Rhubarb 2024

THE HENRY KENDALL ERA The ‘Golden Age’ at St Edward’s School

By Chris Nathan (Segar’s, 1954-1957) Archivist

T his year marks the 70th anniversary of the departure of Henry Kendall, the School's sixth and longest ever serving Warden. His time at the

FEATURE

School has been described in many ways and for those alive in the 1930s, in particular, they refer to it as 'The Golden Age' of St Edward's. It was the time when the growth of the School was phenomenal in terms of pupil

numbers, buildings erected or purchased, acreage leased or acquired, success in sports and academically, and overall the emergence of a school from a rather low provincial standing nationally to one which was internationally known. It was all down to one man, Henry Kendall, and his determination to see the School move onwards and outwards. Henry Kendall with his dog Plonk in 1945. Cartoon by George Segar (Common Room).

HENRY EWING

Henry Kendall was born in November 1888 in Liverpool, attended Shrewsbury School, and then studied History at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He taught at Rossall for a few terms before returning to Shrewsbury in 1913, was ordained in 1915, served as a Chaplain in the Royal Navy during the Great War, and for his War service he was awarded an MBE in1919. After the War he returned to Shrewsbury School, and during this spell founded the first Boarding House with himself as Housemaster, a complete innovation at the

KENDALL Sixth Warden 1925-1954

School which turned out a great success and made his reputation in the process. When the Wardenship at St Edward’s became vacant in 1925 after William Ferguson decided to move on to Radley College, he was highly recommended to the Governors and appointed, almost without any competition, taking over in the Summer Term. In his own words:‘On arrival, the School was a hut-taught, under-housed and suburban school of 230 boys.’ What followed in the next 29 years can only be described as a remarkable total transformation of the School. Henry retired in 1954, handing over the Wardenship to Frank Fisher.There were 476 boys when he left the School. He died, very unexpectedly, in 1963 while on a world cruise to meet far-flung OSE and to publicise the School. He was buried at sea, very appropriately for a former Royal Naval Chaplain in the Great War.

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