First Letter From Fred Burtoft to David Lee Reminiscing About his Memories of Burncross School in the early 1900s, Dated 1981 (Page1)

David Lee was deputy head master at Burncross School at this time and was compiling a book about the upcoming centenary.  Fred Burtoft responded to an appeal for information in the South Yorkshire Times.

Transcription of letter:-

1. F. BURTOFT

‘BURTONIA’

142, DEVONSHIRE AVENUE,

SOUTHSEA, HANTS

 21st September 1981

 

Dear Mr. Lee,

In reply to your request in the issue of 4th September 1987  in “S.Y.Times” concerning Burncross School  - I would like to say how interested I have always been in that particular school - I have written several articles about its history and various anecdotes relating to happenings in that old building. ---I joined the school when I lived in Smithy Carr, Burncross (now demolished) – in 1899. --- at that time Mr. Elliott was headmaster – who went from High Green school – (where in the early 1870s – he was my father’s teacher) – and he stayed at Burncross until Lound School (Senior) was opened on May 20th. 1907. --- When I started at Burncross School – the only qualifications required were – that one could “walk and talk, - I was 3 ½ years old. --- I was put into what we then called the “rocking horse” room; – and on one of my walking holidays in the Chapeltown district – I called at the school – and mentioned the “rocking horse” as the biggest I had ever seen – and was told that it had been taken away in the 1960s – so to my knowledge it had lasted well over 60 years. --- I remember Mr. Sawdon coming to Burncross in 1900 – and became assistant Headmaster – and by the time I had reached Std 3 – he had got the name of “stick” man. --- If any boy (not girls) did anything wrong he received from 1 to 6 strokes with a yard-long x ½” thick cane. --- my favourite teacher was Miss Agnes Redfern – who was 92 when she died. --- I remember in Std3 we had a showcase – which we called “The museum.” – It had small rocks from local places like “Wharncliffe Crags” etc. and shells with miscellaneous other oddments  – which we thought at the time were wonderful. --- Since then I have travelled in 36 countries of the world – and was in Egypt when Carter found Tutankhamen’s

 

 

 

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Tomb on Nov. 24th 1922, - and have been in Temples of all the Eastern religions – from Turkey to China.

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