“a ridiculous Governor’s meeting …or…a meeting of Ridiculous Governors” by “Q”
In 1912 Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch became a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge but his heart belonged to Cornwall and he took an avid interest in all Cornish education and sat as a governor for many schools, including St Austell County School. Amongst his letters is one where he writes of “a ridiculous Governor’s meeting …or…a meeting of Ridiculous Governors”.
StACS had not got off to the best of starts in September 1908. It was not popular with many of the local people because was it fee-paying for the majority as well as being a mixed school for eight to eighteen year olds. Furthermore the Head, William Raynor, was not the strict disciplinarian the locals wanted with “Q” going so far as to describe him as “incompetent”.
“Persisting with his silly opinions,” as Sir Arthur put it, Raynor was forced to resign and his position was taken by Arthur Jenkinson in April 1910. From a quite well-to-do family in London, he was educated at the celebrated Dulwich College before graduating from Brasenose College, Oxford.
StACS had not got off to the best of starts in September 1908. It was not popular with many of the local people because was it fee-paying for the majority as well as being a mixed school for eight to eighteen year olds. Furthermore the Head, William Raynor, was not the strict disciplinarian the locals wanted with “Q” going so far as to describe him as “incompetent”.
“Persisting with his silly opinions,” as Sir Arthur put it, Raynor was forced to resign and his position was taken by Arthur Jenkinson in April 1910. From a quite well-to-do family in London, he was educated at the celebrated Dulwich College before graduating from Brasenose College, Oxford.
Jenkinson enforced discipline as he attempted to establish the school and himself. However, the classicist became unpopular with staff, school governors, and parents, not to mention pupils.
After attending a governors’ meeting “Q” was moved to write to Cornwall’s Secretary for Education, F. R. Pascoe, describing “some of the gems dropped by Mr Sydney Hodge,” one of the governors.
After attending a governors’ meeting “Q” was moved to write to Cornwall’s Secretary for Education, F. R. Pascoe, describing “some of the gems dropped by Mr Sydney Hodge,” one of the governors.
The governors were accusing Jenkinson of being a snob and not of their class, having afternoon tea at Poldhu with the Coodes and the rest of the local hoi ploy criticising “low-class persons” like themselves. Hodge talked of the “unpleasant time” a junior member of staff was having at the school. The Chair of Governors, Mr Hancock, threatened that if the Council didn’t act against Jenkinson he would do his utmost to turn St Austell against him. “We are a divided house, against itself” they concluded.
“Q” was aghast that nobody had actually spoken to the Headmaster to hear his side of the story and he was elected as a sub-committee of one to speak to him.
Jenkinson and Quiller-Couch talked as they walked down Trevarthian Road to the railway station and waited for “Q’s” Fowey train. Their conversation continued the following afternoon when Jenkinson spent time at The Haven.
“Q” was aghast that nobody had actually spoken to the Headmaster to hear his side of the story and he was elected as a sub-committee of one to speak to him.
Jenkinson and Quiller-Couch talked as they walked down Trevarthian Road to the railway station and waited for “Q’s” Fowey train. Their conversation continued the following afternoon when Jenkinson spent time at The Haven.
A contrite Head admitted some mistakes and was willing to turn over a new leaf and consult with his staff and be more courteous to parents. However, Sir Arthur was staggered when Jenkinson produced a letter which had been signed by many of the staff and listed Jenkinson’s shortcomings and their grievances. “Q” was stunned by such insubordination and felt that they “should be bundled out” of the county “neck and crop.” Indeed “Q” sensed a plot was being hatched to replace Jenkinson by his deputy, Harry Lodge.
Yorkshireman Lodge had arrived in St Austell in 1908 and lived at the Temperance Hotel run by the Perry family. He had become popular in the town whilst Jenkinson and his wife lived in Elm Terrace with a servant.
The Cambridge professor succinctly summed up the situation: Jenkinson had a “social position which Mr Hancock envies …their (the governors’) ignorance and jealousy are so tyrannical no head master can have a chance.” He thought it best to give Jenkinson a fresh start and the Council appoint a new set of governors in the spring.
The Cambridge professor succinctly summed up the situation: Jenkinson had a “social position which Mr Hancock envies …their (the governors’) ignorance and jealousy are so tyrannical no head master can have a chance.” He thought it best to give Jenkinson a fresh start and the Council appoint a new set of governors in the spring.
In fact, Jenkinson carried on as Head for two more years before volunteering for the Great War, when Lodge took over as acting-head. Within two years of the armistice Major Jenkinson accepted a Headship in Yorkshire. “Papa” Lodge completed thirty six years at StACS when he retired in 1944. Sydney Hodge was a governor for many more years. Mr Hancock retired from the governors in 1926 after 20 years as the chairman. St Austell born F. R. Pascoe continued as County Education Secretary until 1933. His last public duty was to present prizes at StACS’s Speech Day where Quiller-Couch paid tribute to him and referred to their thirty years of friendship. “Q” himself continued to be a part of school life right up to his untimely death in May 1944.