Photo Left: Mildred at the family home in Barnes. You'll spot many photos on the Hooke website taken on this wall at George & Ellen Hooke's house in Barnes, mostly taken at some point in the 1920s. Estimate - 1923 with Mildred aged 33.
Mildred studied at Cambridge University circa1909-1912, at the same time as William Farren, who became her husband much later in life in 1963. William's first wife was Carol Warrington who was known to be great friends with Mildred and I understand that the three of them were friends together at Cambridge in 1910-1912, though I don't yet have conclusive evidence of this.
Mildred began her teaching career in Birmingham in September 1912 at the same time as her sister Trixie followed in her footsteps as a fresher at Cambridge. You can read the letters from her father to Trixie during 1912-13 here. Many of them reference Mildred or were forwarded to her by Trixie or vice versa, and they include a description of George & Ellen Hooke's first visit to the school in Birmingham (20 October 1912) where Mildred's career commenced. The letters indicate that her first year as a teacher was challenging!
Here is what her father wrote to Trixie after travelling by train to Birmingham and meeting Mildred on the station.
Our first visit was to the school. Most of the face of the building belongs to the Boy's School. Only a comparatively small portion of one belongs to the Girls. Inside there are fine wide corridors and staircases like at St Paul's but perhaps a little higher. But the building is narrow so that 3 or 4 floors are necessary. I see that it was opened in 1896 but the first scholar given distinction by having her name on the walls passed her Higher Local in 1887. That I presume must have been when the school was held in temporary buildings... Mildred is finding her first term rather hard, - much harder than I had expected. It is a long term, it includes more examinations than usual, there are more corrections than usual on account of the exams and Mildred naturally finds everything strange. Next term is to be exceptionally short and when the summer comes I expect she will do things with less trouble.
You can see some photos of the school on the Staffs Homeguard website; click here for the relevant page.
At the bottom of this page is an image of the school.
Although her early experience of teaching was tough she quickly proved herself an excellent and popular teacher. One of her pupils, Christine Savery (sister of the author Constance Savery [1897-1999]) who was later awarded the MBE in the same year as Mildred (1953) wrote this in her diary:
"Miss Hook (sic) is our form mistress now she is rather decent" (19 Sep 1916).
The following term she wrote, "I took my crocodile to school and lent it to Joan. Miss Hooke saw it and confiscated it. She wouldn't touch it though" (2 Jan 1917).
A year later, aged 15 one of her letters revealed that, "Hookey says she doesn't think I ought to do gym any more she is going to talk to Teddy about it." (March 1918)
Finally, now aged 17, Christine wrote, "My report is awfully bad. Miss Hooke seems to think I haven't worked a scrap". (31 March 1920)
Below is what another pupil wrote (to Mildred's sister Ella - see photos right) when reminiscing about Miss Mildred Hooke on hearing of her death in 1977. Seventeen wonderful letters remembering Mildred were kept by her sister Ella Hooke who dealt with Mildred's estate on her death. These can all be seen here.
Photos: Right/Top - Ella c1920
Right/Bottom - Me (Graham Hooke) with my Great Aunt Ella and Granny (Elaine) Hooke, Spring 1980
7 Sherlock Road, Cambridge. CB3 0HR 31 December 1977
Dear Miss Hooke,
Thank you very much for letting us know of Lady Farren's death. I am very sorry. I had known her for a very long time, in fact ever since 1920 when I first went to King Edward's as a nine-year old child. It was because of her teaching that I became a mathematician. I owe her a great deal, as, I am sure, do many others.
B.G.O.E.C is of course the Birmingham Girls' Old Edwardian Club. The school address is K.E.H.S.G., Edgbaston Park Road, Birminghm B15 2UB.
I will try to write a short account for the school records of some of her lessons which I still remember. She was a very great teacher.
Yours sincerely,
Joyce Lintock
Here is what another ex-pupil wrote about her when thinking back to her King Edward Days:
Drewston House, Drewsteignton, nr Exeter EX6 6PN 6 Jan 78
Dear Miss Hooke,
Thank you so much for your letter - and I do send you very understanding sympathy on the loss of such a wonderful sister. I have always held her in much esteem & affection. It was pure delight to find she was my form mistress at the bottom of the middle school in KE days, - & then to have her again when she became form mistress of 3rd class - & later on taught me Higher Maths. But she was so much more to me, - I always felt I could take my troubles to her and have some kind and understanding help .
She must have been a wonderful JP .
I am glad you had some " quietly happy" days with her before she died. I do so agree with you that it is a heartbreaking task to clear up what has been a much loved home. It seems almost sacrilege. I always understood that she loved being near Cambridge.
Yes, we do live in a lovely part down here. I keep house for my son, who farms the 60 or so acres attached to the house. We came here from the Midlands after my husband died. I have had nearly 20 years of great content and happiness here and I love all the beautiful countryside and the quiet kindly people. But we suffer, like you do, from over busy councils who spoil all the banks and verges and wildflowers. My father was Sussex born and loved all the many orchids. How sad that they are disappearing. I think you will love that book by Edith Holden.
Again, thank you so much for telling me about "My dear Miss Hooke". She will always be a lovely memory to me - a truly wonderful lady.
with all kindest thoughts
yours sincerely
Violet Martineau
Next: Mildred Hooke - the Head Teacher
King Edwards School, New Street, Birmingham (1835-1936)
Leisure
Mildred and her sisters were not totally preoccupied with work. As single women without the resposnibilities of family, they liked to make the most of their leisure time, They enjoyed fell-walking and Mildred, Ella (I think) and Cyril were found at the summit of Snowdon on Easter day 1923, as can be seen in Mildred's photo album. (Mildred: OBE & Retirement).They enjoyed surfing in the sea at Bude and playing golf in 1928 after their mother had died. They also played tennis and loved to travel, in particular to Austrai where they also went snow-ski-ing as can be seen in one of these postcards.
