LOCAL LEGENDS (11)
GEORGE HENRY ELLIOTT 1862-1921

George Henry Elliott, born 1862, trained at Winchester to become a schoolmaster from 1881-2. He arrived at West End's National School (on the corner of Chapel Road and the High Street) to take up his first post, commencing on April 2nd 1883. He was to stay for over 30 years and he certainly made his mark on the village.
He found himself with over 200 children on the books and only a pupil teacher (Edith Atkins) to assist him at first. The Rev. Charles Tudor Williams, the manager, was a frequent visitor who supervised him and the schools activities. He noted the school's log book that since Mr Elliott's arrival 'a sound and creditable improvement has been effected in tone, discipline and style of instruction'.

GEORGE HENRY ELLIOTT

From the start, Mr Elliott was dismayed at his scholars irregular attendance. He wrote in 1885,'Parents make most trivial and often false excuses for keeping the children away'.

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