A Retrospect

1897

January 28 the Masters, Mistresses, and Teachers of the Board Schools held another successful soiree in the Boys’ School.

May 31 Ledbury underwent the turmoil and excitement of the triennial School Board Election. There were nine candidates for seven seats, the following being elected: - J. BANNER (691), C. W. STEPHENS. (632), W. A. C. GABB (596), S. H. BICKHAM (508), C. E. M. GREEN, Rector (450), C. Y. POTTS, Congregational Minister (404), T. HODGES (237). The defeated candidates were Mr. J. PREECE (221), and Mr. M. A. WOOD (148), both of whom were old and tried members. June 2 The last Meeting of the Old School Board was held.

June 9 The first Meeting of the newly elected School Board was held. The Rev. C. E. M. GREEN was re-elected Chairman, and the Rev. C. Y POTTS was elected to the Vice-Chair. At the same meeting it was decided by a majority of one, that the Apostles’ Creed should no longer be taught in the Schools.

July 7 The School Board held their annual meeting, the examination reports being read. The Boys’ school was reported satisfactory; in the Girls’ school several of the standards required pulling up; the Infants’ school was fair.

1898

January 26 The teachers of the Board Schools held their fifth Soirée the same evening at the Boys’ School.

March 2 At the School Board Meeting a long discussion took place on the Drummond Hay Endowment question, and it was resolved to ask the Charity Commissioners if the Board were competent to administer the Charity, seeing that the words “Church of England” were mentioned in the Charity.

1900

May 19 Six Candidates nominated for seven seats on the Ledbury School Board—Rev. Preb. MADDISON GREEN (Rector), Rev. C. Y. POTTS, Messrs. S. H. BICKHAM, C. W. STEPHENS, H. BRAY, and J. BOYD. Mr. G. BEST was subsequently elected by the Board, the Rector was re-elected Chairman, and Rev. C. Y. POTTS Vice-chairman.

In 1900, for the first time within the Chair's memory, 'the highest grant was received for every subject. A total payment of 22/3d per head was made which included 1/6d for drawing, singing by rote 1/-, elementary science and English 2s, geography 2s'.

1901

February 4 The Ledbury Board Schools closed for three weeks in consequence of the epidemic of whooping cough and mumps.

August 21 Ledbury Board Schools “broke up” for five weeks holidays: extended to six weeks on account of the prolongation of hop-picking.

September 4 At the School Board Meeting Mr. STEPHENS reported on the great increase in the grant earned by the schools. At the same meeting Mr W DINGLEY resigned the post of School Attendance Officer which he had held since 1870, on account of his leaving Ledbury.

December 19 Girls’ Board School Concert, followed by Teachers’ Soiree, Royal Hall.

1902

March 5 Mr STEPHENS at the School Board Meeting reported on the increased grants earned by the schools.

September 19 Another Meeting at the Town Hall to Protest against the Education Bill.

November 19 The School Board resolved to close the schools for a fortnight on account of the outbreak of measles.

( 2013 March )
Jo Edge - I bet there are a few relatives of members in there somewhere! Wonder if we will ever know!!!!

Chris Ponter - Wall and pillars still look exactly the same today 100 years later although there is now a hedge where the railings are.

Jo Edge - Do you think these photos are recorded at the records office at Hereford that we may be able to name them?

Carole Phillips - Just great,wonder who they are

Monica Imms - Just a bit early for my mum who was born in 1910, some of her sisters could be there but I've no way of finding out! Great photo!

Sandra Gray - I would think my Grandmother is there somewhere

Chip Andrew Bryon - As you say, Jo & Carole, it would be great to know the names. Both of my grandmothers could well be in the picture. They both attended that school, as far as I know:- Emily Barnett (b. 1904, married Mansell) should definitely be there, and Florence Sturge (b.1899, married Bryon) although she may have just left. I believe the school leaving age was 12, at that time!

Lynne Robinson - This wonderful photo reminded me of an article I read from 1914...some of these young ladies could well have been involved with the carryings on during a teachers strike over pay.. I will post the article

Chip Andrew Bryon - Think I remember my nan (Emily) saying she left early, to work on the land because of the war. None of my grandparents were "Grammar School stock"

Hilary Hilsy Williams-Jones - great photo Chip, yes Nan Bryon may well have left by then, earliest photo I have of her would be when she was around 16 so not sure that i could even pick her out if she is on here. Her sister Frances Sturge could well be on here as well. love their pinnies, and wouldn't it be fantastic to have some names

Claire Ellis - I always thought younger boys went here until they reached a certain age, and then transfered to the boys school. No boys in photo though so have I got this info wrong?

Judy Baker - I think then boys started at boys school and girls to girls. My Dad went to boys school till he left at 14

Jo Edge - Claire ive never quite got to grips with this, Church Street was a an infants school and a girls school, the boys when old enough moved to the boys school in The Homend, girls stayed on at Church Street Girls School. Then we had the grammar School at the top of Church Lane for further education. My mum said she left at 14 to go to work. Not sure if I have this right

Hilary Hilsy Williams-Jones - except Chip that Grandad Bryon was Gloucester and went to Cathedral School from what I can remember

Carole Phillips - I can remember being in mxd class up church street I went to school there when I was 5 & stayed till high school

Jo Edge - Carole do you think it was mixed Infants and then Girls School Junior before you left for LCS

Claire Ellis - Thanks Jo, so younger boys did start with the girls. I have read some of the school journals from around this time, they are now in the Hereford records office. Children were allowed time off to help with harvest etc. Girls could also stay at home to look after younger siblings whilst mum went to work. A lot of responsibility for youngsters.

Carole Phillips - Yes Jo think thats right I can remember Malcom Carless being in my class,we had the wooden desks with our books inside, malcom lifted his lid & it fell on his head I thought he was laughing so did it again he was crying not laughing, so I got into trouble, remember that so well, at some stage they must have left & gone to boys school .

Chip Andrew Bryon - This has confused me, too. I thought I always remembered my Dad telling me he went to the school in Church Street (1930s). He never mentioned being at the school in the Homend though. The fact that I never went to school in Ledbury doesn't help me understand

RIOT IN SCHOOL
FIGHTS BETWEEN "STRIKERS" AND WORKERS - HEADMISTRESS SENT HOME

About 70 schools in Herefordshire are closed in consequence of the teachers' strike. In several cases yesterday clergymen conducted the teaching with the aid of monitors.

Riotous scenes occurred at LedburyGirls' School. The girls dressed upbrooms and wrote notices: "We are going to have our teachers back." They then started playing the piano, overturned the desks, spilled ink about the floor, and wrote notices on the walls.

The new headmistress, Miss CREASY did not leave the school until after the children had gone some time, but a crowd of children awaited her and hooted as she went along the streets.

At half-past one, when the pupils were due back, about two hundred of the bigger girls assembled in the school grounds, and after a hurried meeting decided to go "on strike". When the new mistress appeared she was greeted with hoots and cat-calls, and the girls said they would not allow her in the school. She endeavoured to gain an entrance, but was surrounded and kept out.

The scholars then obtained the keys of both the front and back doors and formed a guard in order to prevent anyone getting in. Free fights took place between the "strikers" and a number of children who refused to "strike", and many parents who gathered outside called their children away and took them home.

A number of the more dutiful children effected an entrance unobserved through one of the windows, but they were quickly followed by "strikers", who took their hats and coats from them and threw them out of the windows. Miss CREASY meanwhile was powerless to do anything and had to leave.

A real blast from the past! Lovely photo--however do you remember all those names! I do remember a few!...MI

I might be on that photo but must say I cant see myself! Sylvia ROGERS was my best friend and we were in the same class later at Grammar School. Her family then moved to Worcester. I think her dad worked on the railways....SG

Brenda Hill - There are a lot of children who should have been on this photo. Perhaps it was just a few from each class

Chris Ponter - What a treasure lovely photo,Jan BETTISON ( Drew ) you havn't changed and can see Kelvin also not changed, bottle of milk its great

I can't remember most of the girls because we got separated not too long after (after Mrs Martin's class I think). Was the teacher of this class Miss Slater?

Chris Ponter - I can remember being in the lovely Mrs MARTINS class, went through school with these kids so probably would have been in the class

Jan Bettison - Wht a wonderful photo! No recollection of this at all. I can remember the jumper, think I was wearing this in my ' SMITH's ' photo

Chris Ponter - Yes a good one, when I looked quickly thought it was just a picture about school milk, know thats silly but thats what I thought, then saw you Jan, lovely pic

Pat Hickey - Can't quite read the writing on Janet's paper bag, there is a picture of a building...PH

Paddy you were so cute xxx...JS

Another great photo remember Ann Mobbs her birthday fell day before mine and lived by Jenny Suddes up the Homend, can still picture that class room, at one time had teacher called Miss Kingsbury

Yes, we thought Miss Kingsbury was young and trendy in her pencil skirts and stiletto

We all loved Miss Kingsbury. She seemed so cool and trendy whilst most other teachers seemed to be so old!!

Remember she had a boyfriend in what would have been Yugoslavia then, Sue Cooper and myself used to take her case down to the Milk Bar on some Fridays as she used to catch a coach home to Bristol where her parents lived, she had big glasses

She was young and made the rest look old and they probably weren't