A37914 HaberAske Skylark 2010:A31822 HaberAske Skylark
26/11/10
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Skylark 2010 Common Room
A day before the interviews the Headmaster at the time told a guest, “We’re about to see a man with two first class degrees.” I had already made up my mind and neglected the need for political correctness by remarking incautiously, “I’m sure we’ll appoint him.”
David Reid In July 2010 David Reid retired after over twenty years service in the Department of Economics and Politics. It has always been hard to find good Economics teachers but particularly so in the late 1980’s, when almost all economists went into the City. David visited Habs to decide whether to apply. I showed him the Department, the Library and the Staff Room, where he explained the role of the Orange Order. When I dropped him off in Watford, he kept his intentions to himself but he did apply.
We did. We never regretted the decision. An Ulsterman born and bred, David had spent most of his school days at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, read Classics at Trinity College, Dublin, and then joined the Northern Ireland Treasury. He later left, became a local councillor and studied Economics and Politics at Queen’s University, Belfast, before moving to Oxford, where he undertook research at St. John’s College, supervised by the formidable Professor Finer of All Souls. David brought this academic excellence and wide experience to Habs. He concentrated on teaching Economics, specialising in Applied Economics and the Labour Market, and prepared pupils for PPE at Oxford and SPS at Cambridge, besides teaching General Studies and, on occasion, Latin. As a member of the Careers Team he was responsible for Economics and related subjects and as a Form Tutor he advised, guided and supervised succeeding groups of Sixth Formers. In addition to his academic and pastoral work, David took Wednesday afternoon golf for many years. Moreover, as the school’s European
Carol Concerts in St Albans Abbey; her sermons were always engaging, and never predictable! There was often a certain disarming honesty in the way in which she dealt with the moral issues of the moment. Jane was often sought out by staff and pupils seeking solace and advice, and she took great interest in the welfare of the whole school community. She often was in the vanguard of visitors to staff and pupils who had been hospitalised.
Rev Jane Markby The Reverend Jane Markby arrived at Habs five years ago. She was appointed as school chaplain, and also as a parttime teacher in the Biology Department. Her vivacious and cheerful manner and empathetic warmth for others, was matched by a fierce intellect, and a robust sense of adventure. Amongst her numerous roles as School Chaplain, she was responsible for organising all the major spiritual events of the school calendar. Many staff and pupils will recall her fondness for the theatrical in her Christmas 144
In her teaching of Biology, she brought a razorsharp intellect and clear sense of purpose into the classroom, which was appreciated by those she taught, as well her teaching colleagues. She was well aware of the ridiculous stance taken by creation “scientists”, and was a confirmed neo-Darwinist. She was often amused that some pupils thought that, as member of the clergy, she should subscribe to the nonsense touted by biblical fundamentalists about evolution. Jane was an enthusiastic anatomist, and her demonstration mammal dissections for the Junior Science Society were one of the highlights of the Society calendar. Jane was responsible for proposing, organising and running the first official field-trip for sixth form biologists at Nettlecombe Court in Somerset. This course provides a fantastic opportunity for sixth form biologists to carry out their A2 investigations, saving them a huge amount of time in the classroom later. This
Fellow he organised the highly successful Euro-days and Boulogne Trips and was master in charge of the European Youth Parliament team, which on several occasions he coached to the UK finalp; one memorable year he took the team to represent the UK in Paris, after cautiously assessing and dismissing the risks posed by rioting and striking Frenchmen. In everything that he did, David was a master of detail, hard working and thorough, totally professional and so widely respected. As a teacher he set very high standards and coaxed pupils up to them. As a Form Tutor he was firm and patient and solved problems by tact and understanding. As a colleague he was his own man and also utterly reliable. It was entirely fitting that he was Head of Department between my departure and Mrs. Shah’s appointment. Generations of pupils benefited from David’s work. They knew his dry humour but not that, in private, he enjoyed good food and wine and relished spending his holidays absorbed in the culture and language of Italy. They remember him for his intellect, his knowledge and his teaching. Many of them recount that they used his lesson notes throughout their study of Economics at university. On their behalf, of his colleagues, and of the school to which he gave so much, I wish him a very happy retirement.
John Wigley
course is now a compulsory annual feature for all pupils studying biology in the sixth form. Jane loves the outdoor life, and is a keen camper, cyclist, sailor and mountaineer. She generously employed these skills in helping to run Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions, and also many Mountaineering Club trips; in fact most of the summit-photographs from expeditions seem to feature a line of Neanderthal males with one diminutive female human nestled amongst them! Jane has now moved to Berkamstead School as full-time Chaplain, as well as a teaching theology. The biologists shall greatly miss her kindness, intelligence and generous sense of fun, and the Mountaineering Club will miss a staunch supporter.
Roger Delpech