Bembridge School

Infobox UK school
name = Bembridge School


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motto = "Today"
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established = 1919
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closed = 1997
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type = Independent school
religion = Non denominational
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street = Hillway
city = Bembridge
county = Isle of Wight
country = England
postcode =
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ofsted =
staff = 40 (approx.)
enrollment = 400
gender = co-ed
lower_age = 13
upper_age = 18
houses = 6
colours = Light blue/dark blue
publication =
free_label_1 = Former pupils
free_1 = Old Bembridgians
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Bembridge School was an independent school in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight founded in 1919 by social reformer and Liberal MP John Howard Whitehouse. Set in over 100 acres on the Eastern most tip of the Isle of Wight Bembridge was a public school intended to challenge the traditional concept of education. Many of the radical ideas first employed by Whitehouse, such as teaching of woodwork, American history and modern languages, were not to become mainstream for half a century.

From 5 boys sited in what is now known as Old House the school rapidly grew, New House and the Ruskin Galleries and the chapel being built in the 1930s as well as the refectory and library and teaching blocks. By the end of Whitehouse's life there were 264 boys and the school continued to grow and to flourish.

During the Second World War the site was used as a military base by the Army and the school moved to Brantwood House in Coniston, the former home of John Ruskin and owned by the school. The school returned to Bembridge in 1945.

The school was noted for its collection of art, books and memorabilia relating to John Ruskin, the largest of its kind. This included many notable manuscripts and the school was founded on the teachings of Ruskin. This collection is now housed in the Ruskin Library at the University of Lancaster.

The school continued to grow and thrive into the 1990s, over the decades building and acquiring many new buildings including Kilgerran House, the music block, squash courts, the Stedman Sports Hall and a additions to the preparatory school and the formation of a popular pre-prep.

Shortly after celebrating the school's 75th anniversary the Education Trust, a hereditary committee with few links to the school, announced their intention to dispose of the school. Whilst retaining possession of the valuable Ruskin collection they gave the school to neighbouring independent school Ryde School. Bembridge continued to function before merging with Ryde School and Upper Chine School in 1997.

History

Throughout its history two men drove the school's philosophy, founder John Howard Whitehouse and 19th century art critic and writer John Ruskin. The school's development, particularly during the early years, was visibly shaped by their ideas and even in later years the school never let go of their principles. The school's history spans seven decades and the boys and girls who attended the school seldom fail in later life to retain a sense of the school, or of the philosophy behind it.

John Howard Whitehouse

John Howard Whitehouse, the founder and first Warden of Bembridge School was born in 1873, the second son of George Whitehouse. A Quaker, George Whitehouse was an uncompromising Gladstonian Liberal whose strong views on issues such as Irish Home Rule and opposition to the politics of Liberal Unionist, later Conservative, leader Joseph Chamberlain were to shape his son's political views. Whitehouse, throughout his career in politics and later at Bembridge was an intense believer in the right of the individual to shape his own life and a bitter opponent of any form of bureaucratic control.In 1894 Whitehouse joined the firm of Cadbury as a clerk. Living in Bourneville he came under the influence of Ruskin and founded the Ruskin Society of Birmingham, organising lectures and classes by notable speakers. He proceeded to devote much of his career to education and youth work. He worked with Baden Powell and edited "The Scout", became Sub-Warden of St George's School in Harpenden and was warden of the Manchester University Settlement at Ancoats.

In 1910 Whitehouse entered Parliament as a Liberal representing the constituency of Mid-Lanark where he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George and pursued his interest in education serving on a number of committees dealing with child labour, child wages and reformatory work. In 1916 he lent his support to the growing conscientious objector movement [An Open Letter To The Bishop Of Liverpool, J Howard Whitehouse MP, 1916] , reflecting his Quaker background.

Shortly before the Great War broke out Whitehouse was introduced to Edward Daws, who showed him the Isle of Wight. He was so taken with the place that he bought a field and a house known as The Old School House. This was to form the nucleus of Bembridge School a few years later.

As a result of a minor revision of constituencies Mid-Lannark ceased to exist and Whitehouse unsuccessfully fought for the Hamilton seat in the 1918 election which saw the Liberals lose power for the next century. This defeat germinated the idea that had long been in his thoughts, the foundation of a boarding school based on different principles to those underlying orthodox public schools of the day.

Whilst his life from 1919 was closely bound up with the school he continued to pursue outside interests, penning a number of pamphlets and books on the subject of education and contesting every election between 1922 and 1935 (with, as he once noted wryly "equal measure of success"). He organised the committee to ensure the preservation of The Fram, the ship which carried Norwegian polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen to the Arctic and later Roald Amundsen to the Antarctic. He also bought Brantwood, Ruskin's home in the Lake District.

In 1953, during an Old Boys cricket match, he was struck in the eye by a cricket ball, and was severely injured. The effects incapacitated the great man and he was finally to die in his sleep on 28th September 1955.

Early Years

Bembridge opened its doors to the to five pupils in 1919. The school grew quickly and by summer 1920 there were 42, increasing to over 100 by 1924. [Bembridge School Records, 1935, Yellowsands Press]

John Howard Whitehouse, known as the Warden, left Parliament at the height of his career and as such was able to attract a high calibre of pupil from a number of influential parents. This coupled with his radical approach to education brought much interest from many society figures of the day with whom the Warden was acquainted, many of whom were to be involved in the school. Early visitors to the school included John Masefield, Walter de la Mare [Some Thoughts on Reading, Address by Walter de la Mare, Yellowsands Press, 1923] , Henry Nevinson and Isaac Foot amongst others. [Bembridge School Records, 1935, Yellowsands Press]

As the school grew in stature and numbers so it also began to expand out of its initial base in Old House at the bottom of the long drive. This began in 1920 with the building of Culver Cottage, at the Hillway end of the drive and the Gymnasium (later known as The Little Theatre) in 1924. The school entered a phase of rapid building work between 1927 and 1939.

New House was the first to be constructed, the Warden's House and New House being finished in 1927 to which was added the Ruskin Galleries in 1930. Junior House (the "Big Room" and Nansen Dorm) was built in 1929. In 1933 work began on the chapel and the first service was held in Spring 1934. The refectory and library was completed in 1938. By the outbreak of war the school looked similar to how it now appears.

During the early years of the school the boys' were encouraged to join the "School Journeys". These were trips made annually to Europe, starting in 1924 with a trip to Venice. Most interesting of these trips, usually to cultural events such as the Passion Play at Oberammagau, were two trips. The first of which being a visit to meet Fridtjof Nansen in Oslo. Nansen was a leading explorer and The Warden was involved in the restoration of his ship, the Fram. Second was a trip to Rome to meet Mussolini. The Warden had a great respect for the dictator, though he was later to realise his mistake. The boys presented the Italian with paintings by John Ruskin.

Coniston

As war engulfed Europe life at Bembridge continued, albeit with slight changes; each house had an air-raid shelter and The Royal Artillery were present on Culver Down. The school beach was laid with barbed wire. By summer of 1940 it was decided to move the boys and the school to the Lake District. The Warden had earlier purchased Brantwood, Ruskin's former home, and The Waterhead Hotel was also bought, to boost capacity. Everything at the school, including the large printing presses, moved to the North where the boys quickly settled into their familiar routine.

Life continued at Coniston for several years, the boys being actively involved in "Digging for Victory" and following the course of the war via their radios. An athletics track was constructed, flag poles flew the various house and school flags and the boys started the tradition of regularly climbing the "Old Man", a tradition that generations of Bembridgians would continue to enjoy on what became annual visits to Brantwood in peace time.

In Spring of 1945, the war clearly at its climax in Europe, the school was derequisitioned by the military, who had been stationed there, and handed back to The Warden. The boys returned in the Christmas term and life at Bembridge continued.

Post War

Sixties and seventies

Final Years

The end and since [Email from Brian Wakeford to James Scott OB]

The Story of Bembridge School was completed in time for the seventy-fifth Anniversary Celebrations in 1994.

Nine months later, just before the summer term, 1995, staff gathered together for their usual meetings. Plans for the year ahead - excursions, new rules, curriculum changes, examination time tables, boarding duties lists - were suddenly forgotten as the Headmaster announced a surprise decision of the Trustees of the Education Trust that owned the School. They had decided that the school was to be sold. There had been no consultation of staff, parents or Old BembridgiansFact|date=April 2008.

Once the parents had been informed, there was an energetic response. A committee was established, under the chairmanship of Dr Peter Randall, to investigate various ways of saving Bembridge School. Meetings were held with a representative of the Trustees and the committee believed it could raise the money to take over the school. However, it was announced that an agreement had already been made to sell the whole establishment to Ryde School.

It was announced that Ryde School would continue to run Bembridge as a separate unit, although the successful Dyslexia Department and the Pre-Prep School would cease to function, and the Junior school would no longer operate as a separate entity. By the end of the term, many parents had withdrawn their children.

Some teaching staff remained and, with dedication, led first by Jeremy High and then by Alan Doe, kept something of the old Bembridge School spirit, but for others there was no place. A few were eligible for early retirement. Others had to move from the Island to find employment. Without exception, they were able to obtain positions of authority and status, indicating the high quality of the Bembridge School Staff.

The Ruskin collection that once made Bembridge School unique is now housed at Lancaster University.

The dream that became a reality through the determination, foresight and genius of John Howard Whitehouse is no more. It lives on, however, in the memories of all of those who were there.

Houses

Old House

Old House is the only building to predate the school on the current site. Originally called The Old School House it came into The Warden's possession in 1914 and formed the centre of the development of the early school.

The building was extended in 1921 to allow for the dining facilities of the house and balconies contstructed in 1932 and 1934.

As the school spread across the site the house was used as a school 'hub' and administrative centre. The large room to the right of the entrance hall becoming the Headmaster's Study with the room to the right becoming the Masters' Common Room.

In 1928 courtyard house was built alongside Old House in the courtyard as a home for various Housemasters (and later Housemistresses). It was first occupied by Edward Dawes, Sub-Warden of the school and most recently by Matron Anne Sutton.

New House

Nansen

Nansen House was unusual in that it was did not fall within the Bembridge School grounds and was one of the few buildings that make up the school not to be built by the school. Nansen House, on Howgate Lane, was originally a large family home called Southcliff. It was acquired by the school in 1958 as accommodation for 20 boys under the first Housemaster, Henry Warren and chaged its name to Nansen, in honour of the explorer who was linked to the school, in 1961. It rapidly developed into a larger house with a number of extensions and served generations of boys.

Kilgerran

Kilgerran House was formally opened by Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran, president of the school, in 1981. The first boys occupied it in the Christmas term. Set at the bottom of the drive Kilgerran is the newest house at Bembridge and overlooks the junior cricket pitches on its northern side and McIver's house to the South. It is set over three floors and built in the school's trademark red brick.

The house and dormitories were refurbished in 1989 and the Nansen Wing (or Sixth Form centre) was added at the East end of the house and looking across the Junior School quadrangle (which was added at the same time) and the refectory.

Kilgerran Housemasters were Richard Warren-Betts, Martin Cooke, Richard Curtis, Anthony Adlam and, most recently, William Leach.

The Ruskin Collection

President of the School

President of the School was an honorary position created by the Warden at the foundation of the school and filled by four incumbents since 1919. The President of the School acted both as an ambassador for the school, as well as a regular visitor and participant in the philosophy of the school and direction of the curriculum.

The first President, later to be named Poet Laureate, was John Masefield. Masefield was followed by writer and academic Dean Inge, known as "The Gloomy Dean". Upon Inge's death economist and social reformer Lord Beveridge was given the position. Beveridge had known the Warden from their time in Government together and had alike political views. He authored the influential Beveridge report which put in place much of framework behind the welfare state, particularly the National Health Service. He took the position in 1954 and served until his death in 1963. He was followed by Lord Lloyd of Kilgarran.

Junior House (Bembridge Preparatory School)

Pre-prep

Arts Week

Old Bembridgians

Old Bembridgians include Darsie Rawlins (sculptor), Sir Dingle Foot MP (former Solicitor General), Paul Gregory (guitarist), Lord Foot (Parliamentarian), Richard Studt (violinist and conductor),John Brandon-Jones (architect), Sir Robin Day (broadcaster), Dr James Dearden (Ruskin expert),Michael Relph (film maker), Barry Field (former MP for the Isle of Wight), Adrian Beach (painter), Maj Gen Sir Peter Whiteley (former soldier and Governor of Jersey), John Heath-Stubbs (poet), Patrick Gosling (soap star) and Sir Richard Parsons (ambassador and novelist), Phil Terrell is now a pub landlord (White Hart Inn), Reuben Simpson-Little is an antiquarian and rare book dealer and proprietor of Kingdom & Ridewood Books (also recipient of a "Freedom of the City" award from the Linyi Municipal Communist Government of China), Robert Carrigan passed his 50 m swimming proficiency test and has been awarded the bronze duck badge.

The Old Bembridgian Association, founded in 1923, is currently chaired by Christopher Holder.

References