THE COLLEGE MUSICAL, 'LIFTS'
Matthew Knowles and Leighton House received well deserved ovations and a rave review for their production, 'Lifts' at the end of the Summer term, 1996. The music, lyrics and performance apart, I greatly admired Leighton's endless patience and artistry over the tickets and posters. All the performances were great, and since her restrained portrayal of the less colourful sister has not received the praise it deserves, I will just add that Jo Smith, for me, perfectly captured the spirit of the part, acting and singing with great dignity. Well done, everyone!A new production of Lifts will be at the Brewhouse, Tel 283244, from 22-27 Sept 97.
September 1996
October 1996GEORGE BENNETT RIP
George, a former President of the Old Huish Association, has died and his funeral took place at the Taunton Crematorium, Wellington Road, on Friday 13th September 1996. Seemingly indestructible and not to have aged since the 50's, we remember him as a selfless pillar of the Huish's tradition who, like 'Ginger' Rutt before him, willingly undertook the duties of Acting Head, in his case twice: on Lt.Col. Peel Corbin's illness and pending the arrival of R.H. Merrett, and then on Merrett's move to Plymouth and awaiting the arrival of Keith Knott.
BIRDS and BEES
I thought you'd look!This is the first of what will perhaps become a series of notes on odd topics that have caught my attention. You may wonder what connection bees have with Huish's...
The story begins in 1910 when a young man - well, a boy, and a German boy at that - joined an English religious community and over the years became a world authority on his subject: bees. He travelled the world to obtain breeding stock, firmly believing that health and vigour flowed from heredity rather than medicine. He wrote papers and books recording his findings, suffered the theft of vital breeding stock and continued to work and write into his nineties. Brother Adam Kehrle died recently aged 98, making his association with Buckfast an astonishing 86 years. And the association with Huish's? Well, my older readers (if I have any!) will recall that one of our more distinguished Old Huishers was Dom Gerald Hooper, Abbot of Buckfast.
December 1996HUISH HISTORY I
Richard Huish
Richard Huish died in the early 1600's and his Will of 1615 left money for the establishment of a hospital for 24 'elderly poor men' (any resemblance to persons now living is purely coincidental!) and five scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge. So do we have a distinguished and unbroken history going back to the 17thC? Sadly, no. The following outline is based on Gordon Baker's 'The History of Huish's, Taunton', published in 1980.
In the 1870's the educational scene in Taunton was roughly as follows: A Middle School had been established in 1871 at the instigation of the Rev. H.G. Rogers. The Huish trustees got approval from the Charity Commissioners to make over surplus investment income to enable the Middle School to become Huish's School for Boys. They also assisted a girls' school (in what is now the Masonic Hall in the Crescent) so that by the late 70's there were two Huish's schools, one for girls and one for boys. The one became Bishop Fox's, enjoying the income from the Walby Endowment which had been used to revive Taunton Great (or Grammar) School in 1554, the Great School by then having failed. The other became Huish's Grammar School for Boys and subsequently Richard Huish College. The detailed story of the transformation is the subject of Gordon Baker's book, still available in Taunton bookshops and, I believe, through the college itself.
I am fortunate to have access to many copies of the Huish Magazine and hope to be able to publish suitable extracts from time to time. Meanwhile, any reader who can contribute any personal recollections of the early days - not necessarily going back to the 1870's! - is warmly invited to share them with us.
January 1997HUISH HISTORY II
A further piece based on Gordon Baker's 'History' records the emergence of the Grammar School under C.R. Humphrey who was appointed from Dr. Morgan's School in 1880.'When Mr. Humphrey came to the school the twenty-one [my italics] boys were arranged in the old Castle Walk in order according to stature.....'. Soon, however, numbers rose to 145 and Humphrey was lucky to be able to secure the old Emmanuel Green Commercial School site in East Street. Numbers continued to grow and by 1884 grants and investments had enabled plans to be drawn for a new 'red brick' school on the East Street site. By 1892 the buildings were complete and the boys moved in. It was at the annual speech day in 1897, the Right Hon. Henry Hobhouse, M.P. presenting the prizes that year, that the first mention of a Grammar School appears in Baker's History: 'Then [among the speeches, that is - BP] we hear something about the studies of Form VI, the acme of the "grammar school", for by now the Headmaster was advertising the School in the local press as "Huish's Grammar School".'
Humphrey resigned in 1900 - why is not at all clear but Baker presumes he was able to draw his pension then, after 20 years at Huish's following 12 years as assistant master at Dr. Morgan's - to be followed by Vipan for two years only, which brings us to the great Arnold Goodliffe's reign. Before my time I must stress, but he was still a legendary figure even when I joined the school some time after Col. Peel-Corbin's appointment.
February 1997HUISH HISTORY III
Mr. Goodliffe's years as Head included one World War and in the event finished with another. He took over the 'redbrick' school, an L-shaped building with a corridor running the entire length of the inside of the L, and by 1906 Messrs. Moggridge had been given the job of extending the school (at the northern end of the L) to include 'a fine Chemistry laboratory, a Science lecture room, a Physics laboratory, an Art room, a Sixth Form classroom... and ultimately a gymnasium'. Essentially, these comprise the main school buildings that old Huishers of the pre- and post-WW2 period still remember. A break in the roof line in the picture on the cover of the school magazine marks the end of the original building and the second entrance and imposing gable ended extension to the extreme left indicate the extent of the new works.Numbers had then reached over one hundred boys with ten to twelve pupil teachers and Baker records that by 1912 Goodliffe had 'got the school going well'. He revived the Old Boys' Association and ambitiously increased the publication of the school magazine from annually to termly. 'His' Old Boys were a great support, contributing prizes, cups and books while individual governors 'dipped into their pockets and made similar gifts...' (Baker, Chap. 3). By December 1915 there were 181 boys plus 17 pupil teachers. Even before the war had started coal and anthracite had been a problem. In 1912 Staffordshire coal was 24/6d. a ton and by 1915 Goodlands were reporting that "they had been losing on their contract." Difficulties were being reported on the teaching side and these can only have been made worse by the outbreak of war and the arrival of a number of Belgian refugees. By 1918 we find the head proposing a scale of salaries ranging from £100 minimum per annum for Class C certificated teachers to £180 to £200 for Class A (with a degree) rising by annual increments of £10 to £150 and £250 maximum respectively.
HUISH HISTORY IV
The Great War forms as good a point as any to end the first phase of Arnold Goodliffe's reign as Headmaster. The years from 1918 to his intended retirement form the second. Staffing remained a problem even after the War. S.E. Sidwell resigned his post on his return from war service on the grounds of an inadequate salary. He was advised that new scales were to be announced within a few days and in the event he stayed on. The question of early leavers also caused concern: an Inspectors' Report drew attention to Huish's poor record in comparison with other county schools, two years and nine months being the Huish average for free place holders and one year and ten months for fee payers. The question of a penalty for early leaving was discussed. Nevertheless, numbers continued to rise and by 1919 the matter of a new site was under consideration. This was then considered 'unwise' in view of the Governors' limited resources but a policy of acquisition of neighbouring property was followed and a large hut 102 feet by 21 feet was bought from the American Red Cross for £300 and transported by rail from Liverpool for £5. Divided into four classrooms it was sited on land adjacent to the main buildings, Mount Lane being diverted for the purpose.From this point on other names familiar to older readers begin to figure in the story. S.E. Sidwell has already been mentioned and 'Capt.' E.B. Mitford M.A., M.C. was appointed to be in charge of English in April 1919. By July 1922 numbers had fallen to 208 from a peak of 248 and the Head announced that he had then completed 20 years' service. 'Not long afterwards' writes Baker, another highly popular appointment was C.H. Rutt B.Sc. (Hons). About the same time H.J. Wickenden was also appointed. Numbers remained a bogey, this time the problem was getting sufficient desks. Around 1919/1920 fifty desks had been bought for £2.14s.0d. each, a discount having been obtained for quantity!
The School Magazine appears to have temporarily ceased publication until around 1923 so details of this period are sparse but I have just (May 97) received from Mrs Ann Nisbet (see the Bishop Fox's page) a photograph of the Football team 1920/21 in which her father, Wilfred Harding, appears 'middle row, first on the left'.
The photo Ann sent me had been reversed by the developers so I hope that in mirroring it back again I have not translated him to the right! (Were you looking at your copy Ann, or the one you sent me?) Confirmation: Ann confirms that her father is on the left of the middle row, 'next to the boy holding the cup'.
March 1997
HUISH HISTORY V
Desks continue to feature in Gordon Baker's History and those familiar with the present college buildings will know that a relic of the pre-war years is still to be seen in the Block B downstairs entrance. For those interested, some plaques in the little passage to the fishpond area just off the main entrance foyer commemorate a number of prominent former Huish staff and there is also the old Huish Court street sign from London.By the end of 1920 the Head was still short of desks - 241 for 290 boys! With county's help, new ones at £6 each filled the gap. (Note however that in the early war years C.H. Rutt was able to buy still more for 35/- each - would the shortage never end?)
This very skimpy 'history' of the Arnold Goodliffe era cannot end without some reference to the character of Goodliffe himself. Those who knew him say there is a considerable likeness - his portrait hangs with those of other Heads in the Library - in his son, still an attender at Old Huish dinners, and a recent visitor on the occasion of the January Open Evening. His personality comes through very strongly in Baker's 'History' - a strong disciplinarian certainly, with a choice of canes in his cupboard, but there can be no doubt that his school was his foremost concern as exemplified in so many ways: he supported both sporting and academic activities to the full, taking great pride in distinctions earned by present and past members of the school; he kept the school intact and raised its reputation through all the difficulties of the First World War and the economic Depression, attracting and retaining a number of former Huishers to the staff; his Governors supported him fully and wisely in the economic management of the school. If any one person can be said to have raised Huish's to the status of a local institution and source of considerable local pride, then surely it was Arnold Goodliffe. As if his achievements here were not enough, readers of Baker's History will find that he was also active in countless other aspects of Taunton life: to mention some, there were 12 years with the Headmasters' Association (President, 1937), Taunton Education Committee (22 years' service), Boy Scout movement established in Taunton before 1914 and revived after the war, the Madrigal Society (he had been a choral scholar at King's College, Cambridge), Principal for many years of the Taunton Technical Institute and his Gazette obituary recorded that 'Mr Goodliffe held high Masonic rank...' (5th April 1941). To cap it all 'His two brothers were equally successful in life'! (Baker, p47).
HUISH HISTORY VI
Arnold Goodliffe's intended retirement coincided with the beginning of World War II. Major, as he then was, E.H. Peel-Corbin (the school magazine for 1939 calls him 'Mr. E.H.P. Corbin') of Blundell's had been interviewed and appointed to succeed him but in view of his liability for military service Goodliffe agreed to carry on for the time being. His death in 1941 at the age of 66 resulted in the appointment of C.H. Rutt, himself a candidate for the Headship to which Peel-Corbin had been appointed, as acting head until the Head could take up his post.The late 1930s had been marked by continued pressure on space and resources and yet again the search for a suitable means of expansion was sought. One option was the Bishop Fox's site in Kingston Road. Land had in fact been purchased as long ago as 1920 when Goodliffe, perhaps despairing of a better offer, announced the offer of a Headship at Stockport with a salary considerably more than he was getting at Huish's. However, 'the job at Stockport went by the board, and he busied himself opening up the twenty acres at Kingston Road as an extra playing field, ably assisted by some of his boys...'. Another idea was the development of a site at Obridge but neither was pursued, although a new girls' school - Bishop Fox's Girls' Grammar - was built at Kingston Road and opened in 1940. As an aside, the present college site at South Road was under consideration by the mid-forties and the Somerset County Gazette for December 13th 1996 records in its '50 years ago' column that the County Council's education committee had decided to proceed with the acquisition of a site in South Road for the new Huish's Grammar School. Optimism ran somewhat ahead of events however as the young entrants in the late forties were marched down to see the site with an assurance that before they left they would have a new school there. As it happened it was the early sixties rather than the fifties that saw the project completed!.
The 'History' records the sad death of Mr Goodliffe in some detail. The reader is left with a clear impression not only of the respect in which he was held but also of the civilised relationship that existed with the heads of other schools in the town, a feature that dates from Humphrey's day when the Head of King's College, seconded by the Head of Queen's, expressed thanks to the Headmaster and best wishes for 'a school doing such good work in the town...' at the Speech Day, 1897. Baker's History reports Goodliffe's funeral in some detail, quoting from a lengthy report in the Somerset County Gazette. A sympathetic and appreciative letter from the Head of Taunton School to Mrs. Goodliffe and other tributes round off this record of this phase of Huish history.
April 1997
May 1997HUISH HISTORY VII
The Second World War years mark the end of the Goodliffe era and a period of uncertainty, both nationally and in the annals of Huish's. Before moving on however, there are a few loose ends to tie: Those who agree that the influence of Arnold Goodliffe remained a potent force well into the post-war period will probably need no reminding that in addition to the few pre-war masters already mentioned, many others continued to give dedicated service to the old school well into the fifties and even sixties: Hunt, Wickenden, Pleass, Bennett, Branton, Mitford, Trevett, Dickinson, Eele, Broad... and probably others. (Does my memory play tricks or should Sidwell be added to the list? Baker's History seems to suggest otherwise so maybe I'm mistaken).Secondly and rather less importantly, the 'bottom playground' and the Silver Street entrance must have been created in the late 30s. I've mentioned ('Old Huish Dinner') that Brewer senr. remembered only the one bike shed, and the school magazine for the Autumn Term 1939 includes the following resentful note ('Fifth Form Chronicle' pp 34-36): 'Nov.10. The authorities provide us with a new entrance as a substitute for a new school...' The same issue records three rugby matches. One, against Dr. Morgan's (lost 6-3), resulted in the side becoming 'so plastered in mud we did not know each other'. By the immediate post-war years the school had become 'soccer only'.
Mention of the School Magazine reminds me that the Ballad of the Bikeshed was discovered while I was searching therein for Arthur C. Clarke's 'first published work'. Those who have searched the World Wide Web for 'Huish' will have discovered a mysterious entry '1933' and on further investigation may have found there a reference to Arthur's first publication being in the school magazine that year. Regrettably my search was unsuccessful, possibly because so many contributors hid behind noms de plume! Those who are interested in the work of Huish's most famous Old Boy may however care to look for his entry under the Science Museum where items from the Arthur C. Clarke exhibition include a facsimile of his article on geo-stationary satellite orbits. From July 1997 there is also an official Arthur C. Clarke Foundation site at www.acclarke.co.uk
HUISH HISTORY VIII
Sparing every expense - I'm like that - I proudly present an eye-witness account of the War Years at Huish's, contributed by Clem (C.E.) Nettell.O.K. here goes - the early forties (sorry for the Yankee spelling).I started at Huish in September of 1941 having won a scholarship from Priory Elementary. My first "home room" was in the Scout Hut in the north east corner upper playground. Our "form mistress" was a Miss Macdonald, a rather young good looking blonde woman who had a disconcerting habit of sitting on one of the front desk tops in a most un-ladylike posture. (For those days anyway.) For an innocent eleven year old it was like "WOW". I think Miss Macdonald was only there for my first year unfortunately.
There were two other female teachers as I recall. Mrs Searle, again a young woman probably in her early twenties who taught English and who left during my second year because, it was rumored, of an overly friendly relationship with "Jack" Friend the Gym instructor who had been medically discharged from the Army.
The third lady was Mrs Rutt - yes, C.H."Ginger" Rutt's* wife. She was as highly respected as the ol' man himself. My wife, who was a good friend of Mary Rutt, the eldest daughter, and frequently visited their house at Halcon Corner seems to think that Mrs Rutt's mother may also have taught at Huish temporarily.
I certainly remember most of those you refer to in your Huish History VII - Dickinson, Wickenden, "Bummer" Eele, "Froggy" Trevett, Hunt, "Bobby" Pleass and of course Capt Mitford.
Had a very unusual experience with Capt Mitford whilst in the fifth form. Four of us, Jimmy Telling (former Taunton and Somerset rugby player) Mike Short, Barry Wagstaff and myself were reported by a "prefect" for some minor infraction. We were told to report to the master of the day in what was known as the dungeon (past the Chemistry Lab. and down the stairs to the left.) The master of the day proved to be Captain Mitford who was well known for meting out punishment with a clenched fist. Jimmy got his, Mike got his, I got mine but before Barry got his we were picking the Captain up off the floor. When he fully recovered he indicated he was going to report Barry to "Ginger". None of us ever heard any more about the incident but I do believe that Captain Mitford's approach to people his own size changed considerably.
Enough of my rambling.
Your memory does indeed serve you right. Mr Sidwell* should be added to the list. He was one of my favorites (Yankee again!) and had it not been for his teaching me Math I might never have been prepared for a career in accounting.
Others who you might not be aware of were:
Mr Baker - A dapper young man who walked with a very definite bounce to his gait.There were at least two more whose name I can't remember. One was the Art teacher (his name started with De......, man with a very bald pate) [That would be Mr. Desa - BP] and the other was the Music Master. The music room was located in the lower playground with the bicycle sheds. (If I remember correctly when I first went to the school there was only one shed - on the north side).
Mr "Fingers" Allen* - Taught 5th form English while all the time manipulating his fingers. In later years I believe he was involved with the Football Referees' Association.
Mr "Cheeser" Hayes - Physics teacher. Had a wicked right cuff to the ear.That's about all I can think of at the moment. If anyone else comes to mind I will get in touch. Hope I haven't bored you too much.
Incidentally, you asked me my wife's maiden name. It was Patricia Mear and she lived on Bridgwater Road just along from the Rutts.
Footnote; * Could quite often be found in the Phoenix - a well known watering hole close to Huish Lane.
Enjoyed reminiscing,
Kind regards,
Clem
HUISH HISTORY IX
There are just one or two footnotes to Clem (C.E.) Nettell's recent contributionMiss MacDonald, the 'good looking blonde', is referred to as 'Mrs.' in Gordon Baker's History:
"...but gradually ladies helped out in greater numbers. Mrs. MacDonald, BA., took over French, for instance." (p.85). We find, too, that boys were taken daily to the Victoria Restaurant on the Parade for a mid-day meal. (This was where Dixon's now stands. The restaurant was, I believe, upstairs and subsidised meals were available to all). The dining room at the end of the top playground must have come later but was certainly in place by the late forties.The caretakers then were Mr. and Mrs. G. Porter who had a cottage on the site and served sticky buns at break time through a window in the passage leading to the gym. They had 'five sons of their own' (Baker) but lost one shot down in a raid over Germany. Many much more recent Huishers will remember Maurice Porter, one of the five sons, and his wife, as caretakers at the South Road school, and later college, premises.
The school magazines for the war years carry lists of old Huishers serving in the forces but, no doubt due to emergency regulations, details are sparse. Sports and scouting continued and boys were organised into fire-watching teams taking turns to spend nights at the school. Windows were sealed as a protection from broken glass and blackout curtains provided. These were anxious times indeed but in the event Taunton escaped relatively lightly. However, we read that steps were taken where possible to replace gas with electricity and sand buckets and stirrup pumps were, naturally, provided and stocks of fuel were laid in. The fire watching teams of 'at least one master, and half-a-dozen senior boys', were on duty every night of the week and at weekends.
Elsewhere in the 'History' are references to Belgian refugees having their fees remitted, to the reception of evacuees from other grammar schools and to the Head's resistance to a wholesale influx of refugees and to lending boys for work in agriculture (that was Goodliffe; the 'History' records that Rutt relaxed the policy regarding agricultural work) which he had tried and found unsatisfactory in the Great War. With over 500 boys in the school 'War Savings' exceeded £3,600 by midsummer 1942.
The 'dapper' Mr Baker referred to by Clem Nettell, who was of course the author of the History of Huish's, actually left the school for a time and returned after about three years' absence. Although he taught French his subject was Geography and it was as Head of Geography that he eventually retired. I'm pretty sure that 'Bummer' Eele was later known as 'Bomber' but I never knew why. 'Fingers' Allen became known, for some reason, as 'Nat'.
.....end, created/updated 4 July 1997