The New Box Schools: War Years, 1914-1945 Alan Payne September 2017
Above: Is this long-serving teacher Miss Clara Agnes Smith seen with pupils in the 1920s? (courtesy Stella Clark)
Phil Lambert's Memories
In my time 1913 to 1918 there were three schools at Box School: the Infant School with three classes in it up to the age of seven years; the Boys School from eight years on; and the Girls School from eight years on.
The Infants class teacher was Miss Clara Smith. She was five feet nothing with deep voice and very kind and gentle. She had various aids to teaching and toys for recreation, such as sand trays, an abacus in front of class, and a miniature swing in corner of room. The teacher of the Second Class in the Infant School was Miss Scott. She was a little strict but very capable. No known special attribute but always trim, clean and tidy.
School in World War 1
Mr Oliver W Drew, the headmaster, volunteered to join the army and was sent to India.[1] He wasn't the only volunteer and the assistant master, John Bradfield, also joined up, his place not easily filled. The school also lost the services of Miss Allen owing to reduced numbers at the boys’ school, causing Wiltshire Council's decision to reduce staff numbers. They were pleased she would be working nearby as she could still teach at the Sunday school.[2]
Miss Clara Smith, Assistant Teacher
Clara Agnes Smith was 45 years-old when Philip Lambert first attended her class. She was the daughter of William Smith, a stone mason who in 1871 lived at Hardy's Cottage (the Comrades Club, now called Hardy House). She went to Box Church of England School as did Rosina Helen, her sister possibly twin and both were recorded as born in 1869. In 1891 Rosina was described as Assistant School Mistress and Clara as Dressmaker but all this changed when Rosina died a year later.
By 1901 Clara was living with her widowed mother at The Parade, Box, and she had taken her sister's role at Box School, calling herself Teacher National School. She wasn't qualified, though, and in 1904 passed the King's Scholarship Examination as a pupil teacher in Box School.[3] Clara remained at Box School for the rest of her working life. In 1911 she boarded at Mead House, with Lucinda Rebecca Perren, widow and later moved to Eastcourt, Malmesbury, where she died, aged 71, in 1940. Her obituary referred to her deeply held religious interests.[4]
The teacher of the First Class was Miss Jones, later to become Mrs McIlwraith. She was fussy, but capable, with a friendly smile making me feel at ease, but a stickler for discipline. Rather quick-speaking so we had to be very attentive to keep up. So far, the classes were mixed up until the age of seven years, then with the move up to big school we were split between the Boys' School and Girls' School.
The Big School was for children aged 8 to 10, plus those who stayed on until aged 14. The teachers I remember were Amy Richards (later to become Mrs Farley) who was my mother's sister. This relationship brought me my first earnings in my capacity as monitor (pupil who assists the teacher) at 3d per week! I barely remember the duties but some shopping was included during school hours. The cane proper was only administered by the Head Teacher, Mr Tinley, a suave gentleman who had a bit of a swagger and thrived on his ability to perform the beastly act ! His pale and timid wife also shared the duties of teaching, with him, the top class in the school.
In my time 1913 to 1918 there were three schools at Box School: the Infant School with three classes in it up to the age of seven years; the Boys School from eight years on; and the Girls School from eight years on.
The Infants class teacher was Miss Clara Smith. She was five feet nothing with deep voice and very kind and gentle. She had various aids to teaching and toys for recreation, such as sand trays, an abacus in front of class, and a miniature swing in corner of room. The teacher of the Second Class in the Infant School was Miss Scott. She was a little strict but very capable. No known special attribute but always trim, clean and tidy.
School in World War 1
Mr Oliver W Drew, the headmaster, volunteered to join the army and was sent to India.[1] He wasn't the only volunteer and the assistant master, John Bradfield, also joined up, his place not easily filled. The school also lost the services of Miss Allen owing to reduced numbers at the boys’ school, causing Wiltshire Council's decision to reduce staff numbers. They were pleased she would be working nearby as she could still teach at the Sunday school.[2]
Miss Clara Smith, Assistant Teacher
Clara Agnes Smith was 45 years-old when Philip Lambert first attended her class. She was the daughter of William Smith, a stone mason who in 1871 lived at Hardy's Cottage (the Comrades Club, now called Hardy House). She went to Box Church of England School as did Rosina Helen, her sister possibly twin and both were recorded as born in 1869. In 1891 Rosina was described as Assistant School Mistress and Clara as Dressmaker but all this changed when Rosina died a year later.
By 1901 Clara was living with her widowed mother at The Parade, Box, and she had taken her sister's role at Box School, calling herself Teacher National School. She wasn't qualified, though, and in 1904 passed the King's Scholarship Examination as a pupil teacher in Box School.[3] Clara remained at Box School for the rest of her working life. In 1911 she boarded at Mead House, with Lucinda Rebecca Perren, widow and later moved to Eastcourt, Malmesbury, where she died, aged 71, in 1940. Her obituary referred to her deeply held religious interests.[4]
The teacher of the First Class was Miss Jones, later to become Mrs McIlwraith. She was fussy, but capable, with a friendly smile making me feel at ease, but a stickler for discipline. Rather quick-speaking so we had to be very attentive to keep up. So far, the classes were mixed up until the age of seven years, then with the move up to big school we were split between the Boys' School and Girls' School.
The Big School was for children aged 8 to 10, plus those who stayed on until aged 14. The teachers I remember were Amy Richards (later to become Mrs Farley) who was my mother's sister. This relationship brought me my first earnings in my capacity as monitor (pupil who assists the teacher) at 3d per week! I barely remember the duties but some shopping was included during school hours. The cane proper was only administered by the Head Teacher, Mr Tinley, a suave gentleman who had a bit of a swagger and thrived on his ability to perform the beastly act ! His pale and timid wife also shared the duties of teaching, with him, the top class in the school.
Headmaster Harry Tinley (born 31 August 1886)
Henry (known as Harry) Tinley was born to be a teacher, the son of Walter Tinley, who was headmaster of Westport St Mary, Malmesbury, for 30 years and his wife, Emily, schoolmistress. Harry went to Nettleton & Burton Church of England School, leaving in February 1896 aged 10 years to go to secondary school in Malmesbury. His first teaching position was at Upper Stratton Boys School from 1907 to 1914, after which he was appointed headmaster at Box Boys' School, aged 28, replacing Oliver Drew.
During his time there was considerable disruption from the impact of the First World War including the use of the Schools for recruiting purposes, the billeting of soldiers in the premises in the summer of 1916, and austerity in the use of coal and coke.[5] Teaching standards were disrupted by the collection of blackberries for jam for the army. But this disturbance was less than the financial restrictions. The massive structural alteration required by the Local Education Authority in 1915 had run down the Managers' ability to finance improvements including extensions to the premises, new windows and gas heating.[6] Most of the costs had to be borne locally and the School Managers reluctantly had to agree out of the funds left from the Box Charity School.
Harry Tinley didn't really settle in Box, although when Bessie Lewis left the School House on her marriage to Alfred Lambert, he did reluctantly move in, despite the run down condition of the property.[7] He fell out with the caretaker, Mr H Coles, and the School Managers took the side of Mr Coles, who they believed had done his work well and in accordance with the schedule of duties supplied to him.[8] The dispute continued with letters to the Local Education Authority, arguments over the flushing of urinals more than once a week, and terms and conditions of employment. In 1917 there was an unseemly controversy in the street, which Harry was warned to avoid in future and Mr Coles to avoid swearing. And so Harry's unsatisfactory tenure rumbled on until 1922.
After he left Box in 1922, Harry was appointed headmaster at London Road Boys' School, Odiham, North Hampshire. He was still teaching in 1939, headmaster at Harley Wintney, Hampshire and died aged 79 in 1966.
There was one very memorable occasion which involved Mr and Mrs Tinley in a near riot in the classroom. The Toy brothers from 1 Mill Lane were the boys involved. Arthur Edgar Toy, the younger child, was sent to the front of the class to receive the cane from Mr Tinley but he refused to put out his hand. Whereupon Mr Tinley attempted to put him across one of the front desks to administer the cane on his behind. A tussle ensued which was too much for William Archibald Toy, Edgar's brother, sitting nearby, who picked up his inkwell and threw it at Mr Tinley splashing him over face and collar with blue/black ink. The two brothers put up a good fight and soon there was uproar as Mrs Tinley joined in and canes were thrashing in all directions. The ink stains which reached the wall were in evidence for years afterwards and kept the whole event fresh in our memories.
Edgar, in later years, became much more law-abiding and, in fact, received an MBE as Town Clerk of Aylesbury. Oddly enough, Edgar received his award for organising the facilities for the trial of the culprits in the Great Train Robbery held over many weeks in the Aylesbury Town Hall. Some years later I was given a detailed account of the events in the trial room and where Ronnie Biggs and his accomplices were sentenced.
School Numbers after Great War
Henry (known as Harry) Tinley was born to be a teacher, the son of Walter Tinley, who was headmaster of Westport St Mary, Malmesbury, for 30 years and his wife, Emily, schoolmistress. Harry went to Nettleton & Burton Church of England School, leaving in February 1896 aged 10 years to go to secondary school in Malmesbury. His first teaching position was at Upper Stratton Boys School from 1907 to 1914, after which he was appointed headmaster at Box Boys' School, aged 28, replacing Oliver Drew.
During his time there was considerable disruption from the impact of the First World War including the use of the Schools for recruiting purposes, the billeting of soldiers in the premises in the summer of 1916, and austerity in the use of coal and coke.[5] Teaching standards were disrupted by the collection of blackberries for jam for the army. But this disturbance was less than the financial restrictions. The massive structural alteration required by the Local Education Authority in 1915 had run down the Managers' ability to finance improvements including extensions to the premises, new windows and gas heating.[6] Most of the costs had to be borne locally and the School Managers reluctantly had to agree out of the funds left from the Box Charity School.
Harry Tinley didn't really settle in Box, although when Bessie Lewis left the School House on her marriage to Alfred Lambert, he did reluctantly move in, despite the run down condition of the property.[7] He fell out with the caretaker, Mr H Coles, and the School Managers took the side of Mr Coles, who they believed had done his work well and in accordance with the schedule of duties supplied to him.[8] The dispute continued with letters to the Local Education Authority, arguments over the flushing of urinals more than once a week, and terms and conditions of employment. In 1917 there was an unseemly controversy in the street, which Harry was warned to avoid in future and Mr Coles to avoid swearing. And so Harry's unsatisfactory tenure rumbled on until 1922.
After he left Box in 1922, Harry was appointed headmaster at London Road Boys' School, Odiham, North Hampshire. He was still teaching in 1939, headmaster at Harley Wintney, Hampshire and died aged 79 in 1966.
There was one very memorable occasion which involved Mr and Mrs Tinley in a near riot in the classroom. The Toy brothers from 1 Mill Lane were the boys involved. Arthur Edgar Toy, the younger child, was sent to the front of the class to receive the cane from Mr Tinley but he refused to put out his hand. Whereupon Mr Tinley attempted to put him across one of the front desks to administer the cane on his behind. A tussle ensued which was too much for William Archibald Toy, Edgar's brother, sitting nearby, who picked up his inkwell and threw it at Mr Tinley splashing him over face and collar with blue/black ink. The two brothers put up a good fight and soon there was uproar as Mrs Tinley joined in and canes were thrashing in all directions. The ink stains which reached the wall were in evidence for years afterwards and kept the whole event fresh in our memories.
Edgar, in later years, became much more law-abiding and, in fact, received an MBE as Town Clerk of Aylesbury. Oddly enough, Edgar received his award for organising the facilities for the trial of the culprits in the Great Train Robbery held over many weeks in the Aylesbury Town Hall. Some years later I was given a detailed account of the events in the trial room and where Ronnie Biggs and his accomplices were sentenced.
School Numbers after Great War
|
Year
1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 |
Boys
96 93 est 90 - - - 93 - 99 |
Girls
107 117 96 - - - 95 - 87 |
Infants 5+
63 49 44 - 40 - 28 14 43 |
Infants -5
13 14 36 - 6 - 24 42 12 |
Total
279 273 266 - incomplete - 240 incomplete 241 |
Decline After the Great War
After the First World War, Box Schools were in a state of serious decline. The number of pupils seen above compares to 400 in 1905 and 360 throughout the early 1910s. In 1924 the Parish Magazine recorded that it has had to face serious difficulties and its closure seemed imminent.[9] The level of education had declined with only two visits by infants to the garden of a nearby house and a walk to a farmyard in 1922.[10] It was scarcely better in 1925 with four trips to Lane near school, Box Church, Devizes Road and Bath Road near school.
Without a school library, the girls only read an average of four books a year. There were only a few odd volumes and specimen readers and the numbers attending had been inflated by a number of children admitted for short periods, chiefly visitors from air-raid districts.[11] The inventory of materials in the Boys' School in 1920 reported nil stock available of water colours, envelopes, ink powder, blotting paper, plasticine, science equipment, coloured chalk, crayons drawing pins, tracing paper and so on.
Mr HA Druett took over from Mr Tinley as Headmaster in 1922 and ran the Schools for the next twenty-two years. His annual report in 1924 sets out many of the problems: Of the 24 children in Standard One, 12 need special individual attention. The School Choir competed at the Wilts Music Festival for the first time. Thanks go to Mr and the Hon Mrs Shaw Mellor for helping the school spirit by organising a new Company of Girl Guides, which hadn't existed before.
After the First World War, Box Schools were in a state of serious decline. The number of pupils seen above compares to 400 in 1905 and 360 throughout the early 1910s. In 1924 the Parish Magazine recorded that it has had to face serious difficulties and its closure seemed imminent.[9] The level of education had declined with only two visits by infants to the garden of a nearby house and a walk to a farmyard in 1922.[10] It was scarcely better in 1925 with four trips to Lane near school, Box Church, Devizes Road and Bath Road near school.
Without a school library, the girls only read an average of four books a year. There were only a few odd volumes and specimen readers and the numbers attending had been inflated by a number of children admitted for short periods, chiefly visitors from air-raid districts.[11] The inventory of materials in the Boys' School in 1920 reported nil stock available of water colours, envelopes, ink powder, blotting paper, plasticine, science equipment, coloured chalk, crayons drawing pins, tracing paper and so on.
Mr HA Druett took over from Mr Tinley as Headmaster in 1922 and ran the Schools for the next twenty-two years. His annual report in 1924 sets out many of the problems: Of the 24 children in Standard One, 12 need special individual attention. The School Choir competed at the Wilts Music Festival for the first time. Thanks go to Mr and the Hon Mrs Shaw Mellor for helping the school spirit by organising a new Company of Girl Guides, which hadn't existed before.
|
|
Above: Examples of the certificates issued to children to encourage learning through the slogan Knowledge is Power (courtesy Brian Scoble)
Measures Taken
Mr Henry A Druett modernised every aspect of the Schools, merging the Boys' and Girls' Schools into a Mixed School, so that they should receive equal opportunities. He introduced an annual School Sports day when the Box Highlanders from Box Hill competed against the Lowlanders from the village. And he brought a humanity and kindness to the children in his care, such as £2.17s.10d for Slippers for the long-distance children in the Day Schools, per Mr HA Druett.[12]
His enthusiasm, support of his staff and his generosity of spirit was outstanding: Miss Walmsley's resignation is to be deeply regretted as, apart from her expert knowledge of the Drill Book, her inspiring personality invigorated the school and, in a great measure, she deserves credit for the pleasing and attractive manners of the children.
The improvement in the education offered had instant results. The Diocesan Report of 1923 read Mixed School - The work generally is exceptionally fresh and vigorous, and results seem to be excellent. Infant School - Free adaptation of kindergarten methods to the religious instruction, with very pleasant results. Most of the activities in the school were targeted to educational purposes: a visit to nearby lane preceded by a lesson on wild fruits, a walk to a country lane prepared the way for a lesson on catkins and a ramble in a field followed a lesson on seed dispersal.[13] It was quite a turn-around.
Perhaps, above all, his contribution to Box was that he involved the whole village in supporting the Schools with gifts of
285 library books in 1926, paintings of foreign lands, Christmas tea parties, use of microscopic slides and astronomical telescope and prizes for gardening, sports and arts and crafts.[14] In 1926 he assisted the school when Mr GJ Kidston of Hazelbury Manor gifted 11½ acres of Mead Farm by ensuring an adequate portion of the land hereby conveyed shall be reserved as a playground for the school children of Box.[15]
The needs of poorer children were enormous including footwear, vest and knickers for Sports Day.[16] He encouraged the children to contribute to their community with the Breaking-Up concert at the end of summer terms and by collecting hundreds of eggs, year after year, for the Royal United Hospital, Bath, in the decades before the formation of the National Health Service.[17]
Mr Henry A Druett modernised every aspect of the Schools, merging the Boys' and Girls' Schools into a Mixed School, so that they should receive equal opportunities. He introduced an annual School Sports day when the Box Highlanders from Box Hill competed against the Lowlanders from the village. And he brought a humanity and kindness to the children in his care, such as £2.17s.10d for Slippers for the long-distance children in the Day Schools, per Mr HA Druett.[12]
His enthusiasm, support of his staff and his generosity of spirit was outstanding: Miss Walmsley's resignation is to be deeply regretted as, apart from her expert knowledge of the Drill Book, her inspiring personality invigorated the school and, in a great measure, she deserves credit for the pleasing and attractive manners of the children.
The improvement in the education offered had instant results. The Diocesan Report of 1923 read Mixed School - The work generally is exceptionally fresh and vigorous, and results seem to be excellent. Infant School - Free adaptation of kindergarten methods to the religious instruction, with very pleasant results. Most of the activities in the school were targeted to educational purposes: a visit to nearby lane preceded by a lesson on wild fruits, a walk to a country lane prepared the way for a lesson on catkins and a ramble in a field followed a lesson on seed dispersal.[13] It was quite a turn-around.
Perhaps, above all, his contribution to Box was that he involved the whole village in supporting the Schools with gifts of
285 library books in 1926, paintings of foreign lands, Christmas tea parties, use of microscopic slides and astronomical telescope and prizes for gardening, sports and arts and crafts.[14] In 1926 he assisted the school when Mr GJ Kidston of Hazelbury Manor gifted 11½ acres of Mead Farm by ensuring an adequate portion of the land hereby conveyed shall be reserved as a playground for the school children of Box.[15]
The needs of poorer children were enormous including footwear, vest and knickers for Sports Day.[16] He encouraged the children to contribute to their community with the Breaking-Up concert at the end of summer terms and by collecting hundreds of eggs, year after year, for the Royal United Hospital, Bath, in the decades before the formation of the National Health Service.[17]
|
|
The school was still in a quiet road area in the 1920s and 1930s (postcards courtesy Box Parish Council)
Box Schools in 1930s
At the breaking up for the summer holidays on Friday there was an exhibition of educational work at the Box School.[18] It reflected the value of the teaching given at the Box School by the teaching staff Mr B Swan, Mrs Dark, Miss Brazill and Miss Beames, the Headmaster being Mr HA Druett. There were Scripture models and needlework, paintings and pencil sketchings of local history. Prizes were given to Jean Butler (needlework), Kathleen Higgens and Joan Parsons (cookery), Gwendoline Andrews (physical education), Arthur Baxter, Albert Shewring and William Reece (gardening), Ronald Stacey (scripture), M Frayling, Montague Dermott and Edwina Brunt (collection of wild flowers), and Percy Green and Stanley Sheppard (marathon race).
The condition of the Schools in 1930 was precarious. The population slowdown after the Great War caused unexpected consequences. In April 1930, a national restructuring of elementary education was proposed restricting primary education to those under 12 years. It would have meant a big change for Box School where 80 children over 11 years would have to be transferred to Corsham School. Pupil numbers would drop from 275 to about 190 and redundancies amongst staff would be inevitable. The village was concerned. On the one hand it was obviously beneficial to give children education on subjects for which no provision is made at Box School, such as carpentry, but there were worries about possible lack of involvement by young people in the village and the distances they would have to travel on a daily basis.[19]
This was where the work of Mr Druett proved invaluable.
Headmaster Henry Arthur Druett (1881 - 1945)
Henry Arthur Druett was the complete opposite to his predecessor, Harry Tinley. The son of a labourer from Kingston, Surrey,
HA Druett was educated as a result of the Education Act of 1870 which offered schooling for all children. He became a pupil teacher at Haydon Road Church of England Boys' School in 1896, was a dedicated student, passing his Geography exams in 1897 and gained a second class level in the Queen's Scholarship Exam of 1900. He married Charlotte E Forrest in 1915 and in 1922 they moved to Box to replace Harry Tinley.
HA was a cultured man who thrived in Box. In the 1920s and 1930s he wrote numerous articles about the history of the village, was treasurer and editor of the Parish Magazine and performed in the pageant and plays of Rev and Mrs Foster. He was commissioned as a lay reader by the Bishop of Bristol in 1939 and his religious views helped him to guide Box School through a period of severe unemployment in the 1920s and 1930s and the impact of two World Wars.[20]
At the breaking up for the summer holidays on Friday there was an exhibition of educational work at the Box School.[18] It reflected the value of the teaching given at the Box School by the teaching staff Mr B Swan, Mrs Dark, Miss Brazill and Miss Beames, the Headmaster being Mr HA Druett. There were Scripture models and needlework, paintings and pencil sketchings of local history. Prizes were given to Jean Butler (needlework), Kathleen Higgens and Joan Parsons (cookery), Gwendoline Andrews (physical education), Arthur Baxter, Albert Shewring and William Reece (gardening), Ronald Stacey (scripture), M Frayling, Montague Dermott and Edwina Brunt (collection of wild flowers), and Percy Green and Stanley Sheppard (marathon race).
The condition of the Schools in 1930 was precarious. The population slowdown after the Great War caused unexpected consequences. In April 1930, a national restructuring of elementary education was proposed restricting primary education to those under 12 years. It would have meant a big change for Box School where 80 children over 11 years would have to be transferred to Corsham School. Pupil numbers would drop from 275 to about 190 and redundancies amongst staff would be inevitable. The village was concerned. On the one hand it was obviously beneficial to give children education on subjects for which no provision is made at Box School, such as carpentry, but there were worries about possible lack of involvement by young people in the village and the distances they would have to travel on a daily basis.[19]
This was where the work of Mr Druett proved invaluable.
Headmaster Henry Arthur Druett (1881 - 1945)
Henry Arthur Druett was the complete opposite to his predecessor, Harry Tinley. The son of a labourer from Kingston, Surrey,
HA Druett was educated as a result of the Education Act of 1870 which offered schooling for all children. He became a pupil teacher at Haydon Road Church of England Boys' School in 1896, was a dedicated student, passing his Geography exams in 1897 and gained a second class level in the Queen's Scholarship Exam of 1900. He married Charlotte E Forrest in 1915 and in 1922 they moved to Box to replace Harry Tinley.
HA was a cultured man who thrived in Box. In the 1920s and 1930s he wrote numerous articles about the history of the village, was treasurer and editor of the Parish Magazine and performed in the pageant and plays of Rev and Mrs Foster. He was commissioned as a lay reader by the Bishop of Bristol in 1939 and his religious views helped him to guide Box School through a period of severe unemployment in the 1920s and 1930s and the impact of two World Wars.[20]
Postcard of Box Schools in 1929 (courtesy Colin Lindzey)
HA's enthusiasm shone through the reports he made to the County Director of Education: Nature Study is taken in its wildest sense, astronomy, geology, chemistry, architecture etc.[21] It brought forth a remarkable defence of his methods by staff.
WJ Bradfield wrote, No one could been more helpful or more kind... Mr Druett is a man who lives for Box School and its many sided activities. He has brought a mind fertile in ideas and a brain rich in resource. On many occasions he has shown a commendable enterprise that has paved the way for notable successes. He has brought into every phase of school life a keenness, a zeal and an enthusiasm that have been an inspiration to the staff and an incentive to the children. The root of the Board's dissatisfaction was probably that they considered teacher-pupil ratios too high and disapproved of HA's role in parish matters.
As well as improvements to teaching, there were many renovations needed in the school premises. In 1927 radiators and a heating system were installed at an estimated cost of £350, replacing the single stoves in the original schoolrooms. There were constant repairs needed, new drainage and sanitary fittings in the School House in 1927, flooring repairs and similar maintenance matters.
One of HA Druett's main attributes was his support for the staff under his control, He wrote a charming acknowledgement in Box Parish Magazine on the retirement of teacher Mrs Dark: [22]
Mrs Dark is well known to all of us, having been a teacher at Box School for 12 years. During that time she married. Her husband and home are in South Wales. It was not generally known that Mrs Dark was in the habit of going home every weekend, and had to start off on Monday mornings at 5am to catch buses and trains in order to get to school soon after 9am. The inevitable has now happened. Mrs Dark has accepted a post as teacher near her home in South Wales and will be leaving Box early in May. We thank her for her good services to Box School. Mrs Dark was an accomplished musician, holding the musical diploma of ALCM (Associate of the London College of Music) and her gift in that direction has been fully appreciated and used by the Headmaster, Mr Druett.
WJ Bradfield wrote, No one could been more helpful or more kind... Mr Druett is a man who lives for Box School and its many sided activities. He has brought a mind fertile in ideas and a brain rich in resource. On many occasions he has shown a commendable enterprise that has paved the way for notable successes. He has brought into every phase of school life a keenness, a zeal and an enthusiasm that have been an inspiration to the staff and an incentive to the children. The root of the Board's dissatisfaction was probably that they considered teacher-pupil ratios too high and disapproved of HA's role in parish matters.
As well as improvements to teaching, there were many renovations needed in the school premises. In 1927 radiators and a heating system were installed at an estimated cost of £350, replacing the single stoves in the original schoolrooms. There were constant repairs needed, new drainage and sanitary fittings in the School House in 1927, flooring repairs and similar maintenance matters.
One of HA Druett's main attributes was his support for the staff under his control, He wrote a charming acknowledgement in Box Parish Magazine on the retirement of teacher Mrs Dark: [22]
Mrs Dark is well known to all of us, having been a teacher at Box School for 12 years. During that time she married. Her husband and home are in South Wales. It was not generally known that Mrs Dark was in the habit of going home every weekend, and had to start off on Monday mornings at 5am to catch buses and trains in order to get to school soon after 9am. The inevitable has now happened. Mrs Dark has accepted a post as teacher near her home in South Wales and will be leaving Box early in May. We thank her for her good services to Box School. Mrs Dark was an accomplished musician, holding the musical diploma of ALCM (Associate of the London College of Music) and her gift in that direction has been fully appreciated and used by the Headmaster, Mr Druett.
Second World War
Conditions in Box Schools were totally altered by World War 2. The Schools had been built originally to house 400 children but numbers had reduced to 240 after the Great War. The education of pupils had also altered requiring more space for the children. The sudden influx of evacuees in 1940 raised numbers on the school roll to 428 in 1940. Official evacuees included 163 children from London County Council schools and 43 unofficial evacuees from Hastings, St Leonards, Southend, Gateshead, Margate, East Ham and Sunderland. By then the School had only 250 recognised places and 95 children were accommodated in the Methodist Hall.[23] In 1942 the blitz in Barking and Bath again pushed up pupil numbers.
Managing the Schools turned into a nightmare. Many of the evacuated children returned home, the need of the Infant School for staff altered dramatically with absent servicemen, school materials for teaching dried up, and teaching was disrupted by air raids and blackout requirements. In November 1942 the Council wrote the shortage of teachers is becoming more and more acute. Managing the Schools became a juggling act. Plans were drawn up in April 1939 for a double-seated trench shelter in the School grounds in the event of a bombing attack. The shelter catered for only 52 children and many parents preferred to keep their children away from school if air-raid warnings were sounded. The Council and Mr Druett had cross words in 1943 over the use of the school for emergency purposes (which disrupted teaching work), over the opening of Box Highlands School as a temporary school for children of war workers and over increments in pay for the staff of Box Church of England Schools.
Conditions in Box Schools were totally altered by World War 2. The Schools had been built originally to house 400 children but numbers had reduced to 240 after the Great War. The education of pupils had also altered requiring more space for the children. The sudden influx of evacuees in 1940 raised numbers on the school roll to 428 in 1940. Official evacuees included 163 children from London County Council schools and 43 unofficial evacuees from Hastings, St Leonards, Southend, Gateshead, Margate, East Ham and Sunderland. By then the School had only 250 recognised places and 95 children were accommodated in the Methodist Hall.[23] In 1942 the blitz in Barking and Bath again pushed up pupil numbers.
Managing the Schools turned into a nightmare. Many of the evacuated children returned home, the need of the Infant School for staff altered dramatically with absent servicemen, school materials for teaching dried up, and teaching was disrupted by air raids and blackout requirements. In November 1942 the Council wrote the shortage of teachers is becoming more and more acute. Managing the Schools became a juggling act. Plans were drawn up in April 1939 for a double-seated trench shelter in the School grounds in the event of a bombing attack. The shelter catered for only 52 children and many parents preferred to keep their children away from school if air-raid warnings were sounded. The Council and Mr Druett had cross words in 1943 over the use of the school for emergency purposes (which disrupted teaching work), over the opening of Box Highlands School as a temporary school for children of war workers and over increments in pay for the staff of Box Church of England Schools.
Trench Shelter proposed for the school in 1939 (courtesy Bill Chaffey via Bob Hancock)
Much of Mr Druett's ambition and enthusiasm ground to a halt in the wartime environment and he turned rather bitter as he approached his sixtieth birthday. In June 1944 he sent a letter to the Parochial Church Council angry that questions had been raised about the half collection (amounting to £1.17s.6d) which had been given to Box Schools. It set out the expenses he had paid on Religious Instruction at the school. He was clearly unwell and in an agitated state. He wrote to the vicar in August 1944:
I am suffering from severe anaemia. He requested an extended period of six weeks' sick leave absence, expiring on 3 December 1944. I have just completed 22 years of service and have not previously made a similar application. The Council declined the request saying that he was entitled sick leave only until 16 November. But he was dying. He retired mid-term in November 1944 after twenty-two years and died in January 1945. A hurriedly-arranged public appeal raised the sum of £42.18s.9d (£2,000 in today's values), of which a quarter was raised by the School. In addition the family were paid £3 for fixtures left in the School House including installation of electric light and lavatory basin.
Details of his resignation were brief and to the point: Many people will regret to learn of the decision of Mr HA Druett to resign his position as Headmaster of the Church of England School after 22 years. Mr Druett has been in poor health for some time and recently underwent a major operation. During his tenure many innovations have taken place in the school.[24] It hardly did him justice.
A hard working, cultured and modest pillar of the community was gone. His wife was obliged to leave the School House and his collection of three upright pianos, books and paintings were sold.[25] The last word must go to his educational philosophy, expressed in 1926: Expect only the best and make the children feel they are truly worthwhile and there is something in them.[26] He brought stability to the School and its staff and hope for the future to a generation of children. It is hard not to admire Henry Arthur Druett for all he did at Box Schools.
In the next issue we conclude the articles about Box Schools by telling the story of the period after the Second World War.
We would love to hear from you if you have any photos of staff and children at the school or if you want to record your memories of schooling in the village. Does anyone have a photograph of Hemry Arthur Druett please?
I am suffering from severe anaemia. He requested an extended period of six weeks' sick leave absence, expiring on 3 December 1944. I have just completed 22 years of service and have not previously made a similar application. The Council declined the request saying that he was entitled sick leave only until 16 November. But he was dying. He retired mid-term in November 1944 after twenty-two years and died in January 1945. A hurriedly-arranged public appeal raised the sum of £42.18s.9d (£2,000 in today's values), of which a quarter was raised by the School. In addition the family were paid £3 for fixtures left in the School House including installation of electric light and lavatory basin.
Details of his resignation were brief and to the point: Many people will regret to learn of the decision of Mr HA Druett to resign his position as Headmaster of the Church of England School after 22 years. Mr Druett has been in poor health for some time and recently underwent a major operation. During his tenure many innovations have taken place in the school.[24] It hardly did him justice.
A hard working, cultured and modest pillar of the community was gone. His wife was obliged to leave the School House and his collection of three upright pianos, books and paintings were sold.[25] The last word must go to his educational philosophy, expressed in 1926: Expect only the best and make the children feel they are truly worthwhile and there is something in them.[26] He brought stability to the School and its staff and hope for the future to a generation of children. It is hard not to admire Henry Arthur Druett for all he did at Box Schools.
In the next issue we conclude the articles about Box Schools by telling the story of the period after the Second World War.
We would love to hear from you if you have any photos of staff and children at the school or if you want to record your memories of schooling in the village. Does anyone have a photograph of Hemry Arthur Druett please?
References
[1] Parish Magazine, October 1914
[2] Parish Magazine, June 1918
[3] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 4 March 1905
[4] Bath Chronicle and Wiltshire Gazette, 27 April 1940
[5] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[6] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[7] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[8] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[9] Parish Magazine, January 1924
[10] Annual Report by Head Teachers
[11] Annual Report by Head Teacher of Girls' School, Miss EM Marshall, 1919
[12] Parish Magazine, January 1926
[13] Annual Report by Head Teacher HA Druett, 1926
[14] Parish Magazine, May 1926 and Annual Report 1926
[15] Annual Report by Head Teacher HA Druett, 1926
[16] Parish Magazine, July 1930
[17] There are more reminiscences of children at Box Schools in Kathleen Harris' Memoires.
[18] The Wiltshire Times, 5 August 1939
[19] Parish Magazine, April 1930
[20] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 4 November 1939
[21] Annual Report by Head Teacher HA Druett, 1924
[22] Parish Magazine, May 1944
[23] Annual Reports 1940 and 1941
[24] The Wiltshire Times, 18 November 1944
[25] The Wiltshire Times, 27 January 1945
[26] Parish Magazine, May 1926
[1] Parish Magazine, October 1914
[2] Parish Magazine, June 1918
[3] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 4 March 1905
[4] Bath Chronicle and Wiltshire Gazette, 27 April 1940
[5] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[6] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[7] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[8] Minute Book of the Box Schools Managers
[9] Parish Magazine, January 1924
[10] Annual Report by Head Teachers
[11] Annual Report by Head Teacher of Girls' School, Miss EM Marshall, 1919
[12] Parish Magazine, January 1926
[13] Annual Report by Head Teacher HA Druett, 1926
[14] Parish Magazine, May 1926 and Annual Report 1926
[15] Annual Report by Head Teacher HA Druett, 1926
[16] Parish Magazine, July 1930
[17] There are more reminiscences of children at Box Schools in Kathleen Harris' Memoires.
[18] The Wiltshire Times, 5 August 1939
[19] Parish Magazine, April 1930
[20] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 4 November 1939
[21] Annual Report by Head Teacher HA Druett, 1924
[22] Parish Magazine, May 1944
[23] Annual Reports 1940 and 1941
[24] The Wiltshire Times, 18 November 1944
[25] The Wiltshire Times, 27 January 1945
[26] Parish Magazine, May 1926