Timeline

1950’s

Musical life was now developing apace. Girls who played with the National Youth Orchestra or the London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra were able to enjoy visits to foreign cities in addition to London venues. In May 1950, a party of girls and Staff sang the B Minor mass at the Albert Hall.

New activities introduced in 1950 were the German Club and the Field Club. The latter made strenuous use of their Saturdays and later extended its activities to Field Courses in the Lake District and Derbyshire at Sayer’s Croft Camp and Flatford Mill.

Coronation Day 1953

On 2nd June, thirty-eight Clapham girls were among the 31,000 London Schoolchildren assembled on The Embankment to watch the regal procession. Early the following term Souvenir spoons were presented to all the girls by Mrs. Baker of the London County Council.

By now, the School Calendar was so filled with events & meetings each term that planners had difficulty finding available dates. The introduction of two seatings for lunch made short meetings possible during the lunch break. These were eagerly seized by the Literary & Debating Society which made its debut in 1955. One of its most memorable occasions was the visit by the former 1920’s pupil, writer & novelist Pamela Hansford Johnson, wife of Lord C.P. Snow.

Other events included films by the Arts Council, a presentation of ‘The Barber of Seville’ by the Opera Players and Domestic Science expeditions to Polytechnics and the Ideal Homes Exhibition. There were also Summer Term visits by Christian Fellowships to Cathedral cities such as Salisbury, Canterbury, Ely & Winchester. A full School life could be enjoyed by all, whatever their interest.

1956

Autumn 1956 brought the resignation of Miss Rotherham and Miss Evans who had been with the School since 1920 & 1924 respectively. Each had excelled as Teacher, Sixth Form and Second Mistress during that time. In December came the retirement of Miss Willey.

Miss Willey came to Clapham at the crown of her career, filled with energy and ambition for her new School, only to find it about to disintegrate under the threat of world war. She fought tenaciously to maintain the high educational standard already set and gave all encouragement for her pupils’ to achieve their goals & ambitions, despite such difficult circumstances – and she won. Along with her equally steadfast team of Staff, she was able to enjoy the reward of seeing the School revive and flourish once more. The sadness of Miss Willey’s departure was tempered by the number of happy farewell events which allowed for everyone to show their deep appreciation and affection. A special concert was held, with all her favourite songs, followed by a Quondam presentation party. The Staff held a dinner party in her honour in the candle-lit Gym which was decorated with holly & ivy and a Christmas performance of ‘The Tempest’ was dedicated to her. The nineteen Forms each produced a hand-made article for her home as part of their farewell gift.

Miss Willey presented to the School, in addition to a number of books and the picture of ‘The Boy in the Library’ already so much appreciated, three presents which symbolised her deep interests – a picture of ‘The Musician’ and a portrait of Richard II, and an exquisite small statue of the Madonna & Child.

Miss Willey, and her predecessor Miss Jones, continued to take a great interest in the School for many years after their retirement, returning whenever possible to be there for special occasions.

1957

Miss Beryl Viner succeeded Miss Willey as Headmistress in January 1957 and entered a School much alive to the educational needs of the day. Pupil numbers had continued to increase and, with many more girls entering the Sixth Form by this time, numbers had reached 600. Every square inch of the School space of over 87,000 square feet was well used to full capacity.

1958

Plans were prepared by the London County Council for a one-storey, glass-roofed building in the School grounds to house a new Art room, Pottery room and kiln, and a class room. The existing Art room space would provide Elementary and Advanced Biology Laboratories, a Preparation room and a room for the Head of the Science Department, while the former Biology Lab. would become the Advanced Chemistry Laboratory. The ‘animal’ room would be given over to Advanced Physics.

The School garden was also redesigned and the planting of new shrubs, bulbs and window boxes at the front greatly enhanced the building’s appearance. Sadly though, this year saw the loss of the School’s playing field in the grounds of the 19th century villa ‘The Maples’ as the site was needed for a new Secondary School. However, tennis courts at Wandsworth Common were utilised and hockey was played at the Clapham Common pitches. 1958 also saw the introduction of swimming at Latchmere Baths.

In August 1958, Miss Brittain retired as Chairman of the Governors. She had worked with three Head Mistresses and been a valued friend and guide to each. She was succeeded by Mrs. Aris.

In some ways the structure of the School was changing again, adapting itself to the needs of modern Britain’s demand for scientists, but not at the expense of the human side of education.

... Golden Jubilee 1959 ...

The period from Summer 1958 through to Summer 1959 saw the whole School buzzing with activity, preparing for the Jubilee Year celebrations: practising until we were made perfect. Miss Jones and Miss Willey also played a central part, giving stimulation with their constant interest and encouragement.

A Jubilee Fund was set up for the purchase of new items for the School; comforts & luxuries which were outside the normal provision and budget of the London County Council. Generous donations poured in with promises of more to come. This ultimately provided new curtains for the Hall & Library, valuable books for the Library, teak seats for the garden, photographs of Miss Jones and Miss Willey, some attractive copperware and, not least, a record player!

Open Day was an outstanding & gratifying success with visits by a large number of parents, friends and ‘old girls’. See Quondam website Photograph Section /’Memorabilia’ for the Poem by Pamela Hansford Johnson titled ‘Clapham County School’ which she dedicated to Miss Jones. *

The Jubilee Year book, skilfully edited & compiled by Miss Freeth and complete with photographs, was a wonderful testament to the School and the dedication of its Headmistresses & Staff over those first fifty years. There are cherished copies still in many homes across the world.

October saw the climax of everyone’s efforts & hard work flower into a joyful week of celebration. On the Thursday, a special lunch was given in honour of the School’s Governors who generously made a gift to the Jubilee Fund to be spent on books of local interest.

St. Luke’s Church was full to bursting for the special Commemoration Service and months of concentrated choir practice under Miss Stamps brought flawless singing to the rafters.

The climax of the week was a Grand Reunion which was attended by over one thousand former Staff and girls. Lunch was laid on in the Hall and Library with an enormous 3-tiered Jubilee cake, reminiscent of the old ‘cake stand seating’ used in the Hall at former Speech Days.

Entertainment was provided by the Staff to the great delight of the entire audience and there was a fascinating exhibition of photographs.

This whole period of celebration had been a grand triumph of which each and all could be justly proud. The Quondam Club had played a large part in the planning & organisation of events and, due to the great interest created amongst former pupils from all decades who attended during Jubilee Week, the Club reaped the reward of ending 1959 with a considerably increased Membership.

Miss Viner too had proved herself beyond the call of duty with her efficient organising, answering of mail, balancing accounts and arranging meals, to all of which many hours of her own time had been devoted, in addition to the upheaval in normal School activities produced by the occasion.

By the end of this wonderful and exhausting year, the School was looking forward to its future with excitement. The new Art rooms, Junior Library and six Laboratories were nearly completed and would soon be in use. Their provision, and a more varied curriculum, allowed Staff and pupils to contemplate and explore the many more Courses & opportunities which were now available to young School-leavers with a wider range of qualifications. Alongside the traditional academic & medical careers, which were widening in scope, women were now making their mark in the world of commerce, in law and in music & art. There was almost nothing to which a graduate of Clapham County School could not aspire and many girls’ aspirations were fulfilled due to the School’s facilities and the unfailing effort & encouragement of their Headmistress and tutors.

… The Glory Days …

1960’s

The years following Golden Jubilee Year were comparatively uneventful while the School, with Miss Viner, settled down to the usual matters of School life and there was a comforting stability. The re-planned Laboratories and new Art Room block were now in use to the satisfaction of Staff and girls alike after what had seemed an interminable wait.

In honour of Miss Jones’ 80th birthday, former Staff & girls got up a collection to commission Peter Greenham R.A. to paint her portrait. This was presented to her at a special party in October 1960. Many girls will remember this fine painting, gracing the Hall outside her beloved Library.

In 1961 Miss Viner announced the sad news of the death of the School’s first Headmistress, Miss Stoker, on 14th June.

In 1962 a new School motto was adopted – Discendo Veritas – and incorporated into the new School badge which, as the School was being referred to more & more as ‘Broomwood’, also included a frond of the Broom shrub. * see July 2003 Newsletter cover for photograph.

It would be wrong to describe this decade as not being memorable, an offence almost to the girls and Staff whose time it was. The years they spent in their School, absorbing all it had to offer, enjoying new interests & skills, learning to co-exist with people, preparing for adulthood and making life-lasting friendships; these are their memories and not to be devalued. It was, rather, a time of stable normality after many years of rapid, uneven, sometimes uncertain, progress which had tested Staff & pupils severely. Clapham County Secondary School had earned its place and good reputation in the wider world. This decade’s pupils benefited from, and reinforced, that.

School Magazines of the period are bursting with examples of story-telling, poetry & art which have an accomplished but fresh appeal. Likewise, the many pages devoted to Examination Passes and School Prize-winners, special events and school trips, present a satisfying glow and pay tribute to teachers & pupils alike. The Quondam Club also thrived at this time, being able to reunite several times each year for happy events in the Broomwood building.

In 1966 news was received of the death of former Headmistress, Miss Jones, who had for some time been ill and with deteriorating mobility. It was, nevertheless, a great loss to the Broomwood community for whom Miss Viner spoke at the Memorial Service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, noting Miss Jones’ many attributes & accomplishments and her enormous zest for life & learning.

Throughout this account of Broomwood School’s life, I have refrained from mentioning by name the multitude of wonderful, colourful, sometimes formidable, members of Staff who were in the ‘front line’ of duty. Suffice to say that, though they are most worthy of such mention, this ‘History of Broomwood’ would grow forever were I to list them all with their qualifications & attributes.

The 1960’s however, did see the retirement of several of the last of Clapham’s time-honoured stalwarts including Miss Freeth, Miss Rayner, Miss Stamps and, in 1967, Mrs. Garten. Their departures were especially poignant as their faces & voices were every bit an integral part of the building’s fabric as the plaster Cherubs presiding over the Hall. We had thought they would be there with us forever. Indeed, there were many pupils who believed they had been born there!

Miss Viner best summed it all up – “It seems a good moment to look back in gratitude to the outstanding personalities who built for us the structure of so much that we enjoy and perhaps take for granted today”. So another decade closed and, perhaps therefore, it is time for a 1960’s ‘Broomwoodian’ to write its definitive book, as we have several accounts of the previous five. Hands up?

... changes afoot …

The new era, which would be marked by political, social & educational change, began ominously.

1970

News came in April of the death of Miss Annie Ellis in her 90th year. She retired in 1945, after serving the School devotedly for forty years, including as Second Mistress and Head of Science Department. She continued for many years thereafter to be a constant friend and visitor.

In May, Miss Viner announced that Miss Willey had died after the long illness she bore so bravely. She was nursed through her last months by her dear friend & colleague, Miss Evans, former Head of Classics at Clapham. Miss Willey’s death left the School with a great sense of loss. A Memorial Service was held for her at the beautiful 12th century church near her home at West Harnham, Salisbury, where the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral read the lesson. The service was very well attended by friends, colleagues, Salisbury residents and representatives of the many bodies she had served both before and after retirement.

Remarkable tributes to both of these great women can be found in the School Magazine of 1970.

1971-75

The 1970’s, as the decade it followed, was by no means a stagnant period for Clapham School. If anything, the reverse was true as it gathered momentum.

A typical Calendar year would include such diverse fixtures & expeditions as a Mixed Adventure Course at Marchant Hill; a visit by the Norwegian Girls’ Choir; a performance of ‘Swan Lake ’ at the Coliseum; a Mathematics Conference at Bedford College; and trips abroad, including Skiing & a Mediterranean cruise. There was a succession of Field Study visits across Britain. The School Societies also kept up a full schedule with Visits, Meetings, Seminars & Tournaments.

The tradition of the School Play was maintained affording Staff the opportunity of entertaining their audience with faultless production, imaginative casting and great memories to take home.

By 1975, not only Miss Thwaites & Miss Franklin had retired but Miss Bower and Miss Alford, Deputy Head, had announced their retirement too. All long-serving Staff members, Miss Alford had joined Clapham County in 1945, just as the last bombs fell on London and was forever after passionate about her School with a dynamic energy. She was an outstanding Geography mistress. Quondam hosted a buffet lunch in Miss Alford’s honour in April when over 200 people attended.

The loss of Miss Alford, Miss Viner’s ‘right hand’, was compounded when news came that the School’s future was in jeopardy. This was the age of the ‘Comprehensive’ School when larger, more streamlined and characterless Schools were being built for the instruction, conveyor-belt fashion (or so it was perceived), of vast numbers of students, often spread over two sites. Clapham County School had been selected to become one such ‘Comprehensive’ establishment. Miss Viner, the Governors, Staff, pupils, parents and friends were all motivated to rise up in protective unison against this demonic plan. So began a long and bitter battle.

Early in 1976 the blow came; the School’s fate was sealed. It was to be merged with Marianne Thornton School, at West Side, the two separate buildings forming a split-site Comprehensive. Miss Viner felt she could not compromise her beliefs and immediately tendered her resignation.

But all was not finished for ‘Broomwood’ – it was an end, but not the end. Those who were to carry the School forward into its new age felt they had to view the changes positively, doing their best to ensure that new opportunities should be seized and the excellence of sixty-seven years of quality education & great achievements not lost. After all, there was still much to be done and to aim for, so who better to do it?                                                  

*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.