As we look ahead to the 125th Anniversary of St Hilda's in March 2021, we are preparing a publication to capture the school's journey from its foundation in 1896 to the present day. Much has changed in almost 125 years, yet much is the same. I found this snippet from the 1919 Chronicle, referencing the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918 and how it affected girls at St Hilda's - it seemed topical as we currently deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately, none of our staff have been infected by Covid-19, unlike poor Mrs Sanderson in 1918.

Gymnastics and Drill Report from the St Hilda's Chronicle, 1919

Towards the end of the third term of 1918 great preparations were being made for our drill and gymnastic competitions, which were to be held in the YMCA buildings. But when the date on which the competition was to be held drew near, and we went down to the YMCA to rehearse, the forms were so reduced by the girls being away with influenza that there were only seven or eight left in some of the forms. The drill competition had to be postponed, and as the authentic news of the signing of the Armistice came through on the Tuesday fixed for the gym competition (not to mention Mrs Sanderson succumbing to “flu” on that day), they had to be put off altogether and we broke up early for holiday. No cup or drill stripes were awarded for drill that term for the same reason.

By E D'Auvergne, April 1919