Category: 1940s

60 pages of history

We’ve published snippets from this album previously, but here’s a flip-book version of the whole thing. The album covers the years 1936–1954 and offers a glimpse at the rich variety of life and activities during this period.

We’ll hopefully be focusing on individual pictures and events in more detailed posts in the future.

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War Time Disruption

In its century of existence, Moor Allerton has seen two World Wars. Opening in 1914 just after the outbreak of WW1, the first conflict seems to have had little direct effect on the school. With just seven pupils at opening, the school itself was able to operate as usual, whatever the effect upon the home and family life of individual pupils might have been.

 However this was not the case by the time WW2 came along.  When war broke out in 1939, Manchester Council requisitioned the school building, and moved all the income tax offices from the City Centre.

Moor Allerton School itself moved out to Pownall School, Wilmslow, with about 20 of the school’s senior boys, and from there moved again to a large house in Hayes Lane, Alderley Edge, with the boys as boarders. Finally, when most of these boys left to go on to their senior schools, the school was closed down for a while. The existing headteacher moved onto a preparatory school in Derbyshire, before returning once again when Moor Allerton re-opened in 1945.

The boards of School Captains for each year still displayed in the school, record these years simply with the words ‘The War’. A simple yet evocative statement of the disruption the school faced.

Captains Board

During the conflict, a number of past Moor Allerton pupils saw active service, including Captain Alec George Foucard of the Coldstream Guards, who was awarded the MC, and a further 8 who were killed in action. A service of remembrance for those killed was held at Christ Church, West Didsbury in July 1946.

1946_Th+Rem_Service_Ticket

 

At the end of hostilities a VE Day Message signed by King George VI was sent to all schoolchildren. It included key dates for the war on the back, and a space to fill in the details of ‘My Families War Record’. One of these is still preserved in the school archives.

1946_Victory_Banner_1

Also preserved is a letter of thanks or appreciation from the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools to the women who had kept everything running at home while so many teachers were on active service – perhaps somewhat ironic in the case of a school like Moor Allerton which had to close.

1946_IAPS_War_Letter

 

Back to school…

Well, the summer holidays are rapidly drawing to a close, as we think about a return to school next week. And for those new to Moor Allerton, it will be an even more exciting time joining the school for the very first time. And to reassure you that it is and always has been a very happy place, look at the smiles on the faces of the junior class, taken back in 1945.

1945 Junior Form

Boxing Days at Moor Allerton

It perhaps seems strange to think of a sport like boxing being one of the key physical activities taking place at Moor Allerton. But it was, certainly up until at least 1948, as this ticket shows. Did you box for or against Moor Allerton, or maybe you had a parent or grandparent who did? We’d love to find out more…

1948_Boys_Boxing_Ticket

1948 – An Inspector Calls

1948_SchoolInspection_ImageWe’re sure that a chill runs down the collective spines of the school staff whenever it’s time for the dreaded school inspection! Well, it was no different way back in 1948, when the Ministry of Education sent in the inspectors to Moor Allerton. As we can see from their report, there were no problems, and the report provides an intriguing snapshot of the school at that time.