Rhubarb 2021

ST EDWARD’S

29 years during which 3,129 boys passed through the School and 80 masters were appointed. By 1954 few could remember a St Edward’s without him. He had started a new House at Shrewsbury based upon the cultivation of an inward-looking group loyalty and a mixture of competition and bonhomie. Kendall was an adroit manager of both adults and pupils. These skills he transferred to his leadership of St Edward’s. He generated a uniformity of appearance and conduct while cultivating an approachability which commanded affection as well as respect.The old “Sets” were quickly converted into geographically-based Houses in the manner of the large Public Schools. In January 1925 he hastened to withdraw the School from its affiliation with the Woodard Corporation. St Edward’s would be its own master. At the same time he purchased a whole regency mansion and estate, Apsley Paddox (Later Field House), a swashbuckling act.Then he concentrated on expansion of games facilities with a new boathouse, tennis courts and

levelled lower fields. A new gym and school shop followed and what became Lower II was purchased. May 1928 saw the Subway to the fields opened, the most fundamental construction ensuring the School’s future development on both sides of theWoodstock Road.The Memorial Buildings (Tilly’s), planned by Ferguson and opened on Kendall’s arrival, was soon joined by the Dining Hall extension, new ante-chapel and a classroom block.Two substantial purpose-built houses (Cowell’s and Segar’s) followed in 1936.The School was physically transformed and its extent increased from 25 acres to 97 acres between 1927 and 1929. Pupil numbers soared, still attracted no doubt by the low fees charged and were steady between 350 and 400, and after 1945 always higher than 400. Kendall’s School was famous for games, a certain heartiness and an irrepressible loyalty within the School and from its old boys and friends. It was famous, too, for its war heroes and these somehow captured the spirit of Kendall’s School more than the adequate but never spectacular academic results.

FEATURE

Apsley Paddox (Field House)

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