Heritage Doncaster

Dora Haigh

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Dora Haigh started her career in teaching at the age of 17, after leaving school, and went on to have 35 years in the profession. Dora witnessed major events of the new 20th century. She was unable to fulfil her personal dream of retiring to the seaside as her life, scarred by illness, came to a tragically early end.

Early Years

Theodora Lovat was born in 1880 into a normal working-class family in Mexborough, the third child of John and Sarah Ann Lovat. Dora worked hard at school and by the age of 18 she had sat her Scholarship Exam and started working at Garden Street Infants school in her home town. Dora married Oscar Haigh on 4 June 1900, and they had 2 children – Charles Beldon, born 3 September 1900, and Winifred, born 23 December 1903. Oscar was a master painter and decorator.

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“[Dora was] keenly interested in her work and very fond of the children under her care.”

Mexborough and Swinton Times, 30 September 1939

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Teaching Career

Dora returned to teaching in January 1905, becoming a Teaching Assistant at Mexborough Central Junior school, also known as Dolcliffe Road School. The school was closed twice that year. The first time, in May, was for the opening of the new Mexborough Montague Hospital. The second, in July, in honour of the King’s visit to Sheffield.

On Friday 20 May 1910 there was a general day of mourning for the funeral of King Edward VII. Dora, along with all teachers in the town, accompanied the children in a procession to the Primary Chapel on where a Children’s Memorial service took place.

The following year, Dora celebrated with the schoolchildren with a tea on the Coronation Day of King George V, 22 June 1911. This was preceded by a visit for all the children to a free cinematographic exhibition at The Electric Theatre.

Dora was transferred to the new school at Adwick Road, Mexborough on 14 January 1912 along with a group of scholars from Central School. In July, Dora and other staff walked with the children to Castle Hills to watch the King and Queen passing at 12:30pm before being given a half day holiday.

Dora was given responsibility for Handiwork in Standard I and II for the boys, and in October 1918 a visit was arranged, with the consent of the Chairman of the District Subcommittee, to Woodlands Council School to inspect Handiwork skills.  Following this, Dora started working at the Juvenile Unemployment Class in The Woodwork Centre on Thursday evenings. Dora finished working at Adwick Road School in June 1922. Dora then spent time working at Dale Road school in Rawmarsh.

Dora was a keen amateur operatic society member. The Mexborough and Swinton Times reported that she had performed in The Mikado and The Gondoliers. Dora’s husband Oscar was a well-known violinist and performed with her. The couple were hoping to move to Bridlington after their retirement in 1940.

Later Years

Unfortunately, Dora’s life was riddled with illness, resulting in many days, or even weeks, of absences from work. Some illnesses were in the family, such as a week off in January 1906 owing to measles in her family. Some illnesses were throughout the town, such as in January 1910 when Central Junior School could not open on the planned date of January 10 due to a Scarlet Fever epidemic. All schools were ordered to close until February 7. A medical inspection of all children in school followed later that month! Most absences for illness were however personal to Dora – from ‘sore throats’ or ‘fainting fits’ or general sickness resulting in one or two days absence, to weeks off due to ‘attending her mother who was seriously ill’ or by order of a doctor who ‘has ordered her to remain at home and has sent a certificate to that effect’ (3 June 1919). Dora’s longest absence began on 2 March 1921 when she had successfully undergone an operation and was be absent from school for a considerable time. Dora returned to work on April 18.

Mrs Dora Haigh sadly died on Monday 25 September 1939 after suddenly collapsing in the street and not regaining consciousness. She had worked in the teaching profession for other 35 years, touching the lives of countless children across Mexborough.