Oliver Berthoud
The Man behind the Headmaster
Under Oliver’s Headship, the academic attainment of students began to soar, with state scholarships to university more than tripling and the size of the Sixth Form growing rapidly each year.
Oliver Berthoud, British by birth but descended from a Swiss family, was Headmaster of Trinity School for twenty years from 1952 to 1972, until his untimely death in service, at the age of 61. Oliver Berthoud, like composer Benjamin Britten (featured in Tony’s article on page 14), attended Gresham’s School in Holt, Norfolk, where he and Britten became friends. Oliver went on to gain a First in Modern Languages at St John’s College, Oxford and started his teaching career in 1932 at Campbell College, Belfast. In 1934, Oliver and his wife went to work at Repton School teaching Modern Languages. Oliver Berthoud’s career took a rapid about turn when war broke out and he was called up to serve. Being a highly qualified linguist fluent in French and German set him on a path of working with an inter-service unit under the Foreign Office as a senior military intelligence officer. His service took him to the USA and ultimately Nuremberg, where he was the senior Army observer. For much of the war (and sworn to secrecy) Oliver Berthoud worked at Bletchley Park in one of the outer huts. As messages were decoded, they were passed to him to read and translate. Jane Berthoud, his widow, recalled Oliver talking about how they relayed messages between the huts, especially when the weather was poor, “The huts at Bletchley were set slightly apart, maybe four feet, and there was a small ‘tunnel’ linking Oliver’s hut to the next. The ‘tunnel’ was used to push notes through using a broom handle.” After the war, Oliver Berthoud returned to teaching and became Headmaster at Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone in 1946 before being appointed Headmaster at Trinity in 1952. It is true to say that Berthoud transformed our school during his headmastership.
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www.mytrinity.org.uk
As well as excelling in academia, Oliver Berthoud was enthusiastic about the cultural development of his students. He was passionate about music - playing viola in the Croydon Symphony Orchestra, singing with the choir and enjoying playing chamber music with friends.
An article in the Easter 1962 edition of the school magazine summed up the incredible amount of change that came about during the first ten years of his tenure, not least the change of name from Whitgift Middle School to At home in Sh Trinity School of irley John Whitgift, adopted in 1954. ‘Trinity’ was chosen to reflect Archbishop John Whitgift’s association with Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was Master for ten years until 1577. A vigorous effort by Oliver Berthoud boosted a slow campaign started by Horace Clayton, to raise funds for a new organ, and by November 1954, a brand new instrument had been installed and dedicated in Big School. Oliver Berthoud recognised that the school at North End was in dire need of extra space and he instigated the construction of the East Main entrance at the back of the school in 1954 to create a new Biology Laboratory, Form Room and Common Room that were opened two years later.
In 1957, new House names were introduced with Red becoming Trinity (School) House, Yellow became Pembroke, Blue became Worcester and Green, Canterbury, all of which reflected the posts held by the school’s founder, Archbishop John Whitgift.
Sporting activities at Trinity were extended during his time to include hockey in 1954, followed by badminton, water polo and shooting. All boys were encouraged to join the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and other extra-curricular activities more than doubled.
His biggest project by far was announced in 1959. The school would be relocating to Shirley Park with work expected to finish by 1964. The original building at North End had been designed to accommodate fewer than 200 pupils and by this stage, the school was endeavouring to accommodate 640 boys. The project at Shirley Park was ‘completed’ in time for the start of the autumn term in 1965, although there were many obstacles to overcome post completion. Oliver was a family man, described in his obituary as someone ‘who loved truly and deeply’. Having tragically lost his first wife Celia, to cancer, he found love again with Jane Moody, whom he married in 1970. Jane continued to work at Trinity until she retired. Laurie and Melodie are delighted to be in touch with Jane Berthoud and one of Oliver’s daughters, Diana, who shared the photographs in this article with us. Alumni who attended the school at Shirley Park must surely recognise the corridor where the photograph was taken of Oliver with his dog, Matt. The original flooring laid down in 1965 survives today, still looking freshly laid after 56 years! Oliver Berthoud – a truly remarkable man.
Oliver and Jane in
their garden in
Oxted circa 19 70
“ He was a practical, clearthinking man who knew his boys individually and collectively; he knew their social and academic needs, background and opportunities against the wider educational trends of the times.” “ I shall remember him above all for his integrity and his compassion.” “ His humour was spontaneous and unforced, apt and always un-barbed, gentle and relaxed” “ His memory for detail was quite incredible and his ability to recall names and records of old boys was always a cause of admiration.” “ His deep concern for others, his flawless integrity, his sincerity, the warmth of his humanity – for all these and more, we shall ever be grateful.”
nce tary Intellige houd in Mili rt Be er liv O Major
The accolades summed up a man who was greatly admired by staff, student and governors.
Work then commenced on the demolition of the old fives courts which had been decimated during the war and a brand new Chemistry block and Gymnasium were erected in their place.
alumni@trinity.croydon.sch.uk
Tributes flowed in when Oliver Berthoud tragically died in office in 1972:
Our research has uncovered a vast amount of material from alumni contributions and our archives which will be shared in a much larger article on our engagement website My Trinity at www.mytrinity.org.uk later this year.
Oliver Be rthoud w ith his d og Matt at Trinity School
alumni@trinity.croydon.sch.uk
www.mytrinity.org.uk
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