July 13th. 1950
Pupils say "thank you" to former headmaster.
Mr A.J. Lilliman’s Retirement.
Three weeks, after his retirement from the headmastership, Mr. A.J. Lilliman, with his wife, returned to the Watford Central School on Tuesday at the invitation of his former pupils.
Who more fitting than the head boy and head girl, Barrie Miles and Elizabeth Lavender, could have been chosen to present a grandmother clock to Mr. and Mrs. Lilliman as a token of the School's esteem and appreciation.
Before the ceremony, the present headmaster, Mr. W. Hart, reminded the gathering that it was in a school magazine in 1936 that they read of the appointment of Mr. Lilliman as headmaster, "..until the school is transferred to new buildings as the Watford Modern School." Three years later, in 1939, work began on the new buildings in Aldenham Road, Bushey. That new school was to be opened in the autumn of 1940. when - and here he would quote - " according to present arrangements the children then at the Central School will be transferred to the new buildings."
The fortunate ones.
That was 10 years ago, when the Central schoolchildren of those days were vouchsafed a glimpse of the " Promised Land." " You are the fortunate ones who will enter there in," he added.
Mr. Hart went on to describe Mr. Lilliman's headmastership prolonged to a period of 14 years ' as a period of "Caretaker Government."
He also spoke at some length of the School's progress and achievements under Mr. Lilliman's guidance.
After the presentation, Mr. Lilliman suitably responded, paying tribute to the loyalty of the staff, and wishing the pupils success at the new Bushey Grammar School.
Later, on behalf of the School staff, Mr. Lilliman was given a dress watch, and Mrs. Lilliman, a vanity case.
Teachers’ Tribute.
Glowing tributes to Mr. A. J. Lilliman, retired headmaster of Watford Central School, were paid at a meeting of the South West Herts Teachers' Association, at the Victoria School on Wednesday. There was a presentation to him and Mrs. Lilliman.
It was the "collectors' tea" described by the President, Miss M. Maden, as being to honour that "noble army of martyrs, the representatives of the N.U.T. in the area, who collect 'subs' from their colleagues."
Vice-president Mr. H. J. Brothers, dubbed Mr. Lilliman as "one of the most notable sons of this Association. In 1925 Hertfordshire, being largely a rural county, was scheduled to be put into the rural scale when the provisions of the Burnham Scale were being discussed. Various appeals for upgrading were made but Hertfordshire was the only county which was upgraded. The case was prepared and presented by Mr. A. J. Lilliman.
The presentation photograph. Click to enlarge it.
*****************************************************
Select another topic in the INDEX on the left hand side.
If the index is not visible then