100 years of schooling at Gayton Road

21 January 2011

Saturday January 21st 1911 saw the opening of the new Harrow County School for boys; the first state-funded secondary school in the Borough. It quickly went on to become one of the most well-known grammar schools in the country, regularly appearing in the local, national and educational press, and at the forefront of educational innovation. 100 years to the day later, and Harrow High School opened its doors to the start of its centenary year with a special event, which saw displays, special guests, speeches, and an unveiling. Conveniently falling on a Friday this time, it allowed the whole school to participate, which perhaps might not have been the case should it have fallen, like the original, during a weekend.

Amongst the invited guests were William Swan OBE, who had attended the School between 1932 and 1938, before serving during the war as an RAF Hurricane pilot, and Keith Baker, Chairman of the Centenary committee and a former pupil between 1958 and 1964. Both began the day by being interviewed by the local press and BBC Radio along with current Headteacher, Mr Paul Gamble, who gave a current view of the school and plans for the immediate future. A number of students were on hand, dressed in uniforms loaned from the archives, representing different periods across the years from 1911, through the 1930s, 1950s, the Gayton High School days of the 1980s and the current Harrow High School.

Pawel Lesniak, our 1911 schoolboy (and ‘Just William’ to a tee), wasn’t keen on having to wear the shorts, although by the end of the day he asked if he could keep them! (He did look rather more pleased when presented with a catapult for the photoshoot, although we had to make sure it didn’t ‘disappear’ during the day…) Others represented the School Air Training Corps Squadron of 1941 (Jordan Taylor, who is a current ATC cadet in Stanmore), Scouts of the 1950s, Royal Navy cadets of the 1960s and a current Army cadet. It was quite amusing during rehearsals, watching the faces of some as they were handed uniforms to try on. Two wanted to wear some form of uniform with shorts, both eager to be the ‘winner’. Upon seeing the long baggy blue corduroy Scout shorts presented to them, they looked at each other, with one muttering ‘He’ll wear ‘em…’ before walking away. Luckily, Warren Parkinson who got the job plays basketball at the school and is well used to baggy shorts!

The nine students formed a welcome party as His Worship the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Asad Omar, arrived, spending several minutes chatting with them before moving inside. I must say a thank you to all of the students for the prolonged photocall before this, both for the archives, OGA magazine, and for the local press – it wasn’t a warm day!

After an official welcome in the Library, where many of the original School trophies were on display, the assembled guests moved out to the foyer where another old boy, the Right Honourable Michael Portillo (Harrow County School 1964 to 1971) gave a short speech before unveiling a plaque honouring the three schools that have resided within the building. After this, pupils from the School Council took parties on guided tours of the school, culminating in a short drill display by the newly formed Combined Cadet Force in the inner quad.

After an interval for refreshments in the library, and the cutting of a suitable 100th birthday cake, the guests, who also included members of the Old Gaytonians Association Committee, several local Councillors and the MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, moved into the main Hall for a Lower School assembly (The School is now so large that it is split in to Upper and Lower schools, each having their own assemblies). After a welcome by Mr Gamble, the Mayor addressed all present, wishing the school a happy birthday and mentioning some of our better-known old boys along the way. This was followed by an amusing speech by Michael Portillo, who recalled his own days at the school, before the floor was handed over to two senior pupils, Keziah- Ann Abakah and Adrian Felaar who debated which was better – the school of 1911 or the school of 2011, under the particular areas of ‘Technology in the School Environment’, ‘Rules and Regulations’ and ‘Discipline and Punishment’. As can be imagined, the technology of today was much favoured, as was the less harsh discipline of the current school, with the result that the Lower School voted for the school of today.

Keith Baker then gave a light-hearted presentation to show that the School had not changed so much in the last 50 years. He showed clips from Hugh Skillen’s Golden Jubilee films of the school ‘Makers of Men’. Oohs and aahs of jealousy arose at the sight of the swimming pool and the prefects’ common room. The current students were less enamoured of biology dissection and images of Dr Simpson’s caning book!

The Assembly ended with a short speech from the Head Boy and Girl from the Lower School (Shakeel Muhammad and Monique Bailey) and the cutting of a ribbon to start the next 100 years. A similar Upper School assembly followed (although surprisingly this time they voted for the school of 1911 during the debate!), with the event closing with an address by Peter Hamill, the current Chair of Governors.

It was a most enjoyable day, and a wonderful start to the centenary year. Thanks go to the School staff and the members of the Centenary Organising committee.