Newsletter 9
No. 9 October 2005Editor's Report
A 'Commemorative Booklet'is planned for 2006, a hundred years since the first school magazine was produced.
The booklet will give, as far as possible, highlights from each year from 1893 to 1970. It will be printed in black and white with a laminated cover. The cost will be approximately £5 and copies will be available at the lunch in April or by order from Jane. We have had great fun researching the material and we hope that you will enjoy these highlights in the history of the school. If you have any memories, photographs, or can do sketches of items of interest please let us have them by the end of January.
The House System
In 1925 Miss Copeman initiated the system of 'Houses', similar to that practised by public schools.
Four 'Houses' were created, names after benefactors of the School.
Haig
'Tyde What May'
Yellow
Miss Adaline Haig Headmistress 1903-1925
Ferrier
'Keep Tryst'
Green
Councillor Ferrier Chairman of Governors 1925-1933
Palgrave
'Cedimus Nunquam'
Blue
Sir Inglis palgrave Chairman of Governors 1906-1919
Worlledge
'Faire Sans Dire'
Red
Councillor Worlledge Chairman of Governors 1919-1925
We were each allotted to a House on entering the School, siblings being automatically put in their sister's House, and we are sure you will all have memories of the rivalries between the Houses.
Cookery Classes
In 1912 Miss Haig announced the acquisition of a Cookery School, where she said 'much useful work would be done'. Domestic Science was part of a comprehensive science scheme and included cookery, elemental hygiene and simple housewifery. The aim was to teach girls the principles of good household cookery 'so that they could give material assistance on those unfortunate occasions when the cook has given notice and no successor can be found to replace her'!
Miss Jackson joined the school in 1929. She had a Diploma in Domestic Science from Battersea Polytechnic and we are sure you will remember this refined and particular lady who taught the 'art of cookery', household management and needlework to generations of largely reluctant girls. Who can ever forget the gingham knickers of enormous size that we all so diligently sewed on lovely sunny afternoons!
Music and Theatre
Photographs of'As You Like It' 1937,'Emma' 1946/47 and 'Victoria Regina'1950
Photographs of Victoria Regina
Music
Music was also a prominent feature of the life of the School and entertainment was always included at Prize Giving. In 1911 the first School Concert was given to a most enthusiastic audience. In 1914 a celebration took place in the Hall to commemorate the School's coming of age. It was preceded by the singing of a song especially composed for the occasion by Miss Alston and set to music by Dr.Haydon Hare. Miss Copeman recorded in her reminiscences for the Jubilee in 1943, 'that it was sung on all subsequent occasions with much fervour and any suggestion of omitting verses was always opposed with great determination by the girls'.the words and accompanying music has been recorded by The Great Yarmouth Choral Societyand it is now on our website. Click to Listen
The secretary of The Great Yarmouth Choral Society is none other than our own President Jane Freeman and we are very grateful to Jane and The Society for providing such wonderful archive material for us.
In 1928 the School acquired a grand piano and in 1929 it is recorded that the gramaphone 'has now become an indispensable feature in the life of the School.
In 1947 the School was honoured to be represented by N. Field, M.Brown, R.Waite and S. Stockman in a BBC broadcast for Children's Hour. In the late 1940s Mrs Lee, whose professional name was Daisy Whitely, joined the School to train the choirs and in 1952 she helped to revive the Musical Society.
She was followd in the late 50s by Miss Risk and Miss Burrows, and in 1960 Mr Skins.
In 1963 for the first time in the history of the School and orchestra was formed among the younger members. By 1967 it is reported as being particularly active.
Do you have any musical memories?
School Uniform As a result of the article in the lastnews letter we have had a very interesting letter from Joan Choules who was at the School from 1933-1940. We than her very much for the following lovely detailed description.
'We wore navy blue Melton overcoats in winter with black velour hats with hat bands. A lot of us used to put a tuck in the crown to make it fit better. We were allowed to wear navy blue gabardine raincoats when it rained with navy blue berets and woe betide you if you were caught wearing a beret when the day was fine. We wore black woollen which were lovely and warm in winter. We had square necked navy blue jumpers with a white band round the neck.
In summer we wore blazers and panamas and the summer dress was pale blue Tobralco, a sort of corded cotton, very smart and comfortable to wear with a double breasted bodice and reveres with a slightly flared skirt. Up to the Lower 1V we were allowed to wear socks but after that we had to wear beige lisle stockings. Then the powers that be decided to change the summer dress. It was still the same material but we thought we looked like orphan Annies. They had a bodice that buttoned up the front with a straight skirt, a belt and white collar and cuffs.
Later on,about 1937/8 the gymslip was changed. It had a plain bodice, with a flared wrap over skirt which fastened along the waist line with press studs and up the left side of the bodice. The idea was that we would get in and out of them more quickly when we had gym. The summer dress was also changed about this time, or may be a bit later. We had a choice of four colours in a cotton material with a small floral pattern. I am not quite sure but I think you could chose the style yourself?
Other parts of the uniform were a square necked navy blue overall for science and a white one for cookery and a navy and white striped scarf. We had three hat bands while I was there. We were always asking the headmistress, Miss Copeman if we could have blouses with ties but she said knowing what girls were like they would end up looking like pieces of string'.
Locations of the School
The School had four sites in it's history,(plus four years in exile in Retford)
147 King Street - Opposite St.George's Church 1893-1895
7/8 Albert Square 1895-1910
Trafalgar Road 1910-1957
Oriel Avenue Gorleston 1957-1970 The above is a slightly shortened version of the Newsletter. If you would like a full copy please contact Jane Freeman
A 'Commemorative Booklet'is planned for 2006, a hundred years since the first school magazine was produced.
The booklet will give, as far as possible, highlights from each year from 1893 to 1970. It will be printed in black and white with a laminated cover. The cost will be approximately £5 and copies will be available at the lunch in April or by order from Jane. We have had great fun researching the material and we hope that you will enjoy these highlights in the history of the school. If you have any memories, photographs, or can do sketches of items of interest please let us have them by the end of January.
The House System
In 1925 Miss Copeman initiated the system of 'Houses', similar to that practised by public schools.
Four 'Houses' were created, names after benefactors of the School.
Haig
'Tyde What May'
Yellow
Miss Adaline Haig Headmistress 1903-1925
Ferrier
'Keep Tryst'
Green
Councillor Ferrier Chairman of Governors 1925-1933
Palgrave
'Cedimus Nunquam'
Blue
Sir Inglis palgrave Chairman of Governors 1906-1919
Worlledge
'Faire Sans Dire'
Red
Councillor Worlledge Chairman of Governors 1919-1925
We were each allotted to a House on entering the School, siblings being automatically put in their sister's House, and we are sure you will all have memories of the rivalries between the Houses.
Cookery Classes
In 1912 Miss Haig announced the acquisition of a Cookery School, where she said 'much useful work would be done'. Domestic Science was part of a comprehensive science scheme and included cookery, elemental hygiene and simple housewifery. The aim was to teach girls the principles of good household cookery 'so that they could give material assistance on those unfortunate occasions when the cook has given notice and no successor can be found to replace her'!
Miss Jackson joined the school in 1929. She had a Diploma in Domestic Science from Battersea Polytechnic and we are sure you will remember this refined and particular lady who taught the 'art of cookery', household management and needlework to generations of largely reluctant girls. Who can ever forget the gingham knickers of enormous size that we all so diligently sewed on lovely sunny afternoons!
Music and Theatre
Photographs of'As You Like It' 1937,'Emma' 1946/47 and 'Victoria Regina'1950
Photographs of Victoria Regina
Music
Music was also a prominent feature of the life of the School and entertainment was always included at Prize Giving. In 1911 the first School Concert was given to a most enthusiastic audience. In 1914 a celebration took place in the Hall to commemorate the School's coming of age. It was preceded by the singing of a song especially composed for the occasion by Miss Alston and set to music by Dr.Haydon Hare. Miss Copeman recorded in her reminiscences for the Jubilee in 1943, 'that it was sung on all subsequent occasions with much fervour and any suggestion of omitting verses was always opposed with great determination by the girls'.the words and accompanying music has been recorded by The Great Yarmouth Choral Societyand it is now on our website. Click to Listen
The secretary of The Great Yarmouth Choral Society is none other than our own President Jane Freeman and we are very grateful to Jane and The Society for providing such wonderful archive material for us.
In 1928 the School acquired a grand piano and in 1929 it is recorded that the gramaphone 'has now become an indispensable feature in the life of the School.
In 1947 the School was honoured to be represented by N. Field, M.Brown, R.Waite and S. Stockman in a BBC broadcast for Children's Hour. In the late 1940s Mrs Lee, whose professional name was Daisy Whitely, joined the School to train the choirs and in 1952 she helped to revive the Musical Society.
She was followd in the late 50s by Miss Risk and Miss Burrows, and in 1960 Mr Skins.
In 1963 for the first time in the history of the School and orchestra was formed among the younger members. By 1967 it is reported as being particularly active.
Do you have any musical memories?
School Uniform As a result of the article in the lastnews letter we have had a very interesting letter from Joan Choules who was at the School from 1933-1940. We than her very much for the following lovely detailed description.
'We wore navy blue Melton overcoats in winter with black velour hats with hat bands. A lot of us used to put a tuck in the crown to make it fit better. We were allowed to wear navy blue gabardine raincoats when it rained with navy blue berets and woe betide you if you were caught wearing a beret when the day was fine. We wore black woollen which were lovely and warm in winter. We had square necked navy blue jumpers with a white band round the neck.
In summer we wore blazers and panamas and the summer dress was pale blue Tobralco, a sort of corded cotton, very smart and comfortable to wear with a double breasted bodice and reveres with a slightly flared skirt. Up to the Lower 1V we were allowed to wear socks but after that we had to wear beige lisle stockings. Then the powers that be decided to change the summer dress. It was still the same material but we thought we looked like orphan Annies. They had a bodice that buttoned up the front with a straight skirt, a belt and white collar and cuffs.
Later on,about 1937/8 the gymslip was changed. It had a plain bodice, with a flared wrap over skirt which fastened along the waist line with press studs and up the left side of the bodice. The idea was that we would get in and out of them more quickly when we had gym. The summer dress was also changed about this time, or may be a bit later. We had a choice of four colours in a cotton material with a small floral pattern. I am not quite sure but I think you could chose the style yourself?
Other parts of the uniform were a square necked navy blue overall for science and a white one for cookery and a navy and white striped scarf. We had three hat bands while I was there. We were always asking the headmistress, Miss Copeman if we could have blouses with ties but she said knowing what girls were like they would end up looking like pieces of string'.
Locations of the School
The School had four sites in it's history,(plus four years in exile in Retford)
147 King Street - Opposite St.George's Church 1893-1895
7/8 Albert Square 1895-1910
Trafalgar Road 1910-1957
Oriel Avenue Gorleston 1957-1970 The above is a slightly shortened version of the Newsletter. If you would like a full copy please contact Jane Freeman
