2o6 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 1914 



As previously remarked, from Gannicox pit the Members went to the 

 Senior Council School at Downfield, where they were received by Mr W. 

 Thompson, one of the Managers, and Mr H. Roberts, the Head Master. 



Various questions were asked touching the financial conditions under 

 which the School is worked and the method adopted in selecting boys from the 

 Elementary Schools. Mr. Thompson referred to the visit paid the School by 

 Mr Ashbee, of Chipping Campden, the well-known experimentalist in art 

 handicraft, and the warm tribute of commendation offered by him on the 

 tuition imparted at the School, and the results so far achieved. Then the 

 Members saw the class-rooms, rooms for metalwork and woodwork, and the 

 loom-rooms (Textile School). It was explained that the School was the first 

 of its kind in the county. It was intended for the brighter boys from the 

 Elementary Schools of the district, who go there for a three years' training, 

 in which hand-work played an important part. The aim is not to produce 

 boys for any particular calling, but to give them a sound training, awakening 

 their interest by practical work of general utility. Much of the necessary 

 English, arithmetic and drawing is linked up with the work done by them in 

 the workshops. Unfortunately, the necessity or anxiety for wage-earning 

 took away many of the boys before their general education was complete, at 

 their most important and susceptible age (14 to 16), and often not for the 

 vocations for which they showed most aptitude. 



Interest was displayed at the provision made at the adjoining Textile 

 School for helping those who are engaged in the textile industry and wish 

 to become more expert and gain additional technical knowledge. 



Re-joining the brakes the Members drove to Mr Northam Witchell's 

 residence " The Upper Birches," to see his fine collection of flint-implements 

 from the Stroud district and some mammoth teeth collected by his father from 

 Gannicox and Cainscross. 



Afterwards Mr A. J. Morton Ball very kindly entertained the Members at 

 tea at " The Green," and exhibited his fine collection of tusks and teeth taken 

 from the gravel at Cainscross. Subsequently he invited his guests to join 

 him on his spacious and picturesque lawn, where a varied collection of hand- 

 some trees was much admired. Before separating Professor Ainsworth- 

 Davis, in the name of the Club, thanked Mr. Morton Ball and Mrs Jack Ball 

 for their generous hospitality, and in reply Mr Ball expressed the hope that 

 when next the Club favoured Stroud with a visit he might enjoy the company of 

 Members for a longer time, and that they would also be able to inspect the 

 Stroud Museum, which, he was pleased to say, was now being arranged. 



[W.T.] 



EXCURSION TO BEVERSTON. TETBURY and WESTONBIRT. 



Tuesday, June 9th, 1914. 



Directors : The Rev. J. N. Bromehead and Messrs L. Richardson, 



Rattray, Arthur Chapman and Alexander. 



{Report by L. Richardson and W. Thompson.) 



Twice within a fortnight the Members of the Club foregathered at Stroud 

 G.W.R. Station, the first Excursion being confined almost within the Umits of 

 the Urban District area, and the second taking them on to the breezy uplands 

 in the neighbourhood of Beverston, Tetbury, and far-famed Westonbirt. 

 From Gloucester Members of that city and those from Cheltenham were con- 

 veyed to Stroud in a motor char-a-banc, and in addition there were several 

 private motors. The passing of the horse so far as these excursions are 

 concerned is regretted by none, for not only is the Hon. Secretary able to 

 arrange far more extended trips, but the day's time table is carried out more 

 smoothly. There was a slight delay in starting on Tuesday, but as rain was 

 descending rather freely, Stroud and Cirencester Members did not object to 



