Central School Logs, 1940

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Jany. 8th - School re-opened. All the staff present. Time Table as last term. The afternoon session will continue to be from 1.30 to 3.40 pm.

Jany. 10th- Two boys- Randlesome & Bush- who were away from the town when they should have been admitted here have been admitted this week. Too cold for the girls’ field games to-day.

Jany. 11th- The boys went to the football field to-day.

Jany. 12th- The scholar’s Christmas collection for the Invalid Children’s Medical Aid Association was £1.12.6.

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Jany. 12th- The School Nurse examined all boys & girls this week.

Jany. 15th- Of the 4 boys who took the R.A.F. examination in December, only one (Dennis Pope) has been accepted. A letter from the Air Ministry explains that as a war-time measure there will be considerably fewer aircraft apprentices accepted. On this occasion 181 candidates have been accepted out of 1978. Pope is no. 80.

Geo. Brown [signed]

15/1/40

Jany. 15th- Manager’s Meeting.

Jany. 16th- Mr. Outlaw was absent this morning on account of the illness of his wife. He was here this afternoon.

Jany. 18th- The Headmaster attended a meeting of the Scholarship Committee at Ipswich yesterday.

Jany. 19th- This has been a very cold week, with snow, & the attendance is down to 84%.

Jan. 22nd- The weather is still very cold and many scholars are absent ill.

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Jany. 26th- The Headmaster attended another meeting of the Scholarship Committee in Ipswich yesterday. Wintery conditions have continued all the week.

Jany. 29th- Very cold to-day. A north-east blizzard.

More scholars absent ill.

Jany. 30th- Miss Presley absent this morning. She returned this afternoon.

Feby 1st- Mr. Bushell will be absent this afternoon and to-morrow. He has permission to attend a School Manager’s Meeting at Horsham, Sussex.

Feby. 2nd- Miss Presley is absent again this morning. She returned this afternoon.

Another wintry week. The attendance is down to 76.5%, 38 scholars being absent the whole week.

Feby. 5th- Mr. Moore & Mr. Wilkin are both absent ill.

Feby. 7th- Mr. Bushell was sent home ill this morning. A.R.P. Practice was taken this morning.

Feby. 8th- A film of 4 reels in “Petroleum” lent by the Petroleum Information Bureau, was shown to the senior scholars today.

Feby. 9th- Mr. Bushell returned to duty to-day after 1 1/2 days absence.

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Feby 9th- Another very cold week & the attendance is still abnormally low- 77%.

Feby. 12th- Messrs. Moore & Wilkins are still absent.

Geo. Brown [signed]

12/2/40

Feby. 14th- The girls gave a Concert in the School Hall to-day, charging 2d for admission, the takings being used to by wool for the girls to knit scarves, gloves, etc., for the men on service. The girls also sold sweets made in the Cookery Kitchen from sugar provided by the parents. The profits also go to the wool fund. This afternoon a film on “Rubber” kindly lent by the British Rubber Publicity Association was shown to the seniors. Mr. Hart, a Lowestoft resident who was manager of a rubber plantation in Malaysia for many years kindly explained the film. The School caretaker, Mr. Griffin, is absent from duty to-day through illness. A temporary substitute has been in for a few hours to-day to attend to the boiler fires and frozen pipes.

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Feby. 15th- The caretaker is still absent & Mr. Greengrass has now been sent to act for him during his illness.

Feb. 16th- Miss Loweman is absent ill today. The weather this week has again been wintery and very cold and the attendance is 80%.

After school this afternoon Stead was badly cut on the head when sliding in the playground. Miss Badham gave him first aid treatment and Mr. Outlaw took him to the hospital where stitches were put in. He was taken home by Mr. Outlaw.

Feb. 19th- Mr F. Moore and Mr. J.C. Wilkins returned to school duty today after 2 weeks absence. Miss Lowman is still absent. The caretaker also is absent & his substitute continues to act.

Feby. 20th- During dinner-time to-day Joy Linder accidentally broke a pane in the class-room door & was badly cut on the arm. Mr. Bushell & Miss McFarlane gave first-aid treatment and Miss McFarlane took her to the hospital. After attention, she returned to school.

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Feby 20th- the School Nurse last Tuesday and to-day has tested the eyes of all the boys & girls who are due to be medically examined shortly.

Feby 22nd- School Field unfit for games.

Feby 23rd- The weather has been less cold this week but there is still much sickness & the week’s attendance is only 82%.

Feby. 26th- Summer Time commences to-day and the afternoon session at School will now return ot the normal time- 2.0 to 4.30.

Feby. 29th- Visted School found Registers correct-

Geo. Brown [signed]

March 11th- The Headmaster returned to duty to-day having been absen ill (influenza) since February 28th.

Miss Lowman, absent ill since Feby. 16th returned to duty on Monday March 4th.

The Caretaker, Mr. Goffin, absent ill since Feby. 14th, also returned to duty on March 4th.

Miss Barton and Mr. Pitt, H. M. Inspectors of Schools, visited the School during the absence of the Headmaster.

Geo. Brown [signed]

11-3-40

[note--- many teachers and students ill and absent during this period. The handwriting changes and is pretty rough. Very cold weather]

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March 11th- Manager’s Meeting

March 15th- The Assistant School Medical Officer ( Dr. Edwards) has examined the 100 boys and girls this week on Wed. Thur & Fri. mornings

.

This morning Albt Knights (13) was taken ill at prayer-time. After being attended to by Miss Badham he was sent home, accompanied by Jack Tennant (13). This afternoon Mrs. Tennant has called to report that her boy was sent for the doctor to attend Knights and on the way snow falling from a room brought down a piece of iron piping which fell on his head cutting it badly. He was taken to the hospital, attended to, and sent home by ambulance.

March 18th- The Minor Scholarships Examination was held at School to-day, our own scholars having a holiday. 139 girls were entered for the examination and 126 attended. All the school staff were present and the conditions of the examination were properly carried out.

March 19th- Jack Tennant returned to School to-day.

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March 20th- School closed for the Easter Holiday this afternoon.

April 1st- School re-opened. All staff present.

April 3rd- Air Raid Practice taken this morning. The School Nurse examined all boys and girls this afternoon.

April 5th- 3 boys and 2 girls left for employment this week. 2 girls who were evacuated from the town in September have returned this week.

The no. on the Register is now 241.

The attendance is better (92%) but still below normal. 12 pupils absent all the week through illness.

April 8th- The Assistant School Medical Officer (Dr. Edwards) examined those absent from the last inspection and other special cases this afternoon.

April 12th- The scholars brought 87 eggs for the Hospital Egg collection. There are still many cases of sickness & the attendance is much below normal this week- 89%.

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Page 270

8 April Register examined & found correct.

T. K. Autry [note- not readable] [signed]

Geo. Brown 15-4-40 [signed]

April 25th- Mr Pemberton, H. M. Inspector of Schools, visited the School this afternoon. Food Education - to assist “wise-housekeeping in War-time”. A course of lectures has been arranged and invitations sent out to the mothers of the pupils of the School.

Miss Craig gave the first lecture in the Cookery Kitchen this afternoon. 18 mothers were present.

May 1st- Air Raid Practice was taken this morning.

May 2nd- Miss Craig gave her 2nd Cookery Demonstration to the mothers of the scholars. 24 present.

Received instructions from the Office to cease School heating from to-day.

May 6th- The Board of Education has notified Basil Crowe that he is recognised as a Teacher of Handicrafts under Sched. I.6 from 1st Dec. 1939.

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May 6th- Admitted Bernard Best (13) from the Central School, Reading, for a few weeks.

Geo. Brown [signed]

6-5-40

May 7th- The B.B.C. Education Office called to-day.

May 10th- School closed for Whitsuntide Holiday.

May 14th- School re-opened by order of the Board of Education.

May 23rd- The Headmaster was absent ill yesterday.

Returned to duty to-day.

Yesterday a film on Sugar Beet was shown to the senior boys.

May 24th- Empire Day. A short service was held in the Hall this morning.

Holiday this afternoon.

May 27th- The Government has ordered the evacuation (voluntary) of all school children in this area on Sunday nex, June 2nd.

[note- May 27 was a Monday. “Friday next” was June 7th. ]

May 29th- The Government has further ordered that all Schools in this area will be closed indefinitely after Friday next.

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May 31st- School closed for evacuation. 122 scholars & the whole teaching staff (13) are to be evacuated on Sunday, June 2nd. A number of scholars, about 60-70, are also being evacuated by private arrangement.

[http://www.oldlowestoft.co.uk/?WW2:Evacuation_scheme]

[note- The handwriting and the ink colour changes at this point]

[Glossop Chronicle- In June 1940, 600 children and 30 teachers arrived in Glossop from Lowestoft to escape the Second World War bombardment of their town.]

June 5th The Castle School, Hadfield, Glossop.

122 scholars and the whole teaching staff of 13 commences duty in the Castle School, Hadfield this morning, all are billeted in Hadfield with easy reach of the school. There is good accommodation for us at the school and we can arrange full time work. There are facilities for handicraft, science and cookery and a good playing field. We brought no school supplies with us and so we have borrowed from the Castle School stock sufficient stationary etc to carry on for a week or two.

June 14th- Mr. J Wilkin, Assistant Master, has returned to Lowestoft to arrange for the collection and dispatch of our school supplies.

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June 25th- Mr, Wilkin returned to duty.

June 28th- 3 boys and 2 girls have come from Lowestoft to join the School this week.

July 5th- 1 boy (Ivan Cooper) has gone to Milfor Haven to join his mother. Miss Presley, Assistant Mistress, returned to Lowestoft on urgent family business.

Sept 19, Miss Lowman is absent ill.

Sept 23, Miss Lowman returns to duty after two days absence.

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Page 276

Sept. 12, Air raid warning, at 10:50am

Sept 16th Air raid warning at 8.45 amd. Most of the scholars had already reached School. Mr. Bushell ret. to duty.

Sept 17th Air raid warning at 10.43 am.

Sept 19th Mis Needham was absent on the 17th & 18th. Attending a School Governors Meeting in Herefordshire. She returned to duty today.

Air raid warning at 10.45 am.

Miss Lowman is absent ill today.

Sept 23rd Miss Lowman returned to duty after 2 days absence.

Mr. Outlaw returned to duty after 1 weeks holiday.

Mr. Bushnell has been appointed to a Youth Organisations post in Luton to commence duty on Oct. 1st.

Sept 25th Miss McFarlane was absent yesterday attending an interview. She now reports by wire that she has accepted a post in West Kirby Grammar School and commences duty today.

Sept. 26th- The Handicraft Master of Castle School left yesterday and by arrangement with the Glossop Authority Mr. Outlaw will now take the Glossop boys and Lowestoft boys in Handicraft from to-day (Official date Oct. 1st)

Sept 27th- Air raid warning at 10.55am

A new time-table is being prepared.

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Sept. 27th Mr. Wilkin has been taking his 2nd week’s holiday this week.

Sept 30th- Mr. H. Bushell, who has been on the staff since April 1st 1931, left the School to-day having been appointed Youth Organise in Luton.

Oct. 4th- Mr. Wilkins is absent ill to-day.

Mrs. Needham is attending an interview today.

This after Mr. Alderman Rayment (Chairman of Lowestoft Education Committee) Mrs. McBain Taylor, and Mr. J. B. Nunney (Town Clerk) visited the School. Mr. Rayment address the assembled scholars.

Oct. 7th- Mrs Wildin returned to duty after 1 day’s absence.

Miss M. H. Needham, French Mistress, reports that she has accepted a post at Hemel Hempstead Grammar School and commences work there today.

Mr. Truler, H. M. Inspector of Schools visited the School this afternoon.

Oct. 8th- Raid warning at 9.50 am and 2.0 pm

Oct. 10th- Mr. J. Wilkins is absent ill today.

Oct. 11th- Mr Wilkins returned to duty.

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Oct 11th- Two members of the staff finished duty to-day. Mr. F. Moore, who has been Science Master here since 1921, has accepted a post at Rivington Grammar School, Bolton. Mr. B. Crowe, Junior Handicraft Teacher, is appointed to a post at the New Mills, Derbyshire.

The Headmaster is taking the second week of his summer holiday next week.

Oct. 21st- The Headmaster returned to duty.

Miss Badham, Senior Mistress, is taking th second week of her summer holiday this week.

Air raid warnings at 10.30am and 2.20 pm.

Stock Books sent to Education Staff Office, Lowestoft.

Oct. 25th - School Medical Officer (Dr. Mulligan) examined 25 boys and girls this morning. School closed for 1 weeks holiday this afternoon.

Nov. 4th- School re-opened.

Nov. 8th- Air raid warning at 11.30am.

Mr. A. J. Gooch, who has been on the staff of the School since 1925, left to-day having accepted a post at Stamford Street Senior School, Ashton-u-Lyne.

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Nov. 12th- Mr. Towler, H. M. Inspector of Schools visited the School this morning.

Nov. 13th- Miss H. M Craig is absent to-day attending a meeting of School Governors at Penistone.

Nov. 15th- Air raid warning at 2.20pm

Dr. Milligan addressed the scholars on the Youth Movement this morning.

Nov. 18th- Jeanette Barker, who passed the Cambridge School Certificate Examination (July) with 7 credits and 1 very good has been transferred to Glossop Grammar School.

Nov. 29th- During the month of November, 18 boys and girls have left the School. Most of these scholars have returned to Lowestoft. The number of scholars on the register to-day is 83.

Dec. 4th- Air raid warning at 1.25pm

Dec. 17th- Air raid warning from 2.15 to 3.30pm

Dec. 20th- Last evening the Lowestoft scholars had their Christmas Party at the Liberal Hall, Hadfield. 63 scholars, the staff of the Central & Castle Schools and a number of friends were present. The Party ended at 8.30pm.

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Dec. 20th- 9 boys and 1 girl have been taken to Lowestoft during this week. Most of them intend to return after Christmas.

The School was closed for the Christmas Holiday this afternoon. Arrangements have been made to open the School as a Social Centre of the Lowestoft children in order to relieve the strain on the billets during the holiday. Miss Badlam and Mr. Wilkins are remaining on duty in Hadfield during the holiday.

The staff salary vouchers have not yet been received from Lowestoft.

[Dec. 31- Bombs dropped on Lowestoft.]

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