Heritage

TENNIS

We had large numbers of boys playing at all levels across the year groups. We were again able to offer advanced coaching to some of our most promising players on a weekly basis, working with former British Davis Cup player Danny Sapsford, and one of the LTA’s top coaches in Middlesex, David Emms. The boys also got a chance to work with Luke Milligan, former GB Davis Cup player.

The highlight of the season was the RHWM tournament where we compete against Radley, Wellington and Marlborough. Forty-eight boys took part and Harrow won all six competitions at Senior, Junior Colts and Yearlings level. Our previous best was a win in three of the six events.

Captain of tennis Ciaran Timlin (Bradbys), one of the best players the School has produced in probably 15 years, and Thomas Cheah (The Head Master’s) were awarded their Flannels. Mostyn Fulford (The Knoll) of the Remove represented Wandsworth, who won the tennis section of the London Youth Games.

The behaviour and attitude of the boys during the season was exemplary. Their commitment to training was very good and their team spirit and mutual support was a great credit to them. The boys were also well supported by their parents. At the Parent and Son Competition there were 28 family entries, so many that we ran two competitions. Thomas Cheah won the main event, while the Yearling competition was won by Charlie McDowell (The Knoll). Both boys were partnered by their mothers. – John Eaton, Rackets Professional

THE ARCHIVE

In 2020–21, the School started to plan the celebrations for its 450th anniversary and the Archive was kept busy providing research and resources in support of these projects.

The Archive provided the images for the screens placed around the Hill, which are intended to raise awareness of the School’s heritage and the forthcoming celebrations among the general public, School and local community. The Archive also played a vital role in producing a celebratory book of images representative of Harrow School by supplying studio space for the photographer as well as records and objects to photograph, with their contextual data.

The Golland Society, named after the founder of the Archive, beak Jim Golland, was re-established and kicked off its activities during the Summer term. A number of boys engaged enthusiastically with the collections, talks and plans for the various upcoming heritage projects. One such project involves a collaboration with Shaftesbury Enterprise and will see boys working alongside the charity Soldier On! and the Chelsea Pensioners to capture data in the School Chapel, Fourth Form Room and Saint Mary’s churchyard, crossreferencing it against our School and Parish records and mapping that data digitally. Boys also researched the history of the Harrow on the Hill High Street in preparation for a community event that will be part of the 450 celebrations.

Work with the School Conservator continued, not only on collection care and conservation but also on a project to create replicas of the Harrow School Royal seal, as tokens to be presented at the 450th anniversary ceremony to be held at St Paul’s Cathedral in February 2022.

In addition to regular features such as Throwback Thursdays, the Archive also formed the basis of a talk at Headstone Manor for the local community, and we started to prepare for the resumption of themed historical tours as the COVID-19 restrictions eased.

During the year, the Archive continued to gather, in digital form, information that is representative of life during the Covid pandemic. We again received over 1,000 research enquiries, and we were very glad to welcome researchers back to the Archive in person in the summer. – Tace Fox, Archivist

School v Old Harrovians, 1939

View of Harrow The Knoll, 1884

Ducker View

OLD SPEECH ROOM GALLERY

The new body that supports the work of the OSRG, the Collections Committee, held its inaugural meeting at the beginning of the year. Under the Chairmanship of Governor Professor Paul Binski (The Park 1970³), the committee will continue the work of the former Treasures Committee.

Despite Covid precautions necessitating closure to the public for the academic year and a consequent halt to the exhibitions programme, the OSRG team were kept busy with teaching, research, collections care and preparations for the major refurbishment to the office spaces beyond the gallery.

Suitably socially distanced, boys sat in the OSRG for their Shell Carousel, Remove Elective, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities and OSRG Arts Society sessions; innovative methods of teaching had to be devised that did not involve the direct handling of objects. Divisions from the Classics and English Departments attended for special project work, and the OSRG Trophy for ‘the best piece of creative writing based on an object in the collection’ was awarded for the first time.

More than 50 objects were accessioned, most notably Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru (The Head Master’s 1905³), An Indian Album by Sir Cecil Beaton (Bradbys 1918¹), a sculpted head of Duncan Grant by Steven Tomlin (Druries 1914³), an Ashmolean poster for a retrospective exhibition (1985) of the work of Richard Shirley Smith (The Knoll 1949²), four first edition works of 1813 by Lord Byron (Druries 1801²), and a woodblock print entitled Snow Shovelers, New York by Claire Leighton, an artist greatly admired by Harrow Art beaks John Ryan and Maurice Percival in the 1950s. A former colleague of David Guilford (Druries 1944²), also a master at Eton College and Guilford’s executor, delivered the final tranche of stamp albums in the Guilford Bequest.

Hamish Dewar of Mayfair repaired and restored the portrait of Head Master Dr Robert James (1953–77) that had been damaged by incursion of rainwater into the OH Room in 2020. Other conservation projects included the repair to the lid of a 17th-century oak coffer in the Alex Fitch

OSRG Arts Society boys who remained on the Hill early in 2021; others worked remotely from home.

Room; cleaning and repair to the canvas of a 19th-century painting of John Lyon’s Manor House at Preston; cleaning and remounting of two portraits of E E Bowen, House Master of The Grove (1881–1901); cleaning, repair and remounting of 12 19th-century Japanese woodblock prints by Hiroshige in the Tokaido Road series; and extensive cleaning, photography, documentation and storage of Egyptian antiquities gifted by Sir John Gardner Wilkinson in 1884. A specialist guillotine was purchased for the Conservation Studio, and the Wet Room was refitted to meet the Conservator’s requirements. Photography, documentation and storage of the Egyptian amulet collection was completed.

For several days during the Spring term, the main section of the OSRG was transformed into a photographic studio. Key objects from the collections were removed from displays and storerooms, cleaned and professionally photographed for inclusion in a special publication to mark the School’s 450th anniversary in 2022.

Much of the Summer term was devoted to the transfer of contents from the Curator’s office into temporary accommodation created in the main gallery. The refurbishment of the office areas, as well as conservation of the historic stained-glass windows of the OSRG were just two elements of the major works scheduled to take place in Old Schools from June–September 2021. The new Curator’s office will have dedicated space for OSRG Arts Society projects. An object-inspection counter will provide a suitable space for object handling and photography. The OSRG reference library will be located on a new mezzanine-level balcony and the freshly revealed and restored fireplace from 1820 will remind the boys how form rooms were heated in days gone by. – Julia Walton, OSRG Curator

HERITAGE Harrovian Olympians

In the summer of 2021, the postponed 2020 Games of the 32nd Olympiad took place in Tokyo. Among those competing was Old Harrovian Harry Glover (Rendalls 20093). He was the latest of a distinguished line of OH sportsmen to take part in the Olympics of the modern era, going back to the 4th Olympic Games in London in 1908.

JOHN DUTTON HOPTON (Small Houses 18731)

John Dutton Hopton (1858–1934) competed in the 1,000-yard free rifle event at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. This was the only Olympics at which the 1,000-yard free rifle was contested.

After leaving Harrow, Dutton Hopton had a career in the Army Ordnance Department, becoming Chief Inspector for Small Arms and part of Queen Victoria’s bodyguard. He was considered one of the greatest rifle shots of his day, representing England 36 times.

He took the name of Hopton on his marriage to Sybil, the granddaughter of John Hopton of Canon Frome Court in Herefordshire, which she inherited. He had a private rifle range at Canon Frome, where he managed to hit a target 1,500 yards away. When he died in 1934, he was buried in a mausoleum at the point from where he hit the 1,500-yard target.

An accomplished musician and songwriter, he was a director of the Royal Academy of Music. His song Ceylon Whispers was often played at Bisley Shooting Ground.

SIR ARTHUR PAGE (Small Houses and The Head Master’s 18901)

Arthur Page (1876–1958) represented Great Britain in jeu de paume (real tennis) at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, reaching the semi-final of the competition.

At Harrow, he was a talented fives player, footballer and cricketer, and was a member of the Harrow XI against Eton at Lord’s in 1894 and 1895. He read Classics at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was a jeu de paume blue, winning the university doubles competition in 1899. He also played nine first-class cricket matches for the MCC, opening the batting against South Africa at his final first-class game.

A Queen’s Counsel, he left his practice in 1915 to become an able seaman with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, before joining the Royal Marine Artillery and serving in France and Flanders. In 1921, he was appointed a judge of the Calcutta High Court and later became Chief Justice in Burma. He was knighted in 1930.

RICHARD OAKES CRAWSHAY (Moretons and Small Houses 18963)

Richard Crawshay (1882–1953) competed in the team sabre fencing event in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.

After leaving Harrow, Crawshay joined the Grenadier Guards. He resigned his commission in 1904, having inherited a large fortune on the death of his father, a wealthy South Wales ironworks and colliery owner. He seems to have gone on to enjoy a life of leisure at various homes around Europe.

Crawshay was also an aviator and, in 1914, flew the English Channel with Eleanor Trehawke Davies, who was the first woman to fly the Channel as a passenger. GUY MONTAGU BUTLER (The Park 19133)

Guy Butler (1899–1981) won a gold medal as part of the 4x400m relay team at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, where he also won a silver medal in the individual 400m. At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, he won bronze in the 400m and in the 4x400m relay. In 1928, he became the first British athlete to compete in three Olympic Games.

In 1919, he won the Amateur Athletics Association 400m title and, in 1926, the 200m title. In 1926, he also held the 270m world record.

Butler’s great-grandfather and grandfather were Head Masters of Harrow (George Butler and Henry Montagu Butler (The Headmaster’s 18463) respectively). His father, Edward Montagu Butler (The Headmaster’s 18802) won a cricket and athletics blue at Cambridge and was a first-class cricketer as well as the English rackets champion in 1889.

At Harrow, Butler was Head of School, captain of cricket, Harrow football and Association football, and was Victor Ludorum in 1917. On leaving Harrow, he went first to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and then Trinity College, Cambridge. He taught at Lancing College from 1922 to 1928.

After his retirement from athletics, he coached several notable athletes, including fellow Harrovian Olympian Alastair McCorquodale. Later, he was an athletics writer and journalist, and a pioneer of filming athletes in action. He contributed to the design of the White City Stadium.

DOUGLAS GORDON ARTHUR LOWE (Harrow c.1915)

Doug Lowe (1902–81) was first man to retain an Olympic 800m title, winning his first gold medal in Paris in 1924 and his second in Amsterdam in 1928, setting British 800m records on both occasions. In Paris, he came close to winning a second medal when he finished fourth in the 1,500 metres, and at Amsterdam he anchored the

Douglas Lowe

British 4x400m relay team, which also finished fourth.

Lowe spent less than a year at Harrow before moving to Highgate School. He went on to win blues for soccer and athletics at Pembroke College, Cambridge, winning the 800m in 1922, 1923 and 1924; in 1924 he also won the mile. Between 1924 and 1928 he won several Amateur Athletics Association titles and he set a world record for 600 yards in 1926.

After retiring from sport, he helped form the British Amateur Athletics Board. He also wrote several books of advice on training and competition. He had a distinguished law career and was president of the Bar Council and a Queen’s Counsel. His advice was sought before the making of the film Chariots of Fire, but he declined to help.

SIR LANCELOT CARRINGTON ROYLE (Church Hill and The Grove 19123)

Lancelot Royle (1898–1978) was part of the “Chariots of Fire” team that won a silver medal in the 4x100m at the Paris Olympics in 1924. He was also a talented 200m sprinter, and it was he who gave up his place to allow Eric Liddell to run the 200m race in which Liddell won bronze.

Royle was the son of the Test cricketer Vernon Royle. On leaving Harrow in 1916,

W. James Riddell 9495

Lancelot Carrington Royle

he joined the Royal Artillery. At an Allied Forces Meeting in Paris in 1920, he took first place in the 100m and 200m sprints and the 110m hurdles, second place in the triple jump, and third place in the 200m hurdles and the long jump. He was the British Army sprint champion in 1920 and 1921.

Royle left the army in 1921 to join Unilever, moving to Home and Colonial Stores in 1928. He rejoined the Royal Artillery during World War II but was asked by Winston Churchill to be co-chairman of the Macharg/Royle Treasury Committee and then to take on the Chairmanship of NAAFI. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1944. He was also a Governor of Harrow School.

MICHAEL HENRY WARRINER (Moretons 19223)

Michael Warriner (1908–86) won a gold medal in the coxless four at the Summer Olympics in 1928 in Amsterdam.

Warriner went to Trinity College, Cambridge, after leaving Harrow. He rowed with the First Trinity Boat Club and was in the winning Cambridge boat in the Boat Races of 1928, 1929 and 1930, on the final occasion as President of the Cambridge University Boat Club. It was as one of the First Trinity crew that he won the Olympic gold medal, as First Trinity were representing Great Britain.

In 1930, Warriner joined the Sudan Government Service but returned to England in 1934 and entered the business world as an engineer. During World War II, he served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers. He was awarded the MBE in 1945.

W. JAMES RIDDELL (Newlands 19233)

James Riddell (1909–2000) competed in the skiing events of the 1936 Winter Olympics at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany.

At Harrow, he played cricket against Eton at Lord’s and was a talented cross-country runner. He went on to read Modern Languages at Clare College, Cambridge.

In 1929, he took part in the first international downhill race at Zakopane in Poland, and won the Meurren, the longest and most demanding of amateur downhill races. He was British downhill champion in 1935 and was also a successful ski jumper, but at the Olympics of 1936 he crashed badly into a tree and suffered a serious back injury.

Outside skiing, he travelled to Africa to photograph wildlife, and wrote a series of books on ski resorts. He also wrote children’s books, the most famous of which is the split picture book Animal Lore and Disorder. During World War II, he taught mountain survival techniques for the armed forces at the Middle East Ski and Mountaineering School in Lebanon, for which he received an MBE. In 1948, he undertook a six-month monoplane flight to Australia with the novelist Neville Shute. This provided the inspiration for his travel book Flight of Fancy, and for Shute’s novel A Town Like Alice.

CHARLES SYMONDS LEAF (Small Houses 19093)

Charles Leaf (1895–1912) was a crew member of the British boat Lalage, which won the gold medal in the six-metre class at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

He saw action at Passchendaele in World War I and, in 1918, he was treated for shell shock and started sailing as part of his recovery in 1919.

Charles’ uncle, Herbert Leaf, (Home Boarders and Grove Hill 18673) left a bequest of £10,000 to Harrow, which was used to build the Leaf Schools. Charles’ daughter, Freydis, went on to be one of the first women to qualify for RAF wings. His son, Edward, was killed during World War II at the age of 25.