The Unveiling of the Memorial Window
On Wednesday 27 June 2007 the stained glass window erected in memory of former headmasters Mr. Bradley and Mr. Rising was at last unveiled in the old school assembly hall. Over 60 old boys and staff were welcomed by Mr. Rod James, the Headmaster of the present Humphry Davy School, for the unveiling ceremony by Mrs. Joan Hancock and Mrs. Tean Rising.
In his introductory remarks the association secretary, Andrew Coak, thanked both Mr. James for his welcome and for allowing them to invade his school premises in the middle of a school working day, and Kathryn Uren, Chair of the School Governors, for agreeing to the installation of the window. He also took the opportunity to give a big thank you to all those old boys and staff who donated to the window. Over £3600 had come in from all over the world and this sum had more than met the costs of production, installation, administration and celebration.
In the window the designer Simon Harvey [son of Percy Harvey (38)] had captured the historical roots of the school and included the two badges of the old grammar school, the old school motto ‘Onen Hag Ol’ and a pertinent line from the School Song. ‘By memory’s chain we linked remain’. All this was superimposed on a Cornish flag. At the bottom was a tribute to Mr. Bradley and Mr. Rising with dates acknowledging their 58 years of service. Between them in those 58 years they had overseen the education of over 4500 pupils at the school, nearly three quarters of the total intake, and also administered over 140 teaching staff.
He said how extremely delighted the association was to welcome Mrs Tean Rising and Mrs Joan Hancock to carry out the simple unveiling ceremony and he was sure that, as a wife and a daughter they would have very different memories of the two men who contributed so much to the school than we the pupils under their authority. For us when 10 conduct marks were looming, and the inevitable interview with the headmaster was pending, we did not always have a great deal of affection for our headmaster. Undoubtedly for some they were strict, sometimes harsh disciplinarians, but if one was willing to work hard then the ‘Boss’ (for they both had earned this nickname) gave full support and, as the great leaders that they were, inspired many pupils to achieve their true potential. Many of the letters and phone calls that he had received from old boys since launching the appeal testified to the great influence that these men had had on their lives and in some instances their fathers before them. He hoped that in future years the window would help to remind everyone of the dedication and service they gave to us, to the school and to the community.
Before the actual unveiling of the window a short dedication was made by the Reverend Derek Polgrean (44).
The unveiling ceremony was followed by light refreshments, pasties and a bit of saffron cake, and many memories were awakened, particularly for those old boys who had not visited the school for 40 or 50 years. The oldest old boy present was Hugh Miners who joined the school in 1923 and there were a few who had been at the school with both headmasters.
Mrs Hancock (left) and Mrs Rising after unveiling the window
Barbara Grover, Sylvia and Bob Quixley with John Pollard and Martin Scrase in the background.
Ian Robertson, Howard Curnow, John Coak (back view), Terry Pope, Maurice Hogg and Des Astin.