Dunstable Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Dunstable Grammar School was a grammar school
in the market town
of Dunstable
, Bedfordshire
, England
. Opened in 1888, it was closed in 1971.
(1821-1887), headmaster of Uppingham School
. By 1917, the school had grown to 67 boarders and 100 day boys. A school library was built in memory of the former pupils who died in the Boer War
and the Second World War
, and a memorial in the library commemorated the names of the sixty-two boys who gave their lives, including Ashton Edward Thring, the only son of the school's first headmaster. and the Victoria Cross
winner,
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Henderson
.
The school remained in its purpose-built home from 1888 until 1971, when it was closed with the coming of the new comprehensive system of education. The remaining schoolteachers and pupils moved to a new school at the opposite end of the town, the Manshead Upper School
.
, for children aged nine to thirteen.
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...
in the market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Dunstable
Dunstable
Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, 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...
. Opened in 1888, it was closed in 1971.
Foundation
Dunstable Grammar School was established by the Trustees of the Almshouse Charity created by the Will of Frances Ashton. Hence the inscription on the building which says:School opening
New school buildings were constructed in 1887 on the northern side of Dunstable for the Trustees of Frances Ashton's charity, and in 1888 the school opened with 49 pupils. The first headmaster was L. C. R. Thring, of the Thring family of Uppingham which included the educationist Edward ThringEdward Thring
Edward Thring was a celebrated British educator. He was headmaster of Uppingham School and founder of the Headmasters' Conference in 1869.-Life:...
(1821-1887), headmaster of Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
. By 1917, the school had grown to 67 boarders and 100 day boys. A school library was built in memory of the former pupils who died in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
and the Second World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and a memorial in the library commemorated the names of the sixty-two boys who gave their lives, including Ashton Edward Thring, the only son of the school's first headmaster. and the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
winner,
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Henderson
Edward Elers Delaval Henderson
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Elers Delaval Henderson VC was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Henderson was educated at Dunstable Grammar School...
.
The school remained in its purpose-built home from 1888 until 1971, when it was closed with the coming of the new comprehensive system of education. The remaining schoolteachers and pupils moved to a new school at the opposite end of the town, the Manshead Upper School
Manshead Upper School
Manshead Upper School is a Church of England upper school located on the outskirts of both Caddington and Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England. The school is administered by the Dunstable Ashton Foundation....
.
Use of the buildings
The original Grammar School building was modernised and since 1973 has housed the Ashton (VA) Middle SchoolAshton (VA) Middle School
Ashton Middle School is Middle school in Dunstable, Bedfordshire under the Bedfordshire Local Education AuthorityIntake comes from a variety of lower schools in the town and surrounding villages...
, for children aged nine to thirteen.
Alumni
- Nigel BensonNigel BensonNigel C. Benson is a British author and illustrator.Nigel Benson was born in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, son of Ralph H. Benson, a fine artist specializing in oils and pastels, and Heather M. Benson. He grew up in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, and was educated at Dunstable Grammar School...
, author. His book Dunstable in Detail is a standard reference for the town and includes details about the Grammar School. - Gary CooperGary CooperFrank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
, (known as Frank Cooper while at school) who became an actor and starred in many Hollywood films, e.g. as the town Marshall in High NoonHigh NoonHigh Noon is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. The film tells in real time the story of a town marshal forced to face a gang of killers by himself...
(1952). - Graeme Paul KnowlesGraeme Paul KnowlesGraeme Paul Knowles was installed as Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, London on 1 October 2007 after Letters Patent were issued on 20 September 2007. He was previously Bishop of Sodor and Man between 2003 and 2007...
, Dean of St Paul's since 2007 - Sam KyddSam KyddSam Kydd was an Ulster-born English actor. An army officer's son, he was born in Belfast, but moved to London, England when he was a child. He was educated at Dunstable Grammar School in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England....
, another actor who appeared in many films and on TV (e.g. as Mr Walton in the UK soap-opera Crossroads). - Kevin McCloudKevin McCloudKevin McCloud is a British designer, writer and television presenter best known for his work on the Channel 4 series Grand Designs. He lives in a 15th-century farmhouse in Frome, Somerset, with his wife Suzanna "Zani" who runs an online interior decoration business, and their two children, Milo ...
, TV presenter of Grand DesignsGrand DesignsGrand Designs is a British television series produced by Talkback Thames and broadcast on Channel 4 which features unusual and often elaborate architectural home-building projects.... - Geoffrey Moore CBE, Chairman of Vauxhall MotorsVauxhall MotorsVauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
from 1979-81 and President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and TradersSociety of Motor Manufacturers and TradersThe Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is the trade association for the United Kingdom motor industry. It "promote the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad".-History:...
(SMMT) from 1981-2 - Norman Morris (1920-2008), professor of medicine and humanitarian who revolutionized maternity care in the United Kingdom
- Khawaja NazimuddinKhawaja NazimuddinHajji Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, KCIE , was the second Governor-General of Pakistan, and later the second Prime Minister of Pakistan as well.-Early life:...
, (known as Khaja Nazimuddin while at school) who became the second Prime Minister of PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
(October 17, 1951 - April 17, 1953). (The first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali KhanLiaquat Ali KhanFor other people with the same or similar name, see Liaqat Ali Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan was a Pakistani statesman who became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence minister and Commonwealth, Kashmir Affairs...
was assassinated in 1951.) Khawaja visited his old school dormitory in 1952. - Philip Needham, Chief Executive of the ADAS Group from 1995-2000
- John Reason, Rugby Union correspondent for the Daily Telegraph from 1964-94
- William WillisWilliam Willis (politician)William Willis was an English Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1885.Willis was the son of William Willis a manufacturer of Luton. He was educated at Huddersfield College and at the University of London. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1861 and...
, Liberal MP for ColchesterColchester (UK Parliament constituency)Colchester is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
from 1880-5