KING’s LYNN: Relive school days on DVD
Michael Walker with his book and DVD of the King's Lynn High School for Girls outside the former school in King Street.
Two films showing life at the former West Norfolk and King’s Lynn High School for Girls, including ‘dry swimming’ PE lessons, have now been made available to buy as a DVD.
The project was undertaken by Michael Walker, who has also written a book about the history of the former girls’ high school, which is now an apartments complex in King Street, Lynn.
The 16mm films were discovered among material preserved at the Springwood High School, Gaywood, which was formed when the girls’ school merged with another town secondary school more than 30 years ago.
And Mr Walker said: They provide wonderful vignettes of life at the school in 1937 and 1964.”
The first of the films was recorded in black and white by the deputy head, Mrs Gordon Thomas, to mark the school’s 50th anniversary.
It follows a day in the life of the school, from pupils arriving in the morning to going home in the afternoon.
Included in the film are various lessons, break time and lunch time.
Mr Walker said: “The highlight for me is a PE lesson in which the girls take part in ‘dry swimming’.”
Teachers who appeared in the film include the headmistress, Miss Williamson, Mrs Thomas, gym mistress Miss Platt, science teacher Miss Hancock, Latin teacher Mrs Dorer, art teacher Miss Tizzard, kindergarten teacher Miss Northcott, English teacher Miss B Smith, geography teacher Miss Green, French teachers Miss Inglis and Miss Hilditch and Class 1 teacher Miss Brown.
The second film was shot in colour. The first part shows the King Street school on a day in the summer term.
Lessons were filmed in the gym, art room and science lab.
Staff shown in the film included music teacher Miss Duggan, Latin teacher Miss Morris and art teacher Miss Brand.
The second part of the film was taken in the gym after the girls’ school moved to Queensway in Lynn.
Pupils are seen giving displays of gymnastics and modern dance, supervised by staff members including Miss Brand and Miss P Smith.
In 1979, the girls’ high school merged with the Alderman Catleugh School to become Springwood High School.
The DVD project also received a grant from the Audrey Muriel Stratford Charitable Trust.
Mr Walker also thanked Robert Fuller Associates for producing the DVD and Mr Fuller for his support in bringing the project to fruition.
Copies of the DVD cost £9.95 and are now available from Waterstone’s book shop in Norfolk Street, Lynn, or Springwood High School by phoning 01553 773393.
Meanwhile, Mr Walker’s book about the history of the high school has now been reprinted after an initial run of 500 copies sold out.
It is also still on sale and costs £12.95.
Mr Walker can be emailed on michael@walker75.plus.com.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South west
