This is a recently discovered photograph that Simon Kemp unearthed – We are trying to date it and name the individuals in it – Are you one of the shining stars? Maybe one of the Pink Ladies? Or one of the T-Birds? Send us an email!
Celebrations for Christmas in the past are recorded in archives of the Spencers Wood Local History Group. In the nineteenth century there was a workhouse in Grazeley, where destitute men, women and children were housed in return for hard work with sparse food. Before 1834, Christmas Day brought a treat when everyone was given a day off work and a special meal. Each adult had roast beef, plum pudding, ‘best’ cheese and a pint of porter (dark beer). In 1834, however, the Poor Law Union ruled that the inmates were not to have any ‘spiritous or fermented liquors’, unless for special health reasons. Some workhouses disregarded this, especially after Queen Victoria married Prince Albert and new Christmas festivities were introduced into Britain. Christmas trees and holly became traditional decorations, even in the workhouse. It is not known how much conditions at Grazeley matched the sentiments of the Victorian poem: ‘It is Christmas Day in the workhouse and the cold, bare walls are bright, with garlands of green and holly and the place is a pleasant sight’.
Local schools seem to have always celebrated Christmas before breaking up for a few days’ holiday. At the Sir Charles Russell School in Swallowfield, the Headmaster, his wife and some of their friends put on an ‘admirable’ concert in December 1896. The Spencers Wood School (in the present Library building) generally arranged a treat for each child. In 1891 they were given picture books, prayer books, or a picture card. The next year, the children were sent out to run around the playground and when they came back indoors they were presented with bread and butter and cake to eat immediately. Then they had to seek out some sweets, and were given a Christmas card, a pair of warm knitted cuffs and an orange to take home after they all sang a hymn.
The gifts would have been appreciated in the poor village homes that many of the children came from. The Christmas gifts of clothing, some food, and toys for the ‘babies’ (5-year-olds) continued and by 1898 the celebrations also involved a Christmas party with singing, a flag drill and games before the Christmas tea. The first Christmas tree was set up in the hall in 1903 and decorated with gifts.
The Sunday Schools at the churches and chapels always arranged Christmas gatherings as well as carol concerts. In the 1930s it was usual for St Michael’s Sunday School to host parties for one hundred children in the Village Hall.
During World War Two (1939-45), special efforts were made to devise activities and entertainments for all the children including the evacuees who were away from their homes in London. Staff of the village schools helped local residents to rehearse and present concerts, plays and special meetings to occupy the children. It was noted that friendships developed and flourished because of these efforts.
After the war, the traditions continued. Lambs Lane School performed a nativity play each year and a concert to which all parents were invited. These were so popular that the audience was too large for the school hall, and in 1965 the concert was held in the Village Hall.
It was not only school children and their families who celebrated Christmas together. In the 1970s and 80s, postmen who had worked long hours to deliver the mail from the Spencers Wood sorting office would have sherry and mince pies before going home on Christmas Eve. Also, it was traditional for groups of carol singers to walk around the village visiting other families to greet them with ‘here we come a-wassailing…’, spreading goodwill at Christmas.
Margaret Bampton and Patricia Green
The following is the article that appeared in Loddon Reach of the Group members‘ views of Ryeish Green School Open Day, on 3 May 2010.
Mary: Having been immersed in the ‘Celebrating the Centenary of Ryeish Green School’ for so long as it was written, typed up and checked again and again and again, I grew to know the characters we wrote of and recognised several of the teachers from the sixties and seventies. It was a pleasure to point ex-pupils to the teachers they were looking for and could not recognise. The old school bell rang out for the last time at the auction of memorabilia. The bidding war started and was very keenly fought. Two contenders were left in the fight – £80, £81, £85, £86, £90, £91, £95, £100, £101, going, going, gone. The auction raised nearly £500 for the Treloar Trust.
Patricia: Ryeish Green was buzzing from the start. It was great to overhear the mix of greetings between staff and pupils from past and present, recognition of former classmates, and introductions of husbands, wives and friends. The happy atmosphere was tangible, also the tinge of sadness about the school’s closure hovering in the background . Sales of the history book were brisk. People checked to see how their era was portrayed, whose photo was included and what anecdotes were remembered. We hope the book will be treasured as a memento of the school and its place in the community.
Margaret: In the 1990s and 2000s section, in the old building, I spoke to youngsters who excitedly found their photographs and copied them with the new-fangled cameras. They shrieked on meeting their old friends and calmed down when their ex-teachers appeared. The teachers had to be reminded to whom they were speaking and smiles broke out on recognition. They happily watched and replayed the video in this room and many of them returned time and time again to review the room’s contents and reminisce. It was lovely to speak to Matt O’Sullivan and his companion and Alan Smee and Philip Reed from the 1950s. The school had terrific displays everywhere and it was a glorious day.
Jackie: The hall was electric from the beginning. People saw old friends, teachers and colleagues they recognised across the room. Hugs and handshakes could be seen all day. What a wonderful atmosphere. There was a former pupil over from Canada, another came from Bournemouth and every generation seemed to be there reminiscing. The brown envelopes containing the centenary book were soon held in many hands. A wonderful day that just flew by and the evening was a great success.
Jeannie: When we arrives at 10.30 am to set up, people sat in their cars already waiting. They were asking if we had any more photos. The hall quickly filled and the smell of rain and friendship was palpable. My section was mainly about the memories of people and I had the chance to meet them, to see them pointing at their photos on the wall and chuckling as they remembered perhaps untold secret stories. The teachers told stories of disobedient teenagers who were now mothers and fathers of their own children – with knowing smiles on their faces. A wonderful day.
Sheila: The atmosphere was electric and it was rewarding to be part of all the reunions although tinged with sadness of the school closing, which most thought a wicked shame. I was amazed how many ex-pupils remembered me from the Post Office where they used to come with their pennies to buy their sweets. It was interesting to hear how they fared in their adult lives.
Lesley: It was an amazing day on Sunday with so many people wanting to say their farewells to RGS – a special, positive and happy place for the majority of past students and staff. The middle years’ room where I was positioned did a brisk trade from the second I walked into the room. However, there were also strong undercurrents of shock, disgust and anger that our village would lose its secondary school and the land would be built on.