Hunwick Time Line

Photograph showing school sports day June 1947.
In this year an extract taken from the school log book states "An epidemic of Whooping Cough is raging in the district. Attendance has fallen to 79%, Infants 64%."

The war years brought to Hunwick Village evacuees from Gateshead, the children being educated at the school. It was also noted that air raid warnings at night greatly affected attendance the following day, although these were not frequent occurances.
Another memorable event in the history of the school was brought about indirectly by the war. In June 1942 twelve pupils and the headmaster took part in a film for the Ministry of Information filmed at Houghall. Also included in the film were shots of school activities, including gardening, woodwork, and poultry keeping. The film was called "A Tale of Two Villages."

An extract taken from the school log book reads, "The 22nd of October 1936 was to prove one of the most memorable in the schools history as it was on this day that the school was visited by The Right Honourable Oliver Stanley, President of the Board of Education, Sir Henry Pelham and Mr. E.J.Edwards H.M.I." The Right Honourable Mr Oliver Stanley later wrote "I was most impressed with all I saw during my visit."

Pupils in the school hall chicken plucking. Where would this fit into the National Curriculum?!!

In 1932 an extension was added to the school adding a new hall and practical rooms. The school became a mixed senior school for children of 11+. Village resident Mrs. Nora Ryder remembers that during this time children had to walk to Sunnybrow school for some lessons. At this time abler children were given a chance to study algebra, geometry and French through a new experiment called Higher Top.
Following the retirement of Mr. Straw in 1927, Mr. Holt was now the headmaster. He was responsible for the creation of an 'Old Student's Club' which was to last for many years.

A class photograph from 1926. Do you recognise anyone?

1926: A difficult year for children at Hunwick School.
When asked if any outside events affected school life in the past, Miss Milne remembered that the 'Great Strike of 1926 had very much upset the school's continuity.' School dinners were introduced by means of a meal kitchen to ensure that the children had at least one good meal a day. This was to abate some of the physical hardships children faced. This year also saw the worst attendance on record due to an epidemic of smallpox, chickenpox and scarlet fever. An interesting finding is that school dinners at this time were considered 'good and appetising' and that they considerably improved the children's physique.'

Mr Straw pictured with pupils in the first year of the new school.
BACK ROW: Mr Straw (head)-Emlyn Jones-Norris Hodgson-Ronald Oates-William Vasey-Herbert Oates-Frank Patterson-George Swann-Norman Wood-Jimmy Wilson-Ralph Delve.
MIDDLE ROW: B.Nicholson-George Sennet-L.Sunter-E.Tenby-A.Graham-W.Oliver-L.Porter-A.Bowes-Kitty Smith-Daisy Pratt-Gladys Iley-I.Maude-E.Forster-Miss Dixon(teacher)-??
FRONT ROW: Barbara Heslop-Agnes Metcalf-W.Coatman-Margaret Stamp-G.McNally-Dorothy Taylor-E.Horner-Vera Foster-Ruby Evans-L.Hudspeth-D.Hicholson-E.Pipe.

The new school on today's site was officially opened on September 1st 1924 and consisted of a senior school called Hunwick Modern School for 7 to 14 year olds and an Infant school for 5 to 7 year olds. The school took nearly 2 years to build and was built only as a temporary structure as it was seen only to have a life of 25 years. The headmaster of the senior school was Mr. J. Straw and headmistress of the infant school was Miss Milne.
The opening ceremony was performed by Mr. Michael Hesslop representing the County offices. Lots of village people attended and there was a special tea party.
The architectural layout of the school was rather special. It was the dream of County architect Mr. Wooly to break away from the traditional school building and instead create a 'garden school.' This would be a single storey school with plenty of large windows almost to the ground and surrounded by gardens and playing fields. Hunwick was one of the first schools to realise this dream.
When the senior school first opened it catered for 350 children, many more than today. Education in those days concentrated on the 3R's. There were no facilities in the new school for practical subjects for instance girls wishing to take cookery classes had to walk to Sunnybrow school once a week.
In those days there were no buses through the village and those pupils who lived outside the village had to catch the train and walk to school from Hunwick Station.
Schooling in 1924 was quite different to life in school today as you can see from photographs of Hunwick Primary School today.( see photographs -school 2000)
What the Records Say
November 7th 1924
'Miss Dargue had a heart attack in school today and was quite unable to do her work.....'
'It was suggested she obtain lodgings in Hunwick rather than travel from Wolsingham every day and thus minimise the strain.'

When Miss Milne requested hot water in school she was told 'Talk sense, hot water for children's use in school!!' Such a suggestion was considered ridiculous.
On another occasion Miss Milne asked to have a doorway constructed so that the toilets be entered from inside the school; She was told it was 'Against all the rules of hygiene to have indoor sanitation in school.' These incidents suggest that not only was discipline strong for pupils in those days but also for teachers.

Wilf Bourne Michael Balmer Unknown Unknown Dougie Hunter Percy Musgrave Jon Ashton
Dougie Watson Joe Heslop Unknown ? Gibson
We think this is from the 50's, does anyone have any info?

Dougie Watson Arnold Johnson Wharton Peacock Keith Higgingbottom Derek Robinson Alan Moore Ray Humble Walter Turnbull
Wilf Bourne Wally Smith Ronnie Wright Dick Peacock Harry Dobinson Mick Pearson Donald Shoulder

As can be seen from the photograph tennis was a popular sport in the village before the 2nd World War. Tennis courts were situated at the recreation ground 'Gigg Lane' at Brecon Hill. People recall Jim Pratt as being an outstanding player who reached the All England finals.