The Sixth Form Conference
On Friday, the 12th July, a party of Sixth-formers from Greenhill made their way, somewhat apprehensively, to Counthill Grammar School, where, together with Sixth-formers from other local Grammar Schools, they were to take part in a Conference sponsored by the Student Christian Movement.
When the students from the various schools were assembled in the hall Mr. M. Jones welcomed them to the conference and introduced the speaker, Dr. Percy Scott, of Manchester, whose subject was "Has the Bible a Message for Today?"
Dr. Scott spoke for some time on the relationship between the Bible and present-day life, before concluding the first part of his talk with the hope that he had given them some basis on which to argue constructively in the discussion groups which were to follow.
After a short break the students were split up into groups of about a dozen which contained two or three pupils from each school taking part in the conference.
Although some difficulty was encountered at first in getting everyone to join in the discussion, by the time they had to go to the dining hall, theories were being eagerly expounded and then queried by first one and then another of the students.
That long-awaited item, tea, was next on the crowded agenda. This part of the conference, at least, was heartily enjoyed by everyone.
After tea the students returned, refreshed, to the hall, to listen to the second part of Dr. Scott's talk.
They then re-formed into the discussion groups and under the guidance of their supervisors each group formulated a question to be put to Dr. Scott in the last part of the conference.
On returning to the hall there followed a very lively "Question Time," when such pointed questions as "If God created the earth, who created God?" were asked. Dr. Scott was very patient and explicit in his sometimes witty replies to the many varied and awkward questions which were put to him. It was noted, however, that the questions were being dealt with rather hurriedly and this part of the conference would have been more beneficial had more time been devoted to it.
When all the questions had been answered, Robert Millward proposed a vote of thanks to the host on behalf of the visiting schools and the meeting closed with a short prayer.
Although not everyone enjoyed the conference, the majority of students thought it a very stimulating and beneficial afternoon's discussion.
Food and Cookery Centre
On July 18th, 1957, Form 5G girls took advantage of the newly-opened Food and Cookery Centre in Manchester and spent a very enjoyable day there with Mrs. Clark. The Centre is on Cross Street in the middle of a very drab area. However, the place itself is ultra-modern.
On entering the revolving door in Cross Street, we found ourselves in a beautifully-decorated reception hall, with only a contemporary desk and chair for furnishings. We were then shown into the waiting room. This was furnished with a small occasional table, holding various household magazines and a low studio couch with chairs to match. One wall was lined with a huge refrigerator displaying "Bird's Eye" frozen foods and "Wall's Ice-Cream." "Mac Fisheries" had a display cabinet of fish along another wall.
The morning demonstration was on fish and many kinds of appetising fish dishes were prepared in a very short time. Afterwards we were allowed to sample the delicious dishes.
We were shown round the private kitchen of the demonstrators, and also all the equipment on the platform was explained to us. This included a gas and electric cooker, a large sink unit and a refrigerator.
The afternoon demonstration was on ice-cream and ranged from a plain vanilla dessert to an elaborate cake in the form of a train.
At the end of the demonstration everyone was eager to be off home, to make some of the dishes demonstrated. This was possible because we had all been given a printed recipe sheet which we were allowed to keep. However, we hope to make many more interesting and profiting visits in the future.
Pauline Timmis.
A Visit to Tame Valley Cooperage
On a fine day during the Whitsuitide holidays, a party of twelve ardent chisellers from the fourth and fifth forms paid a visit to a cooperage or barrel makers (for the less intelligent of us). The fit fifth took bikes and cycled down, where they were met by the chiseller-in-chief who showed us to the works.
On arriving at the works we were met by the Manager who showed us first the oak or billets which only required shaping as they were already cut to size. Barrel-making is one of the oldest crafts known and great skill was once required, but now, as in most places, machine-power takes the place of man-power. The Manager then showed us, with the use of a draw-knife, the first stage of making a barrel stave. Then one hopeless, helpless and less ardent chiseller among us, no names, nearly dissected himself trying the same process. After the staves have been made the hoops are hammered on by means of a 10 lb. hammer and a drift. If the user missed just once, he would break every bone in his index finger and perhaps in his thumb (people have missed). When we left the Manager gave us two pieces of wood suitable for book ends.
Two Wood Shavings.