Agricultural Workers and was active in the vital function of effectively producing as much food for the nation as possible. He became General Secretary of the TUC and Chairman in 1964 and was created Lord Collison. Ken Hyett (1926-1931) left the family plumbing business and joined the RAF. He later became Mayor of Gloucester and was Chairman of Governors in the challenging times in the 1970's. Gordon Hudson (192129) joined like many as a junior aged eight. His prowess on the sports field led to him becoming a PE Instructor in the RAF. Gordon played in a number of war-time internationals and later became Chairman of Gloucester RFC. Many sporting careers were curtailed and many members of the Old Cryptians' Club joined up and eight members paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Crypt School was still situated at Friars' Orchard behind the ancestral Schoolroom and St Mary de Crypt in Southgate Street and stretched back to Brunswick Road. It was described as a “quiet oasis of calm in the centre of the hustle and bustle of the City” with all the attractive amenities and distractions for the pupils aged seven to eighteen. Radical reorganisation of education in Gloucester was under discussion in the 1930's. A new Technical College was badly needed for both sexes and finally in 1938 the workmen arrived at Friars' Orchard and the peace was shattered. The glorious mature trees which encircled the playing field were felled and building commenced whilst the teaching continued in the main building as the concrete mixers seemed to revolve on relentlessly. The physical disruption on the site in 1939 and the psychological impact must have been enormous. There was no great enthusiasm as the Foundation Stone for the new Crypt School was laid at Podsmead in July 1939 but any optimism was dashed three months later. Gloucester was declared a Reception Area and many people were forced to move from sensitive Southern coastal areas whilst workers were encouraged to move, many with their families, to vital war-time factories. Gloucester Aircraft Company expanded rapidly and produced Hawker Hurricanes at Brockworth. The Wagon Works produced tanks whilst Fielding and Platt and other factories were adapted to the requirements of the struggle ahead. The fear of bombing raids in the larger cities led to more movement. Pupils and Staff from the King Norton Grammar School, Birmingham were transferred to Denmark Road High School and the Crypt School and were billeted locally. Women filled the large number of administrative tasks in offices and on the shop-floor created by the call-up of the men. The School was now over 400 pupils and there was overcrowding at Friars' Orchard. Some classes were held in various buildings across the City whilst others used temporary wooden classrooms. Gas-masks were issued and air-wardens' trenches were dug and air-raid shelters were installed in the grounds. Windows were protected with sticky tape and blackouts were enforced. Senior pupils carried out fire-watching duties in the City which included the roof of the Cathedral. The Bauchwitz brothers, all under sixteen, Fritz (1940-43) and his brothers Hans (1940-44) and Klaus (1940-47) were offspring of a German Jewish family and refugees from Nazi Germany. Despite their tribulations Fritz and Klaus were awarded scholarships to Oxbridge. D. G. Williams (1920-1951), a brilliant Classical Scholar at Oxford, was Headmaster in these turbulent times. His tenure in the 1920's and 1930's was often referred as a “ Golden Era” by that generation who went off to war in 1939. During this period the Crypt School obtained 55 Exhibitions and Scholarships at Oxbridge colleges. The Headmaster provided the words to the School Song with the refrain: “Vivat Schola Cryptiensis- Vivat in Perpetuum”which Old Cryptians
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