St. Nicholas Grammar School
Encyclopedia
St. Nicholas Grammar School was an English grammar school
, located in Northwood Hills
, in the London Borough of Hillingdon
, England
.
, renamed Haydon School
. The school badge was a bishop's mitre surrounded by three money bags, worn on the breast pocket of the blazer, and was also incorporated in senior school ties, and senior prefect badges. Haydon School replaced the design with that of a stylized stag's head in 1978. In 1954 two forms were established at Bourne Secondary Modern to become the nucleus of pupils, forming 2a and 2b at the new building in 1955.
Approval to commence construction of the new grammar school was granted 11 May, 1953, and the work was undertaken by construction firm of Holland, Hannen & Cubitts
who had successfully undertaken many public works projects in the London area.
The first headmaster was Dr.Robert Francis Edward Watson (8 March 1910-16 July 2004) who assembled a hand-picked teaching staff during the late Winter and early Spring of 1955. He held his position until retiring at the end of term 1975. Dr.Watson was succeeded by Mr. Leslie Shearn who guided the school through amalgamation with the adjacent girl's school, becoming Haydon School in 1978.
Although quite a small school, St.Nicholas produced a number of pupils who later became well known public figures in the business world and the arts (see Notable alumni, below).
Over 300 former pupils attended the 50th Anniversary Re-union Dinner held in Heston, Middlesex, in 2006. Former Head of the Sixth Form, Mr David Dixon, presided and several former staff members were also in attendance (inc Mrs Broadhead; Mr Easom; Mr Hawley; Mr Cahill; Mr Gibson; Mr Clarke).
Traditionally Abbotts excelled in sports and in the overall House Competition achieving first position on a regular basis. Kevere was its strongest challenger, and was noted for its consistently good rugby sides. Bec could really only give Kevere a run for its money, and Kings was generally last. Kings was noted for its chess teams, and Bec generally did well in drama.
annually.
There was a language laboratory, senior and junior science labs for chemistry and physics, a thriving school orchestra, a surprisingly adequate library, workshops for metalwork and woodwork and several pitches for games. The playing field was shared with St.Mary's Grammar School For Girls and was very extensive.
Largely due to the excellence of its teaching staff St Nicholas Grammar School For Boys did very well in comparison to other, larger and better funded institutions in the area, including public and state secondary modern schools.
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, located in Northwood Hills
Northwood Hills
Northwood Hills is a suburban town within the London Borough of Hillingdon in west London.The nearest places are Hatch End, Northwood, Pinner, Ruislip, South Oxhey, Eastbury and Eastcote....
, in the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The school existed as a grammar school for 22 years from 1955 until 1977 when it joined with the neighbouring St Mary's Grammar School for Girls, to become a co-educational comprehensive schoolComprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
, renamed Haydon School
Haydon School
Haydon School is a comprehensive foundation school located in Hillingdon, west London, England. The school serves approximately 2000 students aged 11–18...
. The school badge was a bishop's mitre surrounded by three money bags, worn on the breast pocket of the blazer, and was also incorporated in senior school ties, and senior prefect badges. Haydon School replaced the design with that of a stylized stag's head in 1978. In 1954 two forms were established at Bourne Secondary Modern to become the nucleus of pupils, forming 2a and 2b at the new building in 1955.
Approval to commence construction of the new grammar school was granted 11 May, 1953, and the work was undertaken by construction firm of Holland, Hannen & Cubitts
Holland, Hannen & Cubitts
Holland, Hannen & Cubitts was a major building firm responsible for many of the great buildings of London.-History:It was formed from the fusion of two well-established building houses that had competed throughout the later decades of the nineteenth century but came together in 1883: this was...
who had successfully undertaken many public works projects in the London area.
The first headmaster was Dr.Robert Francis Edward Watson (8 March 1910-16 July 2004) who assembled a hand-picked teaching staff during the late Winter and early Spring of 1955. He held his position until retiring at the end of term 1975. Dr.Watson was succeeded by Mr. Leslie Shearn who guided the school through amalgamation with the adjacent girl's school, becoming Haydon School in 1978.
Although quite a small school, St.Nicholas produced a number of pupils who later became well known public figures in the business world and the arts (see Notable alumni, below).
Over 300 former pupils attended the 50th Anniversary Re-union Dinner held in Heston, Middlesex, in 2006. Former Head of the Sixth Form, Mr David Dixon, presided and several former staff members were also in attendance (inc Mrs Broadhead; Mr Easom; Mr Hawley; Mr Cahill; Mr Gibson; Mr Clarke).
Houses
There were four houses each with its own staff. A House Assembly was held once per week, on Friday. Each house had its own colours. There were many inter-house competitions throughout the school year, the emphasis being on field sports, though there were also drama, chess and art competitions. Staff indicated as of the 1975 Summer Term.- Abbotts Red Staff: Mr Birch (HofH), Mr Ford
- Bec Yellow Staff: Mr Charleston (HofH), Mr Taylor, Mr Kraushaar (HofH)
- Kevere Green Staff: Mr Rayner (HofH), Mr Hawley (HofH) Mr R W Noble, Mr Pym
- Kings Blue Staff: Mr Fountain (HofH), Mr Gibson
Traditionally Abbotts excelled in sports and in the overall House Competition achieving first position on a regular basis. Kevere was its strongest challenger, and was noted for its consistently good rugby sides. Bec could really only give Kevere a run for its money, and Kings was generally last. Kings was noted for its chess teams, and Bec generally did well in drama.
Facilities
Although it was a new school of only moderate size and with modest facilities, it quickly established itself on the sports field and sent several sixth formers to OxbridgeOxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
annually.
There was a language laboratory, senior and junior science labs for chemistry and physics, a thriving school orchestra, a surprisingly adequate library, workshops for metalwork and woodwork and several pitches for games. The playing field was shared with St.Mary's Grammar School For Girls and was very extensive.
Largely due to the excellence of its teaching staff St Nicholas Grammar School For Boys did very well in comparison to other, larger and better funded institutions in the area, including public and state secondary modern schools.
Notable alumni
- Christopher van Kampen, musician. Accomplished professional cellist, for the Nash EnsembleNash EnsembleThe Nash Ensemble of London is an acclaimed English chamber ensemble. It was founded by Artistic Director Amelia Freedman in 1964, while she was a student at the Royal Academy of Music, and was named after the Nash Terraces around the Academy...
from 1967 until his death in 1997. He played as soloist for London Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta and others. - Tony HymasTony HymasAnthony 'Tony' Hymas is an English keyboard player, pianist, composer and is well known for being a founding member of Ph.D. He is a very versatile musician and contributes in different styles of music....
, musician/arranger. Worked with Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
and others for many years. - Felix DennisFelix DennisFelix Dennis is a British magazine publisher, poet, and philanthropist. His privately owned company, Dennis Publishing, pioneered computer and hobbyist magazine publishing in the United Kingdom...
, publisher. Originally of OzOz (magazine)Oz was first published as a satirical humour magazine between 1963 and 1969 in Sydney, Australia and, in its second and better known incarnation, became a "psychedelic hippy" magazine from 1967 to 1973 in London...
magazine fame - Anthony Douglas CBE, Chief Executive, Children and Family Court Advisory and Support ServiceChildren and Family Court Advisory and Support ServiceThe Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service is a non-departmental public body for England and Wales set up to safeguard and promote the welfare of children involved in family court proceedings...
(CAFCASS) since 2004 - Colin Edwards, businessman. Former Vice President of Finance, North America, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
- Jon Henley, journalist and actor. Lead features writer The Guardian newspaper. Former head of its Paris office.
- Marc Peirson, author, TV scriptwriter and actor. Author of the crime novel Hard Evidence and television series writer (Doctors, Colby Central, EmmerdaleEmmerdaleEmmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
) - Baron RosserRichard Rosser, Baron RosserRichard Andrew Rosser, Baron Rosser is a British former trade union leader and politician.Initially employed by London Transport he joined the staff of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association early in his working career, representing London Transport's white-collar staff in negotiations with...
, Trade Union leader. General Secretary of the TSSATransport Salaried Staffs' AssociationThe Transport Salaried Staffs' Association is a trade union for "white collar" workers in the transport industry in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland...
from 1989–2004 - John Thompson MBE, Ambassador to Angola from 2002-5
- Michael Burdett, musician, producer and composer. Composer of original music for numerous television programmes, adverts, trailers, theatre productions and TV station idents.
- John HendersonJohn Henderson (director)John Henderson is a British film and television director His first directing job was for Spitting Image on ITV, which won him a BAFTA...
, film and TV director. Credits include The BorrowersThe Borrowers (TV miniseries)The Borrowers is a BBC TV miniseries first broadcast in 1992 on BBC2 and then later on American television station TNT. The miniseries is adapted from the 1952 Carnegie Medal Award winning first novel and second novel of author Mary Norton's The Borrowers series: The Borrowers and The Borrowers...
and Spitting ImageSpitting ImageSpitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
. - Gary TibbsGary TibbsGary Tibbs is a bass guitarist and actor, who appeared in the film Breaking Glass, alongside Hazel O'Connor....
, musician and actor. Played bass guitar with The VibratorsThe Vibrators- Early career:The Vibrators were founded by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer John 'Eddie' Edwards. They first came to public notice at the 100 Club when they backed Chris Spedding in 1976. On Spedding's recommendation, Mickie Most signed them to his...
, Roxy MusicRoxy MusicRoxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
and Adam and The AntsAdam and the AntsAdam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era... - David Horn Group Treasurer and International Investment Manager QBE Insurance Group from 1984 to 2001