Thoughts about HGS 4
1 article
Updated 30.10.2023
1 article
Updated 30.10.2023
By the beech trees of the North Walk at the Annual Cross Country Run
L-R: Therese Gardner, Dianne Sell, Margaret Preece, Jennifer Jones, Marilyn Smith
Table of contents
1. Marion remembers and electricty
1. Marion remembers and electricty
1. Marion remembers and electricty
Mr Collette's Form Group in School Year 1925-26
The expressive faces of, probably, a very good group to teach and Mr Collette's purposeful face, smart suit and shiny shoes.
I still remember how he always called me "Mac". Great!
The expressive faces of, probably, a very good group to teach and Mr Collette's purposeful face, smart suit and shiny shoes.
I still remember how he always called me "Mac". Great!
Sadly, we do not know the names of these pupils.
The physical conditions within Hemsworth Secondary School at that time, especially when compared to the schools of today, were quite basic. For most of us, Mr Collette would have been our only link with that period in the History of HGS. Former pupil Marion Finch sent in an account of those times. Here is an extract.
Marion Finch, HSS 1921-25
"There were about 98 pupils when the School opened in 1921. There was no gymnasium and very little apparatus. We had a few balls, bean bags, hoops and skipping ropes. One room was fitted out as a laboratory for chemistry and physics. I remember there were different types of thermometers, bunsen burners, pipettes, test tubes, bell jars and glass tubing. I remember we worked in pairs trying to make a thermometer. My glass tubing always managed to shatter and we chased mercury all along the bench tops. Mr Dickinson was in charge of the laboratory, this made our lessons more tolerable. Altogether, the laboratory was a Heath Robinson affair.
A room upstairs was set aside for PE and country dancing. One day, as we were in the middle of ‘Gathering Peascods’, an urgent knocking could be heard on the door, the floor rocked with our dancing and the messenger said that the ceiling was in danger of collapsing on to the floor below. This put an end to dancing upstairs.
Although this was a mixed school, we girls were kept apart from the boys except in the classrooms. We had our separate entrances, cloakrooms and staircase. We were not allowed to run along the corridors but always to walk in single file, quietly. In the classrooms, the boys always made for the desks furthest away from the windows where it was cold. Our desks were single with a tip up lid and space for storing our books etc. I dread to think what else some of us stored in there."
Marion
The complete account can be found on this website through the Main Menu.
A room upstairs was set aside for PE and country dancing. One day, as we were in the middle of ‘Gathering Peascods’, an urgent knocking could be heard on the door, the floor rocked with our dancing and the messenger said that the ceiling was in danger of collapsing on to the floor below. This put an end to dancing upstairs.
Although this was a mixed school, we girls were kept apart from the boys except in the classrooms. We had our separate entrances, cloakrooms and staircase. We were not allowed to run along the corridors but always to walk in single file, quietly. In the classrooms, the boys always made for the desks furthest away from the windows where it was cold. Our desks were single with a tip up lid and space for storing our books etc. I dread to think what else some of us stored in there."
Marion
The complete account can be found on this website through the Main Menu.
1924 and an example of a basic requirement for the school to advance.
Electricity
There had previously been some discussion about the possibility of establishing the facility in school to show films, but of course the staff were unable to do this because there was no electric power laid on to the buildings. Lighting was by means of the piped gas supply. The County Hall Authorities wrote to the school stating that the statutory rules and orders prohibited the use of any "illuminant" other than electric light for a cinema lantern, and that ruled out the showing of any films in school unless a small dynamo were to be installed. However, when the new extensions to the school were built, (i.e. the Assembly Hall, and classrooms surrounding the Quadrangle) the architect planned to incorporate electricity within them. Mr. Cressey said the Yorkshire Electric Power Company had all the cables placed down in Hemsworth, and it would not be long before the light was "put on". It was resolved to write to the power company asking them for all particulars of their proposed scheme for lighting Hemsworth by electricity, and the possible date of the commencement of electric lighting. This meeting of the Governors took place when all the pupils had gone home after their last day of term, and no doubt the Governors would have ended their deliberations with thoughts turning to their imminent Christmas celebrations.
Sheila
Electricity
There had previously been some discussion about the possibility of establishing the facility in school to show films, but of course the staff were unable to do this because there was no electric power laid on to the buildings. Lighting was by means of the piped gas supply. The County Hall Authorities wrote to the school stating that the statutory rules and orders prohibited the use of any "illuminant" other than electric light for a cinema lantern, and that ruled out the showing of any films in school unless a small dynamo were to be installed. However, when the new extensions to the school were built, (i.e. the Assembly Hall, and classrooms surrounding the Quadrangle) the architect planned to incorporate electricity within them. Mr. Cressey said the Yorkshire Electric Power Company had all the cables placed down in Hemsworth, and it would not be long before the light was "put on". It was resolved to write to the power company asking them for all particulars of their proposed scheme for lighting Hemsworth by electricity, and the possible date of the commencement of electric lighting. This meeting of the Governors took place when all the pupils had gone home after their last day of term, and no doubt the Governors would have ended their deliberations with thoughts turning to their imminent Christmas celebrations.
Sheila
