Before the arrival of the National
Curriculum, with its well-defined aims and objectives, Christmastime
provided a focus for a whole range of creative and practical activities at
primary school level. It is not surprising therefore, that the first
recorded celebration at Dolphin Lane School was a Christmas party.
The determination to make the school’s first party a success was
certainly achieved.
‘As this was the first Xmas in the history of the School, special efforts
had been made by the staff to make the function as successful and
magnanimous as possible from all "Xmassy" points of view. Upwards of £20 had
been raised and there were gifts of various kinds e.g. The children had
brought ingredients for the Xmas puddings which were made in each class, and
the joy of contributing, not to mention the magic of stirring, had created
an eager anticipation for the day of the Party. A huge Xmas tree was fixed
in the central Hall, stacked at the foot with apples, oranges and sweets.
Paper caps, novelties etc. were already and at 2.30 pm. the feast was
spread. After Grace and Good King Wenceslas the Xmas fare provided – cakes
and tarts, mince pies and "churns" of tea – was speedily devoured (I think
that is the word!) After the repast, the time was given over to games and
singing, dancing and the gramophone. A merry and memorable time was spent.’
Although the children did not receive their share of the class Christmas
puddings or their gifts at the party they were not deprived of the treats
altogether. On the last day of the term -
‘A very happy morning was spent and, during the last hour, the class
Puddings were done full justice to and the gifts of fruit and sweets were
given from the Xmas tree. The children and the teachers had a good time
chiefly because of the enthusiasm of the Staff to whom my personal thanks
are due.’
Details of third annual Christmas party gave an insight into how the
festivities were organised.
‘The Nature of the Party:
Games
Singing
Tea, Cakes, Fruit, Presents
General Amusements
A visit to the Xmas Tree
Dismissal
Our thanks are due to:
- The Parks dept. for provision of the Xmas Tree.
- The Teachers and Friends for their voluntary help.
- The cost of approx. £20 has been raised by the staff.’
There was no indication how the £20 for the first Christmas party was
raised but subsequent parties were partly funded by money raised at ‘Rummage
Sales’. The amount raised from the ‘Sale’ advertised in 1930 was £10.6s.0d
(£10.30), while in the following year £12. 17s.8d. (£12.88) was raised.
The first party after the outbreak of war was very simply recorded -
‘School Party: Much hard work has prepared the way for the Annual
Entertainment and Social Activity.’
There was no mention of a party in 1940 and although children were
practicing plays for the festivities the following year, no party was
planned.
‘There will be no party so far as food is concerned but what we lack in
food for the body we hope the children will receive in food for the mind,
the chief ingredients being
good fun even in these drab and sad days for young children.’
Birmingham had experienced another difficult war-torn year but Christmas
is a special time for children whatever the circumstances and the parents
were determined they should not be deprived of their customary party.
‘Parents have sent voluntarily tins of milk, tea, confectionery and other
food things.
There was, after-all, a full party day. A Carol Service, followed by
class plays, took up the morning and the afternoon was given over to the
unexpected tea party.
‘ A proper tea party – one of the best, thanks to willing parents who
each gave what they had to spare. In many ways there was a variety and a
quantity which days of peace never provided. Of course it is customary to
provide all fare but this Xmas has opened an avenue, which is perhaps better
than preparation by Jumble Sale etc. We had a really happy time and how good
it is for children to live a little of their birthright.’
From those comments it appeared future parties would rely on
contributions of food from parents rather than trying to raise the necessary
costs through Jumble Sales etc.
Certainly in 1942 the children were asked to ‘ bring food, tea,
sugar’. That year the format of the party also changed. Lantern slides
of suitable stories – Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Aladdin etc. – were
borrowed from Birmingham Libraries and shown to the children.
The revised arrangements were a success –
‘All slides in colour and much enjoyed. … Much food. Much fun – Wars
forgotten for fleeting hours. Much hard work for the teachers.’
Another moving comment was logged after the Christmas activities in 1943
-
‘ " A little laughter now and then is relished by the wisest men" even in
a World War. Great happiness comes of any little happiness given to the
children whose childhood can only be spent once and that in these days of
War – no toys, no ice cream, no spangled shop windows, no childhood!!
Anyway our party provided good innocent laughter and our thanks are due
to teachers and parents.
Outside the school we have found new friends:
£10 from Lord Mayor’s Fund
40 bars of chocolate from Canada per favour of the Optimists Club,
Toronto.’
The next year there was yet another different approach to the Christmas
activities. In addition to the usual class plays and eats there was a visit
to the Warwick Picture House to see "Lassie Comes Home – the Story of a
Faithful Dog" and the following day ‘Lez the Clown’ visited and entertained
the children.
Again that year there was no mention of fund raising for the party but a
brief statement of accounts, recorded for the first time, showed that the
earlier appeals to the parents to provide food seemed to have been dropped,
the costs instead being met by donations from outside ‘agencies’.
The week of Christmas festivities, introduced in 1945, became the norm
for the remaining years that Mr Sutton was the Head Teacher.
Under the new Head Teacher, Miss French, class plays continued to be
performed and separate parties were held for the Infant and Junior children.
How the parties were financed, or how the food was provided, was not
recorded.
Linda Harrison, a pupil at the school during the 1950’s, remembers –
‘sitting on the forms at the long tables.’
She also has vivid memories of jelly and blancmange, open rolls smothered
with jam and the games – Farmers In His Den, A’ Hunting We Will Go, Blind
Man’s Buff, Spin the Plate, Musical Chairs – they played. At the end of the
party she recalls all the children were given an orange to take home.
In 1950 a visit by Father Christmas was noted for the first time since
1934. It is uncertain whether earlier visits had been overlooked or he had
been on an extended holiday!!! Certainly he made annual visits from that
year onward but the preferred day, to distribute ‘presents from the
tree’, was the last day of the term rather than at the parties.
In addition to the usual Christmas activities, a Nativity Play was
performed 1952 and a performance of ‘Dick Whittington and His Cat’ in 1955.
These evening presentations ‘were enjoyed by everybody including
the performers.’
December 1958 was Miss French’s last Christmas at the school -
‘A Carol Service was held in the Hall at 7pm.for children and parents. A
large number of parents attended. A choir of 40 children, plus 30 children
Choral Speaking, gave a singing and speaking Carol Service with descant
recorders and a guitar. Mr Best conducted and gave a solo on the clarinet.
Mrs Chapman played the piano and the parents joined in the singing of
well-known carols. It was a very successful first venture. H.M.I. Mr
Robinson attended the service. A collection was taken in aid of Dr.
Barnardo’s Homes.’
