The Maltonian

Volume 4. Issues 43 - 57
April 1931 - December 1935

Most issues have yet to be summarised or scanned, but when some photos of trips to Hull and Liverpool were donated in 2008, I looked for write-ups in these pages, and managed to find them. They have been scanned and links to them are included below, with related photos.

No. 47 July 1932

Note that this edition marks the 21st birthday of the school's opening at Middlecave Road. It includes some notes on the Masters of the Free Grammar School of Malton, by G F Arthur Newey. Also a list of all staff at the "new" MGS up to that point.

No. 44 July 1931

A copy of this issue has been scanned, and is available as a pdf.

No. 48 December 1932

Below is an extract about the school play, Midsummer Night's Dream, together with a photo donated by Joyce Jackson. The play had been performed outside in July 1932.

After four months it is not easy to give a very detailed account of the "Midsummer Night's Dream" in July. Flitting fairies, buffooneries of clowns, and the misadventures of lovers now mingle in one's memory with strains of music from a hidden orchestra. One's general impression is that the performances were of a high standard. Such a result could only be obtained after many weeks of hard work by the actors and producer, by the musicians, and by all those who helped in making costumes. The preparations were to some extent simplified by the possession of a natural stage and scenery, which provided a perfect setting for this play. The orchestra, under the able direction of their conductor, gave of their best, the musical background adding beauty and charm to the performance as a whole.

As an accompaniment to the singing and dancing of the fairies, it was especially enjoyable. The gracefulness and rhythm of the dancers were much appreciated by the audience, and fully repaid the hours of work devoted to training them. Occasionally the light from the setting sun made the fairies' dresses shine like silver, but unfortunately, glimpses of such brilliance were only too rare.

R Hudson and Evelyn Longster were well chosen for the parts of Oberon and Titania, the latter being particularly successful in the love scene with Bottom. The Duke and Hippolytus (G Mennell and Elsie Driver) were well supported by their court. The four lovers, as played by Florrie Stansfield, Nancy Sonley, R Snow and J Lupton, aroused amusement rather than sympathy with them in their troubles, which were brought about by the pranks of Puck. This merry sprite (Betty Lott) had all the dramatic talent and agility required for such a part. Her interpretation of this difficult role was a delight.

The comic element of this lay provided by the "hard handed men who work in Athens here", Bottom and his boon companions,. Those who played the clowns' parts this year seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. At each performance of the play they capered about and fell over each other with increasing energy and zest (one corner of the privet hedge suffered very rough treatment!) Though all the comic characters were good, not forgetting Moonshine's dog, one would especially like to mention S Wood who, as Flute the bellows-mender, caused great merriment when he played the tragic part of Thisbe.

Perhaps the finest acting in the play was S Bowman's interpretation of the part of Bottom. One finds it difficult at this time to say much about it. The memory of this, his last dramatic achievement, will remain as his best.

THe following were the orchestra, to whom we express our gratitude: Mr Barty (conductor), Misses Bostock, Hawson, Allen, F Bielby, Mrs Southwell, Messrs. Tong, Strangeway, Carter, Horsley, Grice, Anderson, Ashworth, Fish, Fryatt, Mackareth, R Birdsall, J R Birdsall, Staples and Vera Marshall

No. 50: July 1933

Below is an extract describing a trip to Hull.

The first School Journey of 1933 came as a welcome relief after the anxieties and trials of Malton's epidemics. There were many who listened carefully to the weather forecasts during the preceding weekend and the weather clerk fulfilled all his promises when we awakened on Tuesday, March 21st, to a bright and frosty morning; and a light-hearted party of 66 gathered in good time at Malton Railway Station.

There had been a considerable amount of preparation for our day's outing; and the Railway Company had made very careful arrangements for our comfort and instruction. Our train came in promptly at 8.35, and we tumbled into our two comfortable corridor coaches. The H.M. saw us safely out of Malton and the day began. The distribution of the party into various compartments had no relation to the rules of mathematics; and there were some who were unable to sit down. During the whole of the railway journey it was in some cases easier to find certain members of the party by using ones ears than by looking for them. Our tickets were distributed on the journey to York and some of us lost them.

On arrival at York shortly after 9 o'clock, we were met at the station and shown the Railway Institute, where the Gymnasium aroused our envy.

Then followed a joyous and noisy glance at the large Railway Museum, which was sufficient to make some of us desire to spend a longer time in York when an opportunity came. Meanwhile our coaches shunted on to the Hull train and at 10.5 we resumed our journey. The ride through the Southern parts of the wolds was of interest for those who had eyes to see, and we arrived at Hull just after 11 o'clock.
Mr. Sharp of the L.N.E.R. awaited us at Paragon Station and we were fortunate to have such a jolly compere. Leaving our surplus luggage and lunches in the Station Lecture Hall, which had been kindly placed at our disposal, we looked at the the new Railway Museum at the Station and then walked through the City via the Guildhall and arrived at Wilberforce House in High Street. Our experience in York had taught us how to walk safely through busy streets without causing inconvenience to others; and our " March Discipline" in Hull was really satisfactory.

Shortly after 1 o'clock we packed ourselves into the two special buses which awaited us, and were driven to the King George Dock. Here there was plenty to see, and our guides did their best to explain as much as possible in the time available. It was a surprise to most of us to know that there existed a fishing vessel as large as the " Arctic Queen" (10,000 tons).

By the courtesy of the owners we were allowed to explore the vessel from top to bottom, half of us exploring where we would, and the others being taken on a conducted tour of the vessel. The biggest difficulty was in keeping in touch with a guide who knew his way about the ship, while we didn't. The result was that when the parties had changed over and it was time for us to leave, it was the official party which seemed to have got lost. On the boat we had bumped our heads, greased our clothes, tumbled into black holes, been frozen and roasted in turn, but we were still ready for further adventures.

Our buses, which had with great consideration, bumped their way to the ship's side now bumped us to another part of the dock where we inspected the silo and the wool warehouses. The method of unloading wheat by contrivances, which in spite of their Heath Robinson contours were wonderfully efficient, appealed strongly to even the least mechanically minded of us.

And now we said goodbye to the dock, and we were conveyed to the Kingston Works of Messrs. Reckitts Brothers. We were welcomed cordially and divided into a number of small parties each under a pleasant guide. In the short space of an hour we seemed to walk through miles of factories, and we learnt something of the means by which we receive our metal polish, blacklead, bathsalts, blue, bootpolish, and other useful articles. We admired the beautiful concert hall, swimming bath, dance floor, and the other features of the Social and Welfare Side of this great works, but tying up of blue bags did not appear an attractive occupation to our girls.

It was now nearly 5 o'clock and we felt ready for a rest. Our buses brought us quickly back to the city where we enjoyed an excellent tea at Messrs. Hammond's Cafe. Our appetites were enormous, but there was enough and to spare. It was pleasant to see some of our Hull O.M.'s at tea. Our time in Hull was now nearly over. In the twenty minutes before train time, some sat and talked, others wandered round the other departments of the store, while others seemed to spend their time in laying in provisions for the return journey.

At 5 minutes to 6 we reported all present at the station, and 10 minutes later our train left for home, to the sound of cheers for Mr. Sharp who had so ably looked after us all the day. The return journey showed that some of our party were still full of energy. Mr. Rolls and "Bing, Bang, Bong" whiled away the time while the Driffeld express puffed its way conceitedly across the Wolds in the darkness. At a wayside station we were delighted to see a face which we had missed for a long while, and at 7.45 we were back in Malton. One member of the party at least was glad to be in bed by 9.15!

The day left pleasant memories, our boys and girls looking their best. No rain, no accidents, no litter, and smiles all through.

No. 53 July 1934

(20 pages). Below is an extract reporting on a Trip to Liverpool, along with a photo from the trip. 66 students depart at the end of term for a day on the ferry, visiting Port Sunlight, and a trip on the overhead railway.

The Trip to Liverpool

Tuesday, July 17th, was anticipated with great excitement by the members of Malton Grammar School, as an educational tour of Liverpool had been arranged.

We left Malton at 8.37, spending the morning in the train and arriving in Lime Street Station, Liverpool, at 12.10, where we had a hurried lunch. After a rush through the streets of Liverpool we were just in time to catch the 13.15 ferry boat. The trip in the ferry was very enjoyable and very acceptable as the sun was then very hot and the breeze refreshed us.

We disembarked at Rock Ferry and took a 'bus to the picturesque village of Port Sunlight where we were divided into parties and shown round the factories. We were astounded at the efficiency of the employees and the attractiveness of their surroundings, and were rather surprised to discover that so many of our household necessities are made by Lever Bros.

The tour, although extremely interesting, left us very hot and tired and quite ready for the tea which awaited us at Hulme Hall. On returning to Liverpool we had the novel experience of travelling on the Overhead Railway which was not however as exciting as we had expected. This ended our day as far as Liverpool was concerned, and after some trouble we at last were safely stowed in the train. A very weary band of Maltonians arrived home at 22.50, tired, but on the whole happy after its day, which thanks to Mr. Barty's usual forethought and good management was made enjoyable for all.