Speech Day 1946 was preceded by the usual bustle of confused preparation, but on October 28th the members of the Senior School were assembled, all having succeeded—some no doubt with reluctance and difficulty—in acquiring correct school uniform for the occasion.

The Chairman's opening remarks were brief, and followed by the Headmistress' report. How Miss Holden makes a resume of commonplace events sound refreshingly interesting I have never discovered, but this she invariably does.

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay, Independent M.P. for English Universities distributed the prizes, and afterwards spoke about educational problems, mentioning especially the gradually widening range of subjects on the syllabus, and suggesting that there should be more grouping of subjects to accommodate them all.

A musical programme rather more ambitious than usual was tackled with enthusiasm by the school. Although having taken part myself, I can make no comment of my own, I can report that several visitors were heard to remark that they had enjoyed the singing, and Miss Clayton even went so far as to say that she was "pleased" with it.

The recitations were competently delivered, one innovation being a Latin recitation by a member of Junior VI. Although it may have been doubtful how much of this was understood by those present, there was never any doubt as to the oratory of the speaker. Altogether this was another interesting and enjoyable Speech Day.

SPEECH DAY.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28th, 1946, AT 7 p.m.

PROGRAMME
Chairman's Remarks ... W. ROSCOE, Chairman of the Governors.
School Report ... THE HEADMISTRESS.

Distribution of Prizes and Certificates and Address by KENNETH M. LINDSAY
Member of Parliament for the Combined English Universities.

MUSIC AND VERSE SPEAKING

Song - "Praise" (Dyson)
The School

Verse Speaking - "Laocoon warns the Trojans against the Wooden Horse." (Virgil)
Spoken by a member of the Lower Sixth Form

Song - "Elsie Marley" (Dunhill)
The Middle School Choir

Verse Speaking - "Le Cor" (A. de Vigny)
Spoken by a member of the Upper Fifth Form

Song - "Lullaby" (Elgar)
The Senior Choir

Prose Speaking - "The Clipper" (John Masefield)
Spoken by a member of the Sixth Form

Song - "A Safe Stronghold" (Luther-Warrell)
The School

GOD SAVE THE KING

THE WORK SHIELD.
Dark Blue ... 2059 Stars
Pale Blue ... 1957 Stars
Dark Green ... 1953 Stars
Pale Green ... 1851 Stars

JUNIOR PRIZE GIVING.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25th, 1947
at 2-30 p.m.

Chairman's Remarks ... Miss E. M. BLACKBURN, M.A.
Report ... THE HEADMISTRESS

Distribution of Prizes, Certificates and Address
Wing Commander E.E. BULLUS, Vice-Chairman of the Governors

MUSIC AND VERSE SPEAKING

Song - "Queen Mab" (Jacob)
THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Verse Speaking - "Le Corbeau et le Renard" (La Fontaine)
- "Dormeuse" (Desbordes-Valmore)
MEMBERS OF THE LOWER IV

Song - "When at Night" (Humperdinck)
from the Opera "Hansel and Gretel"
UPPER II AND LOWER III

Verse Speaking - "Grandfather Clock" (Hugh Chesterman)
A MEMBER OF UPPER II

Song - "The Frog and the Mouse" (Shaw)
UPPER THIRD FORMS

Verse Speaking - "The Gentleman in Yellow" (Cicely Boas)
A MEMBER OF LOWER III

Song - "Brother James' Air" (Jacob)
LOWER FOURTH FORMS

Verse Speaking - "Morning Thanksgiving" (Drinkwater)
A MEMBER OF UPPER III

Song - "Britons, Sing" (Purcell-Lucas)
THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

GOD SAVE THE KING

The Dramatic Society presented three One Act Plays just before Whitsuntide.

Sheba's Heart … MRS. KITSON CLARKE
The Red Geranium … A. M. CROFT
Midsummer Madness … A. M. CROFT

The plays were produced by Miss Stowell and Miss Croft, the latter was also the author of two of them. A public performance was given on May 21st and a private one for the School next day. Together the plays provided a most enjoyable evening and the proceeds, £30 3s. 9d. were sent to the Crosby Hall Endowment Fund.

A stage-manager's position in the wings is apt to give her a somewhat distorted view of the play. Sofa cushions, top heavy vases of blatantly artificial flowers, and loaded tea trays loom larger than the actors. So it was, we found, with Miss Croft's plays. For example the position of Gladys' tray in "Midsummer Madness" was vital—if it was a few inches too far to the left then our prompter kicked it in crossing her legs, and if left on the chair Mrs. Tremayne might sit on it. Firm cucumber sandwiches we found are extremely difficult to make, but they are even harder to eat efficiently in the intervals between cues, the actors found. p> But, free of responsibility, we enjoyed ourselves in the dressing room (alias the Needlework Room), which had become a fascinating place—girls were being transformed into young men, fair hair was greying rapidly, and careless youth was acquiring middle age charm all under Miss Overend's hand.

Once the set was arranged, the prompter installed, and the curtains safely drawn, our minds were sufficiently relieved to start to enjoy the plays. We were able to appreciate from close quarters the smoothness and well-planned detail of the productions. But just as we were really enjoying ourselves as an audience we realised with a shock that there was only five minutes to go till the end. Consternation! Which was the right string for closing the curtains?

A preliminary meeting to discuss the formation of a Parents' Association was held in the School Hall in November, 1945 and at a meeting of parents on 18th January, 1946 the Constitution of the Association was finally approved and Officers and Council elected, with Mr. C. L. Rimes as the Association's first Chairman, succeeded in office in November, 1946 by Mrs. H. M. Pickard.

The aims of the Association are:—

"to promote the welfare of the Lawnswood High School and to foster interest on the part of parents and guardians past and present in the achievement of the School.

"to serve as a channel of information on educational matters generally."

The Association has arranged an interesting programme of lectures, films and social evenings of various kinds. A Ladies Committee runs a Second Hand Clothing Scheme and generous contributions have been made to the Prize Fund. It is hoped that more and more parents will become members and regularly attend the meetings.

The Lawnswood High School Parents' Association is a member of a Joint Committee of Parents Associations in Leeds Schools recently formed to take action in matters of common interest.

The Parent's "At Home" was very well attended this year and. the various displays arranged had capacity audiences. The programme included exhibitions in the Art Room, Needlework Room, Laboratories and various subject rooms and displays and demonstrations of Gymnastics, Cookery, and Music and through the afternoon parents also found time to talk with members of the Staff about individual problems. We shall hope to welcome everyone again next Spring.

Parents' At-Home once more. It hardly seemed a year since the last. Arriving as near to time as possible, I entered the school and found a bevy of prefects ready—and even keen—to help, and to direct or take you wherever you wanted to go. From one of these I found I had missed most of the Gymnasium Display, and acting on her advice I proceeded to find a seat in the Hall. On my way I had a brief word with the ever youthful, serene and dignified Headmistress, and wondered once again how the strain and complications of school life to-day left her so completely unruffled. I secured a seat, and soon more and yet more parents came along— some having seen the Gymnasium Display, some having had chats with Form Mistresses. As soon as Miss Holden and members of the Staff came in the musical programme was begun. It was all good listening. I was particularly interested in the two choirs trained and conducted by two of the pupils—these were the winners of the Choir Competition.

After the music, with the aid of the still energetic prefects, I found my way to three places of interest. First the Cookery Room where the sight and smell of appetising and delightful dishes made me extraordinarly hungry. One particular dish took my fancy as it entered the oven, and I was somewhat abashed to discover on enquiry that it was a common rissole. I decided it would be inadvisable to spend too long here so I proceeded to the Needlework Room. Once again my appetite was stirred, but this time not for food. I felt a wild desire to own these delectable garments so practical and so perfectly made. I longed to be equally gifted with my needle or to have freedom to buy.

Once again it was unwise to linger, so after careful thought I decided the Laboratory would be a good place for my finale—as although it might teem with interest it could surely rouse no envy or desire. And so it was. I just remember three things of interest now—a model of the human ear showing all the intricacy of its construction, an insect's wing under a microscope, and fantastic crystals in waterglass.