BIDDULPH

asking if a favour might be granted me by the County Educational Authorities - Miss Awdry advised me to write to you as being specially interested in Children's Music. The position is this - for the last 18 months I have had a little class held here in my house (about 1 dozen children all from Rodmarton Elementary school) for Pipes & Percussion Band Music. Miss James inaugurated the class & since she left Miss Hamper L.R.A.M. of Cirencester continued the classes once a week - (She is a competent teacher having taken sold charge of the music, piano & singing at a Secondary School at Ramsgate County. She has also studied pipe making with Miss James & was at the Summer School this year at Oxford). My request is that the children, having now got past the stage of litter making & being able to use their pipes & instruments in a collective way, might I have permission for Miss Hamper to hold her class at the School for the last 3/4 of an hour of the School afternoon once a week - this would be a great convenience to the children & ensure regularity of attendance which is so difficult to arrange, especially in the winter months. I have ascertained that in the event of the Board of Education giving the necessary permission, the School Master, & the Manager's of whom I am one, would be prepared to consider my suggestion not unfavourably... We find it such terribly heavy work training the adult boys & girls who wish to take part in the Musical Festivals for which there are so many opportunities now-adays, when they are totally unfamiliar with the elements of music. This it is that makes me anxious tha the children should make good use of Miss Hamper's instruction which is given at considerable expense..., 2 sides 4to., Rodmarton headed paper, 16th December