Skegness Magazine

ESSENDON ENTERTAINMENT

The Essendon Girls’ School, Skegness, held its Christmas Entertainment on Monday afternoon, when a large number of friends and relations enjoyed the pupils demonstration of music, dancing and gymnastics it the School Gymnasium.

Beginning with Mozart’s “Overture to Zauberflote” and ending with a duet for two pianos, by Massenet, the musical programme included carols and part songs tastefully sung, and an interesting selection of piano pieces, played with a high degree of finish by Miss Kemp’s pupils.

The Headmistress, Miss Pagan, M.A., apologized for the unavoidable absence of the Rector, the Chairman of the School Company. She mentioned that all the candidates sent up for the Oxford Senior and Junior Local Examinations had been successful, and that the Royal Drawing Society certificates included twenty-two honours.

Miss Pagan drew attention to the Swedish system of gymnastics used in the school. It is the only system, she pointed out, that is founded on a thorough knowledge of anatomy and having for its aim the health of the whole body rather than the development of special sets of muscles. Consequently there is an infinite variety of movement from which the trained teacher can choose each day a programme that will issue no part of the body neglected.

The whole school led by two of the smallest, children commenced their demonstration by fancy marching in which changes of pace and step avoided all monotony for the on-lookers and kept the children’s minds fresh and alert in a manner impossible where a musical accompaniment imposes a certain mechanicalness. Arm movements, balance movements, heaving, vaulting and jumping succeeded each other in quick succession; rope and ladder climbing were extraordinarily well done as also a set of movements on the “horse” which showed remarkable proficiency and grace.

The dances which followed displayed evidence of a high degree of training, including old English and old French figures of the minuet type as well as country dances and arrangements in Hungarian and other styles designed by Miss Jones, the resident mistress for gymnastics, dancing and games.

At the conclusion Miss Pagan thanked her visitors for having given the children such an encouraging reception.
Tea was then served, after which the guests left to catch their respective trains for Nottingham, Spilsby, Boston and Lincoln.

Note: The Essendon Girls School was situated in the building now known as the Masonic Hall on the corner of Ida Road and Rutland Road.