Morcove.  That high class girls boarding school, situated on a cliff top in North Devon, was the creation of Horace Phillips (Marjorie Stanton).  To bring the school, the countryside and its inhabitants to life, was the task of the illustrator, Leonard Shields.  And so, he did.

Leonard Shields dressed his women and girls with sartorial elegance, be they pupils, ex pupils, mistresses or villainesses.   And they all had one thing in common. They all favoured the clutch bag! 

Schoolgirls’ Own No 556.(The Secret of the Schoolhouse!)

Betty and Polly come to the rescue of a girl named Evelyn Norris, whom they find hiding in Morcove School itself.  Evelyn is on the run from her Aunt, Mrs Ada Waterfield, and her cousin, Eunice.  This picture shows Mrs Waterfield and Eunice making enquiries about the disappearance of Evelyn.  They are wearing obviously expensive, luxurious coats.  Each carrying a clutch bag.  In fact their whole demeanour oozes wealth and class, which is a mask for the unscrupulous pair that they are.

Schoolgirls’ Own No 623and 624 (Morcove in London)

The Study 12 Coterie and associated brothers and parents are in London.  They befriend a young girl from the depths of Camberwell, Amy Judson.  Her family are in dire straits, so they decide to help them, of course, with the approval of the grown ups.  Mrs Denniker is the villain of the piece here.  She is out to wreak havoc upon the Judsons, as she believes that Amy’s sister, Emily has robbed her.  Again, she is elegantly portrayed, and one would never know she is not what she seems.  The illustration on the left is an interesting one, besides showing the apparel of Mrs Denniker, as it shows Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament in the back ground.

Schoolgirls’ Own No 626. (Betty Barton’s Last Term – Part One of a four part story)

Betty learns that this will be her last term at Morcove, as her family have been ruined in the financial world.  Someone has gained fraudulently, leaving hundreds of familes ruined.  Co-incidentally, there is the arrival at Morcove of a new girl.  It appears that she is the daughter of the someone who has gained fraudulently.  Hazel is not a nice girl, as compared with her Mother, who is a gentle, genuine soul.  The illustration here depicts Betty, Hazel Baynard and her Mother.  Mrs Baynard is quietly, elegantly dressed, complete with clutch bag.  She has a sympathetic look on her face, as if realising something is wrong with Betty.  Betty, even though her world has fallen apart, goes all out to assist welcoming Hazel to Morcove School.  Hazel has a look of someone who has gained at some-one else’s expense.

Schoolgirls’ Own No 644 (The Outlaw of the Form – Part Five of a five part story)

Cora Grandways is the villainess here.  She has been expelled from Morcove.  Her father, Mr Grandways, is a thoroughly unscrupulous business man.  In this story, he is part of a syndicate who have purchased land adjacent to Morcove, in order to build a hotel.  (The famous Headland Hotel)  The Grandways’ are residing at the equally famous Cliff Edge Bungalow.  Cora is all out to make as much trouble as she can for Morcove, and the Study 12 Coterie.  Here she is, in all her vain glory, complete with her clutch bag! 

Schoolgirls’ Own No 700.(Their Rivals in Secret – Part One of a five part story)

Morcove School has a museum.  In that museum, Betty & Co find an ancient map, which subsequently disappears.  Curiously, a Spanish woman shows up at Morcove, claiming an ancestor of hers drew the map.  This Spanish woman is illustrated here, she looks a touch more countrified than previous illustrations, however, she has her clutch bag.

Schoolgirls’ Own No 756.(Morcove’s Desert Disaster – Part Two of a five part story)

The Study 12 Coterie are in North Africa.  They are travelling to Nakara, which is Naomer’s home.  En route, they are staying at the Desert Gate Hotel, at El Kareb, when Pam suddenly disappears.  Kidnapped?  Then Naomer disappears!  Mixed up somehow in this intrigue, is a Jules and Mimi Lessard.  Mimi Lessard is shown here, absolutely elegantly attired.  She is even wearing gloves, (Even though the climate is equatorial!) and is carrying her clutch bag.

Schoolgirls’ Own No 790.(A Misfit at Morcove  – Part Three of a four part story)

Zillah Raine is new to Morcove School.  She is a thoroughly unscrupulous pupil, and causes a lot of trouble for Pam, who ends up in hospital when she is thrown from her horse.  Miss Merrick, the Fourth Form Mistress has personal troubles, of which Zillah becomes aware.  Zillah plots and plans, and Miss Merrick resigns from Morcove.  Here, Miss Merrick is explaining to Betty that she has resigned.  Even so, she is quietly erect, dignified, and carrying her clutch bag under her right arm.