Speech Day, 1957

THE SCHOOL’S INAUGURAL SPEECH DAY, FEBRUARY 1957

Speech Day Programme, February 1957

The school’s first Speech Day was held at the Free Trade Hall on the evening of Friday, 15th February 1957. The Chairman of the Board of Governors, the Rev. Fr. Keville, gave the address. The Right Reverend George Andrew Beck, the Bishop of Salford, made the presentation of prizes and certificates. The conductor of the choir and musical section was Mr Michael Callaghan, head of music. Mr Ambrose Rocca, headmaster, delivered a full and detailed report. The programme for the event consisted of three pages and is shown here in its entirety.

Mr Rocca’s Speech Day report, 1957

Below is a copy of the report delivered by Mr Rocca.

“My Lord Bishop, Right Reverend Monsignor, Reverend Fathers, Reverend Brothers, Ladies and Gentlemen.

As this evening represents a very significant occasion in the history of St Gregory’s, and is the first time that the school has held a Speech Day, I would ask your indulgence to allow me in this report to widen my brief somewhat beyond the limits imposed by the activities carried on in the school during the last school year. I propose in a few moments to speak of what has been accomplished by my colleagues on the staff during the last twelve months, but first I think it is necessary to dwell for a few brief and inadequate moments upon some of the things that have contributed to the present status that the school has attained.

St Gregory’s opened its doors on 10th September 1923, as a Central School which offered a four-year course of Secondary education for our Catholic boys from the age of 11 to 15. In those days the legal age for compulsory schooling was of course 14, so the extra year was in reality left to the discretion of parents. In spite of the intense economic depression and the widespread unemployment that so grievously afflicted this city during the early years of the school’s life, the numbers coming to the school and remaining for the full four-year course continued to grow. Parents in those days were clearly well content with the type of education that the school offered and much of the credit for this is due entirely to the hard work and devotion of the late Mr Wilfrid Holmes, the first Headmaster of St Gregory’s. Not only did Mr Holmes design the various schemes of work in the school but he gathered around him a young staff and trained them indefatigably in the art of which he himself was a master – the difficult art of teaching soundly and effectively. Mr Holmes’ name will, I feel sure, bring back many memories to the Old Boys of the school, many of whom we are delighted to see are here this evening. They will realise more than anyone else the debt of gratitude that is owing both from themselves and from the school for the devoted work that was given by Mr Wilfrid Holmes for over 28 years to the foundation and development of St Gregory’s. May he rest in peace.

Quite early in the school’s history it became obvious that every year there were a few boys of exceptional ability coming into the school. These boys were allowed to take the old Matriculation examination at the end of their fourth year and then there began a small movement of boys from the top form at St Gregory’s to the sixth forms of Grammar schools and thence by scholarship to the Universities and Training Colleges. This progress, I am pleased to report, has never ceased and has in fact grown steadily over the ensuing years.

The majority of boys however left school at the end of their fourth year. For these boys the [Manchester] Education Committee established a leaving certificate in the form of the Central School Certificate. This examination has been in the school for many years and has proved a most valuable incentive for boys in their last school year. However, with the disappearance of the Central School from the scheme of post-1944 education, the examination is to be abolished and the last papers will be set in June this year.

As I have intimated, the Education Act of 1944 has no place for the Central School, but has brought into existence the Secondary Technical School. Here in Manchester the Education Committee decided that the former Central Schools, in view of their experience and established tradition, would be suitable to develop this new type of school. Thus a few years ago our title was changed from “St Gregory’s Central” to “St Gregory’s Secondary Technical School”. I am well aware that parents frequently ask what the term implies. It is perhaps easier to state what it does not imply. It does not mean that a boy who gains a place at such a school is irrevocably hall-marked for a career in some branch of technology. Nor does it follow that the greater part of his school life will be taken up with technological subjects. It will perhaps be of assistance to parents if at this point I briefly outline the type of work that the school is at present accomplishing.

The school has a three-stream entry so that boys on entry are placed in either form Upper, Middle or Lower One, according to their position on the Order of Merit List of the Common Entrance Examination. During their first two years they study Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, English, French, Music, History, Geography, General Science, Art and Craftwork. Experience shows that during these first two years considerable re-grouping is necessary. Throughout the school all boys are regrouped in each year for English, Mathematics and French. This is to enable, for example, a boy who is strong in English and French but weak in Mathematics, to do his French and English in one of the upper forms, but to take Mathematics in a middle or lower form where the pace is slower.

At the commencement of the third year the purely technical subjects appear. We offer two extra subjects to each boy. The subjects are Machine Drawing and Bookkeeping. It is not essential that every boy will take these. Some take neither but elect to continue with Art and Craftwork. Thus, out of the four subjects of Art, Craftwork, Bookkeeping and Machine Drawing, every boy must select two for study in his final two years. To these subjects two mornings a week are devoted. In addition, of course, all the subjects taken in the first two years are continued. It will, I think, now be realised that a broad general education is the fundamental aim of the school, but there is in addition a practical bias in the last two years and this gives to the boys an opportunity for discovering for themselves from experience in what direction their talents and interests lie.

You will notice, Ladies and Gentlemen, that I am confining myself to speaking of a Four Years’ Course, for that is all that the accommodation of the school will guarantee to every boy. In this respect we are at a disadvantage as the course in all Secondary Technical Schools should be a minimum of five years with the possibility of two further years of more advanced and specialised technical studies. The Governors of the school are well aware of this disadvantage and are determined that our Catholic boys will have the same advantage that other boys in this city have. They have consequently planned very considerable extensions to the present building which when completed will provide all those facilities that a Secondary Technical school must have if it is to function adequately. After much delay they have now received permission from the Ministry of Education for a limited, but very useful, amount of building to commence this year.

In spite of the shortage of space, we have for many years had a voluntary fifth year leading to the General Certificate of Education. The numbers staying on for this extra year have been growing steadily over the last few years. In 1951, we had one fifth form of 24 boys; this year [1956-57], we have had to organise two fifth forms, one of 32 and the other of 26. Thus, more than half the boys who were eligible to leave school in July last have voluntarily returned for the extra year. I would like parents to realise that although we have no sixth forms yet, the Education Committee will transfer boys to the sixth forms at our Catholic Grammar Schools in Manchester provided that the boy attains a satisfactory standard in the General Certificate and the Heads of the Grammar Schools approve.

I come now to the work in the school during the last school year [1955-56].

First must come the most important work that the school attempts: the religious education and training given in the school. Every morning after Assembly, the first fifty minutes are given to religious instruction. The syllabus is that prescribed by the Diocesan Authority and the school is examined each year by the Diocesan Religious Inspectors. I must thank Fr Dunstan, O.F.M., Fr Welch S.J. and Fr Dorran for visiting the school regularly each week during the religious lessons. On three Fridays in the month Fr Keville puts his parish church [St Aloysius’] at our disposal and says Mass at 9.30. Three forms attend with their Form masters on each occasion. We are very grateful to Fr Keville for his kindness as in these days it is the Holy Mass that matters, and if we can instil into the boys a deep understanding of its significance and ritual, then they are well on the way to becoming sound Catholics and responsible adults in after-school life. The boys contribute most generously to the works of Charity that are organised in the school. These consist of the Rescue Appeal, The Fr. Damien Leper Fund, The Spastics Society, The Christmas Poster Campaign and the November remembrance of the Holy Souls. Every year on the Feast of our Patron Saint we have the privilege of attending High Mass and for this occasion we train all the school to sing the music and responses [in Latin] of the Mass. A Junior Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul exists in the school under the spiritual direction of Fr Eustace. Regular visits are made to the sick in hospital and the members look after the provision of flowers for the statues in school. During the year, three boys left to become postulants in various teaching orders and three older boys have entered junior seminaries to test their vocation for the priesthood.

I have already given some indication of the secular study that the school pursues. I must take this opportunity of emphasising the great importance of homework. No one demands an excessive amount of homework, but it is of the utmost importance that the homework set should be done regularly and systematically. Except at examination times some homework is set every night. If parents find that their boy does not seem to be doing a reasonable amount of homework, the matter should be enquired into at once. This is particularly of importance to the older boys – many of whom will have friends who have already left school.

Last year [1955-56] 99 candidates sat for the Central School Certificate and 73 were successful. In all, 52 Distinctions and 187 Credits were gained. Nine boys attained an exceptionally good result and have well-earned the prize they will receive tonight.

Twenty-nine boys in the fifth year gained a General Certificate of Education. Three in particular had very high marks in a number of subjects and they also will receive a prize tonight. All three are continuing their studies in the sixth form at St Bede’s College and we wish them every success in their new surroundings. I must also congratulate J. Baxter, one of our old boys who trod this path to the Sixth Form some years ago, and last summer gained an Honours Degree in Mathematics at Manchester University. Congratulations also to G. Farrell and B. Richards for achieving PhDs.

I am very desirous that the ancient techniques of Music and Drama should have their rightful place in the life of the school. Those boys who have a marked natural ear for music are separately provided for and pursue a fairly advanced course in the theory of Music. They can, if they so desire, take the subject in the General Certificate. So far three of the four boys who have done so have been successful.

The Dramatic Society in the school has grown in the last five years and has already established a tradition. Last year the boys gave a most moving production of T.S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral”.  At Christmas we all enjoyed that most delightful of Comedies, Molière’s “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme”. St Gregory’s have presented a play at the summer festival of the Adventure Theatre Guild every year for the last five years. “The Top Hat”, a political comedy, gained high praise from the public adjudicator last June when the boys performed the play in the Lesser Free Trade Hall. This recent development of Drama in the school is something that I hope will grow in future years. Should the day arrive when the school hall and stage, which [architect] Mr G.G. Williams has planned in his development plan, becomes a reality, I feel sure that the boys have the necessary talent to accomplish great things.

We endeavour every year to organise a school journey abroad. In recent years we have visited Belgium, the Rhineland, Switzerland and Italy, and last Easter we spent a most enjoyable ten days in Amsterdam. In order to give the opportunity of travelling abroad to as many as possible we endeavour to keep the cost to about £17. Experience shows that the number of boys joining the party falls from over 70 to 25 if the cost rises above £20. This year we hope to visit Rome at Easter. Whilst in Rome it is anticipated that we will have the great privilege of an audience with the Holy Father [Pope Pius XII]. As this holiday will be more expensive than any we have previously organised, I did not think that more than 20 boys would be enrolled. Your Lordship will be gratified to learn that such is the attraction of the See of St Peter to the parents of St Gregory’s boys that over 100 pupils from all forms in the school have already booked their place. This will constitute the largest party we have ever taken abroad.

To facilitate the travel arrangements for that section of the journey which we will be making by air, we have had to split the numbers into two distinct parties, one travelling ten days before the other. This has been made possible through the consideration shown to us by the Manchester Education Committee which has given permission for the first party to leave two days before the Easter holidays officially commence. On behalf of the parents of those boys affected, I desire to thank the Education Committee for its thoughtful consideration.

St Gregory’s has always been proud of its achievements in the realm of Sport. Bearing in mind the fact that we have no playing fields and that the ground we use for practice is over two miles away from the school, the achievements and keenness of the boys and their teachers is worthy of the highest praise. This season we have four football teams playing regularly in their respective divisions. The junior team of under-thirteens has had a wonderful season so far. It is unbeaten in both cup-ties and league matches and has scored 52 goals against all opponents and has only had to concede two goals to opponents. The boys are now eagerly awaiting the Final of the Schools’ Third Division Trophy. Four of the team have received the honour of being selected to play in Area teams. The Shield Team is meeting similar success and has reached the semi-final of the First Division Trophy. Two members of the team have been selected to play in the Manchester Boys’ Junior XI. The Cup Team are continuing to show the same high standard of sportsmanship and performance that gained them the Manchester First Division Shield last season. We are particularly proud of this success, as it is the first time in the school’s history that we have won this coveted trophy. At the end of last season this team also won the Catholic Cup and the league championship to crown their efforts. This year the team has felt very severely the loss of the captain Michael Conlan through a serious injury incurred on the field during one of the matches. But in spite of this, the boys remain unbeaten in the league and have reached the final of the News Chronicle Daily Dispatch Shield, and are the finalists in the Technical Schools’ Cup. Thus, the school has at the moment the possibility of making history in Manchester schools’ football. Of the four trophies available, St Gregory’s is in the final of three and in the semi-final of the fourth. Should we win this semi-final, as we certainly hope to, we will be in the finals of all four trophies – an achievement that no other school has ever achieved in the history of school football in this city.

We all have depressing memories of the rainfall last summer, but our Junior Cricket team must find wet wickets very much to its liking. Starting entirely from scratch and with a very young team, the boys swept aside all opposition and triumphantly brought home the Manchester Schools’ Cup. This too was a triumph that we have never experienced before. May they be successful again in the coming summer – but not, let us hope, with the assistance of any more wet wickets!

The old-established Chess club is at present revivified with much young blood. Many junior boys are attending the thrice-weekly meetings during the dinner hour and several tournaments are in process. The boys are making a determined effort, with regular weekly subscriptions, to increase the number of chess sets that the club possesses.

In conclusion I have to express my thanks to many people.  I must thank Mr Williams, whom we are pleased to see here on the platform tonight, for the prizes that he has donated for this occasion. Finally, I must thank all members of the staff for their loyalty and enthusiasm and for the countless number of hours that they willingly give out of their own free time to the welfare of the boys of St Gregory’s. No school, no matter how modern the buildings and amenities, can flourish without a devoted and hard-working staff, and though our century-old building may leave much to be desired in many ways, the cheerful manner in which my staff overcome the difficulties and privations is the enduring strength of the school. With these very sincere thanks to all who give so generously of their time and energy to the well-being of the boys at St Gregory’s, I conclude the report which it is my privilege to place before Your Lordship this evening.”

*    *    *    *

Other speakers included the chairman of the Board of Governors, the Rev. Father Keville. Among those present were the Vicar General, the Rt. Rev. Monsignor J. Cunningham; the Rector of St Bede’s College, Whalley Range, the Very Rev. T. Duggan; the Chief Education Officer, Mr J.K. Elliott, and Mr Leslie Lever, M.P. for Ardwick. Paying tribute to Mr Lever, Mr Rocca recalled how, when overseas travel arrangements for a party of boys went wrong at the last minute, he phoned Mr Lever – “And he put the matter right within 12 hours.”

Architects’ awards

The inaugural Speech Day saw prizes being awarded by Mr G.G. Williams, of Greenhalgh & Williams, architects to the Salford diocese who designed the extensions to the school that would commence the following year. The prizes were initially awarded for “Ability in Technical Subjects”, although in subsequent years this was changed to “Progress in Technical Subjects”. The subjects included Engineering Drawing, Woodwork, Metalwork, Book-keeping and Art. The awards were given at every Speech Day.

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Footnote to Mr Rocca’s comments

Old boy John Baxter became a teacher and returned to St Gregory’s in 1965 as head of the mathematics department. Bernard Richards, another former pupil, also obtained a degree in mathematics at Manchester University.  As a postgraduate, he had the distinction of working alongside Alan Turing and, later, Bernard Lovell, two of “the great minds of the twentieth century”. Bernard would go on to have a distinguished career in higher education, holding professorships in Computation and Medical Informatics at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. He became one of the world’s leading authorities in his field. The mention of Mr Holmes’ name brought a sustained applause from the Old Gregorians present in the audience – all of whom were also delighted to see familiar faces from the teaching staff of earlier days. The presence also of the much loved “Dinah” Wilson was a delight to those who knew her.

Present also at the first prize-giving was one who had taken his place alongside Wilfrid Holmes on that historic day in 1923, namely Ted Corney who had retired two years previously. He was one of those loyal band of teachers who gave both time and energy to the school, and when colleagues left to become headmasters in their own right, he remained behind content to serve St Gregory’s until his retirement. Perhaps a little-known feature of Ted’s prodigious mind was his ability to write poems, and it can be truthfully said they were brilliant, humorous and, where applicable, very poignant indeed.

A report of the Speech Day appeared in the Manchester City News, a weekly newspaper, a week after the event. Below is a copy of the wording of that report.

“EXPLODE MYTH OF HOSTILITY BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION,” says Bishop Beck.

That science and religion walk hand-in-hand today was the theme of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, Rt. Rev. G.A. Beck, when he addressed the boys of St Gregory’s Secondary Technical School, Ardwick, at their first-ever speech day held in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, last Friday evening. He said that the old myth of the nineteenth century that in some ways there must be hostility between science and religion must be exploded. 

“The approach to reality, which is the way of the scientist, is along one road, just as the approach to reality that religion provides is along another,” he said.

The bishop said: “It is a wonderful thing that we should have the opportunity in Catholic education of training first-class technicians and scientists in the work that is the hope of the world. It is important that we should be producing Catholic technicians and scientists in the world today, and it is particularly important that the boys should not only be good Catholics but good technicians and scientists as well.”

Speaking of nuclear developments, the bishop said: “Religious education was of first-class importance, as the power that rests in the hands of the scientists and technicians at the present time is frightening. It should be realised that man is concerned not merely so much with the control of the powers of nature as with the assurance that when he has these powers, he will use them for the right purpose.

“It is important that there should go forward with the development of the scientist and technician a moral training and an understanding of his responsibilities towards his fellow-men, which will not allow him to embark on something which would lead to their destruction.”

Earlier, the Bishop had heard a half-hour concert given by over 150 members of the school choirs, and choral speaking of three choruses from T.S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral”. Thanking the boys for their delightful entertainment, he said: “It was always encouraging and inspiring to see the artistic and aesthetic side of school life developed as it is at St Gregory’s.” He mentioned that he had seen a performance of a drama at the school earlier in the year, and was impressed by the level of dramatic achievement.

The bishop also commented on the increased number of boys staying at the school for the extra year. “It is a very happy thing to see that parents have recognised the value of the work done at the school, and are giving their boys full opportunity to develop their talents,” he said.

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