Legends of Taylors'
At the end of summer 2022, we said farewell to five stalwarts of the Merchant Taylors' School staff. DT teacher, Ndinos Kyriacou, Head Porter, John Reynolds, School Secretary, Anne Schofield, Nurse, Shelagh Marsh and Groundsman, Peter Rees. Together, they have worked at school for 110 years! Photographs of some of their leaving drinks can be seen by clicking the image above and valedictories and articles from the Taylorian and Concordia can be read further on.
Ndinos Kyriacou (2002 - 2022)
When Ndinos arrived at Merchant Taylors' School some twenty years ago, he immediately impressed with his friendliness and professionalism. Since then his positive attitude towards both teaching and tutoring has benefited many a boy. Academically, he was one of those rare finds; a D&T teacher who could also teach electronics. And boy, could he teach electronics!
Ndinos always went the extra mile, and so impressed moderators that their reports often referred to how the level of work presented went beyond what was generally expected at GCSE. Boys studying A level also benefited hugely from his broad knowledge of the subject, because Ndinos was an all-rounder who could also specialise: a rare find.
Ndinos certainly played his full part in the extracurricular life of the school. Early on, he became involved in DofE, soon becoming a Gold Assessor and supervising boys on several expeditions, some as far away as Slovenia. He also contributed to the growth of Water Sports into one of the more popular and successful games options.
From the start, Ndinos was hugely appreciative of what Taylors' had to offer him, and he admits that it renewed his love of teaching. He says he benefited greatly from the renaissance the school was undergoing through Jon Gabitass's leadership and was happy to be swept up be the wave of positivity that was flowing through the school at that time. So began his love affair with Merchant Taylors' which has lasted to this day.
Ndinos leaves behind an enduring memory in the minds of all those hundreds he has taught, and he can take with him the respect, affection, and good wishes of us all.
Extract from the Taylorian Mr J.B. Coleman (MTS SCR 1980-2018)
Anne Schofield MTS 1993 – 2022
After nearly thirty years’ loyal service to Merchant Taylors’ School, Anne has taken the decision to retire this summer. Before she shut down her computer and tidied her desk for the last time, I sat down with her to reflect on her time here at Sandy Lodge.
Anne joined the school in 1993, working part time in the Catering office, an opportunity to return to work whilst caring for her young family – my first memory is of Anne resplendent in a white coat in the office of Val Cliss, the catering manager. Her efficiency and willingness to work hard saw her recruited to the School Office where she worked three days a week alongside Wendy Westoby. As is the custom at Merchant Taylors’, she found herself accumulating jobs so that the Headmaster’s Secretary, Sarah Hampel, needed some extra help and Anne added some hours to work at the top end of the School. This experience of working with senior leadership and her undoubted calm discretion meant that when Claire Rose, the Second Master’s secretary, stepped down Anne was asked to take on the role in 1999, necessitating a move to five days a week.
The job lay at the heart of the day-to-day running of the School. Anne’s major responsibility was to process the absence cards, filled in by hand and delivered to the Senior Master’s office. It would take until midday to finesse the list once the late-comers and absentees had been chased up. The office was certainly a hub, boys would come in search of lost property, ties and even a shaving kit in extreme circumstances. However, Anne enjoyed these distractions as she got to know the boys and their families. As a parent herself, Anne often noticed when things were not quite right and would on more than one occasion alert senior leaders that a boy was not happy.
Anne saw all facets of school life – dealing with fights and theft as well as the happier aspects, most noticeably the administration of school prizes. Boys would come into the office with their books for St Barnabas and Anne shared in their pride at their achievements – having ensured all were correctly labelled and sorted, she would attend Speech Day to watch the boys pick up their awards. I can vouch for Anne’s invaluable support in sorting the books so that each boy got the right one on the day.
I asked Anne what has kept her at Taylors’ for so long and it was clear that for her, the School has felt like a ‘second family’ where she has felt at home. She enjoyed working with so many colleagues and keeps in touch with a lot of them to this day. In 2004, Anne’s role expanded even further as a result of the re-structuring of the Leadership team which meant she organised the lives of Tim Stubbs (Second Master), Caron Evans Evans (Senior Master) and myself as Director of Studies. I never forget the day she walked into my office and simply said “I can help with that…” resulting in my work life being organised for the first time.
It became clear that Anne’s workload – she was the first port of call for virtually any problem in the school and the tighter organisation of school trips was getting larger and larger. Sue Williamson moved from the Common Room Secretary’s office to the Senior Master hub, and Anne moved to three days a week from September, 2016. This allowed Anne to reduce her hours to enable her to spend more time with family, particularly her grandchildren. Covid, in Anne’s eyes, changed everything. The fragmentation of work practices meant that it became harder to catch up with colleagues and she felt the loss of her ‘second family’.
Anne will take many happy memories with her into retirement – watching Wimbledon in the old Rec room, the leaving tea for Sarah Hampel by the lakes and playing tennis at the school with husband Andy and her family. She remembers vividly being taken for a spin in Second Master Crispin Collier’s new car, a trip that involved driving across the fields. She loved the School musicals, the sound of singing drifting across the quad was very moving. I asked what advice she would give her successor. Anne suggested “try to be as helpful as you can. We’re here to help the teachers.” I can vouch for that – Anne’s support extended to looking after my daughter when I was stuck in one of the numerous meetings that the DoS job seemed to involve back in the day.
Tim Stubbs, sums up Anne’s contribution thus:
It is often said that no one is indispensable and, whilst that may be true, in my view Anne Schofield was just that in her role as Secretary to Second and Senior Masters at MTS over the past twenty years. She kept us all up to the mark with her good humour, unflappable efficiency and unfailing tact. She is also extremely perceptive without being judgemental – as sometimes happens boys get themselves into a bit of a jam and try to explain their way out of the problem – Anne would sometimes be unconvinced; “I’m not sure he has been entirely straightforward about this”. I very much doubt that without Anne’s unflinching support and tolerance I would have coped with job of being Second/Senior Master.
On behalf of generations of teachers and naughty schoolboys, I would like to wish Anne a happy retirement. She intends to travel widely, particularly to New Zealand, and to indulge in her passion for all things outdoors – rambling, cycling and water sports.
JGT
John Reynolds (1997-2022)
What did the school look like in the late-90s?
It was a very different place. There were no AstroTurf pitches, Economics and Politics were taught in a portakabin and there was no Reception as it is today - in fact there was a huge toilet block where the Undercroft now sits. Apparently it was the biggest block of toilets in the country and there was a lot of filming done in there, including the WH Smith's adverts with Nicholas Lyndhurst. In Music I can recall the school builder, Alan Costa, building the classroom at the back of the Recital Hall. Over the years there have been several major infrastructure projects like the Design Centre and Sir Edward Evans Geography Building as well as new Grounds Sheds and a new Deliveries Depot for the Porters, adjacent to the Head Master’s garden.
What was the atmosphere like then?
I had never worked in a school so it was something of a culture shock. I was in awe of all the Masters, many of whom were much older than me – the Common Room was much older back then. In those days, the boys would walk down the left-hand side of the corridor. The Great Hall was set up differently with more tables by the stage. More recently, we lost the Monitors' table and the side tables for the JCR as there are now 930 boys in the school, an increase of over 100 from when I started. Another thing that struck me was that, along with Pullen’s (still our official outfitter), Harrods would also come to the school so that boys could purchase school uniform, their van arriving resplendent in the famous green and gold livery. In the late-90s we still had boarders in The Manor of the Rose. There were House tutors who lived there such as Stephen Cole, Patrick Wild and Geoff Colley with a Matron, Elizabeth Easter. The Manor was an incredibly tight-knit community. There were bonfire nights for Guy Fawkes and Manor boys used to invite guests to the Dining Hall for an evening meal. It was invitation only and anyone from the staff could be invited. They used to pass a jug around and everyone used to drink out of it, while their neighbour would mimic guarding them with a ceremonial sword while they drank. The tradition was to put spirits of some kind into this jug; something that I observed when my wife and I were invited by one of the younger boarders. We ate superbly thanks to Val Cliss – then the Domestic Bursar – and after the meal, the chalice, referred to as the Loving Cup, began to be passed around. Everyone took a swig but I do remember my wife hesitating slightly before it was her turn.
What was your role then?
I was initially a full-time Cleaning Supervisor and then, after Mick Clamp passed away in 2004, I was asked to take over as Head Porter.
How would you describe your current role?
My main responsibilities are for the day and evening cleaning teams, security (shared with four others), and I order all stationery for the school. In total I manage 12 different budgets to keep the school ticking over. Covid-19 meant many people were furloughed including the rest of the Porters, so I was on my own looking after the school. It was an honour to be asked to look after the school at such a unique time. It was very quiet and, while normally you can't wait for the summer holiday, the place is too big to be empty. Four months was a long time to be without the Porters, the boys and the teaching staff. That said, I did enjoy being part of the MTS staff effort to help the local community. With the DT department spearheading the production of NHS face shields I was able to drive the minibus to local care homes and hospices during the worst of the lockdown. On one day I opened my front door and was surprised to see an OMT who had clearly become a doctor. He had come from Wexham Park Hospital to pick up some PPE and it was wonderful to see him after so many years. Like other medics he was leading the fight against the virus and it was sobering to hear his stories of life on the front line.
What are your favourite memories?
I am lucky that I enjoy my job. I have many fantastic memories of my time. One of my favourite memories was long-time friend and recently-retired colleague, Gordon Jeffery, interrupting an assembly. With 800 boys sitting in silence and the Head Master in full flow, Gordon opened one of the two rear stage doors which existed at the time. Even Mr Gabitass was laughing! Gordon shut the door and disappeared double-quick! In the end, those doors were removed to enable the new screen at the back of the stage to be built. Phab was always a great privilege to be involved with. Also, the big days like Doctors' Day, St Barnabas Day and the Triennial Service. I stand at the Head Master's corridor, welcome all the Governors, the Master and Court of the Company and escort them to the Great Hall. I used to also welcome pensioners from the Merchant Taylors' almshouses in Lewisham for tea at the school before the Carol Service. Former Chairs of Governors, Sir Geoffrey Holland and Christopher Hare, used to greet them as well - they were special days and the pensioners were hugely appreciative. Also, I was once asked by Sir Geoffrey Holland and fellow Governor (and OMT) Peter Watkins to take them on a unique tour of the school. Of course, they knew the place well but they wanted to see the nooks and crannies or in their words 'places you wouldn't take a Chair of Governors'. So I took them to the loft space above the Great Hall where the Duke of Edinburgh's Award tents were drying out and showed them the view from the roof of the Great Hall. I also asked Langley Denhard, then Head of Maintenance, to take them into the heating ducts underneath the corridors. Perks of the job! One of the other perks is that every day is different. One day I was performing some errands with Gordon as we walked past the classrooms that look onto the Rose Garden. Suddenly, a school bag came flying out of the window and we heard a teacher at full volume yell: "I don't care about your calculator!" I seem to recall that the subject was not Maths.
You must have fond memories of the Triennial Service ...
I do. It is a huge day for the school and there is an enormous amount of organisation which goes into it – led by Caron Evans-Evans for most of my time at the school. I can recall in 2005 it was especially important as the Lord Mayor, David Brewer, was also an OMT. There was a big fuss about his chair coming from Mansion House along with his sidekick, the Wandsman. In the end it went very smoothly. It is not all glamour, of course. In the old days we used to give the toilet attendant at Paternoster Square £20 to allow the boys to use the facilities.
How has school changed?
In terms of the Senior Common Room, the teachers have got much younger – as is maybe true of the profession more generally – and there are many more female teachers. The school still has a unique ethos which I hope it never loses.
Do you remember any muck-up days?
There've been a few but I do remember "Cows are Coming" from 2008. The boys had put signs all over the school which had made us think they were going to try to let the cows out at night and then let them roam all over the site. In the end, a small number of the boys piled into a pantomime cow suit and walked through the school including through a somewhat bewildered Rec Room (the old teachers’ tea room). In 2006 I recall boys honing their business skills as they sold hamburgers on the peninsula by the school's entrance. 2009 was maybe when things got a little out of hand as boys threw smoke bombs from high up, including one at a startled Head of Upper School. When Stephen Wright put an end to these in 2012 I felt it was the right decision – times had changed. Many boys will remember meeting you through being given the infamous Work Party punishment.
What can you recall of this?
I used to manage this on Tuesdays after school. The boys would be given various tasks, such as putting the chairs up in classrooms, litter picking and clearing leaves. Sometimes there were too many boys. A few miscreants became regular customers and I got to know them by their first names. I liked to maintain standards where possible and would always ask the boys to tuck their shirts in, adjust their ties, etc. Which staff do you remember most? The school has obviously changed as there is now a greater turnover of staff. I have always been closest to those staff who gave a lifetime of service to the school. I was at Geoff Colley's funeral recently and, while it was a sad occasion, it was wonderful to see a great many of the old Masters: former Second Master Crispin Collier, David Critchley, David Andrews and Harry Latchman were all in attendance along with many others.
When have you been most stressed?
The work of the Porters is largely unseen as we work while all the teaching is happening and before school starts, especially. One of the most stressful times is in the last week before Christmas after the boys have gone home. We have very few days to get everything in order for the January trial exams before the school shuts down totally over Christmas. A dramatic moment which will always stay in the memory was on the eve of Doctors' Day many years ago. With name tags all assigned to seats and everything in place, Gordon called me: he said there was water pouring through the ceiling down into the Vestibule and by the War Memorial Roll of Honour. After stemming the flow, we worked through the night with school plumber, Fred Birchell, and managed to ensure everything was ready for the morning.
What do you do at weekends?
I tend to go down to my house in Sussex by the beach, walk the dog, and I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren and my wife Carol. By coincidence, one of my neighbours when I bought the house turned out to be an OMT who had been at MTS in the 1940s. He sadly died soon after, but it was a real pleasure meeting him. He was a true gentleman and I was able to bring him copies of the Taylorian and Concordia, and hear his stories about the school, including walking on the frozen MTS lakes as a pupil.
Do you have any plans for retirement?
When I eventually retire, I will move to the south coast and enjoy life down there.
Original article appeared in Concordia Winter 2020 JSMR