I had a talk with the Headmaster, who advised me to retire: he thought that after nearly 38 years it was time that I had a relief from strain. He made some calculations and told me that my pension would be £239 per annum with tax to pay. This had to be confirmed by the Pensions Board; when I heard from them on 15th October I gave in my resignation.
For years there had been rumours amongst the boys that my retirement was imminent. Perhaps the wish was father to the thought, though I must say that the enquirers always seemed very pleased when they heard that the rumour was untrue. D. M. D—— had been very anxious about these rumours, so I promised him that he should be the first boy to know. I had a good hunt for him at the Main School before I found him.
After I had handed in my resignation, I wondered if I had made a mistake. According to the boys, I had. When I broke the news to them, they nattered me by groaning. R. D. McG—— said: “We shall never get anyone like you again.” Probably not! On the few occasions that I have seen the Juniors since I left, several have said “I wish you’d come back” and they really meant it. Very heartening.
On the day of my decision, I attended a meeting of St. Chad’s Fellowship. One friend who owns a woollen mill told me that only lazy people retire. So I applied for a job at his mill! He promised me one, but I have heard nothing since. I think I was to have been a wool-winder.
THAT TERM the Rev. C. D. and Mrs. Cranmer left Leeds. Mr. Cranmer joined the Staff when Dr. Terry Thomas became Headmaster; and he was much appreciated as chaplain, quiet and sincere and always willing to help. He left Leeds Grammar School and had two country livings, then he and Mrs. Cranmer came back to live in a flat at Headingley. Now they have gone to another vicarage at Eryholme, near Darlington. I went to bid them farewell. I still miss them very much.
Mr. Moore, our Senior Master, was married in November and has a very charming wife. We had always regarded him as a confirmed bachelor!
EVEN THOUGH this was my last term, discipline had to be maintained, specially when two of Junior 1 painted each other’s face during an Art lesson. I had meant to be specially kind and gentle that term, and intended to give no punishments, but I found the truth of the saying about the leopard and his spots!
One morning I found a boy using a padded pen! He had bound the nib to the holder and of course the nib moved as he wrote. His writing was worse than ever. He told me that the idea was his mother’s. I had a better idea!
On Tuesday 7th October, we had some excitement after the chapel service. We saw five buses start off with our C.C.F. (ex J.T.C. and O.T.C.) for Settle, to have a mock battle with Giggleswick School. The Juniors were most interested and thrilled. I should like to pay a tribute to Captain R. Whitmore, all other officers, past and present, and to R.S.M. Young for their excellent work in training and maintaining such a really splendid and smart corps. In my early days I used to attend the annual inspection in Beckett Park, as it generally took place on Tuesday afternoon when we had a half-day. I was always much impressed by the smart turn-out. No one can have any idea how much hard work is done by those in command.
THIS TERM WAS, naturally, saddened for me by the thought of my retirement, and for me and many others by the distressing illness and death of Jack Petty.
What a clearing up I had of an accumulation of 38 years, both at the Junior School and in the mistresses’ room at the Main School. It was a good thing I started the job early in the term. Some of the staff received a present, I think all the boys had more than one. When I gave away numerous picture postcards, which I had used on the epidiascope, the boys wanted my signature, address, and even my telephone number! Several said: “I shall keep this all my life.”
Early in November the Yorkshire Evening News telephoned me to ask if I would grant an interview to a reporter that evening. Why not? I felt I should rather like a little publicity or perhaps a recognition of my long service at Leeds Grammar School. At home that night Mr. Jack Crossley and a photographer arrived. I answered all questions to the best of my ability: it was all a new experience for me. The reporter was interested to hear that I was trying to write a book and asked if he could quote parts from it. The next evening there was a long article, a photograph and a leader all to myself, headed “Thank you. Miss Christie”. I was most grateful for what the editor or sub-editor had said and very much cheered. One boy’s remark on seeing the photograph was: “That’s a very posh cushion”! It is one I bought at a Bring and Buy Sale at Buckden, and is still going strong.
Mr. Crossley has been very good in helping me with this book, I am very sorry to hear that he has moved to Manchester.
AS A RESULT of the articles in the paper many friends either wrote to me or telephoned. Amongst them was Mr. Wright who for many years sold books at Leeds Grammar School for Messrs. H. Walker Ltd. That was before the days when we ran our own bookshop. Many most complimentary letters came from Old Leodiensians and ex-Staff, also one from a friend of my mother. I valued them all very much.
Within a day or two I was much honoured in having a letter from the Editor of the Yorkshire Post, asking me to write an article for possible publication. Owing to the non-delivery of my acceptance letter, the writing of the article was postponed until after I had retired, so it was quite different from what it would have been.
TO MY GREAT grief and disappointment I was away from school from 19th November to 11th December, and was very ill. What a lot I had meant to do at school during that time, chiefly by providing fun and entertainment to all I taught. I intended, when opportunity allowed, to trot out most of my jokes, games and tricks, and my lessons were to be as varied and enjoyable as I could make them. How the boys used to enjoy “Pas d’elle yeux Rhône que nous,” when I told them to read it in French. The solution is a well-known English proverb. As soon as any boy solved it, he would come and whisper it to me and enjoy the laboured efforts of those less quick. When the class read it aloud in chorus, it was obvious to those who had solved it and bewildering to those who had not. I used to try several Latin ones of the same type.
Another favourite one was the singing to the tune of ‘God Save the Queen’ of the Siamese National Anthem— ‘0 WA TA NA SIAM’. J. R—— once sang it all through in a beautiful treble voice and did not realise what he was singing—to the great delight of the rest of the form.
I shall not forget J. T. T——’s unselfish thoughts and actions during my illness. He carried things to and from school, did shopping for me and was most concerned about my health. One Saturday, my first or second time out, he met me and insisted on escorting me to a friends’ house, because he thought I was not well enough to be out alone. His mother, too, helped me in every way she could, and during that time started sending me a weekly present of a home-made bread ‘cob’. She has kept up this generosity ever since. J. T. T—— told me that he intended to come and see me twice a week when I had retired and made an entry to this effect in his 1953 diary. This plan has not been carried out: rather too inconvenient for both of us.
I was very grateful to have visits from Mr. White, who is most attentive in cases of sickness and also to some of the staff who did one or two examination papers for me.
Alas! Owing to my horrid illness, I had only seven more days at school, and I felt far from well all the time, was very busy with examinations, lists and reports and had no time for much fun. The boys, as usual, were most concerned, thoughtful and helpful.