Staff Appointments
The year has seen several changes in staff. Last summer we lost the services of Mrs. Glennon on her departure for Canada, and at Christmas Mr. Hopper left us after a short stay of one term. We must also say farewell at the end of this term to Mrs. Dearnaley and Mrs. Shepherd, to whom we wish every happiness and to whom we are grateful for the help they have given us.
We hope to welcome back again in September, Mrs. Ford, who spent the Spring Term with us.
Last September, Mr. Pendlebury joined the staff as our Senior Physics Master, and recently Mr. Reeves has joined us as Senior Latin Master. We extend to them a hearty welcome and we hope they will find their stay here a pleasant one.
Mr. Parker
Mr. Parker, the first headmaster of Greenhill Grammar School, retired at the end of the school year, July, 1952. To mark the occasion, the two Captains, Joan Wild and John Mellor, gave him an easy chair, thus making sure that he would have a comfortable retirement. He had always been very keenly interested in art and to keep him occupied, the staff presented him with an etching outfit. I understand, however, that since taking up residence in Cleveleys, he has been very busy establishing a garden and so has had little time for sketching as yet.
Some twenty-five or six years ago Mr. Parker came from Barrow, where he was teaching Science, to his native Oldham, having been appointed to a new position as headmaster of Ward Street Central School - a new school in a new building. For nearly twenty years this school flourished under his guidance until it was doomed by the 1944 Education Act. It gradually disappeared as two new schools came into being : Robin Hill Secondary Modern School and the West Oldham High School.
Mr. Parker, in consequence, saw many changes and had the unique experience of establishing three new schools. Eventually, Robin Hill Secondary Modern School was transferred to its present building and became known as Richmond Secondary Modern School, a separate entity, to make room for the developing third school, West Oldham High. Later, in 1951, because of the inadequacy of the building in Ward Street, the whole school moved to the present building in Greengate Street and assumed a new name, Greenhill Grammar School.
Throughout all these changes, Mr. Barker's first consideration was for the welfare of the children and staff. He was always courteous and treated everyone in a kindly, fatherly sort of way, and when in difficulty, or in need of advice, all could be sure of his sympathy and help.
Mr. Parker had not enjoyed good health for some time before retiring but we here at Greenhill all hope that he has regained his old vigour and is now enjoying a happy time along with Mrs. Parker and that such happiness will last for many j'ears to come.
M.W.