Linton School celebrates its centenary this year and we looked back over the school’s eventful first year which unfortunately coincided with the General Strike of 1926 “in defence of miners’ wages and hours”. The General Strike took place from 4 to 12 May 1926 but the miners maintained their resistance for several more months.
Selected entries from the school log book read as follows:
May 1st – The school was formally opened by Mr C. Williams, Director of Education for Northumberland, in the presence of a large and representative gathering.
May 3rd – The school was opened to the children. 159 being present.
May 7th – The piano arrived today.
May 14th – School closed for the weekend. The average attendance is currently 93%.
May 28th – Mr E. Chester, correspondent, visited the school this afternoon and paid the teachers at closing time.
June 2nd – Inquiries made, showed that the necessity of feeding some of the children was becoming urgent, About 40-50 children admitted not getting sufficient food.
June 3rd – The parents of 59 children applied to have their children fed under the 1921 Act. These claims were investigated thoroughly by the Managers at a meeting in the school hall from 2-4pm when all the parents concerned were interviewed.
June 8th – Commander F.B Kemp, Superintendent of the Welfare activities of Ashington Coal Co. visited the school and granted permission to use the playing fields for organised games.
June 22nd – 135 children were fed at school today.
June 24th – A large number of children asked permission to leave school early to attend motor racing on the sands at Druridge Bay, as this was Race Thursday.
June 25th – 150 children were fed at school today.
July 2nd – The average attendance this week is 95.7%.
July 9th – The Colliery Welfare Club held a sports day at the Recreation Ground for the school.
July 13th – The School Medical Officer visited and examined children for evidence of malnutrition through the strike. Only about a dozen showed evidence of flabbiness or underdevelopment.
Sept. 20th – The attendance was affected today (32 children absent) because of severe rain and thunder storms. Many of the children are very poorly shod and clothed because of the long, continued strike.
Sept. 27th 151 out of 164 children present. Whooping cough and ringworm are the main reasons for absence.
Oct. 4th – 8th – Half yearly examinations. [No results are given]
Nov. 3rd – There was no fuel and no fires on today.
Nov. 4th – Some coal has been obtained. Frequent exercises have to be indulged in to keep warm.
Nov. 12th – No coal and consequently no fires on at school today. It was not a cold day, so not unduly uncomfortable. The average attendance this week is to 83.7%.
Nov. 15th – Still no coal, school was very cold. Writing was almost impossible in the morning. Frequent breaks for exercise to get warmth was the order.
Nov. 16th – Still no fires.
Nov 17th – No fires again and cold in the morning.
Nov. 18th – Very cold today. The children were asked to be allowed to bring coal from home and about 30 children brought a pailful of coal each. The school was comfortable by midday.
It seems incredible that in a pit village, there was no coal for the school, however it’s quite heartwarming to note that the parents of the children all chipped in with a donation of coal so that the kids could keep warm and continue their education.
As you can see, the footnote to the story is that a lorry load of coal was delivered to the school on November 23rd.
This particular log book continues with entries regarding noteworthy events up until 1953 and can be viewed in our search room [Ref. CES 176/1/2]
Linton School in 1962. Photo Ref. CES/176/5/17