SOME COLLEAGUES REMEMBERED.
Miss D Jones, Miss A. E. Hatton and Miss M. Gillman all came to teach
at Lydney around the time of the First World War. Miss Dorothy Jones
was specially trained for kindergarten work (and some of our earliest
pupils were very young) so naturally her work was almost entirely confined
to the lower part of the school and her influence far greater than
she ever realised. Right ways of thinking and high standards of behaviour
were her priorities. She played an important part in the development
of the school. Miss A. E. Hatton was (and still is) as upright in character
as in bearing. No colleague has ever filled me with greater respect
for her complete integrity, selflessness and dedication. Superficially
she seemed somewhat stern of aspect and old pupils tell me that excuses
for missing homework seemed so thin before her calm searching eyes
that they never ‘tried it on' a second time. But to the
Sixth Form and especially other colleagues she showed another side:
first, there was the twinkle in her eyes, then her unforgettable deep
laugh. They all loved and respected her. Miss M. Gillman was in charge
of History for almost 30 years and produced uniformly sound results
throughout that period. She had a very quiet, retiring personality
yet somehow commanded the utmost respect. A more kindly colleague never
existed.
In her article on her early days here, Miss Alice Higgs omits to add that she
became Senior Mistress in 1946, after Miss Cleaver retired, and was Acting-Head
during Mr. J. C. Burch's illness and the interregnum which followed his
death. Thus from 1946-53 she was a leading figure in the school and carried
a most difficult burden without apparent strain. She was never in the least
officious and always direct in ways and words. Thus she was able to command
the loyalty and intelligent mind, backed by a forceful personality: but would
be the first to agree she never suffered fools gladly; yet, at the same time,
she was prepared to listen patiently to the most junior members of the Staff
with sympathy and understanding - even if she did not agree with their points
of view.
Leslie Willatt was only on the Staff for a short time when war broke out in
1914 and he enlisted in the army serving throughout the war. Though buried
alive and narrowly escaping death, he returned in good health and spirits.
He was soon made Second Master and for years was one of the strictest disciplinarians
on the Staff, but though physically unmarked there is no doubt that his war
experiences affected him more than anyone realised. Himself a capable violinist,
he could play anything on the piano by ear, and an Old Boy who later earned
his living as a London Music critic told me that Leslie was entirely responsible
for opening the world of classical music to him. He was a well-informed, well-read,
intelligent man and also a very kindly one. Only a few days ago I learned how
he secretly equipped one of our brighter, but poorer, pupils with a complete
outfit of clothing so that he could go to University suitably dressed. He retired
in 1951.
Two of the longest serving members of the Staff were both Scientists. Harold
Jones was a boy of the school and returned to teach for a year in 1920 and
the permanently in 1927. He was regarded almost as a son by Mr. Frank Dixon,
partly, because of their common interest in Botany. For many years the Botany,
and later Biology, students far outnumbered those from any other department
and examination results were amazing - not only with high quality pupils but
also with the less able. Harold established a relationship with them that was
unique and was always available for advice. His influence on the school was
as great as his reign was long. He retired in 1963. Dr. Mary Balf (nee Burch
called Eric D'Aubyn)"the original absent-minded professor" who
nonchalantly cycled down Highfield Hill with a parcel of books under one arm
when other cycles were ice-bound. The one man who should have been time-conscious
was completely oblivious of its existence, and this caused problems occasionally.
However, complaints only produced a flashing smile and the 'Daub' charm
and few were able to resist that. To his pupils he could be a hard task-master,
but since he never spared himself, no-one ever grumbled. In his younger days
he was a first-class hockey player and together we spent many a happy Summer
evening on the School tennis court.
To write objectively of my closest friend is the hardest task I have. Philip
Edmonds was undoubtedly a sound teacher of English and with Miss Higgs gave
the School some memorable plays. But his chief contribution, which helped so
much to create a happy staff-room was his particular brand of charm and his
inimitable deep-throated laugh. No test of comradeship could be greater than
working long hours side by side with another on a complex school time-table.
We did so for three years. His mind was like quick-silver just as his speech
was deceptively deliberate. His attitude to the Staff cricket team epitomised
the man:"We play to win, but we play for fun". When he left on
deserved promotion to the Headship of Yorebridge Grammar School we all felt
the loss deeply. In 1958 he passed on to the Headship of Fitzmaurice Grammar
School, Bradford-on-Avon and for many years was an Awarder in English for the
Oxford Local Examination Board, but to our great sorrow died in his sleep after
a second heart attack in 1968.
Jack Chamberlain succeeded one of the most able teachers ever to enter L.G.
S., Miss A. E. Hatton, and maintained her remarkable high standards because
he was a first-class teacher. He was greatly respected by his Colleagues for
his professional expertise and regarded with affection by his Sixth Form pupils.
He did fine work with both Mr. Powell Davies and later Mr. Gordon Phillips.
He moved to the Headship of a Secondary Modern School at Filton and then to
Plymouth. Unfortunately, he too died prematurely and unexpectedly at an early
age.
J. H.
Andrea W (nee Knox) asked (August 2025): "... I was just wondering if Gordon Phillips is still alive? He was my music teacher at LGS in 1972 and I am now 63 and listening to Beethoven's 7th, still my favourite piece of music, and which he introduced me to".
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