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Extended version of enticement article. Pic of us eating croissants in France.
Researched from 2012 onwards. Book written 2013 onwards.
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Extended version of enticement article. Pic of us eating croissants in France.
Acknowledgements Bristol Grammar School The Headmaster Sara Bassett Hugo Cullum Jan Duncan Peter Jakobek Aman Khera Tony O’Callaghan Judith Pearce
Individuals and Families Brian Austin (E W B Gill) John and Mary Bosanko (The S C Booker Archive) The Boucher/Hannam Family Clare Brenard (OB) Alison Brown Clive Burlton The Golding Family Margaret McGregor Janet MacWhirter (C E Gingell) Robert Pearce (OB) Richard Porch (The Morgan Brothers) Lesley Valentine (The W I Castle Archive)
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Institutions Bournemouth School, William Pyke (The Gunning Brothers) Bristol Record Office Imperial War Museum Punch Stamford School, Nicholas McCarthy (F M Davis) Stoke Bishop Local History Society, Jenny Weeks (F G Hardingham)
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Contents Pre-War The House System 1914 1915 1916
Websites Ancestry Australian War Memorial Commonwealth War Graves Commission Findmypast Forces War Records London Gazette The Great War 1914-1918 The Times
Published Works The Bristol Grammar School Chronicle History of Bristol Grammar School, C P Hill History of Bristol Grammar School, W A Sampson (OB) Dear Mother , ed B Williamson Public Schools and the Great War: the Generation Lost, Anthony Seldon and David Walsh
1917 1918 Post War Roll of Service Decorations Appendix: Cemetery and Memorial Site Maps
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“Unless otherwise stated, all photographs/reproductions are taken from the Archives of Bristol Grammar School.�
Pre-War
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School Life Numbers in School Subjects Houses Sports OTC Scouts OB Society Boer War
Raven Hill
Army/Navy
The School Chronicles give the feeling that the period surrounding 1913 was a real high point for the School. When Cyril Norwood was appointed Headmaster in 1906, he was told that the School was failing, and would almost certainly close. At this point there were only 189 boys in the School. However, Norwood’s influence turned the School around and by July of 1914, it was reported that there were 434 boys attending, a new high. In 1912, according to History of the Bristol Grammar School by Walter Adam Sampson, the staff consisted of the Headmaster, with 21 assistant masters, and a mistress for the lowest form in the Preparatory School.
Royal Maines
Ranks
The School thrived under Norwood. The OTC, Scouts, and sports were stronger and more popular than ever before. The setting up of the house system is possibly the most significant event, which has changed the School. A number of the buildings standing on the current site were built during this time of prosperity. Including the Gymnasium, Rifle Range, Fives Courts (These are now the Lower School Hall, Heads of House offices, and the Owen Room). A number of the teachers, and Old Bristolians contributed donations to these causes. The Lord Winterstoke Memorial Wing was also built during this time, largely thanks to a generous donation by Miss Stancomb Wills.
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The New Buildings April 1910 It was noted with gratitude at Christmas that Mr. Lionel Crawford, O.B., had offered £150 [around £15,500 today] for the building of a miniature rifle range. Unhappily, objection was raised to the presence of such a range on the playingfield side of the buildings by the University, and to its presence of the other side by the authorities of the Tyndall’s Estate. It is proposed to attempt a more ambitious scheme, of which Mr. Crawford approves, and of which fuller particulars will appear in the summer. But it is hoped that we may be able to build a Gymnasium, construct a range under cover, and possibly obtain some fives courts. July 1910: The plans as drawn provide for a Gymnasium, a Rifle Range, three covered Fives Courts, and a bicycle-shed, and the total cost will be a little over £2,000 [around £200,000 now]. The ground in front of the School between the trees and University Road will be used for the site, and will be excavated to the level of the main School.
The Fives Courts
Source: Bristol Grammar School, Archive Department
The School owes a very great debt of gratitude to Mr. A.M. Fry, a member of the Governing Body, who has very generously undertaken the Fives Courts at his own personal charge, and it is hoped that this fine game will take thorough root in the School, and that in time to come there will be produced fives players worthy of such a splendid gift. Our heartiest thanks are due also once more to Mr. Fenwick Richards, who, having observed the bewildering mountain of bicycles, which piles itself up daily at 9 a.m. in the Entrance Hall, has promised to give a shed to be built along one side of the Gymnasium: there is no doubt about the genuineness of the gratitude of all who cycle for this kindly gift, judging by the applause which greeted the announcement after the Sports. Equally must we thank Mr. L.E. Crawford, from whose suggestion the whole plan grew, and who headed the subscription list with the generous subscription of £200 [over £20,000 today]. The Rifle Range
Source: Bristol Grammar School, Archive Department
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April 1911 School Chronicle Opening of the new buildings by A.M. Fry, Esq.: On Saturday, March 25th, the official opening of the new buildings – the Gymnasium, Rifle Range, Fives Courts, and Bicycle Sheds – took place. At three o’clock the School assembled in the Great Hall where visitors had already begun to arrive. At half-past three the Headmaster entered with Mr. Worsley and Mr. Fry, who was to perform the official opening ceremony. When the cheering had subsided, Mr. Worsley, the Chairman of the Governors, spoke of the cause of the gathering and mentioned the good fortune of the School in possessing such benefactors as Mr. Fry, Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Fenwick Richards. The present scheme owed much to them and much also to Mr. Norwood, of whom the Governors and the School felt justly proud. The Headmaster then rose, and described the course of the scheme which had results in the new buildings. It had originated in the brain of Mr. Crawford, who had offered to give money for an open rifle-range. There were difficulties in the way of such a scheme, and so it was agreed to join it to the
Gymnasium. Here Mr. Fry intervened and promised to give three Fives Courts, and Mr. Fenwick Richards had undertaken to house the School bicycles. The money for the Gymnasium had been begged from a few of the leading men of the district, who had subscribed most generously. The School also had collected over £100 [over £10,000]. The Headmaster then asked Mr. Fry to declare the New Buildings official open. The latter was received with ringing cheers, and in a few well-chosen words expressed his ideal of education as developing both mind and body. He had great pleasure in declaring the New Building open. The School Song was then sung, and after that a verse of the National Anthem. Then the visitors moved off to inspect the School buildings, old and new. Nearly all availed themselves of this permission, and the School was soon overrun by an eager throng of inspecting parents and friends. Various parties were on duty in different places to display the equipment, and all did their best to answer the varied questions put to them. It has been said that the Four Sergeants on duty in the Rifle Range now feel fully qualified to set the next General Knowledge Paper. The round of inspection ended in the Great Hall where arrangements for tea had been made. B.G.H.
The Gymnasium
Source: Bristol Grammar School, Archive Department
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Mysterious Foundations School Chronicle, December 1910 During the excavation of the bank of the paddock in preparation for the building of the Gymnasium, extensive remains of walls of very solid construction were discovered not far beneath the surface. Their existence had never been suspected, and rumour was rife that they probably dated from the Civil War and might at one time have been manned by Roundheads or Cavaliers. But the masonry was not of the character hitherto found in the walls and fortifications of Bristol, and all doubt has been set at rest by Mr. W.N. Hill, of 23 Carnarvon Road. He quotes from Malcolm’s “Excursions in Kent, Gloucestershire,” published in 1807, which speaks of the “furor of building which lately prevailed at Bristol,” but adds that “The speculators soon felt that all their squares, crescents, and magnificence, would be destitute of residents, though certainly highly desirable.” It goes on, page 199, “Even the beautiful park already mentioned as belonging to Mr. Tindall was let on building leases: and grand avenues of architecture were projected and actually commenced, when misfortune interfered, and restored the domain to its owner, who has since efface every mark, and returned his soil to the bountiful hand of Nature, now happily employed in renewing her embellishments.” Mr. Hill quotes a picturesque Guide to Bath, Bristol, Hotwells, etc., published in 1793, which fixes the date of the building still more exactly: “A purchase has recently been made of Mr. Tyndall’s park for the purpose of building, and a number of labourers were, when we visited it, preparing the ground”.
School Site Plan
Source: Bristol Grammar School, Archive Department
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The House System When originally set up in 1907, there were just four School houses, each with a House Master, and a House Captain and prefects to assist with the running. The Yellow house was introduced in 1927, with the Red house beginning in 1943.
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
Brown
Green
Black
Blue
Yellow
Red
Beame’s 1907 Jacob’s 1923 Dehn’s 1951 Pickup’s 1966
Ford’s 1907 Holmes’s 1913 Langford’s 1935 Rendall’s 1954
Holman’s 1980 Gunawardana’s 2007 Goodman’s 2013
Trott’s 1959 Cox’s 1977 Jakobek’s 1992 Hilliard’s 2012
Parker’s 1907 Holmyard’s 1917 Dicker’s 1918 Morris’s 1926 Booker’s 1948 Cockitt’s 1967 Burn’s 1975 Scott’s 2005
Freeman’s 1907 Gough’s 1910 Bridge’s 1913 Pitt’s 1920 Dunnicliff’s 1935 Lucas’s 1955 Edwards’s 1972 Morris’s 1978 Huckle’s 1984 Jeffrey’s 1991 Diamond’s 1996 Tong’s 1999 Edwards’s 2002
Hodgett’s 1927 Wood’s 1929 Dudley’s 1946 Osborne’s 1952 Warren’s 1962 Rolling’s 1975 Keen’s 2005 Diamond’s 2011
Carter’s 1943 Fox’s 1952 Meigh’s 1959 Metcalfe’s 1964 Perry’s 1971 Speake’s 1979 Watson’s 1989 Saunder’s 2001 Catchpole’s 2004
Much emphasis is placed on sports and games, but these were still to an extent informal, and not part of the curriculum and not only does the Chronicle show that support was never as great as the House officers wished, it also shows the wealth of other activities available to boys who either preferred more intellectual and academic pursuits or enjoyed both. One hundred years later that has not changed.
April 1907 School Chronicle “Many have said that the School has been suffering from a depression, and that a great lack of keenness has been displayed in games and sports. And it would certainly seem that such was the case for the past two or three football seasons, which have been anything but successful. Also, it was found that the number of boys playing games was increasing, and was likely to still further increase in the immediate future. These two facts, coupled with the example of other Schools, have been mainly instrumental in bringing into existence the new Houses. The scheme provides systematic games for all boys who have given in their names at the beginning of the season; and each boy is given to understand that he is responsible for the honour of his House, both in and out of School.”
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Sport
School Subjects
The New House System played a significant part in the revival of enthusiasm for Games. Houses now played each other regularly, and for their House honour.
When originally set up in 1907, there were just four School houses, and these were given numbers, rather than names. I Brown II Green III Black IV Blue 1920
Mr Mr Mr Mr
Beames 1907-1923 Ford 1907 - 1913, Mr Holmes 1913 - 1935 Parker 1907 - 1917, Mr Holmyard 1917, Mr Dicker 1918 - 1926 Freeman 1907 - 1910, Mr Gough 1910 - 1913, Mr Bridge 1913 -
Much emphasis is placed on sports and games, but these were still to an extent informal, and not part of the curriculum and not only does the Chronicle show that support was never as great as the House officers wished, it also shows the wealth of other activities available to boys who either preferred more intellectual and academic pursuits or enjoyed both. One hundred years later that has not changed.
The Tyndall’s Park Pavillion, Opened 1908 Source: Bristol Grammar School, Archive Department