School History

Our School in the 1930's

Our journey into the past began with a phone call from a nursing home in York. A relative of a previous head teacher had just died and amongst her belongings were photos and newspaper cuttings relating to our school. We were offered the artifacts and we accepted them gladly.

Inside the package was a number of old photographs and many newspaper cuttings. The photographs and cuttings related to Mr. Frank Griffiths, who had been headmaster of the school during the 1920s and 1930s. We think he is the longest serving head teacher at our school. We enlisted the help of Denis and Jennie Boothroyd who were at our school during the thirties. Denis and Jennie recognised some of the staff and children and provided us with more artifacts from the time.

This is a picture of the teaching staff in 1935. They are outside the headmaster's house which was attached to the school.

Denis remembered the gardening classes as if they were yesterday! Mr. Griffiths was a keen gardener and a leading member of the local horticultural society. He had purchased gardening equipment so that the children could grow vegetables etc. There were regular gardening classes in the afternoons!. The photo above shows a group of older boys supervised by Mr. Griffiths. If you recognise any of them let us know. The produce was sold each year at the Church Bazaar.

This is a photo taken in 1930. The class consists of 34 children. Denis Boothroyd is on the back row, fourth from the left. Do you recognise any of the others? If so then let us know.