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grammar, technical and comprehensive schools. Abundant opportunities
are also provided for further education whether vocational
or cultural or merely for enabling persons to indulge in a particular
hobby.
A women's residential training college, the first to be established
by the London County Council, is located at Avery Hill and
provides for upwards of 360 students and is a constituent college of
the University of London. Woolwich Polytechnic, now catering
for nearly 700 full time students and over 2,000 part-timers released
by industrial concerns, is unique in that it is the only polytechnic in
the London area which may be aided by the local Council. Eltham
College, originally founded in 1842 as a 'Home and School for the
Sons of Missionaries' lies just beyond the Borough boundary in
Bromley and is recognised as a Public School.
The name Rachel McMillan is internationally famous, for the
McMillan sisters were the pioneers of nursery schools in the British
Isles and their avant garde methods met with world wide acclaim.
To cater for an increasing demand for this type of education,
expansion and extensive adaptation is now taking place at the
College of Education based upon the original Rachel McMillan
Training College at the Deptford end of the Borough.
In the Roan Schools, founded in 1643 by John Roan the son of a
member of the Royal household when it was at the Palace of Placentia,
Greenwich has one of the oldest teaching foundations in London.
Most educational services are now under the control of the
I.L.E.A. or church organisations but there are still some private
schools in the area which are conducted independently of the Education
Authority and which cater for fee-paying pupils.
Within the Borough, the 'Arts' are well patronised and the
Rangers House on Blackheath is becoming noted for its art displays,
poetry reading sessions, etc. Recently, the building of a theatre on
the site of the old Parthenon Music Hall has been given the Council's
blessing and financial support. Municipal entertainment, especially
for the very young and the elderly, is a prominent feature in the
Council's policies.
Social centres providing for all shades of cultural and educational
tastes have been established at Charlton House, Kidbrooke House,
and West Greenwich House under the auspices of the Greenwich
Community Council in conjunction with the I.L.E.A. and, in this
connection, it can be stated that there are upwards of 178 clubs and
societies affiliated to this Community Council.
Besides Associations for rowing and barge sailing, the local sports
clubs include the famous Blackheath Football Club (the oldest of all