Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    SDLutonDRG1/1
  • Title
    Log Book of Denbigh Road Girls' Department. Index used for details of teaching staff.
  • Date free text
    28 February 1921 - 13 March 1946
  • Production date
    From: 1921 To: 1946
  • Scope and Content
    Girls rarely mentioned by name except when honoured for sports or other activities or sent to represent the school at civic occasions. One girl mentioned in relation to helping at Beechwood junior school, a position she had to leave due to her mother's illness. Teachers mentioned frequently due to absence, ill health, resignations and appointments. Contents include: 28/2/21 Ethel A Phillips Headmistress, 136 girls admitted chiefly from Beech Hill. Girls mentioned in swimming awards. April 1932 vaccinations against smallpox. 30 Nov 1933 'Visit of Mayor, Town Council and many other important citizens and their wives. All departments of the school were thrown open. The Senior Girls gave special displays of cookery, laundry, country dancing, singing and many forms of handicrafts and varied lessons proceeded in the form rooms.' Letter from the Education secretary and programme for the day appended. p103-114 report on the school by HMI, 1936. 5/10/38 'Girls were fitted for gas masks in the Hall of the Boys' Dept this morning.' 14/2/39 'After the closing of the registers at 2pm the school assembled and marched to a position in Dunstable Road in order to see Queen Mary pass on her way to open the new Luton & Dunstable Hospital.' 6/10/39 'School re-opened this morning, assembly having been delayed owing to the outbreak of war. We are working alternate days with two evacuated schools, the Haverstock Hill Girls' Central school, and the girls belonging to the Hugh Middleton Senior Mixed School, one week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the next on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning.' 17/5/40 'Air Raid Warning practices from several different angles have been taken during this week.' 10/40 details of air raid warnings causing time to be spent 'in the trenches' and changes to school day due to blackout conditions. 27/3/42 'The prefabricated hut containing two classrooms is now occupied by classes from the junior school. There is no proper accommodation for the senior girls to receive physical training, the hall being in use as a classroom and the playground taken up by the hut and the shelter trenches.' 1942 Official programme of Borough of Luton Holiday Entertainments on 29th July 1942 at Wardown Sports Ground with massed children's choirs and orchestras with a talk to the children by Uncle Mac Derek CcCullough of the BBC. Signed 'with good wishes from Derek McCullogh Uncle Mac of the BBC.' 1/10/42 Constance M Parish began as head teacher, Ethel Phillips having resigned the previous day. 4/3/43 'the whole school divided into houses as the beginning of a house system to encourage a keen, friendly competitive spirit. Each house contains 68 girls chosen by the result of Mental Ratio & a fair proportion of AB &C streams.' 20/1/44 'Today the six official evacuees received a bar of chocolate each from the Canadian & USA Optimist Club.' 22/6/44 'There was much absence this am due to a disturbed night for many children caused by enemy action.' 9/4/45 'The official title of this school is now Denbigh Rd County Secondary Girls' School.' 8/5/45 'Because of BBC announcements on the evening of May 7 (that VE news was sure, & that the next two days were to be public holidays) the school closed for Tues & Wed. May 8th & 8th - THE END OF WAR IN EUROPE'
  • Closed under Data Protection Act. Access at the discretion of the duty archivist.
  • Level of description
    item
  • Closed until
    2021
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