The Court of Governors and McClure

Head so eminent in his profession, a man of such wide culture, and of so genial a character, with all of his physical and intellectual activities still unimpaired’

Post war years 1918-1922

1920 was a busy year. In addition to the routine agenda items, there was considerable time spent on dealing with policy initiatives affecting the future development of the School. The nomination of Representative Governors was approved. Pupils on scholarships were not to exceed 5% of the roll. Day pupils should not exceed 20% of the roll. The Old Millhillians Club made representations to the Court via Sir John regarding the appointment of a curator for the Winterstoke Library and for profits from the Tuck Shop to be used for improving sports facilities at the School. The Club recommended investment in athletics, the appointment of a Games Master and increased salaries for the athletics and cricket coaches and the Groundsman. Sir Ernest Shackleton visited the school in June and gave a short lecture on his Antarctic Expedition.

The War Memorial Fund finally totalled £19,421 and the Gate of Honour was opened by Lord Horne on 30th October 1920.

The King had been asked but the Court was advised by Lord Bryce that the King could not accept an invitation of this kind. The inauguration ceremonies were both religious and military in character.

The challenges of recruiting high-calibre teaching staff persisted in 1921. Four sons of Old Millhillians killed in the war were granted scholarships funded by the Old Millhillians Club Scholarship Fund – set up in 1915 for this purpose – and topped up by the War Memorial Fund. Lord Sumner presented the prizes and gave an address at Foundation Day. Sir Albert Spicer resigned as Chair of the Court in July 1921, a position he had ‘occupied with conspicuous success’ since the death of Lord Winterstoke. His reason was disarmingly candid – ‘deafness’. He was no longer able to keep track of Court discussions. Nathaniel Micklem was elected to replace Sir Albert as Chair of the Court. In September 1921, a Salaries Committee was established to confer with a deputation of Assistant Masters who made recommendations on behalf of the staff for what one might term a coherent salary structure that took into account; degree and other qualifications; experience and style of work to be performed.

The Court referred the report to the Committee which returned in October with comprehensive recommendations including an increase in masters’ salaries. There are no minutes recording McClure’s response to the deputation or to the report or to the final recommendations. N G Brett James, Housemaster Ridgeway, represented the staff in follow-on communications with the Clerk. He raised the point that Army experience should be taken in to account along with extra duties such as athletics or military.

In October 1921, McClure advised the Court of the sad news of the death of Edward Cunningham, a Burton Bank Monitor, from hypertrophy of the heart. The Coroner held the inquest in the school sanitorium, at which the boy’s father was present.

Sir John McClure was Headmaster of Mill Hill for over 30 years, a tenure far longer than any Head would expect to last today, or indeed in the past 215 years – as the chart opposite shows. There are good reasons why Mill Hill has Houses today named Priestley, Weymouth as well as McClure.

The continuity and stability implied by this length of time on the job almost certainly explains McClure’s enduring impact on the fabric and values of Mill Hill School.

He is often referred to as the ‘Maker of Mill Hill’ and for good reasons. He rescued the school from financial disaster, transformed the estate, and increased the boarding pupil population by 600%.

He could never have achieved what he did without the strong support from the Court of Governors and, as noted elsewhere in this publication, the Old Millhillian community. That support was forthcoming over so many years because McClure delivered on his promises, adored the school and was worshipped by pupil and parent alike. His relationship with the Court was pivotal.