Oh dear. A "most unhappy" meeting in the early days of talks between the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music. Nearly 20 years later, the RNCM was built but it's clear from this short note that the journey was not going to be a comfortable one.
Expecting to be asked to give up their identity, have their management and staff questioned and feeling like they're being sold like a mill, the Northern School of Music would but its foot down many times over the coming years to ensure a fair deal.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

NSM notes on early days of designing the RNCM. The desire for a Royal Charter does not overpower the Northern School of Music's desire to be treated and seen as equal - being absorbed by the Royal Manchester College of Music is unacceptable!
They can't quite agree where it should be built but would like the new college to be ready in 1965 - they were sorely disappointed! The building was officially opened in 1973!

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

(holding)

This speech was given by Ida Gertrude Carroll to new and returning staff and students at the start of the school year in September 1959. Like the majority of her speeches this one begins with a prayer and hymns. In her prayer Ida Gertrude Carroll shows her great appreciation for both music and the Northern College of Music’s Founder Hilda Collens, for example in her prayer she states that “we are met together at this time to offer our thanks for his gifts of music and literature” before she goes on to ask that the school remember Hilda Collens “Who planted in fertile soil the seed of music and dedicated her life’s work to god and the furtherance of her art.” Following the prayers and hymns Ida Gertrude Carroll gives details on the schools activities, such as the schools sponsoring of a boy from Barnardo’s, and the need to elect a student committee. However she also makes sure to reassure students that no two people are alike and that each individual must set their own level of achievement, and that no matter what issue they have, big or small, she is always there for them to talk to.

Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1959
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This is a speech given by Ida Gertrude Carroll at the start of the spring term January 1959, beginning with the hymn Jerusalem and a prayer. She talks about the upcoming visit of Alan Wicks who is giving a series of lectures, at the time he was at Manchester Cathedral but he then became the organist for Canterbury Cathedral in 1961, a role he would continue for nearly 30 years. She also discusses her hopes of arranging a visit from Dr Annie Warburton, who wrote some of the music textbooks used in the school, and her plans to throw an 80th birthday celebration for Mr Read who had come to assist the teaching staff. She ends her speech by asking students to remain where they are after the assembly as she wanted to take a few minutes to talk to each pupil individually.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1959
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Like most of Ida Gertrude Carroll’s speeches to her students this one begins with a religious reading, hymn, and prayer. She says that we all make mistakes in life but that the important thing is we learn from them, before taking about a few instances in the previous term when pupils fought with each other. She says these instances of “grievous words” cannot be repeated under any circumstances and that pupils who are having difficulty should come to her before resorting to “squabbling” amongst themselves. Ida Gertrude Carroll then goes on to say that the key to happiness is to open your heart to the service of the Lord and others and discusses how we all have fears but that we must not let that fear turn to jealousy. She finishes by assuring her students that no two people are alike and that they should simply be themselves as life is short and they need to make the most of it.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1958
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In this speech Ida Gertrude Carroll focuses on informing students about careers in music, she discusses the options students have to continue their education at the Northern School of Music or to take up a variety of roles including teaching and performing. The speech gives insight not just into the Northern School of Music but also into the careers students could have chosen. Ida Gertrude Carroll discusses how much graduate teachers can expect to be paid, including the fact that male graduate teachers received an annual rise of £25, whilst female graduate teachers would only receive £20. She then goes on to discuss some off the schools previous graduates, such as Dorothy Pilling and Dr Annie Warburton, and the successful careers they’ve had in music.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1958
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In this speech Ida Gertrude Carroll gives a religious reading followed by a prayer, she then follows this with hymn and a second prayer, one written in Samoa by Robert Louis Stevenson. This speech gives no information on the school itself, but it does show Ida Gertrude Carroll’s strong religious beliefs.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1958
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) leading the very polite charge against misleading branding of the newly formed Royal Northern College of Music. Ensuring that the "Royal" prefix is known as a new accolade of the new college (which includes the efforts of the Northern School of Music) and not just a continuation of the title awarded to the Royal Manchester College of Music.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This conversation between lawyers and accountants dealing with the merger of the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music reveals some interesting last minute sticking points of the NSM. It refuses to go into voluntary liquidation before the Royal Manchester does and it requires guarantees as to the provision of diplomas to current NSM students. It references a company seal that must be maintained in order to give out diplomas so cannot go into liquidation before other diplomas can be authenticated. It also mentions that it's unlikely that any capital will transfer to the new RNCM as the NSM runs on minimal budget as it is.
Formal gossip galore!

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music putting into writing its preferences for the kind of person that they foresee becoming the new principal of the Royal Northern College of Music. What do you think of their stipulations? A rather precise set of requirements, and all within a specified age range!

RNCM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In planning the Royal Northern College of Music, the Northern School of Music had to evidence their financial forecasting. How much it took to run the school and therefore how much staff at the new school would be expecting to earn. One of biggest disparities between the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Northern School of Music was the finances, it was a sticking point for the NSM that it ran its school on much less money. Getting a fair deal in finance was therefore a big issue when designing the new RNCM.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) here making sure that part-time and junior music students of the Northern School of Music as well as students of Speech and Drama Course at the school be considered when the forthcoming RNCM is being designed. Hundreds of students need providing for. The RNCM continued the Junior School on Saturdays and does to this day. The Speech and Drama students however could not be provided for in the end, and this became eventually part of Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Theatre.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) getting her committee ducks in a row to ensure that Northern School of Music gets as much clout on the steering committee of the RNCM as it is due.

Looks like the RNCM was expected to be ready in the mid-1960s.
[Narrator: it wasn't.]

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Lots of long sentences and legalese but I think these basically say "yes we can create the RNCM, let's get shifting shall we?".

I think?

Ref; NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) berating Kathleen Ollerenshaw here about the dangers of misrepresenting the Northern School of Music agenda at meetings to discuss the future RNCM. Ida didn't give an inch and didn't expect to, either.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The first rumblings of a merger between the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music here written about in 1956. It took nearly 20 years for it to complete as the RNCM. Due to both schools requesting funding from the local councils, a merger for the financial stability of music education and training was suggested instead. Here begins years and years of negotiations and determination from Ida Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) and co., to make sure that the NSM is not forgotten.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

College colours of the RNCM were a big political deal during the merger in the 1960s-1970s. The Royal Manchester College of Music had light blue, the Northern School of Music had dark green. The new college HAD TO have a neutral colour so that unconscious association wouldn't be inherited from either founder. Maybe a nice purple to reflect the forthcoming new royal college?

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music making their position quite clear here that their hard work and dedicated ethic to training music teachers will not be undersold and they will have an equal legacy as that of the more financially sustained Royal Manchester College of Music, when it comes to leading the merger creating the RNCM.

Like, serious business here.

RNCM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) here taking any and all newspapers to task on the subject of correct reporting of the future RNCM. How the new college was described in the public eye was vital to ensuring that the Northern School of Music's contributions weren't dismissed under the weightier title of the Royal Manchester College of Music, its merger partner.

I really do admire her tenacity and leadership.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) right in there making sure that the RNCM college colours don't just evolve from those of the Royal Manchester College of Music. John Manduell (1928-2017, Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music) quick to reassure her.
You ignored Ida at your grave peril.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A fateful mistake. Ida Carroll rebelled against the idea that the royal title simply by merit of the Royal Manchester College of Music's legacy, which would deny that the contributions of the Northern School of Music to the new RNCM were without royal credit.

Ooh did she have words.

RNCM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A strong letter from Ida Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) regarding the misleading reports that the Royal Northern College of Music inherited its title from the Royal Manchester College of Music.

Indicative of the worries that she had regarding the legacy and input of the Northern School of Music (which merged with the RMCM to form the RNCM), she wishes continually for the contributions of the NSM to be recognised in their own right as part of the new school. This was a theme for almost 20 years and corner she continued to fight.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Clifford Curzon (1907-1982, pianist) graciously declining the position of President of the proposed RNCM in Manchester on account of his thinking that the role should be taken up bu someone unbiased for the new college. The role was eventually accepted by the Duchess of Kent.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.