School Board. A meeting of Ratepayers was held in the new Pavilion, in November, 1892, to consider the educational requirements, and to ascertain if a deficiency of school accommodation existed. A Committee of nine persons was appointed, Mr. Furse being the chairman, and they reported that there was a deficiency of accommodation for three hundred children, which could be met by enlarging the National School for that number, at a cost of £1,000, the owner of the estate giving the land, or by asking the Board of Education to make the parish a contributory district to Nottingham, or by the formation of a School Board. The latter course was, in May, 1893, ordered by the Department, and Messrs. Hill, Woodcock, Brown, Watts, Smith, Richmond, and the Rev. J. Aldridge were elected, Mr. Hill becoming chairman, and Mr. G. W. Barrows, clerk.
School Buildings. A provisional contract was entered into by the Board for the purchase of the Musters Road site for £1,200, which was opposed as not being sufficiently central, but plans for a school for three hundred and twenty children were approved, and a tender for £5,120 accepted. A mass meeting was held to protest against the proposed extravagance of the Board, at which the Board was duly censured, but the building was opened on April 17th, 1895, Mr. E. J. Eley being appointed Head-master. The provision included a caretaker's house, cookery room, and a Board room over. By the February following an enlargement became necessary for a further one hundred and seventy children, which cost £1,000. At the second election, 1896, Dr. Cordeux, Messrs. Hill, Raven, Wardle, Derbyshire, Rev. J. Robinson and Mr. Nelson were elected. The average attendance in 1898 was 531, and further admissions had to be declined. In February, 1900, on the recommendation of H.M. Inspector, the school was promoted by the Education Department to the rank and title of a Higher Grade School, the upper classes being reorganised under the Science and Art Department.
The Education Act of 1902 abolished the School Board as from 1st July, 1903, and the County Council became the Authority, they appointing the Notts. Education Committee. The allotment of medals, clasps, etc., which the Board had given to encourage attendance, and good conduct, thereupon ceased, and it is said the keenness of the scholars, as regards attendance, and work, was lessened. The members of the old Board chiefly continued to act as Managers. The alterations were not merely local, but the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, became merged in the Board of Education, and thereupon the two sections of the Higher Grade School, with the Science and Art classes, had to be reconsidered, either by a reduction to an elementary school, or by the formation of a costly Secondary School, or otherwise, and five years passed before a settlement was arrived at.
The West Bridgford Higher Elementary School was in 1908 recognised for children of twelve years and above, an examination to be passed, fees paid, and a three years' course to be undertaken. New Handicraft and Science rooms were added, and in 1910, opened by H. Mellish, Esq., and Sir Herbert Chermside gave an address. As pupils come from a dozen other parishes, a classroom was in 1911 converted into a dining-room, a meal being provided at a small cost. Housewifery rooms being rendered necessary, a block of the buildings was remodelled, and in 1913 opened by Mrs. Heymann, providing for cookery, laundry room, with scullery, kitchen, sitting-room, and bedrooms, where the girls under a fully qualified instructress are taught the whole business of Housecraft, while the Science course is fully correlated with their work in the house, with the advantage of a Science Laboratory, and for boys, a Manual Instruction room. This school is the only one of its type in the county, is one of the best equipped, and has a number of free scholarships for children whose parents are unable to pay the fees. There are "Challenge Trophies" competed for annually, the Champion Boy Athlete receiving a gold medal and holding a silver cup for a year, the gift of Mr. L. O. Trivett, J.P.. and the Champion Girl Athlete receiving a gold brooch and holding a silver bowl for a year, the gift of Mr. W. Stokes.
The George Road School was opened in 1902 by Lord Belper, for 430 junior and mixed infants, the land costing £425, and the building £5,130. Two classrooms were subsequently added. The head teachers are Mr. E. B. Burton and Miss E. Kirsop.
School sports for Musters and George Boad Schools are held annually, there being over one thousand entries. Works of charity are encouraged, in winter cast-off clothing being sent into poor districts in the city and county.
The Trent Boulevard Board School was opened in 1900, for 319 children, the land costing £1,100, and the building £5,840. In 1905 some portable buildings were added, which were in 1912 superseded by a new school for 320 Standard children being built on part of the original site, at a cost of £4,157, the other building being adapted to infants. Mr. J. Gray and Miss Cottam are the respective head teachers. The annual sports are vigorously maintained.
The South Council Schools on Exchange Eoad were opened in 1914 by Mrs. Strawson, for 420 junior, mixed, and infants, the land costing £876, and the building £5,400. The head teacher is Miss Selby.
As I look into the faces of those elder boys my heart is filled with emotion. In ten years time or more these boys will be scattered over the wide world, and especially over the grandest empire the world has ever seen. Although Bridgford has little commerce, many of its men are the representatives of great commercial concerns. From the very nature of the circumstances those boys demand and receive an education superior to that commonly imparted in elementary schools, the parents demand it, the teachers supply it, and those boys are being unconsciously equipped for positions of importance and responsibility in distant lands, and some of them will succeed, and some will fail, for some of them will realize the vast issues and possibilities of life, the value of the powers God has put into their care, and the need for developing them, by observation, thoughtfulness, emulation, skill, energy and persistence, and they will buckle on their armour, and say, "God helping me, I will be of use in the world," and they will succeed; while, on the other hand, some will fritter away their time, neglect their powers, care only for present enjoyment, or listless pastime, and the gaities of company, and (God forbid!) the charms of vice, may attract them like the flashing gaslight dazzles the silly fly drawn to its own destruction. And unconsciously I utter a mental cry, "O God, give those lads wise and understanding hearts, that they may discern between the good and the evil, and give to their teachers a high ideal of the dignity of their work in the formation of noble characters, adapted to the destinies resulting from the work being well done—done for God and for humanity."
And as I look into the faces of those elder classes of girls I say, "Thank God the girls are prettier than the girls of sixty years ago," for the better homes, the improved sanitation, the purer water, the athletic games, the increased knowledge, the more joy in life, have told upon the delicacy of the skin, the agility of the step, the brightness of the eye, and they are being taught the value of the happiness of the home, which can come only from happiness in the heart, and they are fitting themselves for spheres of commercial usefulness, and by a knowledge of all domestic arts, and by their souls being lifted up to the dignity of work, even menial work when necessary, the promotion of the happiness of others, and the development of their powers, they will be of use in the world, co-operating with God in the redemption of the world from selfishness, indifference, materialism, and wrong-doing, and the bringing of heaven in all its joy and purity into Bridgford.
Boys' Brigade. The object is "The advancement of Christ's kingdom among boys, and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect, and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness." The 8th Nottingham Company was formed in 1897, in connection with St. Giles' Church, the schoolrooms of which were used for some years, but owing to increased numbers, the Headquarters were removed to the Trent Bridge Hall, and the Company is fortunate in now possessing a building of its own, adjoining the old Head-quarters. The Company has been very successful in Battalion Competitions, having held trophies for the number of times named, as follows:—Drill Championship, 11; Efficiency Shield, 5; Draught Tournament, 5; Ambulance Competition, 5; Physical Drill Cup, 8; Football League, 2; Senior Tug of War, 6 ; Junior Tug of War, 4; Bugle Band Cup, 5; Swimming Shield, 2; Swain Cup for Football, 1. The Company has twice visited Ireland, to give displays in Boys' Brigade work, and three times in London, at the Albert Hall. There are 120 boys in the Company, and over 700 have, since the commencement, passed through its ranks. The annual camps have been at Trusthorpe, Hunstanton, and Skegness. Boys are expected to attend the Sunday Bible Class, and the Tuesday's Drill. There is a Gymnasium, Band, Ambulance, Swimming, Penny Bank, Library, etc. Mr. R. H. Swain has been Captain for seventeen years. A second Company is in course of formation.
Boy Scouts. There is a troop of Boy Scouts of about fifty strong, whose Head-quarters are at Exchange Boad Schools. A Sea Scout movement has been inaugurated by the Trent Banks, but it is just outside the parish boundary. Its use will be in encouraging seamanship, rowing, swimming, and fitting boys as recruits for the Navy, and the mercantile marine service, and especially "H. M. Ship Nottingham." This is most important. Take one item only—swimming. Every child ought to learn swimming, and especially in a parish having a river and a canal. "I owe my life to the fact that I could swim," said Mr. A. Burrows, of West Bridgford, happily one of the survivors of the wreck of the "Empress of Ireland," in June, 1914. But personal advantage is not the only benefit. Anyone with "half-an-eye" can see the gain of education by action—the blessing of discipline in every affair of life, and the great value of the lesson that he who would rule must know how to serve.
Social. The Bridgford Chess Club, which has met during the past ten years, holds its meetings at the Riviera Cafe.
The West Bridgford Garden Holders' Protection Association promotes Shows of garden produce.
The West Bridgford Men and Women's Adult School is held on Sunday Afternoons, at Exchange Road Schools.
The British Women's Temperance Association—West Bridgford Branch—was formed in 1901, for the promotion of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors. The meetings are held monthly in the Schoolrooms connected with the various churches. Four times a year the members give an entertainment and addresses at the Basford Union. There are sixty-eight ladies associated, the Hon. Secretary being Mrs. Harris, 44, Henry Road.
Red Cross. This work has a branch in West Bridgford, Miss Heymann being the Commandant, and Mrs. Cox the Quartermaster. Its object is to show how voluntary aid may be organised to supplement the territorial medical service in the event of war in the home territory. The Medical organization of the Territorial Force is complete to meet the requirements of troops on the march and in action. It also provides General Hospitals. The units which it lacks are Clearing Hospitals, Stationary Hospitals and Ambulance trains. The object of the Voluntary Aid Detachments is to train men and women to supply these needs. Its present great advantage is that it gives young women of leisure an object in life, that it fits them for any emergency that may arise requiring confidence, skill, adaptation, the ready use of all available resources, and when joined with a high purpose and motive, aids them to become ministering angels to suffering humanity, for with developed and improved capacities the opportunity for use will soon be presented.
There is a Men's Detachment, No. 9 Notts., meeting in Musters Road Schools, and having instruction in First Aid, and Field Ambulance, to systematise and co-ordinate all offers of help in time of peace, so as to render prompt and efficient assistance in time of war. Mr. A. E. Sutton is Commandant, and Mr. H. Knight Quartermaster.
Defence Association. By the invitation of Messrs. Lawrence, Lee, and Wardle, a social meeting was held in the Board School, Musters Road, on March 25th, 1897, to consider the advisability of forming a Society to oppose the granting of licenses for the sale of intoxicating drink in West Bridgford, and neighbourhood. This resulted in the formation of the Defence Association, which it was agreed should be non-political, non-sectarian, and non-teetotal; the subscription for membership to be not less than 1/- per annum. A number of attempts have since that time been made to obtain from the County Magistrates licenses for Hotels, Inns, and Beer-off's, and these have been vigorously and successfully opposed by the Association. The roll of members apparently includes many varieties of religious thought, political party, and social condition, united for the sole purpose of keeping out licensed premises to sell intoxicants. There have been no applications for licenses since 1903, but prior to that date thirty-eight attempts were made to obtain them. There are about eight hundred members. Mr. W. Lawrence, J.P., is the President; Mr. W. Parker the Hon. Secretary, with an Executive, and officials, numbering over twenty ladies and gentlemen. The result of this state of affairs is that a population of 13,000 persons has only one public-house, and that is on its very border, being connected with the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, and there are no beer-off's.
The parish is quiet, prosperous, healthy, happy, without crime and without paupers, and resolute in its determination not to have public-houses or beer-off's, and this is the action, not of a landowner, nor of parliament, but of a united people. Southwell, with a population in 1911 of 3,349 has, according to the Directory, twelve public-houses and three beer retailers, or one public-house for 223 persons, and Bridgford one for 13,000. Of course, the cases are not parallel, and probably parallel cases could not be found, as the one place has the sanctity of the Minster, and the burden of a Workhouse, and formerly of the Jail. There is at Southwell one wine and spirit merchant, and at Bridgford three grocers' wine and spirit licenses, to be consumed off the premises, granted before the Justices had the power to refuse. It is noteworthy, too, that up the Trent southern bank, Wilford has only one public-house, Clifton, Barton, and Thrumpton have none, whilst east and south of Bridgford, Holme Pierrepont, Gamston and Edwalton have none. On the northern side of the Trent, however, licenses are as plentiful as blackberries, and the people there, as elsewhere, may well consider the example that Bridgford sets, with its resultant good effect upon poverty, crime, vice, disease, dirt, and death.
Freemasonry. The movement for a new Lodge in Bridgford commenced in 1900, and in 1902 authority was given for the Welbeck Lodge to be formed. The meetings were held at the Friary Chapel Schools; after which a limited Company was formed, Mr. W. J. Furse being Chairman of the Directors, and Mr. G. Hill, Vice-Chairman, and a lease for 99 years was obtained from the Corporation of 4,800 square yards of land, on which a Masonic Hall was built at a cost of £5,000. The foundation stone was laid with full masonic ceremony on August 26th, 1909, and the opening was on May 10th, 1910. The hall includes a bowling green, three full-sized tennis courts, and a croquet lawn. It has, in addition to its main purposes, billiard, board, and other rooms for social entertainments, and caretaker's quarters. Since the opening of the hall several other lodges have been formed, and meet there. The Masonic Club is a centre of social life, ladies being admitted when games are played, etc.