More of the War Years (Girls’ School)

The most successful and, by universal consent, the pleasantest Term we have so far spent at Guildford is drawing to a close.   We are now quite settled in our country home at Guildown House and much appreciate having a place of our very own, where we are surrounded by some of our treasures from the old school, and where the lovely gardens and extensive views over the wooded Surrey hills are a never-ending source of delight.

Soon after we moved into Guildown House, we held three very successful Open Days which were attended by a number of old scholars.   Last week we were visited “officially” by quite a galaxy of distinguished people representing the London and Guildford authorities –

Mr. Ammon (Chairman of the London County Council) and Mrs.Ammon,    Mr. Charles Robertson (Chairman of the L.C.C.Education Committee),   Mr. Wilkinson (Mayor of Guildford),   Mr. Wilson, the Town Clerk,  

Sir Claude de la Fosse (Chairman of the Surrey Education Committee),  Mr. Bayliss (L.C.C. Inspector of Schools), and Mr.Tosswill (Education Secretary to the Guildford Committee).   We were delighted to invite them to the Elliott School, and hope they will retain pleasant memories of their visit.  They were enthusiastic about the appearance of the children and the advanced character of their work.

This letter is the first since war broke out to be really and truly written “from the Headmistress’s desk” which, to my great satisfaction, recently arrived from London with other familiar articles of furniture.   Outside my room, at the head of the staircase, hangs the wreath of laurel and poppies which is dedicated to the memory of all Old Elliottonian's who gave up their lives either in this or in the last Great War.   Near it hangs a new acquisition presented to the House by Miss Lehmkuhler.   It is a gong of antique brass, and we use it to mark the end of lesson periods and to summon the hungry to dinner, for we now have our own canteen on the premises.   We acknowledge the gift with gratitude, and hope the day is not too distant when Miss Lehmkuhler will be able to see it for herself.

Although the best of the summer had passed before we got into Guildown House, we were in time to enjoy some Country Dancing on one of our three lawns, and our wonderful Gardener-Schoolkeeper, Mr. Wells, is now busy converting that same lawn into a netball court.   Brand new goal posts have arrived, and we hope to have some good games, beginning with a “friendly” match – Elliott Girls versus Elliott Boys from Woking – next Tuesday.   This meeting, to be followed by as much of a “bunfight” as we can manage in wartime is part of the relaxation devised for themselves by the Oxford School Certificate candidates from both schools!   I notice they usually do very well for themselves in this way as soon as the Exam. Is over!   Well, they deserve it, and good luck to them all.  

Our nine girls were somewhat handicapped by the departure of Miss Naldrett towards the end of September.   We ought not, I suppose, begrudge Miss Naldrett to the W.A.A.F. especially as her scientific knowledge and skill are being utilized by the Meteorological Office.   We understand that she ‘plots weather conditions’ for Bomber Command, so if she does the job as thoroughly as she did her work at the Elliott, the end of the war should soon be in sight.

I am afraid the New Year will deprive us of Miss Petty, who has rendered such yeoman service in the way of supervising and obtaining billets.   It is impossible to thank her adequately, but we shall always regard her as an Elliottonian whatever new work she takes up or wherever she may be.   Two new mistresses have joined the Staff – Miss Huntley taking Miss Naldrett’s post, and Miss Hill being an additional teacher necessitated by the admission of 45 new pupils in November.   We hope they will feel that they have dropped into a ‘live’ and interesting school, where their talents will find ample scope and satisfaction.

A very welcome visitor to the School this Term was Colonel Elliott, whose stories from the family history were listened to with rapt attention.   Mrs. Elliott was able to accompany him and we hope to see them both again next Term, at our Prize Distribution.   This year the voting for the Memorial Prize Winner resulted in a draw.  The prize Money will therefore be divided between Joan Pace and Rita Webber, and Betty Solly will get the Rev. H.C.Green’s prize.   Congratulations to all three.   They are excellent girls.   Vera Cocking won the Championship Medal at our 1941 Sports Day and this was presented to her by Colonel Elliott.   Sam Welch and Florrie Bovington, who scored the highest number of individual points for Junior Boys and Girls, have already received Book Prizes.

In the New Year we hope to see the Film which we helped to make for the Ministry of Information.   Our share of it was a netball match with the Guildford Central School.   And now we are preparing for our Christmas festivities, which are to include a party, a professional entertainment, home-made ‘dramatics’, a cinema show, a Fancy-dress parade, and anything else we can cram in!   I hope, too, that some of the London parents will be able to see some of our doings immediately after Christmas.   They and the children alike deserve, as the Chairman of the L.C.C. remarked the other day, to be congratulated on their sensible and self-controlled contribution to the War effort, for of what avail will it be to win the war, if the new generation are crippled in mind or body by war conditions?   At Guildford, at any rate they are escaping its worst evils, and in the peace and security of the countryside, are laying the foundation of a successful career when Hitler and his hideous regime have faded into the limbo of evil dreams.   And so, a happy and quiet Christmas, with victory in the New Year, is the earnest wish of the Elliott Staff for all of you.                     

E.M.HEWETSON.

December 12th. 1941

Note: this is a transcription of a document at the London Metropolitan Archives researched and copied by June Broomer (Austin).  It is a letter to the School Magazine The Elliottonian written by Miss E M Hewetson, Headmistress of the Elliott Girls School following the school’s evacuation to Guildford during the War.