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AYTON SCHOOL |
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Staff |
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Her friendliness to a newcomer remained fast as he or she grew into the community and she was always able, from her own experience of living, to listen sympathetically to one's problems and to give practical help whenever possible. She was also constantly concerned with the improvement of living conditions for both staff and children. Her nature is not merely one of sympathy and sweetness without purpose, however. She has recently described how a certain feeling of rootlessness led her to take to herself the task of acting as liaison between Sister and parents in case of illness and of San visitor to those members of the family who were temporarily out of commission. I have heard it said by mothers of sick children that a good deal of their anxiety has been put at rest through the knowledge that one who had herself known the anxieties of parenthood was in constant touch, and one can feel glad that she found in this work the sense of service that she had needed. As one got to know her better one discovered other things: Her happy relationship, for instance, with children of all ages, from the latest staff babies to the older boys and girls growing up in the school. Remaining young at heart herself, she could always enter into the youthful enthusiasms of those round about her. For example her interest in the activities of the Junior Arts' Association ; in the trout landed by the young member of staff ; in arranging material for the coming Sunday's First Meeting and the pleasure of discussing with members of staff the possibilities of producing a school play. She was just as much a friend to elderly people and found time to spend with the old friends of the School who were too ill or infirm to get to Meeting or to school functions. War and rationing, shortages and illness, the worry of school housekeeping and the innumerable day to day problems that arise in a boarding school were accepted with a courage which give the school cause for great gratitude. Those of us, and there are many, who hold her in great affection and esteem cannot help but be glad that in her retirement she is living a new life full of domestic and family interest. Her lovely home is a centre not only for her own children and grandchildren but for many Aytonians and their families and friends from Ackworth, who visit the Lake District. Edith is back in the part of
England which is her home, where she has shared with Stanley Carr the
pleasures of fell walking, rock climbing and an intimate knowledge of
the countryside and a feeling of kinship with its people. Already her
wide interests and sympathies are finding her a secure place for the
years ahead and we who remain at Ayton are happy in the knowledge that
her affection and encouragement are still with us.
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AYTON
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES |
There
must be several of us who have cause to thank the circumstances which
led us as young teachers first to Ayton. ' Thrown as it were, into the
maelstrom of lessons and preparation of lessons, duties and discipline,
we had to make our way to the best of our ability. Lucky indeed were
those of us who were received by Edith Carr, with the kindness and warmth
that were hers, imparting the sense that someone in the school had an
eye for one's creature comfort and sympathy for a young teacher's difficulties.