May 8, 2025
“All School events this year have, of course, been dwarfed by the greats news of Victory in Europe and in the Pacific. The suspense of the final hours of the German war was heightened for School Certificate forms because the day coincided with French examinations.” Miss Bain, 1945 Newsletter
As commemorative events take place in the UK and across the world to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, we look back at what this time looked like for the Withingtonians in 1945.
After six years of war, there was a national public holiday on 8th and 9th May for Victory in Europe Day. Colourful bunting and flags lined the streets of villages, towns and cities across Britain and people took part in parties, singing and dancing. Here at Withington, celebrations included ‘a grand Sports Day and a round of painting and decorating, which, with blue and cream paint, transformed corridors, dining room and kitchens, laboratories and form rooms.’
The Sports Day on 9th May also featured concerts, sideshows and tea for all 1,200 guests. It was described as ‘a most happy afternoon and a fitting celebration both of the mutual helpfulness of teaching staff, domestic staff, parents and pupils which has made the war years more easily to be borne and of our thanksgiving for the ending.’ A service of thanksgiving was held the next day and on the 17th May, the blast walls and interior air raid shelters had been demolished.
The accounts of VE Day in the 1945 Newsletter offer a glimpse into life at Withington during the war, highlighting the construction of shelters and needed building refurbishments. But what was it like at Withington during wartime? From the resilience of students and staff to the adaptations made in response to air raids and evacuation, the wartime Newsletters capture the spirit of our school, determined to succeed despite these challenges.
In the months leading up to the outbreak of World War II, Withington Girls’ School had been preparing to celebrate 50 years of school life. The Governors had appointed a committee to organise a series of events due to take place between 19th and 21st April 1940. However, the onset of war altered these plans and instead, a special Jubilee Newsletter was issued.
“It is sad that intentions and plans for the Jubilee cannot be carried out in their due time and order, but I trust this epoch of Withington’s history may be happily and gloriously celebrated, when our land emerges from the menace and shadow of war.” Miss Grant, former Headmistress, 1939 Newsletter
Miss Bain, Headmistress, with Prefects
Miss Bain had made preparations for the entire school to evacuate to the Girls’ High School in Uttoxeter, if the situation required. Indeed, all Manchester schools were closed by government orders and Withington pupils and staff were evacuated on 1st September 1939.
In the 1939 Newsletter, Miss Bain stated how welcoming the school and townspeople had been to the Withington community. Several students also shared their own accounts, including this poem.
SEPTEMBER 1st, 1939.
I sat in hat and gloves and mac,
My pack was ready for my back,
I thought I’d never bear the weight
E’en to the buses at the gate.
I had my disc and labels two,
And on my coat some ribbon blue,
And, most of all, I had to mind
That “Gas Mask” was not left behind.
And then I had my satchel too,
Filled up with food and things to do
While in the train; oh! what a lot
Of bits and pieces and–how hot!
We bussed to town, we formed a queue;
The train came in, the whistle blew;
And so with many jokes and laughs
We reached Uttoxeter in Staffs.
My waiting then came to an end,
My hand was taken by a friend,
A hostess kind was found for me-
I really was “Evacuee.”
Alumna Margaret Rothband donated her evacuation disc to our archive. In the accompanying letter she wrote, ‘I recall that the teachers were all concerned that the standard of teaching and work was maintained, and I don’t suppose we, its pupils, appreciated how hard it must have been for them.’
School began swiftly for the WGS evacuees on 2nd September. The school day ran between 9am and 4pm. Games and gymnasium were in the morning but the Sixth and Upper Fifths had lessons all day. They were based at a small house affectionately named ‘Withington’.
The weekends were spent exploring the surrounding countryside and on Sundays they went to church. Horse riding was very popular and a hockey match against Abbotsholme School was held. Six pupils visited the Uttoxeter Biscuit Factory where they watched the manufacturing process in action – they were particularly fascinated by the wrapping machine.
A number of girls did not leave the Manchester area and arrangements were made to continue their learning. In November 1939, reflections were gathered from the Withington girls who remained at Withington during this first term in wartime.
“I did not go away with the school to Uttoxeter, because we were away in North Wales. Later I had lessons at home with mummy and I liked it very much, but I am very glad that W.G.S. has opened again. It is quite funny at school only using a few classrooms and only one end of the school: the other end is an A.R.P. Wardens’ Post. I like having lessons like this very much. We are playing hockey, lacrosse, netball and tennis.”
“We stayed at home for about three weeks or more. All the time we were at home we were looking out for a school to go to. At last we found Withington School. So we came here. I like all the lessons and games here very much, especially Hockey.”
“I do not like school as it is now, as much as when the whole school is here. I would much rather have all the mistresses here and let them teach us, instead of having work with syllabuses.”
“For me it was rather boring at home, and I was glad when W.G.S. re-opened.”
As a large industrial city, Manchester was a target for air raids. This meant installing shelters at school, as well as using existing areas such as cellars. When school reopened to all pupils in January 1940, the shelters became part of the fabric of daily life. These safe spaces ensured that learning could continue!
In the Jubilee Newsletter, pupils spoke of their experiences in the shelters.
“Miss Bain brought in a gigantic jar of sweets; it was funny but it put an effective stop to the noise.”
“We had an Art lesson. I started drawing a bird in flight, but as everybody was jogging my elbow, it finished up an elephant. We do our best to draw animals and flowers which Miss Benison tells us to do. I am afraid I like games better than lessons in the Air Raid Shelter…”
“As soon as we hear the wailing of the sirens everybody proceeds to get coats and gas masks. Far away we hear somebody telling us or another form to keep in single file. As we make our way to the shelter we pass Miss Bain blowing her whistle for all she is worth.”
“I am a new girl with many experiences of air raids. Withington to me has meant peace with very few air raids. We did not do lessons in our shelters in my London school but I was very amused when we did Algebra here. Though not so enjoyable as knitting and singing, it provides a useful pastime.”
Withington girls in the air raid shelters
In addition to their teaching responsibilities, staff assumed roles as air raid wardens and fire guards. They operated from Withington – half the school was used for learning and the other half for the war effort.
When Withington was hit by ‘a shower of over 70 of incendiary bombs’ in the spring of 1941, the WGS Fire Guard were quick to put out the resultant fire in the Physics Laboratory Preparation Room where ‘the damage caused was fortunately negligible.’
Girls spoke of their admiration of their teachers in spite of their ‘decidedly odd’ tin hats. The girls recognised these integral roles in ensuring their safety.
“They are brave, for they walk about even when bombs are dropping and shrapnel is falling, but they still keep on blowing their piercing whistles frequently.”
A contemporary account by Gloria recalls the great sadness when she saw the damage that had been inflicted on the playing field, where as a keen lacrosse player she spent a lot of her time at Withington.
Map showing where incendiary bombs fell in 1941
Another change was the introduction of boys to the Junior Department. In 1943, Miss Bain reported that there were 390 girls and 25 boys in the school. Some of the boys were sons of WGS teachers and for others it was simply a safe place for them to be at school. Many later transferred to MGS for senior school.
Whole School Photo 1943, featuring the Withington boys
During the war, the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign encouraged British citizens to contribute to the war effort by growing their own food. Without the usual workforce to harvest crops, Withington girls did their part by picking peas. In August 1943, 39 girls and 8 mistresses gathered 25,400lbs of peas in a total of 2,231 hours. In addition to the physical work in the fields, they had a commute of 70 miles, cycling from school to the camp near Parbold, Lancashire.
Although the rhythm of school life was sustained as far as possible during wartime, the Autumn term of 1945 saw an increase in the number of school events and activities. There were Hallé concerts, House teas, visits to the Opera House, Greek dancing classes, debates, staff vs pupil games, alumnae vs pupil games, Christmas parties, a carol service, and some more dancing.
The Withington community continued to play their part. They collected blankets, clothing, soap and medical supplies, which were sent throughout Europe to the Polish Red Cross, the ‘Help to French Schools’ centre and to the Netherlands. The Lower School also organised a collection of toys and books for Dr Barnado’s Homes.
In the years after the war, Withington continued to thrive.
“The year which has seen the official celebration of Victory has been busy, for school continues to grow and the maximum of expansion has been reached in the existing building. There are now 510 pupils, every form is full and the Sixth Forms are exceptionally large… Competition for entry is extremely keen and the number of candidates so large that WGS has an enforced holiday on the day of the entrance examination.” Miss Bain, 1947 Newsletter
Aerial Photograph of WGS in the 1940s
