Reference
SDWrestlingworth1/2
Title
Wrestlingworth School Log book
Date free text
3 June 1907 - 31 Dec 1928
Production date
From: 1907 To: 1928
Scope and Content
See attached index for list of staff and pupils, with notes. Also lists frequent visitors to the school - attendance officers, school managers, medical officers etc.
Room dimensions and accommodation under A.
Index at front used mainly for details of teaching staff.
Routine entries include:
Attendance numbers - affected by weather and outbreaks of illness.
Visits of school managers, attendance officer etc.
Visits of the Rector and his teaching of scripture.
Copies of HM Inspector's reports and diocesan inspections and reports.
Absences of staff and pupils.
Note of equipment and supplies received.
Absence of Cockayne Hatley children for ‘Sunday School Festival’ at Potton.
School closures for village flower show, sunday school treat and visit of children to Sandy Lodge at invitation of Viscount Peel.
Empire Day (May): Time table of the Bedfordshire Educational Commission observed in commemorating Empire Day. Half holiday in the afternoon.
Page 2: 1 July 1907. Miss Dorothy Banks commenced duties as monitress.
Page 3-4: 2 Oct 1907. School re-opened after summer vacation. Thoroughly cleaned and decorated with new fresh air inlets. 11 Oct 1907 –address to the upper school by Capt. Tipler of the Church Army.
Page 7: 13 Jan 1908. School re-opened after Christmas holidays which were extended by a week to enable workman to complete putting in the new ‘heating apparatus’.
Page 14: 25 Sep 1908. Dorothy Banks left.
Page 15: 20 Nov 1908. Miss Alington distributed medals, certificates, clasps and prizes for attendance during school year ending 31 May 1908.
Page 21: 23 Mar 1909. 14 boys spent the afternoon in the rector’s garden receiving their first lesson, it having been decided to take a course of gardening this year.
Page 24: 16 June 1909. Miss Lasham absent this afternoon to visit her mother in Addenbrookes Hospital. 24 June – no school according to custom; room required to distribute charity (St, John the Baptist. Feast Day). 5 July: William Bacon broke a school window by pushing another boy’s head against it.
Page 25: 29 Jul 1909. No school this afternoon – teachers invited to Barford to Rector’s wedding [Maurice Berkeley Peel married Emily Alington].
Page 27: 17 Nov 1909. Playground rolled – horse, man and boy.
Page 28: 3 Dec 1909. Three Bonfield children suffering from Scarlet fever.
Page 29: 17 Jan 1910. School opened after 3 weeks. Extra fortnight given on advice of managers with sanction from Dr Prior.
Page 30: 18 Feb 1910. Two Bonfields returned from hospital, but not allowed to return to school for a fortnight. 25 July 1910: no school in the afternoon – induction of the rector [Eustace David Fletcher Mann].
Page 31: 4 Mar 1910. School closed – being used as polling station for County Council election.
Page 32: 20 May 1910. School closed by advice of Education Committee out of respect to the late King Edward VII, whose funeral is today.
Page 33: 30 Jun 1910. Two boys named Gray sent home on account of the’ verminous state of their heads’.
Page 35: Aug 1910. Work on the playground completed – has been trying to work while the tarring was in progress owing to the strong smell. The playground has been in the hands of the workmen practically one year and will not be available until thoroughly dry. [Several references to the playground on preceding pages].
Page 38: 15 Dec 1910. Received the piano from the rectory.
Page 40-41: 3 Apr 1911. Head teacher absent, performing duties of enumerator for the census.
Page 41: 12 Apr 1911. Attendance officer confirms that no action will be taken in regard to William Gray who was withdrawn from school before he was 14 and not having passed the 4th standard or obtained a certificate of exemption.
Page 43: 23 Jun 1911. School closed for the coronation of King George V.
Page 44: 4 July 1911. Miss Warren and Miss Smith absent with permission to attend a Girls Friendly Society outing to Sandy Lodge. 7 July – playground unsatisfactory due to hot weather melting the tar which comes into school on the children’s shoes.
Page 45: 11 Sep 1911. Headmaster absent through severe illness, school in charge of Miss Warren. 18 Sep 1911 George Griffin commenced duty as acting head teacher.
Page 48: 2 Nov 1911. School closed in the afternoon on account of the wedding of Miss Warren, who resumes her duties 6 Non as Mrs Humberstone.
Page 51: 15 Dec 1911. Miss Doris Lasham and Miss Violet Huckle obtained leave to take part in the preliminary certificate examination at Bedford 14-15 Dec.
Page 53: Dorothy Irene Banks commenced duty.
Page 55: 2 Feb 1912. Acting head teacher George Griffin left.
Page 56: 5 Feb 1912. J Dennis Lasham resumes duties as head master following prolonged illness.
Page 57: 18 Mar 1912. Florence Humberstone commenced duties as monitress.
Page 58: 1 May 1912. Louisa Smith tendered resignation as assistant mistress in infant department, left 31 May 1912 (page 59).
Page 60: 3 Jun 1912. Headmaster attended the funeral of H J King at Tadlow.
Page 62: 29 Oct 1912. Headmaster attended the funeral of Viscount [Arthur Wellesley] Peel at Sandy.
Page 64 et seq: 29 Nov 1912. Outbreak of mumps has lowered attendance. Staff Miss Lasham and Miss Humberstone affected.
Page 65-66: 11 Jan 1913. Caretaker found 2 broken panes of glass in girls’ cloakroom. Undoubtedly done maliciously; police informed.
Page 68: 4 Mar 1913. No school – room required for use as polling station for County Council election.
Page 68-69: During Easter week, the gallery in the infants’ room was removed.
Page 70: 28 Apr 1913. Headmaster absent to attend Archdeacon’s visitation at Biggleswade.
Page 75: 2 Dec 1913. Several children suffering with ringworm. 20 Jan 1914 – commenced to supply 23 dinner children with hot cocoa.
Page 76: 18 Feb 1914. School closed to allow headmaster and Miss Lasham to attend the wedding of the Hon. Sidney Peel and Lady Adelaide Spencer at Althorp, Northamptonshire.
Page 78: 3 Apr 1914. Last day for supplying cocoa to dinner children this season. 23 Apr 1914 – no school; room wanted to prepare for entertainment in the afternoon and evening in aid of the burial ground fund.
Page 80: 10 Jun 1914. Headmaster absent in afternoon to attend meeting at Tempsford Rectory to meet the newly appointed [assistant] archbishop of St Albans [Noel Hodges].
Page 82: 30 Oct 1914. Miss Banks terminated her engagement to the school.
Page 87: 14 Apr 1915. Miss Lasham’s resignation sent to the managers. 16 Apr 1915 – Miss Humberstone’s last day of actual teaching. 25 May 1915. School re-opened after being closed for 5 weeks due to epidemic of measles. Miss I C Newell commenced duties.
Page 90: 6 Oct 1915. Miss Hilda Bartle visited with view to accepting a temporary post. 11 Oct 1915 – school closed in consequence of the death of the headmaster’s daughter [Doris]. 12 Oct 1915. Hilda Bartle commenced duties. 14 Oct 1915 – school closed for the funeral of Doris Lasham, former teacher at the school. At Eyeworth.
Page 91: 8 Nov 1915. Miss [Vera] Woodman commenced duties as monitress. 23 Nov 1915. Collected and forwarded 8/2d for Overseas Club for providing Christmas comforts for soldiers in the trenches. A former collection raised 7/6d.
Page 92: 23 Dec 1915. Miss [Ida] Constance Newell leaves having resigned.
Page 93: 24 Jan 1916. Miss [Sarah Ellen] Cross begins duties.
Page 96: 1 May 1916. School re-opened after Easter holidays. Number on roll 94, lowest for years; number present 86. Five of the absentees are boys who are working in consequence of the war. 22 May 1915 – commenced school this morning by the new ‘summer time’.
Page 95: 12 Jun 1916. The usual Whit Monday holiday was cancelled by order of the Education Committee on account of the war.
Page 100: 31 Oct 1916. Miss Woodman finished her engagement at the school today.
Page 101: Miss Ella Bates commenced duties as monitress.
Page 102: 19 Jan 1917. Lecture given to upper school on ‘Inadvertent Disclosure of Military Information.’
Page 104: 23 Apr 1917. R Wharton commenced duties as temporary head teacher.
Page 106: 11-26 May 1917. School closed due to epidemic of scarlet fever.
Page 107: 31 Mar-24 Jun 1917. School closed due to epidemic and repairs.
Page 108: 28 Jun 1917. Miss E Bates finished her duties at the school.
Page 109: 31 Jul 1917. R Wharton finished her duties at the school.
Page 110: 1 Aug 1917. George Pringle commenced duties as headmaster.
Page 112: 1 Oct 1917. Edith Chessum commenced duties as monitress. 10 Oct 1917 Miss Cross resigned her post.
Page 113: 19 Oct 1917. Miss Bartle resigned. 23 Oct 1917 Mrs Pringle helping with sewing lessons.
Page 116: 19 Nov 1917. After 3 weeks without help, Miss Daniel from Henlow School came in this morning.
Page 117: 27 Nov 1917. The children have collected 15/- for the ‘Blind Soldiers Fund’.
Page 199: 18 Dec 1917. The 5 sacks of chestnuts collected by the children have been sent to Sandy. 2 Jan 1918 – Miss Mabel Grace Ebden commenced duties as uncertified teacher; travels daily from Bedford and unable to commence duties before ten past nine.
Page 120: 12 Feb 1918. No school in afternoon as a meeting of protest to the ‘Divorce Bill’ was held in the school room.
Page 121: 28 Feb 1918. Arthur Humberstone had got ‘run down’ and will be unable to attend school for some time.
Page 122: 11 & 15 Mar 1918. Miss Ebden is not well, the journey from Bedford each morning and the work is too much for her. She resigned her duties. 8 Apr 1918 – children to be weighed at the beginning and end of each term.
Page 123: 15 Apr 1918. The children have collected 12/6d for the Bedfordshire Prisoners of War fund.
Page 125: Headmaster to Bedford for medical examination as a recruit for the army.
Page 131: 2 Oct 1918. Frank Carter badly hurt in left leg while playing football. Doctor and father sent for. 14 Oct 1918 –Wallace Huckle has obtained consent from Shire Hall to help Mr Cartwright. At present 6 boys who are 12 years of age are exempted from attending school. 18 Oct 1918 - received 2 posters ‘To France, The Hun and the Home’ with request that they be placed in a prominent place in school.
Page 132: 29 Oct 1918. School closed for 1 week due to illness. 31 Oct 1918 – received notice that all schools to be closed till 11 Nov and be washed and scrubbed. [Influenza] Miss Chessum no longer to be retained as monitress and to be given notice.
Page 134: 11 Nov 1918 Re-opened school – 30 children present. Influenza still prevalent. 18 Nov 1918 – special lessons given in regard to the armistice. A procession was made round the village and patriotic songs sung.
Page 137: 31 Jan 1919. Owing to snow storm and whooping cough, this week has been lowest in attendance – average 55.6; number on books 102.
Page 138: 1 Mar 1919 Mrs Matthews has resigned as caretaker and Mrs L Warren appointed to replace her.
Page 139: 31 Mar 1919. All school in the county to commence new school year on 1 April.
Page 142: 5 May 1919. Mrs Humberstone ill, and will be unable to undertake duties for some time.
12 May 1919 – 4 boys, after an absence of a year have returned to school (see page 131).
Page 143. 19 May 1919. Mrs Stewart visited and gave each child an orange. She has given great help when the head has been short of teachers. Miss Boggon has helped with the infants.
Page 144: 29 May 1919. After lesson the upper class children went to Eyeworth and sang songs. Money collected to enable the teachers to give a tea to the scholars at the ‘Peace Celebrations’. 30 May – the children have subscribed a guinea to the ‘Edith Cavell Memorial.’
Page 146. 11 Jul 1919. After lessons children had games and a tea to celebrate ‘Peace’. Suitable lessons have been given during the week
Page 147: 31 Jul 1919. Holiday given in the afternoon as a large fete and concert were held in the village.
Page 148: 8 Aug 1919. Closed school for summer holidays. At the request of the King, an extra week has been given this year. Miss Ruby Humberstone’s duties terminate 31st August.
Page 152: 24 Nov 1919. Miss Elsie Carter recognised by Shire Hall as a monitress.
Page 157: 3 Mar 1920. Susan Pett knocked over by a motor car on way home from school. Her leg was broken and she will be absent for some time. 9 Mar – the children collected 12/6d and some wrote letters today and forwarded them to Susan Pett in Bedford Hospital.
Page 158. 17 Mar 1920. A roll of honour has been painted by Mr C Stewart and presented to the school. Three framed pictures – the King, the Queen and nurse Cavell, paid for by subscription of teachers and scholars were hung up in school. 19 Mar 1920 –informed by the medical doctor that the weighing of the children does not need to continue.
Page 159. 29 Mar. Mrs Humberstone ill and will probably require and operation. New syllabus for ‘Physical Training’ received from Shire Hall.
Page 162: 17 May 1920. Ten shillings have been collected by the children and forwarded to the ‘Blind Babies’.
Page 163: 28 May 1920. Harry Carter has gone to Cambridge Hospital for an operation.
Page 164: 3 Jun 1920. £7 collected by the children for a war memorial for the dead soldiers.
Page 165: 14 June 1920. Mrs. Humbestone to be at hospital tomorrow. 17 Jun 1920. School closed early to allow children to attend fete at the rectory in aid of the war memorial. 21 June – Miss Barkham sent as temporary supply to help with infants during Mrs Humberstone’s absence.
Page 166: 29 Jun 1920. Miss Peckham, certified assistant mistress of Sandy C of E school came to Wrestlingworth to render temporary assistance (returned to Sandy 9 July). 14 July – George Wilsher unable to attend school having been kicked by a pony.
Page 167: 30 Jul 1920. Miss Carter’s duties as monitress cease.
Page 168: 13 Sep 1920. Mrs Humberstone returned to her duties. Susan Pett returned to school having been absent since 3 March.
Page 171: 11 Nov 1920 ‘Armistice Day.’ Children have collected £3 15s towards war memorial.
Page 177: 28 Feb 1921. Mrs Humberstone returned from sick leave – doctor advises her to resign. Miss Beard has been sent to give help; she cycles from Croxton.
Page 178: 2 Mar 1920. Last night at a meeting at the school someone printed some disgusting words on several pencil boxes belonging to the children. Has been reported to the managers.
Page 179: 23 Mar 1921. Mrs Humberstone ceases duties as infant teacher due to ill health.
Page 180: 18 Apr 1921. Miss Winifred Javens, owing to the closure of Roxton School, has been sent to give temporary assistance.
Page 181: 22 Apr 1921. Owing to the slippery nature of the floors, several children have fallen. Frances Jackson bruised her arm. 25 April. Managers appointed Miss Levesley, due to commence duties in May. The education committee has not informed her of her commencing salary, and she has declined the post. 2 May 1921 – Mabel Chessum commenced duties as monitress.
Page 182: 19 May 1921. In going home, Doris Medlock broke her arm and will not be at school for some time.
Page 184: 1 Jul 1921. Miss K Stenhouse commenced duties as infant teacher. Has no teaching experience. 4 July Miss Ruth Rootham, certified supply teacher, sent to give temporary assistance.
Page 185: 27 Jul 1921. Miss Rootham ceased duties as she is going to college.
Page 186: 10 Oct 1921. Miss R F Boyse, uncertified teacher came unexpectedly to give temporary help.
Page 187: 17 Oct 1921. Miss Stenhouse has commenced her fortnight’s special training at Potton Infants School. 18 Oct 1921. F S Cooper, dentist, visited and inspected children under 8 years. 28 Oct 1921 – Miss Boyse’s temporary duties cease as she has been appointed to Blunham School. Miss Stenhouse has returned to her duties at Wrestlingworth.
Page 190: 21 Dec 1921. Miss Chessum awarded scholarship; is to have a holiday every Wednesday and attend classes in Bedford on Saturdays.
Page 192: 3 Feb 1922. ‘The men have been busy laying on the water for school purposes.’ 10 Feb 1922 –air in the school was strong with tobacco following concert previous night. 13 Feb 1922. George W Shimmin send to give assistance in the school.
Page 194: 22 Feb 1922. Mr Shimmin has been sent to Dunstable. 28 Feb 1922 – holiday given for the wedding of Princess Mary [to Henry, Viscount Lascelles, later 6th Earl of Harwood]. 3 Mar 1922 –Alfred Purkiss fell into the brook and has to return home to Eyeworth.
Page 195: 9 March 1922. Mabel Humberstone absent; suffering from shingles. 13 Mar 1922 - George Shimmin returns.
Page 196: 18 Mar 1922. Appointment of Miss Ellen Peckham to commence duties in April. She comes from Sandy C of E School where staff have been reduced due to reduction of average attendance. She has been in the infant department for 12 years.
Page 197: 31 Mar 1922. Mrs Pringle and Mr Shimmin ceased duties.
Page 199: 28 Apr 1922. Arthur Humberstone ran into wall and cut his head. He was taken home.
Page 200: 18 May 1922. No school in afternoon so children could attend the unveiling of the war memorial by Lady Delia [Adeliade Margaret] Peel.
Page 202: 3 Jul 1922. William Purkiss and Frederick Purkiss of Tadlow do not come to school. The mother whipped William but that had no effect. Mr Randall’s milk van brings the Tadlow children to Wrestlingworth in the mornings.
Page 203: 2 Aug 1922. Collected 15/6d for Elsie Sadler who is in hospital.
Page 205: 26 Sep 1922. Elsie Brand sprained her ankle yesterday while picking blackberries.
Page 206: 27 Oct 1922. Charles Darnell has been absent all week because he has no boots, and Ella Carter because she has scalded her foot.
Page 215: 20 Feb 1923. Instructions from Dr. Herdman to close school till 5 March [previous pages report high number of absentees due to measles and mumps]. 2 March 1923 – school to remain closed for another week. School re-opened 12 March.
Page 218: 19 & 20 Apr 1923. Herbert Bonfield suffered a splinter from sliding along desk seat – unable to attend school. Mr Mann visited to inspect the seat and put it outside. 24 April 1923 ‘about a square yard of ceiling fell down on Saturday.’
Page 219: 26 Apr 1923. Whole holiday given for the wedding of the Duke of York [Prince Albert, Duke of York (the future King George VI), married the Hon Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon].
Page 221: 28 Jun 1923. Girl Guides fete.
Page 224: 4 Oct 1923. Owing to an accident with her teeth and being unable to speak, Miss Stenhouse is absent from duties.
Page 226: 5 Nov 1923. 6 cracks in lead guttering allow rain water to run down the wall of the infant room.
Page 232: 10 March 1924. Miss [Kathleen] Stenhouse is resigning at the end of the month. 10 March – received notice that Standard V (6 children) and Standard VII (9 children) to be examined on arithmetic on 13th. This is a general test throughout the country.
Page 235: 1 May 1924. Miss Ethel Raymer commences duties as infant teacher.
Page 237: 20 Jun 1924. Closed school for visit to Wembley Exhibition [British Empire Exhibition]. Col. Peel has assisted – children pay 2/6d towards expenses. 3 Jul 1924 – 4 medical cards sent to Dr Herdman on account of tonsils and adenoids.
Page 241: 27 Nov 1924. Wrestlingworth Guides received the silver shield for needlework.
Page 248: 22 May 1925. Horace Wooding has been absent 5 weeks with a scalded foot.
Page 250: 19 June 1925. Edward Darts has been absent all week as he had to go to Bedford Hospital ‘with tonsils’. Florence Wisson has been absent having burnt her arm. 23 June – Louis Wisson has gone to a London hospital to have an operation to try to straighten the fingers on her right hand.
Page 251: 30 Jun 1925. Miss [Mabel] Chessum terminates her duties at the school – appointed to Everton. 1 July 1925 – Herbert Purkiss broke his arm getting out of bed, and was taken to Cambridge hospital.
Page 253: 23 Jul 1925. Margery Sadler and Albert Dilley have gone to Cambridge hospital to receive treatment for tonsils and adenoids.
Page 254: 25 Sep 1925. Percy Small working for Mr Randall broke his arm and is in Cambridge Hospital. Albert Purkiss has been in the same hospital for 12 weeks. Louie [Louis?] Wisson is in a London hospital. 19s 3d has been collected for these children.
Page 255: 7 Oct 1925. 8 children suffering from chicken pox.
Page 261: 10 Mar 1926. Headmaster attended funeral of James Darts.
Page 269: 28 Sep 1926. Sylvia Humberstone gone to Cambridge hospital to be operated on for adenoids. 4 Oct 1926 – Leslie Gentle badly burnt when playing with matches; set fire to his nightshirt. 18 Oct 1926 – no improvement in Leslie Gentle.
Page 272: 31 Jan 1927. Made enquiries regarding army trades examinations for Percy Small. 1 Feb 1927 – Leslie Gentle died; his name has been removed from the registers. 4 Feb 1927 – children subscribed towards a wreath for Leslie Gentle.
Page 273: 14 Feb 1927. ‘The school is being carried on under difficulties’ Both Miss Peckham and Miss Raymer absent with influenza.
Page 281: 22 Jul 1927. Fred Bonfield has been awarded a free place at the Modern School Bedford.
Page 288: 1 Mar 1928. Kathleen Hills fell and made a deep gash in her chin which had to be stitched by the doctor.
Page 290: 13 Mar 1928. Three children gone to Bedford Hospital to undergo operations for adenoids. Two children suffering from impetigo (2 & 23 Mar).
Page 292: 17/18 May 1928. Epidemic of influenza. Average attendance for week 50.5 of 94 children on school roll. 23 May only 38 children present.
Page 294: 9 Jul 1928. Dr. Stevens is trying to get the Cambridge authority to pay for the Tadlow children to come by bus. 27 July – Kathleen Bonfield taken to hospital with appendicitis.
Page 297: 16 Nov 1928. Miss M L Anderson, an Australian certified teacher was sent by Mr Baines.
28 Nov 1928 ‘My wife [Elizabeth J Pringle] died this morning. This afternoon at 10 minutes past 2 I left school in charge of Miss Anderson so as I could go to Bedford.’ 29 Nov 1928 – Miss Peckham has tendered resignation; her duties will terminate 31 Dec.
Page 299. 18 Dec 1928. Miss Flowerdew has accepted post of assistant and will commence duties on 2 Jan 1929.
See Microfilm 38/28 Volume 2 1907 - 1928 Borrowed from the school for microfilming by the County Council's microfilming unit 1981
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