James Surtees Phillpotts

James Surtees Phillpotts (1839-1930) was a reforming Headmaster of Bedford School and the author and editor of a number of educational books.[1]

J.S. Phillpotts as Headmaster (painting by Arthur Hacker RA).




Biography


Letter written by J.S. Phillpotts after ascending the Jungfrau, July 1862.

Born in Cornwall on 18 July 1839, James Surtees Phillpotts was a grandson of Henry Phillpotts, sometime Anglican Bishop of Exeter. His mother Louisa Buller was an aunt of General Sir Redvers Henry Buller.[2] He was educated at Winchester College and at New College, Oxford, where, in accordance with the provisions that existed at that time, he was elected a Fellow on going up in 1858.[3] He won the Stanhope Prize in 1859. He passed his Honour Moderations (Mods) in Classics in 1860 and his Literae Humaniores (Greats) in 1862, achieving a first class in both and thus completing his B.A. degree. Thereupon he immediately proceeded to the B.C.L. degree.[4] While at Oxford he won the mile race in the University Sports.[5] In the summer of 1862, with his friends Robertson and Chaytor, he ascended the Jungfrau peak in Switzerland, a notable feat at the time.[6][7] On leaving university he joined the staff of Rugby School where, from 1862 to 1874, he was an Assistant Master under the headmastership of Frederick Temple. In 1875 he was appointed Headmaster of Bedford School. During his period in office he undertook major reform of the school. He retired in 1903. For the remainder of his life he lived at The Ousels, Tunbridge Wells. During his retirement he served as a member of the Education Committee of Bedfordshire County Council. He died in Tunbridge Wells on 16 October 1930. In its obituary The Times described him as "one of the great headmasters of the last century".[8]

Headmastership of Bedford School

When James Surtees Phillpotts took over as headmaster Bedford Grammar School (as it then was) had an indifferent record as an educational institution. There were about 250 boys on roll, most of them day students. With Rugby School as his model, Phillpotts set about reforming the school in every way. One of his first acts was to introduce the Natural Sciences into the curriculum. He saw to the establishment of chemistry and physics laboratories, and went on to add carpentry and engineering workshops, a gymnasium and five courts. Under his leadership sports were properly organized and used as a tool to foster team spirit. In all the changes he introduced Phillpotts' underlying aim was to produce upright, public spirited citizens well equipped for the challenges of the rapidly changing world in which they lived.

As a result of the various developments initiated by James Surtees Phillpotts the school ran out of space in its original town centre location. Foreseeing the need to move to more spacious premises Phillpotts secured suitable land on his own initiative. In due course the school trustees backed his plan for new buildings on the new site and arranged the necessary finance. In 1891 the official opening of the new school took place, with a ceremonial procession from the old premises to the new.[9] The roll of pupils was then around 600, and by 1903 when Phillpotts retired it had risen to nearly 900.[10]

The development of Bedford Grammar School from an obscure provincial institution to one of England's leading public schools had a significant effect on the economy and size of Bedford town.[11]

Family

While working at Rugby School James Surtees Phillpotts married Marian Hadfield Cordery, daughter of John Cordery of Weatherall House, Hampstead. She was a sister of Henrietta, wife of Phillpotts' then colleague at Rugby, T.W. Jex-Blake. The couple had seven children, the eldest of whom died in early infancy. Among the remaining six the most notable was Dame Bertha Surtees Phillpotts, the Icelandic scholar. Owen Surtees Phillpotts O.B.E. had a distinguished career in the diplomatic service. Lieutenant Colonel Brian Surtees Phillpotts D.S.O., R.E. died a hero's death in the First World War.

Personality

A frank caricature of J.S. Phillpotts' charismatic personality is contained in an article by a former pupil of his which was published in The Pioneer (an Indian journal) in 1903 and was quoted many years later in a Bedford newspaper.[12]

"He had a pale and thoughtful face, deep sunken candid eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a full flowing beard. His head was small, but well-shaped; his forehead broad and prominent, but not high. He was tall, burly, and broad-shouldered; all his movements were quick; his walk, his conversation, his expression, everything he did, was marked with an energy which recalled the idea of a steam-engine in trousers."

"He was invariably badly dressed, and never looked so well in anything as in his cap and gown. In general appearance he was something like Ruskin; but although he sometimes liked to talk art, he knew practically nothing about it. He would insist on making speeches although he was the worst speaker in England; he would insist on trying to talk French and German, although he had the vilest accent ever heard. When he tried to tell a joke or relate a comic story, it was pain and misery to listen; when he danced, his movements were those of a half-tamed buffalo; when he played whist he invariably fell asleep in the middle of the rubber."

"The sight of J. S. Phillpotts at bay was one never to be forgotten. Those small grey eyes had no more expression in them than two drops of frozen water, but they had the deadly coldness that might be felt. There was not the slightest trace of anger in the calm, measured accents of the low, keen voice which cut like a razor... And when he had stated his side of the case he came down on his opponents like a steam-hammer on a bandbox and pulverized them."

Photographs

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "Who's Who". Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  2. ↑ The Times, 17th October 1930
  3. ↑ ibid.
  4. ↑ ibid.
  5. ↑ Bedfordshire Times & Independent, 17th October 1930
  6. ↑ Letter, 23rd July 1962, J.S. Phillpotts to his mother Louisa Phillpotts, 1862; in family possession.
  7. ↑ Letter, 26th July 1962, J.S. Phillpotts to Alexander Potts (later headmaster of Fettes College); in family possession.
  8. ↑ The Times, 20th October 1930
  9. ↑ Graphic, 31st October 1891.
  10. ↑ Bedfordshire Times & Independent, 17th October 1930.
  11. ↑ Evening News, 16th October 1930.
  12. ↑ Bedfordshire Times & Independent & Bedfordshire Standard, 26th January 1945.
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