St Edward's 150 Years - by Nicola Hunter

St Edward’s: 150 Years

Chapter 2 / Wardens

introduced new subjects such as Physical Science and much new technology including video tape and an IBM computer. He also introduced special lectures for the Sixth Form from important figures such as Iris Murdoch and Stan Barstow, and he created a Sixth Form Common Room. He thought that, at a time when teenagers were being given more freedom by society in general, the key to a successful school was likely to lie with a happy and active Sixth Form. One of the problems he had to contend with was how many Chapel services should be compulsory at a time when many boys came from ‘unchurched’ homes. He came up with the idea of giving (which allegedly caused much upset amongst some in the Common Room) exemplified an attitude which was at complete variance to how many public schools might then have wished to be perceived. Much of the change at School clearly mirrored larger upheavals in society as a whole, but there was an underlying feeling amongst us that there really was something new going on and it was happening quickly.’ – Howard Lee (B, 1966-70) ‘While the film If was a romanticised view of 1960s rebellion, it appealed strongly to many schoolboys at the time. Rumours that the history master in the film was a take onWarden Bradley added spice; and the publication of the “alternative” Chronicle

Right: Warden Fisher, 1956.

Right: Warden Bradley, 1966. Below right: The Common Room in 1969. Left front: MervynEvans in the chair, JackScarrreadinganewspaper behind him.

Far right: Warden FisherwithSchool prefects, 1956.

RICHARD BRADLEY (b.1925), WARDEN 1966–71 Richard Bradley’s father was a Prison Commissioner and had

Wardenship the School grew and a new Music School was built. Facilities, equipment and methods of teaching, especially in the Sixth Form, were quietly but dramatically modernised. He initiated and oversaw the first published Development Plan, which made possible the building of the new Sing’s and Field Houses. He opened the new Metal Workshop, and he organised and presided over the 1963 Centenary celebrations most successfully. When he left after 12 energetic years he became Master of Wellington College. He remained closely connected with St Edward’s right up to the end of his life, attending a meeting of the Appeal Committee, which he chaired, four days before his death. He always said that St Edward’s was the real love of his whole time in education, and it is no coincidence that he chose to have his ashes laid to rest beside our Chapel. Left: Prince Philip’s visit to the School in 1963.The Duke came by car from civic duties in Oxford, was dropped off at the Lodge and met byWarden Fisher, Douglas Bader and George Mallaby, then Acting Chairman of the Governors. After carrying out his official duties on Quad side he walked across towards Corfe and saw the RAF Section of the CCF fly over the School. He then laid the foundation stone of the new buildings in Corfe Field (now Kendall Quad). After that he flew off in his red helicopter.

been Director of Borstals. This background, along with his own thoughtful and empathetic character might account for Warden Bradley’s strong and obvious social conscience and unusual approach to managing the School. He had been educated at Marlborough College where he had shown an enthusiasm and ability for sport that continued throughout his career; this was followed by a Scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford, where he read History and played rugby for the Greyhounds. He taught at Dulwich for a year, and then Tonbridge School for 16 years, and also spent a year at the Gilman School in Baltimore. He was a devout Christian but not inflexible in his approach to making changes in religious observance at St Edward’s during such a questioning time as the 1960s. He had spent two years in the Royal Marines, was commissioned in 1945 and served in India and Java. The School had appointed a man who was interested in the development of individuals and the everyday stuff of successful teaching; he was not someone who saw things in black and white and he had a good sense of humour. Malcolm Oxley, author of the new history of the School and Sub-Warden until 1999, was a master at St Edward’s in Bradley’s time, and believes that during his years as Warden it was increasingly the year group rather than the House that was important. There is no doubt too that this was the time when Christian names rather than surnames became the norm, as reflected in the Chronicle . Practical changes at the School under Bradley’s Wardenship included a purpose-built Language Centre and the introduction in his first year of Parents’ Evenings. He also allowed more flexibility in combining subjects. He

FRANK FORMAN FISHER (1919–86), WARDEN 1954–66

The Hon. Frank Fisher was the second son of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, and was born at Repton School, at the time when his father was Headmaster there. He was educated at Repton himself, where he was a good games player and became Head Boy. He went to Clare College, Cambridge, just before the Second World War, interrupting his time there to join the Sherwood Foresters and serve in North Africa; he was taken prisoner in Tobruk, escaping at the third attempt and was awarded the Military Cross. He resumed his studies at Cambridge after the war and won a Hockey Blue. He returned to Repton and became a Housemaster until 1954 when he was appointed to the Wardenship at St Edward’s, with the support of Kendall. He was a good speaker who not only did a superb job in running St Edward’s but also represented the School to the outside world very effectively. Under his

Horseboxes,1964.ArchivistChrisNathansaysthatthehorseboxwas‘theonly truly private space for an individual in the School’. They were in all the older Housesandwerefittedintothevariousdayrooms.Theprefectshadaseparate study, which they shared.

32

33