Page Five

There was no shortage of School Societies. Some had a meteoric existence, like the Photographic Society. There was generally some form of Science club, and the Fencing Club thrived under the leadership of Miss Mellor for as long as the enthusiasm of certain 6th formers lasted.

An Art Club always had a steady existence, but the Chess Club grew rapidly under the active presidency of Mr. Booth, having 200 members in 1968. Many other members of staff gave encouragement, and matches were played against other schools. Several individuals did well at the Manchester Chess Congress. It is recorded that on the occasion of a Staff v School match in 1968, the Staff team did very badly-''slaughtered'' was the word used.

The Authority decided to establish a Junior Youth Centre, using part of "N" building, for the boys and girls of 3rd year age and below. Although independent from the school organisation, Mr. Sutton was the first leader, assisted by some other colleagues, and activities began in September 1970, meeting 3 nights a week, from 6.30 to 8.30.

One school activity made rapid progress. Music became firmly established in the curriculum and soon the subject became an "option" to C.S.E. Ievel. Regular visits were made to Halle concerts and other concerts and recitals were attended by appropriate groups. Mrs Bailey developed two choirs, and they competed in local festivals. Visiting musicians were often welcomed to school. Recorder groups were formed, and soon they provided music at morning assembly. By 1968, a brass band was formed, led by Mr. Fisher, with some instruments provided by Mr. Pearson (M.E.C. Inspectorate) and others bought by School funds. Practices in the music room-near the staff room in "N" building-were noisy affairs and soon a band room was set up in an unoccupied area at the top of the building near the tower-a cold but comparatively sound-proof place. Soon the band (22 instruments) was playing at local festivals. Together, Mrs Bailey and Mrs Fisher took band and choirs to give performances at the University Settlement in Every Street (1969), two local Junior Schools (1970), Bishop Greer School (1971) and Old People's Homes (1970 and 1972). Twice they led evening service at St. Thomas's Church, Ardwick and in April 1971, led a special service at Great Western Street Methodist Church. An annual family Carol Concert was given in "N" Hall, to which the local old folks from the Coverdale Crescent flats were brought by special bus and given Christmas parcels, prepared and distributed by Miss Irlam and helpers from the 5th and 6th forms. On one occasion in November 1971, bands from 6 schools met in "N" Hall for M.E.C. organised rehearsals, and outstanding players from school were also members of M.E.C. Bands.

On occasions, some of these players gained M.E.C. Music Centre Tuition scholarships. Prior to his departure to Wrexham, in September 1972, Mr. Fisher took the band to give a special concert at his new school there. Mr. P. Riley, who took over from him, led the band in a Community Concert in March 1973 and twice in that year at the M.E.C. organised mid-day concerts in Dean's Court, Crown Square, in May and July. On Friday mornings, the band generally led the hymn singing in assembly. Hymn books for Junior School assembly had gone out of use. Instead, the words were projected on to a screen by an overhead projector. Visiting instructors from the Authority came regularly to help with wind instruments instruction, and later there was a visiting guitar teacher. Mrs Bailey and Mr. Fisher took a party to a Gilbert and Sullivan performance in 1970 and to the "Song of Norway" in 1971. A new development was a music and dance concert with Mrs Easby's group, and eventually there was a concert which included a lively costume performance of excerpts from "Jesus Christ, Superstar".

Each year a Harvest Festival Service was held in the Junior School, with the 1st year bringing gifts, later to be distributed amongst the old folks. St. Thomas's Church, Ardwick accommodated the whole school on the last afternoon of the Autumn term for a Carol Service, led by band and choir, with traditional readings by selected boys and girls, and the annua! Remembrance Service continued each November in the Senior School, when wreaths were laid on the memorial.

Occasional visits to the theatre or cinema were made by the 5th and 6th forms, to see performances of classics. Many of these parties were led by Miss Cadogan (later Mrs Brown) and with Miss Irlam she produced "Androcles and the Lion" in "N" Hall for two evenings in March 1969. Form 1A went to the Library Theatre in June 1970, and in May of that year, Mrs Griffiths took the two remedial groups-Forms 1G and 2G -to a theatre performance. In the Autumn of 1972, Miss Grier, Mrs Caulfield and Mrs G. Robinson took History groups to see four special films dealing with modern European History topics. "N" Building, or parts of it, was loaned to Granada television on one occasion to enable the main entrance, entrance foyer and Headmaster's room to be filmed as part of the set for one episode of a serial in which small groups of boys and girls made a brief appearance. Television cameras visited again, this time from the other channel, when the dining arrangements during the serving of dinner were filmed as part of a programme on school dinners for "Look North".

There were many social occasions. For three successive years, the Upper 6th girls prepared and served a Christmas dinner for their fellow students and senior members of staff. Each year a 5th and 6th form Christmas dance was held in "N" Hall, at which staff and partners were welcome. The Housecraft Department arranged the catering, and Messrs. Davies, Booth and Donnan guided the scholars' committee in arranging the programme. On certain occasions, before the raising of the school leaving age, 4th year girls who were leaving at Easter prepared a tea or an evening meal for the Headmaster, Senior Staff and their Year Tutor, Mrs Barnes. The school fund was partiaily but not adequately maintained by a termly donation from scholars, a donation collected on a form basis, with some forms doing much better than others. To increase the fund, Miss Irlam organised three evening Jumble Sales in "A" building, one in each of the years 1969,1970 and 1972.

A greater source of income was established in 1971, when, after discussion, it was decided to hold a Christmas Fayre in "N" Hall. This was opened on Saturday afternoon,4th December, by Mr. Gerald Kaufman, M.P. for Ardwick. Programmes of admission, on sale for many weeks prior to the event, had a lucky number for a draw for prizes, donated by the Great Universal Stores. Very many parents and children attended, and in the Hall were many stalls, some adopted by year groups -groceries, tinned goods, craft and needlework items, home produce, books, bottles, handkerchiefs, biscuits, and a White Elephant stall. The 6th form organised games of chance, and skill in the Gymnasium -there were several raffles, and on this occasion, a fortune teller. Refreshments were available on the platform and the band played in an adjoining room. The event raised £312 and there was a repeat performance the following December.

By March 1972, the School Fund, in addition to the sources of income already mentioned, had been steadily increased by the zealous efforts of the Registrar, Mrs Leech and her office colleagues, who ran a "tuck shop" at break each day in both Senior and Junior Schools. In consequence of all these efforts, it was possible to buy a second-hand mini bus for £630. The Authority approved this purchase following A.A. checks, and later paid the annual registration tax and insurance fees. This vehicle, capable of carrying 12 and a trailer, was maintained by Mr. Norbury and the caretaker, Mr. Newsham. 23 members of staff were eligible and prepared to drive it, making the acquisition a great asset for many school activities.

At Christmas time 1969, the Junior School had a film show "Genevieve" but by December 1972, that form of entertainment was replaced by a much more domestic and lively activity. Mrs Griffiths wrote a pantomime and the staff performed this with great skill and enthusiasm, much to the delight of an appreciative audience. In May 1973, Miss Irlam, assisted by Mr. Norbury, organised the school's participation in a parade which was a part of the "Manchester 73" Festival, the Ardwick contingent carrying banners depicting some aspects of the city's life. School closed on 20th November 1972 to celebrate the occasion of the Royal Silver Wedding.