Guest of honour, and one of the oldest members of the school’s alumni, was 100-year-old Mrs Miriam Fields from Urmston. Miriam, together with six members of her family, who also attended the school, enjoyed an afternoon of birthday celebrations.
Miriam studied at Manchester High between1925-1931, and started an 89-year-long tradition for the women of the family to be educated at the school.
She said: “We didn’t have the opportunities the school offers these days; we had to pay for the gym and we didn’t study subjects such as music or drama. I loved poetry and I still remember the French and Latin poems we were taught. I would have liked to have done more languages such as Spanish. I travelled to school using the bus or a tram, but on occasion, I would walk to school to spend my bus money on sweets in Woolworths instead!”
Miriam added: “When I left Manchester High, I knew I had benefitted from a very good education. It was a privilege to attend the school and I went there with great pride. Every pupil in the school is given the chance to shine at something.”
Miriam’s niece, Mrs Stephanie Klass from Hale Barns, left Manchester High in 1967 to return to school as a Governor decades later. She said: “I think the school is very special and the education I received helped me to gain a place at Oxford University. I still believe in everything that Manchester High stands for and my role as a Governor enables me to ensure that the ethos of the school continues.”
Headmistress, Mrs Claire Hewitt, said: “We were delighted to welcome this amazing family of former pupils back to school to join in our celebrations. Miriam was an inspiration to our girls who couldn’t wait to present her with flowers and a card, and meet her in person to talk about her school life when she was growing up. We are proud to have played such a key part in the education of these women and to have this connection with four generations of one family.”
