Puzzling entry in diary, Whitworth & Manchester

[yelkcub]

In a diary for 1927 there is an entry which reads: ‘13 December: Marjorie and I went into Manchester for interview for Stockwell College.’ The entry, I think, was written by Marjorie Horsfall’s mother, Ann. Marjorie was born in 1910, so would have been 16 or seventeen at the time. I find no mention of a Stockwell College in Manchester. There was at some time a college of that name in Bromley. This was a working-class family, Marjorie’s father a ‘delver in a stone quarry’, the family living in Whitworth. Any thoughts?

[Jool]

‘13 December: Marjorie and I went into Manchester for interview for Stockwell College.’

The diary entry says 'an interview FOR Stockwell College', not AT Stockwell College.
My guess would be that Marjorie had an interview locally for a place at the college in Bromley.

[yelkcub]

Thanks for that reply, and I'm sure you must be correct. [Marjorie's mother's prepositions were, throughout the diary, rather hapharzard, and I hadn't picked up on the 'for'] It would seem, then, that Marjorie's interview was for a scholarship: next job will be to look into Marjorie's post-1927 life. In fact Marjorie had an uncle who, before the Great War, had qualified as a pupil-teacher. Thanks. again, and best wishes.

[CaroleW]

There is no Marjorie Horsfall birth in 1910 - 2 in Bradford in 1913 & 1914

[yelkcub]

Hi Carole
Sorry––it's me tying myself in knots. My research is basically into the Horsfall family. Marjorie's mother, Ann, was a Horsfall before she married Ingham Whitaker. The Stockwell College reference in the diary interested me for a particular reason: Ann's brother (so, Marjorie's uncle) James became a teacher under the pupil-teacher scheme and trained in London, I'm guessing that he too attended Stockwell College with a scholarship. I have posted before about James Horsfall; I have resumed the quest after a long absence from family history, and am looking into everything that might lead me to discover what became of James after his 1924 imprisonment. These diaries, very kindly found for me by Whitworth Museum, quickened my interest, as some of the entries refer to Marjorie's 'Uncle James'. Unfortunately, there are no James references after 1924.
Best wishes.

[CaroleW]

Marjorie never married

Deaths

Marjorie Whitaker aged 51 Sept qtr 1961 Blackpool 10b  379

There is a probate entry for her but no will- she died 8.7.1961 her address 25 Norkeed Rd Little Bispham Blackpool.  Administration was granted to James Frederick Norman Whitaker - warrant officer.  I checked births & he was her brother b 1917.  The family can be found on the 1939 Register

Births Mar 1917   
Whitaker    James F N   mmn  Horsfall    Rochdale    8e   86

JFN Whitaker also died in Blackpool - he married in 1963 to June Lovett Sidebotham born 1932 Conway died 2019 in Suffolk

James Frederick N Whitaker aged 82  Born 11 Jan 1917
Aug 1999  Blackpool  Reg number B4D   District and Subdistrict 5811B   Entry Number    204

[yelkcub]

Thank you so much for this, Carole. This importantly extends my knowledge of the wider Horsfall family. I feel amazingly lucky to have come across these diary fragments, courtesy of one particular Whitworth Museum researcher. I had previously deposited a copy of my ongoing research, and how I have this data to add.

The diary has helped fill in some detail about the early life of my father, Frank, born 1926. His mother [Mary, known as May Horsfall, Anne's sister] married Chriss Horsfall. After giving birth to my father, May spent long periods in hospital, while Frank was looked after by various family members, chief among whom were the Whitakers. Marjorie, as a 15-16 year old, played a large role in my father's infancy. I was sorry to read, in the information you sent me, that she had died so young.

Many thanks again!

[hanes teulu]

Rochdale Observer, 1 Sep 1926

Among those listed against "Form Upper 5a" is a Marjorie Whitaker.

[yelkcub]

Bore da, h.t. a llawer o ddiolch. Our Marjorie was clearly an intelligent young woman!