The
date 1928 is clearly visible on the front of Wilshere-Dacre School (now Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy) in Hitchin, but this is
rather deceptive as the pupils did not arrive at their new school until
February 1929.
 |
Scholars
lend a helping hand in moving furniture from the old British School into the
new Wilshere-Dacre School during a day's holiday, 1929. (From The Hertfordshire
Express, by permission of The British Library and Home Counties Newspapers)
|
Some of
the scholars of the new Wilshere-Dacre School assembled outside the building
on 11 February 1929. (From The
Hertfordshire Express, by permission of The British Library and Home Counties
Newspapers)
|
The opening of Wilshere-Dacre on 11 February 1929 was reported by the Hertfordshire Express:
'The great change over from the old British
School in Queen Street, Hitchin to the new Wilshere-Dacre School in Fishponds
Road, Hitchin took place during last weekend.
On Friday when the scholars who were to be moved were given a whole
day's holiday to facilitate matters, most of them lent a willing hand with the
moving operations. Some of them loaded up trolleys with books at the old
school. One boy, entirely on his own initiative, borrowed his father's horse
and trolley, and drove it backwards and forwards between the two
buildings. Consequently when the
scholars took their places in the new school on Monday, everything was as near
in order as circumstances permitted. It was only fitting that the first words
spoken to the scholars by the headmaster of the new Wilshere-Dacre school on
Monday should be with reference to the delight they all felt at the knowledge
that the King was on the right road to recovery, and that the first singing in
the new building was the music of the National
Anthem. The children had
assembled in the big hall of the school. After the singing of 'All people that on earth do dwell', Mr W.H.
Corbett said he wished to welcome everyone, every member of the staff, every
boy and girl, and those parents present, into the new building. He wished to
make it clear that it was a new building, and not a new school. "This is
the same school as the old British," he said, "and I want to say
straight away we are proud of the way you have come into something that is
entirely new. You came in and took your places in an excellent manner. I want you to learn to govern yourselves, and
you will have noticed that I came in with no symbol of authority. I want you to
see if we cannot bring the traditions of the old British School - and they are
many and honourable - with us here. As you pass through the various classes and
out into the world, I hope that you will never forget that you are
British......This to you today," continued Mr Corbett, "is history. In the future you will look
back and say with pride, 'We were the first to enter the building.' Soon we
shall have hanging on these walls our motto, and that will be 'Hats off to the Past, Coats off to the
Future.' There could have been no Wilshere-Dacre School had there been no British
School. The present and the future are built upon the foundation of the past,
and if the foundations are strong at
present, they will be strong in
the future too."'
The
colours of the new school were and still are royal blue and gold, the colours
of the Wilshere family, and on the headmaster's desk Mr Frank Sharp had placed
a deep blue hyacinth and a bunch of
daffodils.
'When it came to the close of the first
day, the scholars were assembled again in the main hall. This was quickly
accomplished when Mr Corbett pressed a bell in his room which rang a bell in
the senior classroom. One of the
prefects soon responded, and was handed a whistle which he blew at three
selected points in the building. Books
were quickly put away, and two abreast, from four directions, the scholars
entered the hall, around which hung the portraits of people prominent in the
life of the school. After the singing of the Lord's Prayer and a hymn, Mr
Corbett thanked the 454 children for their co-operation in making the work of
the first day so smooth, and the first day in the Wilshere-Dacre School ended
as it began with the singing of the National Anthem.'
THE 1929-1932
SCHOOL SONG
(altered from
the original 'British School' song)
We're 'W.D.'s', and proud of the same
Our school shall always maintain its fame,
Outward and upward we mean to play the game,
Our masters all have taught the same.
Ever be British, be British is our cry;
British live and British die.
We still are British, though 'W.D's' are we,
We are, we are and mean to be.
The British School in 1810,
Was founded and endowed by noble men,
Wilshere and Dacre, whose names
we all revere,
Are carved upon our scroll - they're with us here;
With us in spirit, with us in our desire,
Beauty, truth and love, our souls inspire,
We still are British, though 'W.D's' are we,
We are, we are, and mean to be.
****
****
The above blog post is from my book, 'Hats off to Past, Coats off to the Future.' If you would like to copy the text or photograph to anywhere else on the internet, please acknowledgement the book and this blog, thank you:- www.hitchinhertfordshire.blogspot.co.uk
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