Children of Frederick and Anna Maria Andrews

Facing the centre of the main building, but on the opposite side of the quadrangle, of Ackworth School, is a glorious copper beech, in full leaf, that was planted in 1879, to commemorate the centenary of the schools foundation. It was planted by Miss Margaret Andrews, at that time the diminutive four-months-old daughter of Frederick Andrews, the "head" of honoured memory, and she used an ivory-handled silver trowel, bearing an inscription setting out the event.

Miss Margaret Andrews, Ackworth School, near Pontefract; Miss Margaret Procter, Ben Rhydding; and Miss Janet Procter, Ashcroft, York, have on view in the south gallery of the York Exhibition a number of pictures which they have painted, and which form a very interesting and attractive collection. They have adopted the French "premier coup" or impressionist style, and their work shows a distinct advancement of the art in York and district. [ . . . ]

Miss M. Andrews is the most extensive contributor to the gallery having over forty examples from her easel on the walls, A large work entitled “A Cottage Garden" is remarkable for its bold treatment and gorgeous colouring of the flowers. "Market under the trees, Jouy” and "Flower Market, Chartres," are studies which display Miss Andrews' powers as a colourist, and her deft handling of lights and shades. Her whole collection is extremely meritorious. The exhibition will be open until December 3rd.

Andrews of Ackworth

I understand that Councillor Margaret Andrews is presently leaving Ackworth for Scarborough, where her father, Mr. Frederick Andrews, the former head of the famous Quaker school, is in retirement. Miss Andrews, who has this week laid one of the foundation-stones of Ackworth's new houses, received her first silver trowel when she was four.

MISS MARGARET ANDREWS

The death is reported from Rome of Miss Margaret Andrews, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Andrews, the former head master of Ackworth School. Miss Andrews, who was 56, was a sister of Miss Helen Andrews, who is in charge of the Guest House, at Cober Hill, Cloughton, near Scarborough.

Miss Andrews was a member of Hemsworth Rural District Council when she was at Ackworth.

Her public life began early for, at the age of four months, she planted a tree at the foot of the girls' green as part of the Ackworth Centenary Celebrations in 1879. After a short period of school life at Scarborough, she went to the Mount School, where at first she had the distinction of being both the youngest and the tallest girl. She early developed considerable artistic talent, and went to the Slade and later to the Paris Salon to follow art as her career.

When the new Headmaster's House was built at Ackworth, she returned to act as housekeeper for her father. She had accompanied him on his tour round the world, and had brought back many sketches made during this unforgettable experience. She fitted into the life at the school with happy results for everyone, for a period becoming drawing mistress on the boys' side. Her help was always sought for every sort of entertainment and her histrionic ability, especially, was of a high order and continually being called for. She spent the early years of the war in Canada with her sister Gertrude. But her great longing was to do something for mothers and babies. She started her Babies' Welcome at Ackworth with the valued help of Dr. Qyston and at the same time was elected on the Rural District Council. She had trained and taken her C.M.B. at the Royal Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh.

For the last 15 years of her life she gave whole-hearted devotion to infant welfare work in London, where she was first of all Superintendent of the Bermondsey Club for Mothers and Babies, and later Superintendent of the Infant Welfare Centres, Hampstead. She was President of the Ackworth G.S.A. in 1925-6. Never sparing herself, she broke down in health, and under doctor's orders went to winter in Rome.

Messrs. R, and J. Beck Limited, 68, Cornhill, E.C., have issued another edition of "Photographic Lenses" (1s.). Messrs. Conrad Beck and Herbert Andrews, the authors, combine the two qualities of simplicity and clearness, and their explanations of what is usually expressed in mathematical formulas and abstruse language will be appreciated by all amateur photographers.

HERBERT ANDREWS (scholar 1889–1894), the only son of Frederick and the late Anna Maria Andrews, was born at Ackworth on 18th March, 1880. When nine years old Herbert entered the school as day scholar. He quickly made his way through the classes, reaching the first class when twelve years old. Here he stayed for two years before going to Bootham School, York. Ackworth boys have the reputation of getting on at Bootham, and Herbert Andrews proved to be no exception to the anticipation.

In school hours and out of school hours he showed more than average ability. In later years he had the satisfaction of captaining the Foxes Football Club team against both Ackworth and Bootham Schools.

He left York in 1897, after Matriculating and winning the scholarship and the coveted Natural History Prize.

On leaving York Herbert Andrews entered upon business life in London in the employ of R. and J. Beck, Ltd, Cornhill, Manufacturing Opticians and Camera Makers. He soon made himself a most important position, taking the post of manager of the Photographic Department, and finally becoming a director of the Company.

He took the principal part in the writing of a book on Photographic Lenses, published by his firm, of which some 13,000 copies have within a short time been sold.

In the early summer of 1904 he contracted a severe chill. He recovered sufficiently to call at his business in the city and to proceed to the home of his fiancée in Kendal, on a visit for rest and recuperation. Unfortunately the journey proved to be too great a tax on his lowered vitality, and on reaching Kendal he was obliged to take to bed again at once.

A time of great anxiety to his relatives and friends followed, and though at one time there seemed to be a fair prospect of a return to health and strength, it was not to be, for on October 19th, after many weary weeks of suffering, alleviated to a large extent by devoted watching and nursing, he passed away very suddenly in his twenty-fifth year.

Ackworth Old Scholars' Association, Annual Report, 1905 

Ackworth Land Girls' Guild.

A little circle of land workers met on Sunday, March 10th, at Ackworth School. There were two members of the Land Army and three other land workers. We had a very jolly tea together and talked about the library which we are starting in the district and other means of enlivening the girls, who live so far from each other in our neighbourhood. We were fortunate enough to have struck a day on which there was a charming lecture in the School Hall on "English Spring Flowers." In breaks between the slides a gentleman with a glorious baritone voice sang us some grand classical songs. Needless to say, we all enjoyed our evening and are convinced our little Guild will flourish.    HELEN ANDREWS.

COBER HILL GUEST HOUSE.

A MOST PROGRESSIVE LITTLE COMMUNITY.

Cober Hill, the Guest House at Cloughton (near Scarborough) "between the heather and the Northern sea," has soon become the centre of a progressive little community, and when a movement which aims at encouraging a love of handicraft work was formally begun here this week, yet another step forward was made in a definitely educational campaign.

The many artistic products already on view reveal that a fascinating form of home industry has been started which is not unlikely to have far-reaching results. Though still in its early stages, the movement does give distinct promise of helping to brighten the life of that often monotonously dull place, the remote English village.

Eight or nine women students are here in residence, and they are quickly learning, under the care of Miss Helen Andrews, the manageress of Cober Hill, and a capable staff, how to do embroidery work, weaving, pottery painting, rug-making, toy-making and raffia work. Two good-sized hand looms had been fitted up in one of the rooms overlooking the sea, and by means of these some really fine work is expected to be produced, of ornamental value as well as of use in the home.

Useful Work.

More students will arrive during the nest few months, and before the close of the present season, which extends throughout the winter, roughly 40 of them will probably have passed through the course. Resident students are not the only ones who benefit from the movement, however, for Miss Andrews also holds similar classes in Cloughton village for several of the women inhabitants.

As time goes on parties of men will, perhaps, be induced to come here as well for a class in household repairs, such simple plumbing, plastering, distempering, glazing and so forth. But if the course is simply confined to women—and with those from Yorkshire now here, there is one from as far afield as Derbyshire and another from Lincolnshire—a very useful piece of service will have been done, for they will be able to take their knowledge into their own villages and towns, where, through their initiative, local efforts in handicraft can be begun and developed. Moreover, Miss Andrews is anxious to have a short course of training for teachers during the Christmas holidays.

On Danish High School Lines.

Mr. Frederick Andrews, the late headmaster of Ackworth School, who presided the opening of an interesting exhibition of work done and in process of completion, pointed out that one of the gratifying results of the recent war was the way in which various classes of society had been brought together. Village life was apt to become drab, but since the war many people had been determined to make it brighter.

Mrs. J. E. Rowntree opened the exhibition, and in alluding to the educational activities at Cober Hill, said the promoters of the Guest House hoped to develop it on similar lines to the Danish high school principle. Some of them, in fact, were contemplating a visit to Denmark in order to gain first-hand knowledge of what was being done there.

Miss Andrews outlined the programme it is intended to carry out, and explained that the handicraft work could be done by anybody with unlikely materials for barely any cost. It was an enthralling occupation, she added, and behind her efforts was the idea of developing in the individual worker a sense of initiative.

"I am a born farmer, and craft work is the outlet of the agricultural mind." So Miss Helen Andrews, the head of the handicraft centre at Cober Hill, near Scarborough, explained the origin of the work which has been done at Cober Hill, and the reason for the development about to be undertaken there. This is a proposal for teaching "home craft" as it is understood in Scandinavia.

During the war Miss Andrews had charge of the women land-workers in Cumberland, and, with a view to making their lot not only tolerable, but interesting and worth while, she set to work to teach them handicrafts in their spare time. When the Guest House at Cober Hill was started by the conversion of Sir Frank Lockwood's old home, and Miss Andrews became head, she introduced courses for the training of teachers in handicraft during the winter months.

[ . . . ]

A Place in the. Sun.

Sir,—We are having a marvellous autumn at Cober Hill. Our sun records, which we keep for the Ministry of Air, show the following figures for the past 10 days:—

Friday, 13 November, 6 hours.

Saturday, 14 November, 6¼ hours.

Sunday, 15 November, 7 hours.

Monday, 16 November, 7½ hours.

Tuesday, 17 November, 4½ hours.

Wednesday, 19 November, 7 hours.

Thursday. 19 November, 6½ hours.

Friday, 20 November, 7½ hours.

Saturday, 21 7 hours.

Sunday, 22 November. 7½ hours.

It is so hot we have been sitting out all day in our gardens. All this shows that folk need not be afraid of an extra holiday at Cober in the winter.

This is the last winter school before I leave Cober Hill. We are running it for three months after Christmas. We teach all kinds of lovely handicrafts, and have lectures on our glorious district. The life together is a very happy one. I want our Bradford friends to know, because, though I am not leaving Cober till May, 1938, we shall not be having a winter school in 1938, as my successors will want new things doing before they start.

HELEN ANDREWS.

General Manager.

Yorkshire Guest House and Conference Centres.

Cober Hill, Cloughton, Yorks.

"Can Spring Be Far Behind?"

Sir,—" Oh, what is so rare as a day in J——!" I wonder if Lowell was right, for this week we have had day after day so perfect that one almost felt it was spring, indeed, here, instead of mid-winter. We have collected flowers for floating bowls. Mine contains two fragrant rose buds (they belong to last year really, but they are still lovely), primroses, daisies, marigolds, which bloom all the year round here, the first primrose, and snowdrop and the heavenly blue hepatica, which is always our herald of spring.

Some talk of the blue of the Mediterranean, and I have seen it, but here, when it is blue, the sea fascinates me. It is as deep as the Mediterranean at times, and yesterday there were shades and shades of green, varying from palest lime to beautiful rich olive as a foil to this wonderful blue, and the whole set off and balanced by the burnt orange colour of the damp bracken. Gorse has begun to flower. I have felt spring in my bones for' several days.

This came when I noticed the sun was again high enough to shine on my garden at breakfast time. My garden slopes to the north, and I was very soon out with my tray. I had such a treat, too. A pair of bullfinches picked at the buds off my loganberry. It had been much too previous, and I dare say it will do it good. Have you ever seen the female bullfinch? She's the most beautiful black-headed lady with lime-green waistcoat where her husband's is crushed strawberry. They are destructive little people, but my gardener says all birds do more good than harm.

Even when my peacock ate all his spring onions, he said very philosophically: "I never felt those onions were really worth the trouble of growing for a Guest House!"

The clarity of the air is a Joy at this time of the year, and we have all escaped influenza besides helping several convalescents back to health. The East Coast of Yorkshire is, indeed, a healer at this time of the year.

HELEN ANDREWS.

Cober Hill, Cloughton.

UNWANTED AUSTRIANS PREPARE FOR NEW LIFE, MAY COME TO ENGLAND

ON the banks of the Danube a band of unwanted Austrians are preparing themselves for a new life— learning to use a pick and shovel, hardening their bodies for work on the land.

In London, members of the Society of Friends are planning to bring them to England to teach them intensive horticulture and settle them on friendly shores.

Organising this work is Miss Helen Andrews, a county magistrate in the North Riding of Yorkshire, who for many years was in charge of the Friends’ Guest House at Cober Hill, Cloughton, near Scarborough.

"We are trying to find accommodation for a band of Viennese Christians who are unwanted in their own country, and want to settle on the land," Miss A. Drews [sic] explained to an Evening Despatch reporter to-day.

"They mostly young married people have camped on the banks of the Danube and are hardening themselves on the land by building up the banks of the river.

For Experience

"They want to come to England to get experience in land settlement work, so that they can pioneer in a younger country. They not agricultural workers, but as the younger countries will only accept settlers who can work the soil they are determined to adapt themselves to the work.

"We want to help them. Already I have received offers of suitable accommodation in Wales, Hampshire and Wiltshire, where small parties can live and learn land work, but we need more help.

"We want the loan of houses with land attached where parties of about 30 can be settled. Anywhere in the country will do."

"Since she was called to London three weeks ago to undertake this work, Miss Andrews has obtained over £300 towards the expenses of the scheme she is organising and received several offers of houses.

Premises Needed

"If someone will give us the necessary premises, we can keep these refugees for 12s. 6d. a head per week for an indefinite period," she told me.

"We hope to be able to train them in six to 12 months, and then assist them to settle in countries like Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, and one or two other countries where land workers are admitted."

The Settlement of 180 Viennese will not solve the Austrian refugee problem. There are 300,000 non-Aryans in Austria for whom homes have to be found in other countries. But it should provide valuable data for the inter-Governmental committee on refugees.

ANDREWS, Helen (Scholar 1892–1898), was born at Ackworth in 1884, a daughter of Frederick Andrews. She inherited her father's prowess at games and his outstanding integrity and strength of character. She trained as a gymnastic and games mistress and held posts in schools at Southport and Penketh before being appointed by the West Riding CC to introduce gymnastics at Normanton and Castleford.

In the First World War she joined the Women's Land Army, where her organising skill and ability were found most useful. Later she played a prominent part in Friends' Relief Work in Europe. The best remembered incident was her purchase and transfer from Holland to Austria of a large herd of cows and bulls to save the children of Vienna from malnutrition.

Helen Andrews was skilled in various handicrafts and in gardening and her knowledge and experience were always at the service of Women's Institutes over a large area. As manageress of the Cober Hill Guest House at Cloughton, near Scarborough, she will be remembered with gratitude by those who worked with her and by hundreds of guests. Her work on the Parish Council, as Chairman of the R.D.C. Health and Housing Committee, as a school manager and as a J.P. will live in the memory of many local residents.

She was a former president of the A.O.S.A. and for many years a valued member of the Ackworth School Committee. She laid the foundation stone of the new classroom block in 1953 and throughout her life maintained a loyal and active interest in all that concerned the school. Her courage and presence of mind in the fire at the School Farm was a unique performance. No one else dared tackle the task of leading out of danger a newly arrived bull maddened by the danger. She offered to do so, merely stipulating that she should be provided with a piece of currant cake. This was brought and armed with it the dangerous adventure was successfully carried out.

After a life of vigorous health her final breakdown was a severe trial to her, but she bore the pain and frustration bravely. She will live in the memory of all who knew her as a staunch friend, a good administrator and a vivid personality, enthusiastic, forthright and very kind. She died at Scarborough on May 2 1958, aged seventy-four.

WALKER, Gertrude (Scholar 1894–1900), youngest daughter of Frederick Andrews, died in Kentville, Nova Scotia after a brief illness, on May 12, 1967, in her eighty-first year.

She was born at Ackworth on August 15, 1886. Her mother, Anna Maria (Lean) died in 1888 and her young cousin, Madeline Collinson, came to care for the four children. She attended Ackworth School and then went on to the Mount. After a period at home, looking after her father, she went to Bedford Physical Training College. In 1911, whilst teaching at the Dollar Academy, Scotland, she was twice chosen to play hockey for Scotland against England, at which games her performance as left-back was outstanding.

In the summer of 1912, she and her two sisters, Margaret and Helen, went on a caravan trip from York to Sandsend and Great Ayton and back, across the moors, navigating the steep hills with a strong-minded horse, Polly, with all the thrills attendant. This trip was written up in The Wheatsheaf of July 1912, by Margaret Andrews with photographs by Gertrude Andrews, entitled 'Three Old Maids and a Caravan'.

In November 1912, she left her homeland, her profession, her friends, to travel across the Atlantic to marry Frank A. K. Walker, Scholar (1897–1903) in Truro, Nova Scotia. They had three daughters, all of whom attended Ackworth School. Frank Walker passed away in 1940. She revisited England and Scotland five times, and her sisters both visited Canada, but it was her great regret that F.A. died without having done so.

She continued her interest and enthusiasm for games throughout her entire life: she played tennis, participating in Nova Scotian provincial tournaments until the club closed during the war years of 1939–1945. She then resumed her golf and played until 1965, again winning cups year after year competing with people half her age. She was a good swimmer: saved a life before she was married, and had been in the ocean the summer before she died. She was an enthusiastic spectator of cricket, baseball and ice hockey, both live and on television. She did volunteer work for the Red Cross during World War II. Throughout her life she maintained her membership in the Pontefract Monthly Meeting.

Gertrude Walker is laid to rest in a small cemetery at Chipman Corner beside her husband and his youngest sister. The cemetery is next to the house she lived in for the fourteen years of her married life. Her interest in young people was perhaps her most outstanding characteristic. They all loved her and found in her a vitality, courage and ready wit which will be greatly missed).