Timeline

1930

The School celebrated its 21st Birthday in 1930 with a number of special events including several parties given by Staff to Senior, Middle & Junior school girls who all shared a large iced cake given by the Old Girls. The cake was decorated in the blue & white School colours and bore 21 candles which were lit by Miss Jones.

The first School Service at St. Luke’s Church, a thanksgiving service, was held on Saturday 11th October. This was followed by a large gathering of the Quondam Club.

The year’s main effort was to further plans for a proper School Library. There was no shortage of Reference books at school but they were scattered in different places – various Subject libraries, the Sixth Form library and a Staff reference library. The dream was to gather them all together to be housed in one room, specially fitted for that purpose. Not wishing to endure a long wait by applying to the LCC for funding, it was decided, instead, to apply the usual fund-raising methods.

In addition to generous donations by Old Girls and friends of the School totalling £167, a further £320 was raised by way of a large & successful Spring Fete. The total was adequate to meet the cost of converting the two rooms on the Hall floor into one, redecorating it, panelling the walls and furnishing it with book cases, tables and chairs. Miss Jones gave the valuable Persian rugs, the curtains & lampshades.

On 10th October 1930 the Library was formally opened by Professor Dover Wilson who gave an inspiring address. He had observed that the new Library was like any other, with books row upon row, as a symphony score has notes. But it would be absurd, he said, to conclude that is all a Library or Symphony means. The score does not become a Symphony until it is played & heard; the books on shelves not a Library until they are opened & read and become alive. His speech closed with these lines – “You are the heirs of the ages and, in that Library, you may take possession of your dower, the only dower that really matters, the best that has been spoken and thought by men.”

Miss Ellis, in her book, notes “It was in that spirit that we entered into possession of our Library … there is a precious tradition of how the Library should be used; it has been handed from one generation of girls to another.”

The Library contained many gifts to the School – books autographed & presented by their Authors; books given by friends from their own libraries; books given by Old Girls, girls leaving School and by Parents. The old English clock, vases, pictures and the table in memory of Miss Thomas, were all gifts to the School so that the Library also became a place of remembrance of those friends. The Library was the School’s most precious possession.

In the Hall, the William Morris table was given by Miss Jones and she had a bookstand and chair made to go with it. Together with the rug, they were her twenty-first birthday gifts to the School.

Speech Day, at the end of this 21st year, was a problem of how to accommodate in the Hall a school of 500 girls & Staff with parents and friends. This was solved by erecting a raised 3-tier gallery along the entire length of the window wall to seat as many of the girls as possible. The long rows of girls in their white dresses made an imposing and pleasant sight. This method of seating, fondly known as ‘the cake stand’ was very successful and was used on every successive Speech Day until 1938, the last before wartime evacuation, when the wood was needed to be turned to other, more utilitarian, uses and the ‘cake tiers’ were finally dismantled.

1930’s

The intricate pattern of life at ‘Broomwood’ was firmly set but it was further & colourfully enriched throughout this decade. The Sixth Form flourished, with many girls going on to University and thence to diverse and, in some cases, eminently distinguished careers.

In 1936 the School was honoured by being chosen to accommodate the Summer Conference of the Association of Headmistresses, attended by several hundreds of Heads of Secondary Schools from all over England. It happened that it was our School’s turn that year to have its major spring clean and redecoration during the Summer break, so the building was seen looking its very best. Staff and Prefects were there to welcome the guests, complemented by bright vases of flowers, and the occasion was declared a great success.

During the years since 1919 more co-operation had grown between Secondary Schools. This was fostered by Inter-Schools Associations. Visits were made to other Schools and ‘Broomwood’ in turn hosted reciprocal visits. The London Inter-Secondary Schools Music Festival gave a great opportunity for this, the competing choirs and orchestras going each year to a different school in the area. Meetings of the Inter-School Classical Association, the League of Nations Union and the inter-school games matches all enabled everyone to get to know other Schools.

July 1938

After nearly twenty years of dedication to Clapham County School; encouraging, advising & assisting girls to pursue their goals; Miss Jones took early retirement with the intention of travelling widely. After only one year of ‘freedom’ however, the 2nd World War began when she threw herself, tirelessly, into new endeavours and challenges which would endure another three decades until her death. She devoted much of her time during the war to the Women’s Volunteer Service, after which she committed her efforts to educational institutions becoming Chairman of the Association of Headmistresses, Governor of Wye College (University of London) and of the North London Collegiate and Putney’s Mayfield Comprehensive School. She also served the Society of British Women Overseas and the Women’s Employment Federation.

When Miss Jones retired, her work both inside and outside the School had made it one of acclaim with a reputation for sound learning and a progressive outlook. She was widely respected but by none so much as her Staff and pupils to whom she was affectionately known as ‘Jonah’. The love and appreciation felt for her by colleagues, pupils and friends continued for the rest of her life and was evident at her Memorial Services in 1966 – the first held at the School on 26th May where the then Headmistress, Miss B. Viner, gave the address and on 20th June at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields where the address was given by Canon E.F. Carpenter, Archdeacon of Westminster.

September 1938

In the Summer of 1938 Miss E.A. Willey was appointed the School’s new Headmistress and took the reins with enthusiasm for the new school year which began that September. She had been Headmistress at the Lawnswood High School, Leeds for the previous ten years.

The years from 1935-38 had their difficulties; they were years of uncertainty in employment and in the relationships between different countries when war was always on the horizon. All this naturally affected the School and its ‘residents’. By 1937 Sixth Form numbers were beginning to dwindle. The prospects and challenge for any new Head were daunting enough and Miss Willey was to be congratulated for even considering a move to London at such a time let alone trying to maintain the School’s reputation during such unsettling times.

… The War Years …

* The Quondam Newsletters abound with accounts of this time in the School’s history and the reader should refer to that Index of Articles for more intimate and ‘in depth’ narrative of the trials and jollity of the years 1939-43 during which the School was in evacuation at Windsor. *

Miss Willey’s term of office began at a most crucial time. Without the luxury of being able to ease herself into her new post, her very first meeting with parents took place just ten days into the September term when discussions were held to devise a scheme for evacuation of the girls in the event of war with Germany. By her firm but sympathetic handling of this meeting and her quick appreciation of parental misgivings, natural in the circumstances, she showed characteristic vigour, versatility and courage, and created a feeling of confidence. Her ten years at ‘Lawnswood’ had developed Miss Willey’s administrative ability and she had a power to make rapid decisions.

Girls, then, had to be ready to leave London with little warning. Some girls, for a number of reasons, were not to be evacuated with the main body of pupils and an Emergency School would be set up to continue at ‘Broomwood’ in their absence. Those being evacuated, together with younger siblings who were to accompany them, brought their luggage to the School. This was piled up in the Form rooms in readiness for the emergency. Food stores were also prepared. Towards the end of 1938 it was obvious that evacuation would not take place right away so the luggage was despatched homeward again and the food stores used for school lunches. Ordinary school life resumed but forces of uncertainty beneath the surface gave it a restless feel.

1939

In the Spring of 1939 the London County Council celebrated its Jubilee by holding an Exhibition showing all aspects of its work. There was a small exhibit by County Secondary Schools with a contribution by Clapham County but a larger share was arranged for Clapham’s girls in a local Exhibition at Henry Thornton School. Examples of Girls’ work in several subjects was shown and there was a gymnastics display & an Exhibition netball match.

The last of the Inter-Secondary Schools Music Festivals for the area to be held before the War was hosted by Clapham County School, taking place in the Hall.

During the last week of April a party from the Fifth & Sixth Forms travelled to Paris with Staff. This was the second such school journey, the first having taken place the previous year.

The School year culminated with Open Day & School Sports when the whole place was one of great activity with an impressive exhibition of school work, a concert and a gymnastics display.

With War looming, Staff returned to School on 26th August to prepare once more for evacuation. The weekend was spent mostly in clerical work and the making of identity badges. Girls who were to join the Evacuation Party, together with about sixty younger brothers and sisters, came to school on 28th August. Tension increased as they waited for evacuation orders. Fortunately the weather was fine and, when not listening to the radio for news, time was spent in the garden knitting, sewing, reading and playing games. Finally, instructions were received that everyone must assemble at 7.30 a.m. on Friday 31st August. By 8.30 that morning, after the roll of each group of fifty had been called and Staff & helpers had inspected luggage & labels, the School gates were opened and a long column in double file, with Miss Willey in the lead, left the School. At about 10.30 a.m. the party boarded their train at Clapham Junction Station, bound for Windsor and not knowing when, or indeed if, they would see their beloved School again.

There were many people waiting at Windsor Station to welcome the Evacuees although there was some initial consternation at the arrival of girls when, apparently, boys had been expected ! By the end of a very tiring day for all, especially the youngest members of the party, billets had been found for all and the friendliness of those receiving them reassured even the most timid. In Windsor, girls were billeted in private homes; in Eton, some were with families while the remainder were accommodated at a Bekynton College house which was run as a hostel.

By the end of the first week, Miss Willey had made arrangements for the girls’ education to be continued at the new County Boys School and it was there that term began on 12th September. Despite having three hundred girls thrust among them, the Headmaster Mr. Fairhurst, his Staff and the boys were most accommodating and very soon a ‘Rooms Time-table’ was in operation. School life was organised as near to normal as was possible although work itself, mainly for the older students, was often carried on in odd and uncomfortable places. So education continued along with the familiar Dramatic and Debating Societies, Sports and Speech Days. In addition to the established Form Music Competition, a new Reading Competition was first held in 1940.

The first duty of the School was to keep the level of School work as high as possible but the War Effort was not ignored - knitting for the R.A.F. Comforts Fund & for the W.V.S. and practical help at a local Forces Canteen were happily undertaken. Collections were also made for the Waifs & Strays Society. A War Savings Group was also set up with proceeds from Fetes adding to the coffers. School Allotments at Eton and, later, at Windsor provided vegetables for Bekynton & for the School with profits from sales going to the Windsor Hospital. The School also continued to meet its old obligation to support the ‘Broomwood Cot’ at the South London Hospital for Women.

Terms were longer than before. A rota of Staff was on duty during the holidays when girls reported to School twice weekly to register. Cycling, boating & swimming activities were arranged for Spring & Summer holidays and, in Winter, there were visits to the theatre and cinema. Parties were held at Christmas and New Year. Two School Companies of Girl Guides were also formed.

The School Magazine continued to be published up to December 1941 when paper shortages caused it to be replaced by a Leaflet which was produced in February 1943 and in 1944.

The Quondam Club too did not cease to meet during evacuation. The first ‘away’ meeting was held in June 1940 when a crowd of ‘old girls’ travelled to Windsor to give their good wishes. The Club functioned with a special wartime Constitution, meeting in Windsor until 1943.

As early as 1941 it was evident that the lack of stability in the lives of young people in evacuation was beginning to affect the educational foundation which had been relied upon back in London. More children were coming into the School who found it difficult to adapt to the new demands. However, in spite of all the difficulties, which included two periods of School closure – one for quarantine and another due to fuel shortage - good numbers of School Certificates at all levels continued to be achieved. It was not until the start of Summer Term 1943, when things in London had seemed to quieten down somewhat, that the School’s future in evacuation became uncertain and Miss Willey arranged a Parents’ Meeting to put forward the question of returning to London. Most Parents, being eager to have their daughters back at home, were in favour and the vote to return was almost unanimous. Due to special circumstances, a few needed to keep their children in Windsor and arrangements were made for those to join Windsor County Girls’ School.

1943

After four long years, the end of Evacuation came suddenly and there was much to do to prepare for the return to Clapham. The last Speech Day closed and, slowly, the School dispersed. The boys hung an enormous banner across the building with the wartime slogan “Is your journey really necessary?” and, with mixed feelings, the girls departed. Evacuation in Windsor was over.

… Building for the Future …

Autumn 1943

The new Term began at Broomwood Road on 31st August where the Evacuees joined those who were in the ‘South West London Emergency Secondary School’ which had carried on there since March 1940. This fresh School year brought new experiences for them and for those returning.

This was, in essence, a new start for Miss Willey too, who had been whisked away almost as soon as she arrived to lead the School through unprecedented times. The record of those four years in Windsor showed the great success of her responsible efforts for, not only the education of the girls as her pupils, but their welfare, safety and fulfilment as her ‘orphaned’ charges.

No sooner had Term started than air raids on London began again to increase with intensity.

1944

In June the flying bombs started and rockets soon followed. Some girls were again sent out of London by their parents, to all parts of the country, but the majority stayed. As in Windsor, so now, the whole School showed steadiness and quiet courage. School work was largely carried on in air-raid shelters where, fortunately, there was space enough for reasonable comfort. School Examinations were held here too, thereby testing the candidates in more senses than one!

In September the School opened with about two hundred girls but, as the flying bomb menace decreased, numbers began to grow once more. By Christmas, although rockets were still raining down, normality was beginning to return. The last rocket fell on London on 28th March 1945.

1945

By the end of this School Year in July, School numbers had been fully restored and everyone looked forward with unity of purpose & a growing appreciation of what the School could achieve. New girls now entering the School had been only five years old when the war started so settled School life was that much easier to achieve from now onwards. It was also the start of a new chapter in the history of Secondary Education in Britain, bringing fresh challenges for all. Second Mistress, Miss Annie Ellis, who had served the School selflessly & with undiminished vigour for forty years since 1905 now felt that, with normality returning, this would be a fitting time for her retirement but not before she had written her account of the School’s history to date.

There was a General Election in July 1945, mirrored by the School’s World Affairs Society with its own version – the ‘Clapwood Election’. The Broomwood School Fete raised a goodly sum for the International Schools’ Relief Fund and the Council for Education in World Citizenship enabled the purchase of books & equipment for the College Fenelon de Jeunes Filles at Cambrai.

It was during the summer holidays, in August, when peace finally came so the School was empty of pupils. The only School unit assembled was at the Agricultural Camp at Wokingham. Three members of Staff and twenty-five girls celebrated with their own ‘Victory Banquet’ and toasted Mr. Churchill, Miss Willey and C.C.S. in various innocuous beverages.

The start of the autumn term and the removal of black-out restrictions saw the welcome renewal of out-of-school activities. A series of Career lectures was arranged and the Inter-Schools Classical Society was revived. In December the School production was “Tobias & the Angel ” although the annual Play subsequently became a biennial event, alternating with the Dramatic Competition.

1946-47

This School year was remarkable for the growing number of School visits. Notable among these were the Sixth Form parties to the House of Commons, where they were entertained over tea by Mrs. Ganley M.P., and to the Hansard Society Youth Conference. There was also a visit to Cambridge to see ‘The Frogs’ performed in Greek. There was a revival of the Inter-Sixth Form Society and the Easter visits to Paris and the first of the Summer Concerts took place.

In June the School Magazine reappeared, the first since publication ceased in December 1941.

1947-48

The beginning of this session saw the School more populated than it had been for eighteen years and a Junior Speech Day was instituted. New Societies continued to be formed – the Science, Art and Music Clubs embarked on years of successful activity. Another facet was introduced to school life when Mrs. Carr arrived from a New York school on a year’s exchange with our Miss Cullen.

1948-49

In October, Mr. Fairhurst from Windsor Boys’ School presented the prizes. Mr.Drury, Chairman of the Board of Governors for fourteen years, took the chair for the last time although he continued to support the School for many more with the provision of the English Prize. He was succeeded by Miss Brittain. There was a new development this year when the Prize winners of the Rotary Essay accompanied Miss Willey to a Rotary Lunch where they read their essays.

In July 1949, Miss Nicholson retired after twenty-six years at Clapham where she served not only as Sixth Form and Second Mistress but as Head of the South West London Emergency School from 1940 to 1943 during the dangerous and unpredictable conditions of wartime.

*Adapted from ‘ The County Secondary School Clapham ’ by Annie Ellis, member of Staff 1905 – 1945, the Memorial Book to Miss Jones 1966, the Jubilee Year Book 1959 and Quondam Newsletters covering three decades.