the Gumbrell Shield from Burton, and Hastings managed not to come bottom for the second year running!

The Junior Debating Society reported a very active year. The debates pitched one boy against one girl to speak for and against the motions. The members ranged from Upper Thirds to Lower Fift hs and they were appreciative of their ‘long-suff ering’ staff organisers, Mr Royal and Miss Winterton.

‘We have had some very varied debates, from the troubles in Northern Ireland to Women’s Lib. Needless to say, the Women’s Lib debate was the best attended and the only one held here at the High School.’

Meanwhile the 20th Century Debating Society were also covering ‘many interesting and successful debates, despite the occasional lack of communication between members of the committee.’ Motions included those on Ireland, cannabis, abortion and other ‘serious’ subjects. ‘The lighter side of life has been discussed in debates concerning the perils (or otherwise) of polygamy in modern society, and the liberation not of women, but men.’

Mr Mercer was giving up his spare time to run Chess Club and although the members were generally improving, Patricia Houlston (LIVA) reported that ‘much more eff ort must be put into concentrating on the game and not on what friends happen to be doing.’

The 2nd Loughborough Guide Company were continuing valiantly without a Leader, Mrs Tennant having stepped down aft er long service to the Company. Miss Lee (District Commissioner) and Miss Hadley (Headmistress) were kindly helping out.

The Ringing Society were going from strength to strength, being joined by many new members. They were now able to sometimes ring a round of ten bells and visited six towers in Kenilworth; they were aiming to visit more towers in Leicestershire in the coming term. The Society were being supported by Mr Stephen Royal and Taylor’s Bell Foundry in their endeavours.

The School Magazine for the year was packed full of creative contributions from the girls. Two artistic examples are shown here.

50 Years Ago

LGS in 1971

One of the final ‘flickers’ of the 475 anniversary year occurred on Friday 19 February when the School hosted B.B.C. Radio’s Any Questions with a panel that consisted of Lady Barnett, Jeremy Thorpe (who spoke to the 6th form in the afternoon), Denis Healey and Alistair Burnett.

When the School returned after the Easter holidays, it learnt of the death of Sydney Russell Pullinger who had been Headmaster from 1926 to 1954. His death came just a month before the official opening of the building that carries his name. Unusually the plaque was unveiled in the Hodson Hall by Sir Denys Page, Master of Jesus College, Cambridge and President of the Endowed Schools. However, the December Loughburian reported, ‘The Pullinger Block erected last term has had more than its fair share of teething troubles. The downstairs lecture rooms are not yet completed, the lights buzz, the doors squeak, and the entrance hall is invariably congested.’ Some things don’t change in 50 years!

Also in May it was announced that there would be a significant change in the school uniform – members of the Upper and Advanced Sixth would be allowed to wear dark grey suits rather than either the ‘approved’ grey suit or blazer. However this was not universally welcomed with the Editorial in the Loughburian being strongly against the move. ‘This latest change is to be regretted, constituting as it does, a move towards a diversity of costume which is quite incompatible with uniformity of dress. There are several reasons for having one standard uniform for all pupils, from first former to school captain. A uniform is absolutely necessary in that it enhances the unity of the School and causes every pupil to feel part of a community.’

Changes in uniform were however the last thing on the mind of Peter Hopkins and ten Cycling Club members as they cycled from Land’s End to LGS in March. The theory was that they would be ‘blown back’ by the prevailing balmy south-westerly winds but unfortunately the entire time they were into a strong and cold north-easterly wind, so the only time they had the wind behind them was the 5 miles from the youth hostel to Land’s End to get to the start! Competitive cycling was becoming really popular within the School with cyclo-cross being especially popular- the number of boys jumping from 1 to 20, with the School having its own ‘track’ in the spinney (before the Sports Hall was built!). A young Chris Wreghitt (Class of 1977) became national U12 Cyclo-Cross Champion. (Peter Hopkin’s account of the ‘glory years’ of cycling How many miles is it now, sir? is on the digital archive or a printed copy can be obtained by contacting the Development Office).

I was intrigued by the start of the 1st XI Cricket report. ‘With the game of cricket slowly dying off owing to the stale mate that now exists between batsmen and bowler in present day cricket, I am happy to report that the school is still managing to produce some lively and entertaining play.’ Indeed they did, losing just two of their 18 matches ‘only one of these being to a school side, Henry VIII Coventry’…. which I will always remember as I took the first nine Loughborough wickets! The hockey side had similar success and although the 1st XV rugby team struggled, the 2nd XV went unbeaten.

Uniquely, I think, the LGS Savings Bank opened in September. Situated in P4 it opened on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes and had rather an unusual business model. ‘Business involved the paying-in of large amounts of cash by the first and second years and the paying-out of small sums of cash by the bank.’ It had cheque books and payingin slips and both ordinary and deposit accounts (paying 5% interest). In its first two months it had acquired £142.45. It did occur to me that probably the only reason this hadn’t happened before was that the boys were unable to cope with £sd…decimalisation had occurred just a few months earlier!

In his Prize Giving speech on 23 November, Headmaster Norman Walter ended with these words:- ‘In the present interest in consumer protection, the phrase “caveat emptor” – “let the buyer beware” – has real meaning when such feeble and shoddy things are being offered to us by sensationalists in the cinema, on the radio, television, in the press and advertisements, by those intent on getting our money by whatever means. This motto is a necessary one for all parents too – let them see what they and their children are having sold to them in every way in education. I have tried to show you a few of the educational wares we here at LGS are offering, and I hope that my report will satisfy you and that you will help us to maintain the standards of our service.’

At that time he was not to know that independence was just five years away.

25 Years Ago

LHS in 1996

The new school library – The Cope Library – was opened in February 1996 by Mr KJ Brydson on behalf of the Cope Trustees. The Cope family had left a very generous legacy to the school which enabled work to be carried out to convert the former boarding area into a new library. Mr Brydson spoke of his family’s involvement in the School and how pleased they would have been to see the library that would benefit the eduction of many future generations. It remains a very calm and cultured space, a place for reflection, inspiration and plain old study and is still much used and loved by girls currently in the School. They perhaps aren’t still using the stock of CD-ROMS whose operation was demonstrated to the visiting dignitaries on that opening afternoon!

The Chairman of the Parents’ Association reported a very successful year of activities resulting in a wide range of equipment being purchased for the School. The most intriguing event was the visit of Mr George Archdale of the BBCs Antiques Roadshow, entertaining guests with his boundless knowledge of antiques and delighting the sell-out audience.

The students were busy raising funds too with three girls (Leila Ballentyne, Joanna Clarke and Hannah Richards) organising what they believed to be the first ever Talent Show, charging entry for a lunchtime performance judged by Miss Harvatt, Miss Weaver and Mrs Lofthouse. The winners were an instrumental group from UIII (Rosie Bowring, Rachael Taylor, Frances Moffatt and Eleanor Smith).

Four new members joined the teaching staff in 1996 including Mrs Ghaly, coming from industry with an ambition of wanting to be ‘instrumental in the education and careers of young people’. She is still doing that now at LHS, 25 years on!

After 20 years of service, Mrs Cullingford, History and General Studies teacher, retired. Miss Harvatt relates her extensive contribution to school life in the School News and describes her as ‘a real character’.

The comedy Billy Liar was the fourth form play involving both LHS and LGS and was ‘unsurprisingly a sellout’. The Spring also saw The De Montfort Concert which with choirs, orchestra, Big Band and a variety of other musical groups ‘certainly equalled the spectacular event at Nottingham last year’.

As well as the usual sports reports, three less well-known sporting endeavours are given a focus in the School Magazine – Bridge, Dance and Rowing – with some considerable dedication and success reported.

The Queen’s visit in June gets some copy space in the magazine, of course, but far more dominant in the edition is the visit of Dr Mary Peters, Olympic Gold medallist in the Pentathlon, and her visit to speak at Prize Giving and to dig the first sod from the hockey pitch ready for its transformation into an astro-turf.

The Cope Library is opened

Mary Peters with Miss Harvatt and Prize Winners

25 Years Ago

LGS in 1996

Ihad enjoyed the Autumn Term of 1995 with the Quincentenary year off icially ending in July. Life was returning to something approaching normality. At the start of the Spring Term, Neville Ireland summoned me and informed me that he had been successful in securing a visit by Her Majesty the Queen, for later in the year, and although it had to be kept secret, I had better start organising it!

On Friday 28 June, in pouring rain, the School welcomed its most famous visitor when Her Majesty spent over two hours at the School, including lunch. A more detailed account of the day can be found in the 1996 Loughburian and a video of the day, and BBC & ITV’s coverage, are available on the digital archive www.lgs-heritage.org. My Loughburians Go Live talk on 28 June 2021 about this is also available on our Vimeo page at https://vimeo.com/ user128069309

Involved on that day, indeed as they had been all through Quincentenary year, was the School Choir and it was fitting that in April they embarked on their most ambitious tour so far to the USA, accompanied by the Headmaster. Starting on the West Coast singing in Los Angeles (on the Queen Mary) and San Francisco (in Grace Cathedral) with a visit to Yosemite National Park sandwiched in between, they then flew to the East Coast to Pennsylvania and then New York, ending by giving a recital in St Patrick’s Cathedral. However, for most of us on that trip, given what was to happen five years later, the one thing we remember more than anything else was being on the top of the World Trade Centre – not for the unbelievable view but ‘for the novelty of seeing helicopters fly below you.’!!

Not to be outdone, the Concert Band performed at Twickenham for the 3rd year running for Schools’ Day playing the anthems in front of a crowd of 15,000 before heading to Italy on tour in the summer.

With the Drama Studio up and running since the previous September and a Head of Drama, Dr Julian Rees, in place, drama moved on from just a play and an opera per year. Julian’s initial policy was to work with the younger pupils. Thus The Hunting of the Snark in November 1995 was performed by the 3rd Year; Robin Hood in December by the 1st Year; Billy Liar in March 1996 by the 4th Year; The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew in June by the 2nd Year; and Halfway up the tree in October by the 4th Form. Dr Rees might have been new to the post, but in December 1996 Snow White and the Several Dwarfs was the 25th First Year Evening (which of course means it celebrates its 50th production this year). A history of the 50 years of the First Year Evening is available on the digital archive or a print copy can be obtained by contacting the Development Off ice.

This year, we were delighted to welcome back Lieutenant Colonel Adam Foden, DSO MBE who back in 1996 was the Regimental Sergeant Major in quite a year for the CCF. It was fitting that the Inspection was carried out by Sir Timothy Brooks, the Queen’s Lord Lieutenant, who as a governor had been instrumental in ensuring the Queen’s visit where the CCF provided a 96 man Guard of Honour.

On the sporting field it was hockey that was making all the headlines. The 1st XI was at that time the finest the School had ever had, winning 13 of its 16 games. One of those defeats - to Whitgift - came in the Oxford Festival where the School won its other four matches. However it was another defeat that was perhaps more significant. On March 12 the Swimming team lost to Nottingham High School, the School’s first defeat in over five years since it had lost to Aylesbury. No other team, in any sport, has even got close to this sort of record. One sport that nearly did was Karting and this year saw no less than four National Champions, whilst in cricket Daniel Reddyhough scored a record 1041 runs.

However, it was fitting that at the end of two quite remarkable years in the life of the School it was the academics that shone through with 24 boys going to Oxbridge – 11 to Cambridge and 13 to Oxford – just two short of the record three years earlier.

John Weitzel LGS Archivist

BURTON SERVICE

Usually when the Easter break is on the horizon, our Schools would be readying themselves for the annual Burton Service that these days takes place on the final morning of the Spring Term - a commemoration of the establishment of the Schools and celebration of the acknowledged founder, Thomas Burton.

An early source from the archive records that the first Founder’s Day was held in 1878. The date chosen was that of 12 June, the day when Thomas Burton’s Will, from which the Schools ultimately benefited, was signed in 1494. The format of those early Founder’s Days consisted of a special assembly followed by a half day holiday, which in later years consisted of taking the whole school to Matlock.

The arrival of George W Briggs (Class of 1893) as Rector of the Parish Church in Loughborough (now All Saints with Holy Trinity, Loughborough), saw the occasion grow. On the morning of Sunday 5 June 1921, the whole town was invited to join the Schools in a special service held in the ‘tastefully decorated’ Parish Church in what is acknowledged as the first Burton Service. By all accounts, there was a very impressive turn out which included many local dignitaries.

Over the years, the Burton Service has gradually shift ed forward in the school year, from a date close to 12 June, to May, and ultimately to the last day of the Easter term. It has grown too, as the numbers in the Schools have increased. In a triumph of staff organisational and management skill, students from across the schools are now seamlessly funnelled in various directions across site and the centre of Loughborough, to celebrate the occasion with their counterparts in the same year group and stage of school in five diff erent locations. These days, it takes two local churches as well as Hodson Hall, Eadon Hall and Amherst Chapel to accommodate the whole student and staff body! George Briggs once expressed his desire for the Burton Service to be a unifying experience and certainly this has become a very distinct date in the calendar when the Schools truly mix and gather together with one clear focus. 2020 was the first year since it began that the Burton Service was unable to take place despite logistics primed, talks written and service sheets printed. Sadly, the first lockdown beat us to the most significant School gathering of that year - Friday 27 March.

In 2021, rather than lose another Burton Service due to the pandemic, the Schools opted to take their commemorations online and share a pre-recorded Burton assembly, including some elements of the traditional Burton Service, across the Foundation during tutor time on the final day of term, Friday 26 March. It was not the same as gathering physically with friends from across the Foundation to mark the date, but it was another first in the rich history of this event and ensured that everyone was connected to the tradition we treasure. Here’s hoping that in 2022 we find ourselves together and permitted to once more sing of our ‘Five Hundred Years Enduring’.

Although the key components of this Founder’s Day remain constant, other traditions have come and gone. From the 1920s well into the 1950s, records specifically mention the laying of a wreath by the Head Boy and Girl at the memorial in the Burton Chapel (a side Chapel at the Parish Church, also created by Briggs, dedicated to Thomas Burton).

Pioneering MP

Margaret Wintringham (LHS 1897)

Margaret Wintringham was the first British born woman to take her seat in the House of Commons, elected in 1921. She followed American-born Nancy Astor who joined Parliament in 1919.

Born Margaret Longbotham (known as Maggie at LHS) in Keighley, Yorkshire in 1879, she was a pupil at Keighley Girls’ Grammar School under Miss Walmsley. Like a number of boarders there, she followed Miss Walmsley to Loughborough High School in 1897 as Miss Walmsley took up the Headship. Margaret acted as a student teacher for a year while preparing for the Entrance Examination for the Bedford Kindergarten Training College. Many educated girls went on to become teachers in that era and she did this successfully, eventually becoming Headmistress of a school in Grimsby. She married in 1903, to a timber merchant called Tom Wintringham.

Margaret moved to Louth in Lincolnshire when her husband became the MP of the town. Unfortunately, Tom died unexpectedly in 1921 and, having always been politically active, Margaret then stood as the Liberal candidate in the by-election and won. As she was in mourning at the time, she chose not to speak publicly throughout the election campaign and was dubbed the ‘Silent Woman Candidate’. She was re-elected in the 1922 and 1923 general elections.

Margaret developed a close working relationship with Nancy Astor, the only other female MP at that time. Despite representing diff erent political parties, they shared common interests and causes such as housing improvements, widows’ and orphans’ pensions and votes for women.

The Equal Guardianship Act was perhaps Margaret’s most significant achievement as an MP. Prior to 1925, fathers were the legal guardians of children. This could lead to great hardship for mothers if denied custody and women’s organisations campaigned over decades to amend this. As oft en happens in Parliamentary reform, the Act did not go as far as Margaret would have liked but it did commit to law the principle of equal rights for both mothers and fathers and prioritise the welfare of the child for any court in cases of dispute.

Margaret Wintringham was a pioneer, a principled campaigner, unafraid to voice an opinion founded on social justice and equality and tenacious and resilient enough to ignore prejudice and discrimination and see the job to its rightful conclusion. She epitomises the School ethos evidential in the archive material from that era.

Green and Dying

One of the most recent additions to the digital archive is the film Green and Dying (minus sound, but having read the review this is probably a good thing!) made in 1965 by Roger Pratt (Class of 1965). You can see the film and also read the review of it in the Loughburian – just put ‘Green and Dying’ into the search facility on the archive!

Roger went on to become one of Britain’s greatest cinematographers being Director of Photography for more than 35 films including two of the Harry Potter films. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1999 for his work on The End of the Aff air and in 2019 BAFTA held a special tribute to him.

Please view the film to see what life was like at LGS in 1965 and what was probably Roger’s first film.

If you want to go back even further go to the ‘Photographs’ section of the archive and view some Victorian pupils. If you ever won a ‘named’ prize go to the ‘Miscellaneous’ section to find out who it was named aft er!

Recently all the ‘Old Loughburians’ were added and hopefully, by the time you receive this, all the remaining ‘Loughburians’ will also be available. The one area that I am desperate to expand is the audio archive and if you are able to recall your memories of the School – good or bad – then please get in touch and we would be happy to support you in recording your memories yourself or arranging a time to meet up. John Weitzel, LGS Archivist Digital Archive: www.lgs-heritage.org