A school class of the early 1950’s with Teacher Jean Dawson
STAFFING:-
The School enjoyed a very stable staff, there being only three Head Teachers during its life-time. Miss Hannah Armstrong belonged to Blackhall Mill where she had a niece, but lodged with a Mrs Bell in Sun Street. She appears to have been a very good, thorough and well organised Teacher with the welfare of the School very much in her heart. Past pupils say she was a very dominant strict person who was also very kind. Mrs Rita Todd recalls how School started every morning with Assembly, and Miss Armstrong had handkerchief drill. Well, one morning Mrs Todd forgot her handkerchief and knew she would be punished if found out. She had a tissue wrapped around an orange so she held that up instead, and because she also hid at the back all was well. That is until her mother called into School later that morning with the clean handkerchief Rita had forgotten. Miss Armstrong must have had a great regard for everything being absolutely correct. Class registers were very important and were carefully examined by the Welfare Officer every month. Here is an incident recorded by her in the log book on February 1st 1926:-
On class Register 11, 9th week, space No.7, part of the upper paper has been removed through a piece of toffee becoming attached to the edge of the blotting paper. The register was closed and on opening it the toffee remained fixed and had to be removed with the aforesaid result.
Miss Armstrong was also involved with Sunniside Methodist Church, being in charge of a Women's Choir and attending conferences for the Women's Institute. On her retirement, 22nd October 1948, after being Head for 25 years she was presented with a wristlet watch from pupils past and present, associates and friends.
STAFFING
Head Teacher 1923 April 23rd was Hannah Armstrong with Class Assistant Lesley Cuthbert and Pupil Teacher Ethel Smith. There were 62 pupils on the roll. In March 1941 Elizabeth Morgan joined the Staff as did Ethel Sample in October. In March 1942 Elizabeth Morgan left.
At that time there were 93 on roll with Staff members, Hannah Armstrong, Lesley Cuthbert and Ethel Sample. In July 1946 Ethel .Sample was transferred, and in September Jean Lamb was appointed.
In October 1948 Hannah Armstrong retired and Lesley Cuthbert was appointed Head Teacher. In June 1949 Jean Lamb and Mrs Binks were on Staff, then in September Mrs Binks transferred and Miss Jean Dawson was appointed.
On 31st August1951 Lesley Cuthbert retired and in October Miss Mabel Davison was appointed Head Teacher. In 1955 there were 41 pupils on the roll. In April Jean Dawson left and Mrs Clare Doran was appointed. In December 1962 Mabel Davison left and in July Mrs Doran left. In January 1963 Mrs A. Grant was appointed Acting Head. By then there were just 13 pupils, there following two admissions in April, 15 pupils
The last entry in the log book was made on 30th April 1963 informed notice of School closure May 31st 1963.
A long serving member of Staff was Lesley Cuthbert, Miss Cuthbert lived at Lobley Hill. She joined the Staff of Marley Hill Infant School in 1911 as a newly qualified Class Assistant and was moved with Miss Armstrong to Sunniside in 1923. For many years she taught the younger children and past pupils say that she was a quiet reserved person with a much gentler nature than that of Miss Armstrong. She sometimes played the violin, for School assemblies. It is recorded in the Log Book that she fractured her wrist in 1947 and was out of School on numerous occasions having treatment at the hospital. Miss Cuthbert became Head in 1948 on the retirement of Miss Armstrong and retired herself in 1951 after 40yrs service teaching children of this area.
Miss Mabel Davison was the other Head who was appointed in 1951 on the retirement of Miss Cuthbert. She belonged to Dunston but eventually moved to live in a bungalow on Met al Bank Sunniside, before finally moving to another bungalow on Fellside Road, Whickham. She was also quiet and reserved but a very efficient Teacher. She played golf and was a member of Whickham Golf Club where she is remembered as a well-liked, popular, quiet person, who was an average player but thoroughly enjoyed her golf. Miss Davison left in December 1962 and Mrs A. Grant was acting Head until the School finally closed in 1963.
Mrs Binks who lived in retirement at Whickham after being Head of Fellside Infant School, has happy memories of her time spent in the White Elephant School. Mrs Doran retired from Byermoor School and moved in Grimsby.
This is an extract from a letter sent by Mrs Doran:-
" The School teaching areas were in an L shaped room. The reception and first infants class, accommodated in the larger area, consisted of approximately 30 children in 1955, dwindling to under 20 by 1958. Miss Davison, in the smaller area, taught approximately 25/30 older children whose ages at the time rose up to the end of their 9th year. This 9 year level was later reduced to a younger leaving age, when most children left to join Marley Hill School, though some opted to join the Whickham Parochial School. The latter choice was usually made by parents from Streetgate.
The divisions between the classes consisted of long, dark green, heavy curtains. All the chairs and tables for two children in rows had to be moved for indoor activity lessons, mainly in the younger class's area. The curtains were then drawn aside for our mostly combined drama, percussion band, music and movement and some P.E. sessions, for which Miss Davison and I provided the piano accompaniment. P.E. and games periods depending on the weather, took place outdoors on the concrete yard edged with Lime and Beech trees. A great source of irritation was caused when the Authorities changed the original, smooth surface of the yards surrounding the School on three sides, to one of gritted tarmac. A fall resulted in considerable pain and fear.
One cloakroom sufficed for all. The three toilets, minus urinals, were situated outdoor at the back of the School, and shared by staff and children. Visits were most unpleasant during inclement weather. Heating was provided by a coke stove in each classroom. These stoves had a large pipe extending through to the outside of the walls of the School and, therefore, were at the mercy of the prevailing winds. Either clouds of smoke belched into the room or the coke refused to burn effectively on the worst of days - usually winter time. Teaching could be interrupted by the need to stir the fire, rake the ashes, or add more coke. a small number of parents whose children suffered with chest ailments ( partly, or wholly, due to the coke fires ) removed their offspring to other Schools.
Cooked hot meals were delivered from a Whickham School Kitchen Centre by a Mr Les Harrison of Pennyfine Road. These were served by a Miss Bell ( voluntarily assisted by Miss Davison and me.) Served to all of the children, none returning home at lunch time. No " Dinner Ladies " were then employed so Teaching Staff were totally responsible for the children's welfare during the lunch break. It was a great day when a Miss Cree was appointed as School Crossing Patrol Officer. Our last Caretaker, a Mrs Harrison of Sunniside, was a hard working and cheerful person.
Despite all the difficulties and drawbacks, the School had a cosy, intimate and family atmosphere of its own. Miss Davison was a strict but kind Headmistress, who did her utmost to ensure that all her pupils left her care well prepared for the next stage of their School life. I believe I am correct in saying that most of the children will think of their years at " The White Elephant " with affection and appreciation - as I do myself - years of happy recollections ".
There were of course Non - Teaching Staff., the Caretaker and Meals Attendants. On 18TH April 1923 Edward Dodsworth was Caretaker at a salary of £112.10s.0d. per ann.+ £2.12s.6d.) In 1929 Mr Dodsworth left. And in 1930 on the 1st November Mrs Charlotte Brabham (known locally as ‘Lotty’) took over at the salary of £42.2s.11d. per ann. + £2.12s.6d.). In October 1943 Mrs Jane Elliott dished out milk and meals. In September 1944 Mrs Brabham gave left and in November Mrs Jane Elliott was appointed. In 1946 three were appointed at the Dining Centre, Mrs Louie Weightman, Mrs Gladys Bell., Miss Nora Pattison. In February 1954 Miss Gladys Bell retired, In April Mrs L. Weightman retired. In January 1958 Mrs J.Elliott left and Miss Bell was employed as a Temp. In March Mrs Jean Shepherd was appointed and Mr Thompson, to look after the boiler. In 1961 Mrs Freda Harrison and Mrs Legg were appointed.
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