Willows School Summer Walking Holidays
For an amazing 17 years Frank Mason led parties of school children from the "Willows" on annual walking holidays to Youth Hostels in the Lake District, Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Arran. This section features Frank's written reports and photographs taken during these adventures. During the latter years Frank recorded the holidays on cine film and we hope to be able to expand the web site to include extracts from these 'movies' in the future.
Lake District 1958
On Saturday 31st May 1958 forty-nine pupils and three adults departed from Marple to the Lake District by train for the very first Willows School YHA holiday. For this 7 day trip a very comprehensive written daily diary was kept but no corresponding photos have been discovered. The record of the visit to the Lake District in 1959 was purely photographic, so a few images from 1959 have been included here to break-up the text. For all 1959 photos see the record for that year.
- Hits: 2831
Lake District 1959
Fifty-three pupils and seven adults attended the second Willows YHA School Holiday to the Lake District during Whitsun 1959.
This holiday record contains a list of participants and the first ever known photographic record of the Willows School holiday adventures.
- Hits: 2818
Scotland 1960
Fifty-five pupils, including several ex-pupils, and six adults attended the first Willows School YHA holiday to Scotland during Whitsun of 1960.
This holiday record contains a list of participants plus a photographic record of the group's Scottish adventures.
- Hits: 2996
Arran 1961
Fifty-three pupils including two from Marple Hall, several ex-pupils and six adults attended the first Willows School YHA holiday to the Isle of Arran during Whitsun of 1961.
This holiday record includes a list of participants and a photographic record of the trip.
- Hits: 3638
Wales 1962
Fourty-four pupils, including three from Marple Hall, plus four adults attended the first Willows School YHA holiday to Wales, staying at Kings Dolgellau, Snowdon Ranger and Capel Curig Youth Hostels between 13th and 23rd June.
This holiday record contains list of participants plus a comprehensive daily diary and photographic record.
- Hits: 3029
Lake District 1963
Twenty-seven pupils, including three from Marple Hall and one ex, plus four adults attended the third Willows School YHA holiday visit to the Lake District during Whitsun of 1963. This holiday record includes a list of participants and a photographic record of their escapades.
- Hits: 2900