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Speech Day happened once a year; it was held in the autumn term.
For weeks beforehand there were rehearsals: our school was noted for its music and everything had to be just so. The whole school learned certain songs to be sung on the day; the choir learned additional, more difficult songs. How I yearned to be in the choir, but it was not to be!
We even rehearsed the National Anthem. When we got to the line, “Send her victorious,” Miss Clayton always stopped us. “No, no girls! Victorious, not Victoria’s! We are not sending The Queen plums!”
And so we enunciated clearly through the School Song, the chosen pieces, and the National Anthem with Miss Clayton at the piano.
Originally, Speech Day was held in the school assembly hall, but by the 1960’s it had become too big an occasion for the school hall, and Speech Day as I knew it always took place in Leeds Town Hall.
“When I first went to Lawnswood there were two Speech Days! One in the Summer for the First to Third forms and one in the Winter for the Fourth to Sixth Forms — obviously the latter was to present those who had gained GCE O-levels and A-Levels during the past year as well a the honorary and proficiency prizes. They were both held in the School Hall.
...“I remember one summer Speech Day all the girls in a multitude of candy-striped dressed — red, blue, yellow and green and one of the girls giving a rendition about Lady Catherine de Burgh from Pride and Prejudice. The Speech day I remember in the Town Hall was the autumn after I had left going back to receive my A levels.”
We practiced every part of the evening’s performance; even how to sit down and stand up. This was to be done decorously with no clattering about. At the end of a song, we remained standing, awaiting Miss Clayton’s signal. Then, as the down-turned palms lowered by an inch, we simultaneously sat down and sat still. No wriggling, no shuffling. It was as though the whole school was one body. When it was time to stand for the next song, we watched, eagle-eyed, for the upturned palms to rise an inch. We rose as one and sang our little hearts out!
On the day, there was an afternoon rehearsal in the Town Hall, and then Speech Day proper took place there in the evening. How did we get back and forth? Were there coaches or buses? Did we go by public transport? I don’t remember.
other academic successes to be lauded. We sang to the accompaniment of the huge Town Hall organ, played I think by the resident organist. This always seemed strange to me; I was used to Miss Clayton’s phrasing and intonation.
