Miss Sybil H. Buckley joined the school in 1905 leaving at the same time as the first Headmaster in 1932. In two special school magazines (1932 and 1953) she told us two interesting things: that Dr. H,. N. Howells declares she once told him that he had no interest in music (if so I have little doubt he was doing a little musical dreaming at the time and provoked her by his apparent inattention - as so many of us who followed her have been - to a statement that proved somewhat wide of the mark); also; she soon found herself in charge of the singing with that same small boy as her accompanist, which he remained for several years. She remarks, “He was a wonderful accompanist and the school had the honour of performing some of his early songs before he was allowed to publish”. “The Owl.” and “Come Away Death” were specially composed for the 1909 Speech Day and “Over Hill, over Dale” for the 1910 Speech Day.

Miss S. H. Buckley produced about four songs for each Speech Day: some ‘home-made’ (of of course); others traditional. Also a carol concert was given in the December of each year. The very first was on December 12. 1912 and the visitors numbered exactly 14; the next was attended by 110. This itself is sufficient comment on their quality and appeal.

In 1922, the Musical Society was founded and met every fortnight so as not to clash with the Dramatic Society. On April 10th they gave “The Bohemian Girl” to the school only, with a school orchestra providing the necessary accompaniment. Kathleen Howells, Kathleen Meek, Poppy Merrett and Isobel Downes ( a member of the Staff) took the leading parts. Later in the same year madrigals were practiced and the school was given a concert on November 24th. They also studied seriously “The May Queen” by Sterndale Bennett during 1923, hoping to give it before a school audience in the following year. In addition they worked hard on Sophocles’ “Antigone”, with music by Mendelssohn and for this the Dramatic and Musical Societies joined forces. Unfortunately - to quote the school magazine of March 1923 - “A little bird has whispered that a Greek tragedy would not please a Lydney audience; but surely this is not true? Evidently the bird had heard correctly for it was given to a school audience only, though on two occasions.

In 1925, the two societies again combined for “The Sleeping Beauty” with two sisters, Ruth and Ida Cooke as principals (the latter is know to us as Mrs. Ida Mullan and later joined the Staff). It was given to a very large and appreciative audience in June, with the usual carol concert at the end of that year.

In 1926 Handel’s Messiah” was practiced but the performance had to be postponed owing to illness. The next year, Isobel Downes, Bertha Charles, Walden, Ivon Adams and Cecil Virgo took the principal parts and each sang very well. Miss Downes accompanied, besides singing four solos. The chorus singing was described by Cicely Jones (who was unable to sing because of a sore throat) as “better than ever”. Miss Downes left to be married at the end of that term so Miss Buckley lost a soloist and accompanist; and also her secretary (Cicely Jones) at the same time.
In 1927 both “Patience” and “The Yeomen of the Guard” were the subjects of much hard, but enjoyable work. Unfortunately, the proposed performance to the School was postponed because of Miss Buckley’s illness, though there was the usual December Carol Concert.

1928 saw the Society give songs from “Patience” to the A. I. At Aylburton and they also worked on Schubert;s Songs - suggested by the centenary of his death.

1929 saw the Society return to practice on various Gilbert and Sullivan songs; and in the following year a great deal was don on “Dido and Aeneas” though it was considered “ the general public would not be especially interested in such a work”.

1931 saw a return to work on the immortal “Messiah”, with the annual carol concert in December. In the following year Miss S. H. Buckley retired on becoming Mrs. Longley, and her swan song was I suppose the end of term concert.

No tribute could be too great to pay to such an enthusiastic and capable servant of the school who wrote her own epitaph in the 1953 Jubilee Magazine. She wrote then “May you all have the love for the school that I had in the twenty-seven years I was there”.