History
By Peter Ibbett
Potton’s Infant Class of 1920:-
Joan meets Lady Burgoyne What was going on in the Potton of a century ago? One mine of information is the Kelly’s Trade Directory, which not only gives the names of over 120 of those ‘in-trade’ but also details of the town and its Council School, built for £3,800 in 1874 for 310 pupils. In 1920 the directory records 150 infants with an average attendance of 148. The Potton History Society has some school photographs of the era including the one above. The ‘tot’ holding the board in the front row found herself mentioned in the Biggleswade Chronicle of the 21st May 1920. The school needed a piano and a ‘Sale of Work’ had been arranged to raise funds with Lady Burgoyne from nearby Sutton Park drafted in to open the event. “ Joan Huckle, a member of the Babies’ Class, a tot with a merry smile and curly hair, then presented Lady Burgoyne with bouquet as token of the pleasure with which her presence was regarded. Mr. F. W. Braybrooks, J.P., proposed a vote of thanks to the opener for her interest in the School as shown by the fact of her opening the sale. Rev.
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G. Whelpton. M.A.. seconded, and the vote was carried with acclamation. Buying then began at once, a crowd of visitors having gathered there for the purpose, and at 8 o’clock very few articles and no refreshments were left. Besides the stalls, there was a tail-less donkey, a weighing machine, and a doll guessing competition. Hilda Keeling won the doll, the name of which was Joan. A clear profit of £32 was made. The stalls yielded the chief part of this, to which were added a few subscriptions from well-wishers here and at Enfield. As the piano cost £50 and the Education Committee has granted £l5, there are only £3 to find. If you would like to know the names of the rest of the class and the full details of the 1920 Potton traders, as well as a selection of photographs from the Society archives please go to www.pottonhistorysociety.org.uk. We have the ‘tot’ herself to thank for the photo for, later in life, she donated the photograph to the Society archives. Perhaps YOU can donate items that will be fascinating to the Villager readers of 2120!
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