| From its earliest days musical events,
combined with drama and choral speaking, played a significant part in the
school’s curriculum. The school was just a year old when a teacher with
‘practical musical ability’ was promised ‘as soon as possible’.
As the school closed for the Easter holiday in April 1930 a concert,
which included an item from every class, was performed.
‘Items especially deserving note for spirit and clear speech were scenes
from Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Rip Van Winkle, The Turnip Seed
and the Toy Band.’
On that occasion the children themselves were the audience.
In July the same year another concert was organised but on that occasion
it was linked to, and run alongside, an afternoon of sporting activities.
Whatever the precise arrangement,it was enjoyed by the many parents who
went to watch it.
From then on most class performances were linked to Christmas parties
although the end of the 1934 school year was celebrated with a concert to
which the Infant children, due to move to the Junior Department, were
invited.
The next major performance involving the whole school was ‘A Pageant of
Empire’, held to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George Vth. The
parents were invited to the pageant and every class presented a song, or
other suitable item, for them to enjoy.
The class plays, performed as part of the Christmas party entertainment,
became rather more serious in 1937, when the school hall was booked from 6pm
to 8pm one night a week during December, for … ‘dramatic rehearsals.’
In the 1941 party concert the youngest children acted ‘The Three
Tassels’, the second year juniors performed ‘Little Red Shoes’, the third
year juniors provided a ‘Christmas Tableau’ and the oldest children
presented ‘Ali Baba’ and ‘The Goose Girl’. Then, for a few years, the class
plays and musical items that had been the mainstay of the Christmas party
entertainment became secondary to lantern slide shows, entertainers and even
a visit to the cinema (‘Lassie Comes Home’). When the war ended the
children’s own performances once again took their rightful place alongside
the other attractions.
The children continued to perform their Christmas plays when Miss French
became the Head Teacher but details were not recorded. In 1952 a major
concert, in the form of a Nativity Play, was performed one evening ‘for a
great many parents’ and that became an occasional feature of the
Christmas celebrations in the years ahead.
The Coronation of Elizabeth II gave the school another opportunity to put
on a show for the parents. Every class performed an item for the ‘Pageant of
History’.
The Junior children performed a successful and enjoyable version of ‘Dick
Whittington and His Cat’ for the parents in 1955 and in May the following
year it was the turn of the Infant children to show what they could do.
King and Queen ceremony
Parents were invited to watch them act out the ‘Crowning of the School
Queen’, a ceremony that involved all the younger children taking part in
‘dancing, singing, percussion and drama.
This event, played to a packed audience of parents, became an established
feature in the school’s summer calendar.
This event, played to a packed audience of parents, became an established
feature in the school’s summer calendar.
Memories of school concerts or performances, regardless how long ago they
happened, are most vivid when the person concerned was directly involved.
For Dolphin Lane’s past pupils the same is true.
‘I remember the school play …… when I took a leading role as an eastern
caliph. My father, a carpenter, made me a splendid wooden sabre – the envy
of my mates but which had to be kept ‘safely’ by the teacher while at
school. Parents came to see the play.’ Gordon Parsons
‘In the last year we performed ‘The Goose Girl’. I was Myra, Sydney
Bardell was Carolan and Marguerite Lane was one of the other princesses.’
Margaret Rainbow
‘My friend Kay Wright and I played recorders at the Christmas Carol
services’ Linda Harrison
In Miss Callow’s class I remember being bitterly disappointed at getting
only a minor part in the class play because I was too tall. The leads both
had to be small children. I had to settle for being a rather gangly gypsy
selling ribbons etc. from a basket.’ John Bird
I remember a concert … and my grandmother sitting so proud in the
audience and me singing ‘Alice Blue Gown’ in a dress she and my mother had
embroidered with forget-me-nots.’ Barbara Winfield (nee Harrison)
‘One thing that stands out in my memory is the play ‘Hansel and Gretel’
which we performed one year and I was the witch.’ Audrey Humpage (nee
Keeling)
‘The school would do concerts every year in front of a ‘King, Queen and
Princesses’ – pupils picked from different classes. I remember performing in
the Shoemaker and the Elves.’ Barbara Dodd (nee Bolstridge)
‘I can remember taking part in the school’s celebration of King George
V’s and Queen Mary’s Silver Jubilee. We had a Maypole dance in the
playground for part of the children’s contribution.’ Doreen Hodges (nee
Pendle)
Dolphin Lane School 1929-59
Introduction – Goodbye Green Fields
and Country Lanes
Getting Started
Buildings – Meeting the Changing
Needs
The School Staff – Comings and Goings
A Broader Education – Talks,
Festivals and Visits
Concerts and Performances – A Chance to Show Off
Christmas Celebrations
Royal Occasions – Visits and Celebration
Holidays
Physical Activities – Athletics, P.T.
and Games
Fund Raising – Helping Others and
Supporting Ourselves
Medical Matters – The Doctor, The
Dentist and the ‘Nit’ Nurse
Accidents and Misfortunes – Cuts,
Bruises and Even Worse
Transgressions – Naughty,
Naughty!!
The Air Raid Shelter Saga – Keeping
the Children Safe
Evacuation – From Birmingham to the
Countryside and Back
Appendix 1 Birmingham Educational
Districts & School Lists
Appendix 2 New Pupils’ Previous
Named Schools
Appendix 3 Sketch Map of the Local
Roads Housing Dolphin Lane Pupils
Appendix 4 Memories – Dennis Simons
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