St George's House,
Northern Police Orphanage. 1898-1956
Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.
The
whole ethos of St George's House was based on religious precepts. This
was translated into our lives by way of prayer service during daily
Assembly and attending church every Sunday. As there was no
transport available the children would walk to and from church in crocodile formation, that is, in pairs and in line, irrespective of weather.
During the 40's we all attended St Mark's Church, Leeds Road, a distance
of 1.3 miles each way. St George's Boys were the choristers under Mr Frederick Mason.
Vicar: Mr Sparrow and Canon Flower.
St Mark's Church choir comprised of St George's
choir boys-1942 Head choirboy-Arthur Boschi
(from St George's)
The St George's
crocodile formation in which we walked to & from both school & church,
1928.
St Marks Church as it was
during the 40's.
St Marks Church.. later.
The girls, after
Confirmation, once a month, took early morning Communion at St Mary's
Church being closer to St George's
(0.7 mile) because it wasn't such a long walk on an empty stomach. See photos below
of St Mary's Church:
St Mary's Church, now
closed.
St Mary's Church interior.
Education
The schools that
the children attended were Harrogate Grammar School, Arthurs
Avenue, a distance of 0.6 mile.
Harrogate Technical College, East Parade, a distance of 1.5 miles and Western School, Cold Bath Road, a
distance of 0.8 mile.
Western
School. Cold Bath Rd, Harrogate
Teachers at Western School included:
Mr T. Forsyth (Headmaster/Shorthand)
Miss Wilkinson
Miss Rudd
Miss Cooper
Miss Dawson
Miss Hudson
Miss Lupton
Miss Beck
Miss Wheelhouse
Miss Leathead
Mr Hinde Leedale (History)
Mr B. Horner (Art)
Mr Schollick (Science)
Mr Kendrew (Woodwork) Mr Bissett (Woodwork)
Harrogate Technical College, East Parade,
Harrogate.
Photo: Courtesy of David
Jenkinson, Author: Harrogate Then & Now. Publisher: The History Press
Teachers at Harrogate Technical College included:
Mr Lupton (Principal) Mr Sayers (Tech Drawing)
Mr W. Lumsden (Headmaster/Shorthand)
Major (Tiny) Howard
Mr Stafford (Maths)
Mr Chesterton (Woodwork)
Miss Mather (Geography)
Miss Sherwood (Typing)
Miss Johnson (French)
Mr (Basher) Scott (Engineering)
Mr (Killer) Kendrew (Woodwork/PT/Home Guard)
Harrogate Grammar
School, Arthurs Ave, Harrogate.
The Staff, March, 1954
Teachers at
Harrogate Grammar School included:
Mr H R C Carr (Head Master) Mr
T Lusher (Deputy Head)
Mr E J Fisher (Senior Master/History)
Miss C Andrews (Headmistress/English/History)
Mrs Mason (French)
Mrs Liddle (French)
Miss Weissbruth (Latin)
Mr D Glover (French/Spanish)
Mrs Halliday (Maths)
Mr G Anderson (Physics)
Miss D Mellor (Sciences) Miss
L M Davison (Senior Geography)
Miss Locock (Geography)
Mr E N Jones (English/Scripture)
Miss T Duckworth (Gymnastics-Girls) Mr S Nixon (English Language, Grammar & Literature)
Mr Marlow (Music)
Miss E Jennings (Senior Mistress/History)
Mr M J T Fairman
Miss C M Holmes (History/Scripture)
Mr G E Thompson (Modern Languages)
Mr S S Peters (Senior Sciences)
Mr J Hall (Senior Maths)
Miss B Black (Maths)
Miss A Johnson (Librarian)
Mr H F Diggle ( French)
Miss J M Heaton (Geography)
Mr K A Crowther (Chemistry)
Mr H I Hall (Senior Chemistry)
Mr D Measures (Senior Classics)
Mr F H Mayer (German)
Mr A R Leathley (Physics/Cadets)
Mr E Saunders (Woodwork)
Mr P Foster (Metalwork)
Mrs P Elders (History/Latin)
Mr T B Walker (Maths)
Miss B Carlin (Senior Biology Mistress)
Miss C Morphet (Domestic Science)
Mr J R Hardaker (Physical Training-Boys)
Mr J B Forrest (Art)
Mr K G Sharman (Maths/Physics)
Miss J Lightowler (Maths)
Miss J M Dawson (Maths)
Mr R F Webber ( Music)
Mr A B Wakefield (English)
Miss J B Barber (Art)
Miss H M Jackson (English/French)
Miss C M E Parker (Domestic Science)
Mr Elliot (Metalwork
Mr Evans
Mr Fairbrother Snr (Physical Training)
Mr Fairbrother Jnr (Physical Training)
Mr Adamson (Physical Training)
Miss Everrit (Head Mistress)
Miss Sturk (French)
Monsieur Jacko (French)
Some of the activities the
children were taught at St Georges.
These few
photos show in graphic form, a taste of the 'in
house' philosophy of preparation for life on the 'outside' and
making sure the young people are kept busy.
Just what the young cooks have prepared is anyone's guess
but I could imagine something perhaps like Suet
pudding.
Picture of
Scholarship winners from St George's, painted on dining room end wall. Sheila Stephenson nee Potts
Senior
girls swatting for exams c. 1947
A group of just some of St George's Scholarship holders.
From left: Barbara Boschi, Elsie Bradley, From left to right: Raymond Berry, Edith Sarah Caldwell,
Betty Hopkinson, Jean Williams Edward Stevenson, Richard Bridge.
Quote
from St George's House Annual report of 1948-1949.
'The girls entered for the Wharfedale Musical Festival in June and
during the
year eleven girls have
passed in various grades in the examinations set by the Associated Board
of the Royal Schools of Music. Some of the girls and boys have enjoyed
attending concerts given by the Halle Orchestra in the Royal Hall,
Harrogate, and during the winter months have frequently been to lectures
organised by the Harrogate Literary Society in the Royal Hall.
Deus vult
Q