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No.
5
Spring 1932
No.
107
Spring 1949
Autumn
1967
No.
164
Spring/
Summer 1968
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SCHOOL
NEWS
THE SENIOR ARTS ASSOCIATION
The Senior Arts Association must thank Miss Poole, Miss Bowness and Miss Nicholson for the very enjoyable evenings which they have given us this term.
In the first meeting of the Term, which was held on February 5th, we were entertained by a group of girls from Kirby Secondary School. Under the tuition of their art mistress, Miss Poole, they had prepared a puppet show, building their story round the nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet.” It was enjoyed immensely by everyone, and I am sure that many members of the association felt encouraged to do something in the same line, at Ayton.
February 19th brought the second meeting of the Term, in which we were introduced to American Square Dancing by Miss Bowness. Most people thought that this was a most unusual thing to do in an Arts Association meeting, but it worked very well and proved enjoyable to everyone. Mr. Porter had rather a monotonous task at the piano, playing practically the same tune again and again, but I believe he enjoyed it.
The last meeting, which was held on March 5th, produced a programme which was a complete contrast to the former meetings of the Term. In this meeting the Drama Group entertained us with a play, "Merry Widow Welcome,” which they had produced with the aid of Miss Nicholson. Owing to many of this group being occupied, with the "Pirates of Penzance,” we were somewhat afraid that the remainder of the group would be unable to undertake an evening. We were entirely mistaken, as the play was much enjoyed. This was shown by resounding laughter which came from the audience, usually at the expense of Henry Pickering, a very humorous character in the play.
Despite the time taken up by the production of the "Pirates of Penzance” this Term, I am sure that the Senior Arts Association meetings have also been successful.
Brian Lockey (15 years)
This term we have had only three visitors to take Evening Meeting, and old have had some interest for us. Joseph Carruthers, head master of Wigton Friends' School, came for January 30th and spoke on his School, comparing it in part with Ayton. He described to us the reaction he felt when seeing the beauty around here, and the beauty of the Lake District.
On February 20th Ettie Mercer told us of her experiences, in Jamaica, and her journey there, while in her teens. I found the most interesting part to be her description of a young servant girl's character whom she met.
Of these three Meetings, I thought the last one, given by Donald Court, was the most interesting. He started by introducing himself as a doctor and lecturer at King's College, Newcastle, and telling us of his first experience with horses. This was when he visited a farm while still a young, raw, town boy. The farm lad invited him to have a ride on his pony, but as soon as the enthusiastic boy mounted, the wicked lad let off a gun in the pony's ear, which made it race round the field four times and finish up in the stable, Dr. Court not knowing whether he or the pony was the most frightened ! This was related as an experience with real horses, but then he went on to talk about horses as symbols of natural and unnatural death, fear and health, as his interpretation of Revelations, chapter 6. For an illustration of his views about death, he described sitting with his beloved grandmother on the night of her death. This he did partly from a medical point of view so that I did not find it morbid, but, unfortunately, a few members of the Meeting did. After this satisfying Meeting, I felt an urge to take part in a discussion with the interesting doctor, but unfortunately, my urge was left unsatisfied. We are looking forward eagerly to his next visit.
Audrey Seddon
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