First Appointments The building contractors in fact, handed over the building to the Authority on the contract date. i.e. 28th March, 1939. The very first member of staff at Greenford County School was Mr T. Williams of Hillingdon who was employed as full-time groundsman. He was also engaged for evening and week-end work in order to carry out the necessary stoking duties and supervision of the premises. He was also permitted by the County Authority to withdraw from his groundsman's duties as and when required to attend to delivery of goods. Because of the fact that Secondary and Elementary School children were to be using the School and in addition the Greenford Evening Institute would occupy the premises on four evenings each week from September, both a Caretaker (Mr W J Dossett of Ealing) at 70/- a week and a full time Assistant Caretaker (Mr W F Betts of West Hampstead) at 48/- were appointed at the end of June. (Mr Dossett was to find that by December the staff arranged that one of his many duties was to ring out the blackboard dusters every night in a weak solution of disinfectant.) The Governors tried to get a house near the School for the Caretaker but the County Committee were 'of the opinion that the renting of a house opposite the school would be too expensive and in the circumstances the question of a house for the caretaker will be deferred until houses are erected on the site east of the front of the school when arrangements can be made for one to be purchased.' (The question didn't seem to become urgent again although plans for building a house on the premises exist until 1977 when the Authority began another search for a house and finally, in May of 1978, Ealing purchased number 282 Ruislip Road.) Teacher Requirements In April the Ealing Higher Education Committee started its quest for teaching staff by issuing information about its plans for the school: Greenford County School will open in September with three forms of age range 11-12 years and two forms of age range 12-13 years. It is hoped that English, Geography and History may be taught as a unified group of subjects, at least in the lower school, and teachers are looked for who are willing to equip themselves, if they are not already fully equipped, to develop such a course. Similar co-operation between members of the staff will be desired in Science and Mathematics. The Senior Mistress will be expected to undertake considerable responsibilities in the General Organisation of the School, and will deputise for the Head Master in his absence. She will advise the Head Master in all matters relating to the welfare of the girls of the school. (She was to receive 50 a year extra for these duties.) The Head In June it was announced to the Ealing H E Committee that:- The Middlesex Authority have appointed Mr J W Withrington (of Orpington, Kent) as Headmaster from 1st September 1939. Mr Withrington attended Victoria University, Manchester, obtained BSc 1st Class Honours Mathematics in 1925 and MSc for Research in Mathematics in 1928. He attended London University Institute of Education part-time from 1933-36 and obtained MA by Research in Education in 1936. He at present holds the post of Senior Mathematics Master at the Addey and Stanhope School, New Cross. The salary payable will be 750 per annum rising by increments of 25 to a maximum of 1000 per annum. (In 1939 the average income was about 235 per annum today it is about 10500; a 3 bedroom house which today would cost 76000, in 1939 cost 750) IMAGE Mr J. W. Withrington The Original Five Five full-time assistants will be employed in the school from September 1939... The candidate provisionally appointed to the post of Senior Mistress failed to pass the medical examination (as did the first offered the Mathematics post) and the Appointments Sub-Committee reviewed the position. They decided that a further advertisement should be published inviting applications for the post of English Mistress and authorised the inclusion in the advertisement of a statement that at a later date, after satisfactory service, the candidate appointed may be offered the post of Senior Mistress. Miss M L Vale BA was appointed to the English post on 29 June 1939. The total number of staff were five. The others appointed were:- Miss L M Stonebridge BA (French) transfer from Ealing County School for Girls Miss M H Drayton BA (Geography and History) from Brackley, Northamptonshire Mr L James MA BSc (Science and Art) from Upminster. Essex Mr G L Beach BA (Mathematics, Music and Games) from Blandford, Dorset Miss Lynda E Bateman of Harrow was appointed as Secretary and commenced duties on Monday 12th June 1939 so that she could assist with the clerical duties arising during the suminer term. And so, buildings, staff all was ready to welcome the first pupils of Grcenford County School on September 14th, 1939. page 21