Miss Alice Hum
Taken from the eulogy at Alice Hum’s funeral by Gladys M.J. Marks (Reprinted from “The Friend” 23.11.1928)
Alice Nellie Hum was born in Tottenham in 1875, the child of David and Emma Hum (nee Roberts). They had three sons and two daughters, of whom she was the elder. At three years old she planned her career “to have a school.” The way was not easy, but she won through. She was at Northfield School, Stamford Hill, as pupil, student, and teacher. Meticulously faithful in the discharge of every duty, she was working early and late at home, plodding, persevering, concentrating at her private studies, qualifying in every sense for the work that was at once her choice and her vocation.
In 1905 she was ready. She took a small house in the Green Lanes, Palmers Green, and commenced her school with six pupils. Soon a second house was taken, and then a third. At this time, with her friend Miss Swannell, she was conducting evening training classes at Cripplegate Institute for would-be Kindergarten teachers, and these are still being carried on. In 1918 Avondale Hall was taken as a branch school. The boys were sent there, and their numbers soon grew to ninety-three.
Her cousin Elsie Roberts and her friend Esther Tempest had now joined as partners. The property was purchased, an upper storey was added, and Avondale Hall became the Palmers Green High School for Girls. The standard of education has been high from the commencement; the pupils having again and again taken distinguished places in Junior and Senior Oxford with Matriculation, whilst failures have ever been markedly few. So the school has grown steadily in prestige and to its present size; today there are 237 pupils. She was welcomed as a member of the Society of Friends, and of Tottenham Monthly Meeting on the 14th of the ninth month, 1916. Often she took part very helpfully in the ministry in Winchmore Hill meetings for worship. A fine education has been given in every sense of that word. Character has been shown to be the greatest possession, to be won that it might be spent in service.
