Elsa Mary Carroll (1898-1993, founder of the Withington Girl Guide Company) dedicated her life to education and girl guiding. Sister of Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music), the family made a huge impact on young people of the North West. Here are some delightful images of the guides from the Carroll family's archive.

Ref: Add-Carroll/4
Date is approximate.

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

Elsa Mary Carroll (1898-1993, founder of the Withington Girl Guide Company), sister to Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music), with her medal of Member of the British Empire awarded i 1979.

Ref: Add-Carroll/4

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 and principal of the Northern School of Music) speaking at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1990, where she was Dean of Management and Chair of the College Old Students' Association.

Ref: Add-Carroll/4

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

Gorgeous little list of family history information from Geoffrey Griffiths (?-1993, bursar of the Northern School of Music). "Griff" as he was known was the life-long companion to Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music).

Ref: Add-Carroll/4

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

Another letter full of memories of Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music) and her family. This time written by bass-baritone singer Leslie Auger.

Ref: Add-Carroll/4
Address redacted.

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 lovely letter from Audrey Oldham on her impressions of Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music). Audrey was a student at the Northern School of Music where Ida was principal.

Ref: Add-Carroll/4
Address redacted.

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 the archive we even have archived memories of some of the Northern School of Music staff. This is a written tribute by Margaret Hutton about Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music).

Ref: Add-Carroll/4 (address redacted)

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 lovely letter full of personal updates with gossip from friends and family along the way by Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music).

Ref: Add-Carroll/3

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 gorgeous penmanship is by Walter Carroll (1869-1955, father of Ida Carroll, teacher, composer and music education professional). He's writing to a Stella (unknown) about the lovely gloves she made him as a gift.
If only all correspondents had such neat handwriting, my job would be a lot easier.

Ref: Add-Carroll/3

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 little separate P.S. note to Neville Duckworth (clarinettist) from Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music) about the school's goss.

ref: Add-Carroll/3

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 lovely chatty letter from Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music) to Neville (possible Duckworth?) full of updates and gossip about the Northern School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music.

Ref: Add-Carroll/3

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) was principal of the Northern School of Music, after starting life as one of its students. She taught piano and double bass and was dedicated to the NSM. This is the programme from a thanksgiving service dedicated to her work and life.

Ref: Add-Carroll/2

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

It's not often you get such a relaxed photograph in the archives! It makes a nice change from formal portraits and performances. These are Northern School of Music students having a lark in what is likely All Saints Park on Oxford Rd.

Ref: Carroll/IGC/11
Ownership: Ida Carroll Trust

This is absolutely gorgeous. A double-bass themed print given to Ida Carroll from three grateful musicians, Vincent Billington, Irene Wilde and Hubert Harry. Absolutely lovely.

Ref: Carroll/IGC
Ownership: Ida Carroll Trust

This is the Northern School of Music as it stood on Oxford Road just opposite All Saints Park! Does anyone remember it?

Ref: Carroll/IGC/11
Copyright: Ida Carroll Trust

The uncompromising Ida Carroll here in the middle of this beat up photograph. Not sure who it is flanking her. Anyone recognise these faded faces?

Ida Carroll was a student and then principal of the Northern School of Music.

Ref: Carroll/IGC/11
Copyright: Ida Carroll Trust

This is an item from Ida Carroll's family photograph collection. There's no information on it but we could assume it is either a photo of her school or Sunday school chums. Ida (b.1905) would have only been a little girl at the time.

Ida Carroll was student and later principal of the Northern School of Music.

A fabulously printed programme of the Northern School of Music (then the Matthay School of Music) student concert from the 1930s.

Ref: NSM/20

The Northern School of Music's magazine. The school was originally called the Matthay School of Music (Manchester Branch) as it was part of the educational influence of Tobias Matthay, a pianist who had a major impact on how piano-playing was taught.

The chap who was supposed to have run the school originally, Percy Waller, enlisted pretty soon after WW1 broke out so the principal-ship of the school was given to a Matthay student Hilda Collens, who in turn direct the Matthay School to become the incredibly influential Northern School of Music.

Ref: NSM/21

This gorgeous be-tasselled scarf belonged to Kathleen Collins and is from the Northern School of Music when she was a student there.
Sadly Kathleen died before she was able to donate it in person but her amazing family made sure that it came to the RNCM Archives per her wishes. We are so grateful to have it with us.

Ref: KC

If you know Oxford Road in Manchester you may be shocked to learn that this is All Saints Park! The Palace Hotel's clock tower is peaking out just in the background.

These are students of the Northern School of Music having their annual picture taken.

Ref: NSM/13

We're not sure of the date of this. We think possibly 1940s but do let us know if you've a better idea. This is an image of students of the Northern School of Music with who we think is its founder and principal Hilda Collens in the middle.

Ref: NSM/13

The Northern School of Music magazine from 1970. Just the cover and back for now with the gorgeous crest on but there will be more coming soon!

Ref: NSM/21