Ribblehead Viaduct

1960’s in a Yorkshire Dales classroom

Tue, August 4, 2020 by Charles Tyrer

Sue Dyde invites audiences around the world to travel back in time  and join her in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1960’s. As Mrs Thewlitt, Sue invites children to join Class 4T and learn about something very, very special. The Ribblehead Viaduct.

2020 marks 150 years since the building of this iconic Yorkshire Dales landmark. To celebrate Settle Stories has commissioned several new works to get people excited and inspired by the history and stories of the viaduct.

Yorkshire artist Sue Dyde has developed a new audio piece for Yorkshire Festival of Story. We caught up with her to find out more.

What kinds of research did you have to undertake to bring a 1960’s North Yorkshire classroom to life?

Not much research required as I went to school in the 60’s and 70’s! In addition, I asked friends and members of a community arts project I’m involved with in Bradford to send me their memories. (That was a really positive process for them at the time as we had just gone into lockdown and people were pretty discombobulated!) I’m also a teacher myself so drew on that loads.

Storyteller Sue Dyde

Storyteller Sue Dyde

What kind of teacher is Mrs Thewlitt?

She’s a combination of several wonderful teachers I had.

I absolutely ADORE Mrs Thewlitt – she’s the epitome of firm but kind and adores the children warts and all. She has no favourites and happily accommodates the children’s individual eccentricities. She is a perfect example of in loco parentis. The parents actually defer to her more than the actual headmaster as she has taught two generations of the villages children and there is very little she doesn’t know of the families. She has quietly helped many struggling families outside her role of teacher.

Her best friend is Mrs Craven-they’ve seen it all between them so she is very sad to see her go-but ever the professional she will not let it affect her performance one bit. She is also wheeled out when the school inspectors arrive and they just roll over!!

She is passionate about the power of narrative and the place of creativity in a child’s everyday experience of school. Also nutrition-she has done a lot to improve the standard of school meals in the region in her role on a committee for the local authority.

As I say-adorable!

What are the most surprising differences of school life in the 1960’s compared to modern day?

Nothing surprising as it is actually my experience but the major difference is the very predictable, regimented nature of school back then that whilst very comfortable and reassuring I actually found rather stifling. Modern classrooms are very much more fluid and sparkier but also more draining and demanding.

How does Mrs Thewlitt’s teaching style inspire and excite young minds?

Her love of teaching and the children underpins everything. They cannot help but flourish in such a rich environment. She’s also game for anything and has a great sense of humour. Children love that. Her class can’t wait to get to school each day to see what she’s come up with. Never a dull moment. She also makes sure every child gets their chance to shine.

Ribblehead Viaduct

Ribblehead Viaduct

Why choose the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct as the topic to teach?

It’s an important part of the children’s heritage.

It celebrates the extraordinary heights to which humans can aspire and hopefully will inspire the children in their own lives.

It is a remarkable example of human tenacity and resilience which she hopes will again inspire the children.

It’s a tremendous example of people uniting in a single endeavour-very strong sense of community evident on the project and some good examples of working practises and humane management.

It touches on the presence and the role that women and children played in such ventures and she is passionate about celebrating the lost histories of all ordinary people. 

What kind of things, moving forward, can we all learn from the construction of the Viaduct?

The power of community and what we can achieve if we all work to the same end.

Listen to Class 4T for free, here

Written by volunteer writer Jane Corbett

 

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