July 1950
Supplement to the Centralian (No. 39)
The old order changeth, yielding place to new.
When the magazine was last published at the beginning of the year, no one was aware how near were impending changes. Then February brought the news that Bushey Grammar School would be a reality in September of this year and that the pupils of the Central School would be moving there.
The move has meant many changes, particularly with regard to the staff. Mr.Lilliman resigned his Headmastership and the School wished him goodbye after the last assembly on April 17th. He and Mrs Lilliman returned on July 13th to receive parting gifts from the pupils and staff - a grandmother clock from the pupils and a dress watch and a vanity case from the staff. It has been my privilege to serve the School as headmaster for this term. Since April we have had the assistance of Mr. J. A. Challis, B.A. (Oxon).
Only a few of the staff are going to Bushey, Miss Rice, Mrs Richards and Mrs Duxbury, Mr. Truss, Mr Steel and myself. Mr D. Truss, B.Sc. (London), appointed to the Central School in April as Mathematics Master in place of Mr Sellins, is an old Centralian (1928-1935). Another appointment to the Bushey Grammar School is Mr S.J.Caffall as P.T. master; he is a former head boy of the Central School, where he was a pupil from 1925 to 1932.
Many people will be interested to know what is happening to other members of the staff and the following moves can be reported: Miss Parr to St. Albans Grammar School for Girls, Mrs Balthazar to Harrow Technical College, Miss Panton, Mr Edwards, Mr Cameron and Mr Bowdler to schools in Middlesex and Mr Varey to Brighton. Miss Randall, Mrs Rathbone and Mrs King are staying in the S.W.Herts district, whilst Miss Williams will continue at the New Price Domestic Science Centre.
The Headmaster of Bushey Grammar School is Mr F.J.P. O’Connor, M.A. (Oxon).
During the last term of the Central School we have tried to keep up normal activities. The 25th Annual Athletic Sports were held on May 24th and records were broken in both boys’ and girls’ events. Victor and Victrix Ludorum were J.Bangs and Mary Jordan respectively, and champion houses were Cassio (Boys) and Monmouth (Girls). The Swimming Gala was the last of the School functions: it was held on July 21st at the Watford Corporation Baths and was graced by the presence of the Mayor, Mrs H.H. Bridger and her husband, Alderman Bridger, a governor of the School. In the House Championships Essex (Boys) and Monmouth (Girls) proved the winners. In the swimming events too, records were broken. A fortnight previously, the School Boys’ swimming team proved victors in the Watford and District Inter-Schools Competition; the girls were runners up in their contest. The House Cricket Championship was won by Cassio.
Many educational visits have been made during June and July, amongst the places visited being the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Greenwich, Aldbury and Tring, St.Albans, Hatfield House and the Apsley Mills of John Dickinson.
The Brocket Empire Prizes were won by Alistair Mackay and Dorothy Smith, and the English Speaking Contest winners were Glenys Dobbs and Jeam Gomm (Girls) and Barry Miles and James Batey (Boys). Prizes were given by former pupils Alderman and Mrs E.T.Warren and Mr L. Gunnell, all governors of the Watford Central School and also of the Bushey Grammar School. The Hardy Memorial Prize for Needlework was won by Jean Newin.
One pleasing feature of the present term has been the use of the new canteen in the boys’ playground.
A collection made during the week ending May 26th for the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals amounted to £5.17.7.
And so the time has come to record the passing of the Watford Central School. These notes are necessarily incomplete and leave unanswered many enquiries that have been made by present and Old Centralians during the last few weeks. The present pupils are proceeding Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new. The old pastures are to be used for younger stock.
During the last 23 years, your magazine has served its purpose. I have been associated with it since its inception when Mr Adkins, who was then Headmaster, asked that it should be a really good thing and a credit to the school.
The portrait of Mr Adkins has hung in the School hall since 1937 ....... Ten years later than was at first anticipated, his vision is fulfilled. On July 28th the Central School ceases to function: In September the Bushey Grammar School begins.
The School is dead: Long live the School!
W. Hart
Mary Jordan receiving the Victrix Ludorum cup from Mr Gunnell - (Click on picture to enlarge).
JULY 1950
GOVERNORS
STAFF
Vol. 1 No. 1 May 1954
Opening Day
Plans for the transfer en masse, of pupils from Watford Central School to Bushey Grammar School, on the completion of the later, were well under was as far back as 1936. By 1939 the ground floor had been completed and pupils joining the Central School in that year were assured by senior pupils that they would be finishing their studies in the new School. Unfortunately this was not the case, as work on the School had to be abandoned, for obvious reasons, and the building, as much as was then completed, was commandeered by the Ministry of Food for use as an emergency food store. All plans for the transfer were put off indefinitely.
It can therefore be seen that, apart from the usual difficulties of building and opening a new school, Bushey Grammar School was in the unfortunate position of having a large time gap between the laying of the foundations and the completion of the building. Plans that were modern in 1936 were out of date by 1949, so numerous alterations in them had to be made.
The first few months after the transfer was complete were far from being easy for staff or pupils, but difficulties were overcome and life (gradually) became more stable. In spite of repeated setbacks in the completion of the building, the opening ceremony was arranged for Thursday, 4th of October, 1951.
The guest speaker was Sir Charles Tenyson, who spoke on The position of the Grammar School in the Modern World. Other guests included members of local authorities and organizations, the School Governors, members of staff, parents and School perfects. The natural beauty of the School assembly hall was further impressed on all by the striking display of flowers that had been arranged on either side of the stage. The final ceremony over, guests made their way to the dining hall, where tea was served.
The opening ceremony was an outstanding success and in the months that followed the School’s prestige in academic and sporting spheres has increased rapidly. What difficulties lie ahead are unknown, but what is certain is that the setbacks the School has successfully overcome in the past, will help here to weather even the roughest storm.
Author unknown
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