H. Aubrey , Careers Master
Bacchus , French, Latin Senior Morley House Master, Senior Master Junior School 1956
Benyon, left in Jan. after 17 years to go to British School in Germany. (Link Dec 1954) Headmaster of Windsor School (Ham) (Link March 1959) French and Dramatics
Burgess, Russell, (Music) GRSM, ARCM, LRAM, Gold Medallist of the Royal Academy of Music (Link Dec 1954)
K. Coate-Bond . PT, Games and Maths. Morley House Master 1956
Culverwell, 2 chess cups in memorial (Link Dec 1954)
George Elms (Chewy). When Chewy left in 1959, W.E. Payne wrote in the Link,
"It was with very mixed feelings that all of us, staff and boys, said farewell to Mr. Elms at half-term. We were naturally very gratified to learn that he was leaving in order to take up more
responsible duties in the mathematics department at Wandsworth Technical College, especially as it is not far away and as the original Technical Institute was the milieu in which Wandsworth School as a grammar school had its beginnings. It was a sad moment, however, when we remembered, more especially perhaps in Gibbon House, that we would no longer be able to look to Mr. Elms for so much kindly guidance and for so many forms of efficient but unobtrusive service to the School, in and out of the classroom. After 30 years as a master here, Mr. Elms leaves us with nothing but agreeable memories of the many traits of character and personality which endeared him to us all. We
are sure that we shall see him back with us very frequently, taking an undiminished interest in the many School and House activities to which he so readily gave of his time and energies.
Mr. Elms, who came to the School after some years at Elliott, was before the war for many years in charge of Physical Education and Athletics, a role in which he will be remembered with affection by many Old Boys. Not all of them will be aware, perhaps, that in his younger days he made a thorough study in Denmark of the special methods of physical instruction being developed there and was able to adapt his knowledge for the benefit of his classes here. Always interested in the human and social side of education, he also played a leading part in helping Mr. King to develop for some years an active interest by many boys in country dancing. Despite increasing years, Mr. Elms long continued after the war to take a very personal interest in Sports Day and in Cross-country running, and to serve actively on the Sports Committee, as well as to do much by his stimulus and encouragement to help maintain the high tradition of sportsmanship in the School.
Mr. Elms will also always be associated in our memories with the annual Eisteddfod, which under his guidance developed from being the traditional Hobbies exhibition into the comprehensive cultural week at the end of the Spring term with which we are all familiar. He himself set a notable example in School musical life. A founder member of the School Orchestra, he was for a long period the First Violin under the direction of Dr. Wardale. As chairman of the Eisteddfod Committee Mr. Elms's tenure was remarkable for the efficient way m which he ensured the smooth running of the many competitions and performances or displays which came to be organised over the years in an ever-changing pattern.
It is not for a colleague to comment on his many gifts as a teacher, but I am assured by many whom Mr. Elms taught since the war as a teacher of mathematics and science, and certainly by some of his former pupils now with us on the staff, that he was always most patient and pains-taking Under him the humblest pupil could feel that he had a master who took a really personal interest in his progress His kindly virtues and the human touch he exhibited in his relations with the boys, as well as his organising powers, were justly recognised when, following the expansion of the School, Mr Elms was appointed to assist Mr Bacchus in the administration of the new Lower School.
As a colleague he was, I always found, most helpful and co-operative in every way His friendly smile might conceal sometimes a constitution whose health was far from perfect, but it was unfailing, consideration for others was at all times his first care, and the cheerful performance of duty was for him its own reward Rather than inconvenience others he would ungrudgingly undertake an additional or unexpected duty himself He was always long-suffering and understanding of the weakness or foibles of others, and ready at all times to make allowance for their difficulties or preoccupations. He combines strong convictions in his own personal philosophy of life with very
wide sympathies, and in the realm of ideas there can be few men so broadly tolerant and free from narrow prejudices as Mr. Elms.
On the occasion of his last Friday morning talk to the School he was able to sum UP for us the values and ideals and the traits of character he rated most highly. In so doing he was able to reveal to us some of the inner Christian strength of his own resources of character. In his relations with such a master no boy, however recalcitrant, could ever feel that he would get any but the fairest of deals, following the most considerate, but just, appraisal of his case.
It was as House master of Gibbon House for over 10 years that Mr. Elms, I think, found life at Wandsworth School most rewarding. Many Old Boys and some colleagues have known him much longer than
I have, but my own outstanding memory of Mr. Elms will always be in his capacity as head of the Gibbon family, a paternal role which gave scope for his finest qualities. "Take care of the House" would be his deepest-felt request of his successor. He took a most positive interest in everything affecting the House and religiously followed all activities involving the prowess of its members, cultural and athletic, as well as their record of work and conduct. He took pains to know something, always including something in his favour, about every member of the House, old and young, and took great care to comment encouragingly on every report he signed at the end of term, as well as to make every allowance for the shortcomings of any miscreants perforce paraded before him. He valued our well-tried tutor set system and took a personal interest in enthusing life and vigour into his House by his gifts of leadership, and especially his own example. In many little ways, I think, he set an example, too, to other Houses. The carefully kept Gibbon House records have, I believe, a longer history than those of any other House and are a tribute to his enterprise, where Gibbon House was the first in our new buildings to have its own notice-board. The pattern of House Assembly which he set was noted favourably by the Inspectors when they visited the School, and many a senior pupil owes much in his powers of discourse to the opportunities he has found for practising public speaking at Gibbon House meetings under the inspiration of his house master. In the selection of House prefects, too, no one could have shown greater knowledge of his boys than did Mr. Elms. The affection which the whole House showed for him on the occasion of his departure was, like that of the whole School generally the next day, spontaneous and well-earned. His successor as house master will have no easy task in trying to live up to the high standards he set himself in devoted service.
It should not be overlooked that Mr. Elms took a very real interest at all times in the activities of the Old Boys, both individually and in the Association, and through his long association with the business side of the " Link." I am sure that the Old Boys will be glad to know that his new appointment will not take him away from the district, and that in joining them as an "Old Boy" himself he will, no less than in the past, be able to keep in touch with the many friends he has made among former members of the School.
We who remain wish Mr. Elms good health and every success in his new duties and look forward to seeing him with us again whenever he can find the time to visit the School to which he gave so many years of steadfast service.
W.E.P"
R.W. Fenn, Robert William B.A. (Hons) borne Forest Hill, London 1891 Full write up Link Dec 1957.
D. Gouldstone, (Biology) Chelsea Poly. (Link Dec 1954)
Hall, Woodwork
A.R. Haggard , Maths. Joined Wandsworth Jan. 1953. Joined Ripon Hall, Oxford to take a course in training for the Ministry.
Hoare, Art
J. Keyte , (Jack) (photo Link July 56) (Music and Geography) directed Speech day Scottish songs (Link Dec 1954)Moved to Head of Geography Dept. Putney Park Lane (Elliot) Comprehensive School (Link March 1956).
A.M. Lince, Head of Languages, Cromwell House Master
Mr. Mercer, Physics (Chess)
J.F.T. Pearcy, Head of Maths Dept. Appointed December 1958 Link
H.S. Snell
Dr. J.D. Soloman (Chess)
Thom, Chief English Master, high qualifications as a school and university teacher. (Link Dec 1954)
P.M.R. Timothy (Chess)
J. Tremayne, (French) 1st Class Honours in French at University of Wales. (Link Dec 1954). Taught French, played chess and bridge Left on promotion to Head of Dept. at Croesyceiling Grammar School, Cwmbran, Monmouthshire. (Link July 1960)
R.W. Walters, (English) BA Hons St Johns College, Cambs (Link Dec 1954)
