The following article refers to the building presently known as the Charnwood Tavern, situated near St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe, which was previously Winthorpe Church School. See also the Closure of Winthorpe Church School.
WINTHORPE SCHOOL
“BETTER THAN MANY IN DISTRICT”
ALLEGATIONS REFUTED
A report upon his inspection of Winthorpe School, which has been submitted by the Skegness Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Fraser Menzies) does not support allegations made by Coun. T. W. West at the monthly meeting of the Council in November.
The Medical Officer makes one recommendation in respect of existing sanitary arrangements at the school, but this is offered as a suggestion and does not for a moment imply that there has been any wilful neglect on the part of the school authorities in this particular connection.
Generally, the report is a complete refutation of the sensational allegations made in the Council Chamber, and ratepayers will warmly endorse the request of the Rev. Dr. Finch that the Council take steps to rescind the resolution and thus remove the great injustice which has been done to the school and the school managers.
The report of the Medical Officer, which was presented to the Sanitary Committee on the 20th inst., is as under:—
WINTHORPE SCHOOL
“I visited the above School on 17th December.
“The School consists of two classrooms divided by a sliding partition. These two rooms accommodate at present 25 pupils and two mistresses. The ventilation and light are ample in both rooms. Heating is provided by means of a coal fire in each room. I found the temperature in all parts of each room satisfactory for the comfort of the children. The boys use the porch as a cloakroom. In the porch there is a supply of town’s water for drinking purposes. The girls have a cloakroom at the west side of the school. This cloakroom leads into one of the classrooms. In the girls’ cloakroom is a copper built in, with fireplace underneath.
“From my inquiries I came to the conclusion that the children have every care possible for their comfort and well-being whilst at school.
“This school is by no means up to the standard of a recognised modern school, but it is, I think, better than many country schools in this district and, from a health of the children point of view, satisfactory.
“I would make one suggestion, and that is that the pail closets could be improved upon. Water closets would entail the use of a cesspool, which is not desirable. Therefore I would suggest that chemical closets take the place of the pail closets.”
VICAR’S REQUEST
The following letter, dated 21st December, 1935, was submitted by the Clerk from the Rev-. R. G. Finch, Chairman of the School Managers:—
“May we ask you to take steps to have rescinded a recent resolution of the Council in which the unsuitable and inadequate accommodation at the Winthorpe School was deplored, and have the Council dissociate itself from the language of the mover when he was permitted to speak, of the School as a disgrace to the town and to the county?
“The Council in this matter allowed itself, in issuing a widespread condemnation, to act upon hearsay in that it had not before it a report from its Sanitary Officers to justify such a proceeding; and no one of the statements upon which apparently it relied bore a minute’s examination. These statements have each and all been shown publicly to be worthless.
“A great injustice has been done to the School and to the School Managers by the action of the Council and it seems that a public acknowledgment that it has blundered is due.”
COUNTY COUNCIL’S ATTITUDE
The Clerk also reported the receipt of a letter, dated 30th December, 1935, from the Director of Education of the Lindsey County Council, stating that the County Education Committee cannot see their way at the present time to take steps to close this School and thanking the Council for calling attention to the alleged insanitary conditions, which are having attention.
The Committee resolved that a copy of the Medical Officer of Health’s report upon his inspection of the School be forwarded to the County Education Committee, and also to the managers of the School with a request that the improvement of the sanitary conveniences suggested therein be carried out at an early date.
The members present at the meeting were Couns. E. R. Capon, W. Gardham, R. J. G. Dutton, J. Rawding and H. Wheatley. Apologies for absence were received from Couns. G. E. Holmes (chairman) and J. Crawshaw.
Source: Skegness Standard 29th January 1936
Skegness Magazine 