Memories of Bill, the teacher, by pupils and staff.

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Bill’s first teaching post was at Pinner County School. This first memory was published in the

Pinner Old Students Association Newsletter, March 2001. 

 

D J (Bill) Kibblewhite: 1916-2000

Bill was born in Australia and christened Desmond James Kibblewhite, but was always known as Bill. He once told me that when he became a teacher his mother said he must now call himself Desmond, as it was more dignified. But to no avail: it was still Bill, to the end of his days. Of course, we pupils at PCS didn’t know this – he was Sir or Mr Kibblewhite or, behind his back, “Kibby”. But I digress…….

When he was about three the family came to England and settled in north London. Prep School, the City of London School and Kings College London prepared him for the life of teaching which was to follow. He came to PCS just before the war, was called up in 1940 and commissioned in the Royal Signals. During the war he met and married Sophy and over the years they had four children. Bill returned to PCS after the war and joined the formidable band of scientists – Fred Cole, Walter Noble and Doctor Liebermann (Linton). In 1952 he went to the new Downer Grammar School under the headship of David Woosley, and eventually to be head of Acton County, where he remained until retirement.

 

                                                   Some will remember that he lived in Beaulieu Drive, just two doors down from the school gates.                                                        In fact, he had lived there before the war with his mother, and Pauline Lockwood (nee Bantock)                                                          remembers his being called up. She was in his form, 2E, and all the girls fancied this handsome                                                         young teacher. They collected enough between them to buy him a leaving present, a packet of 50                                                   cigarettes, and she was deputed to deliver them at his home – an honour she remembers to this                                                       day.

                                                  In 1950 the growing family moved to The Garden Cottage, in Hedgerley, a house with no mains                                                          water or electricity, and waist-high weeds up to the door. Over the years Bill and Sophy turned it into a delightful home. The family were great animal lovers, with dogs and cats in the home and geese and donkeys outside. Bill was also an enthusiastic beekeeper and had up to five hives.

Three weeks after Bill’s death, on 27th March a thanksgiving service was held in the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, Hedgerley, where the family had worshipped for fifty years. Irene Goode and I “represented” Pinner Old Students in a very full church. It was a very happy service, the four hymns were rousing “school assembly” ones, and there were two talks, the first about Bill’s early life by a life-long friend, and the second about home and family by his son, Michael. This was called “Adolphus, bees and cats” and went through the alphabet, each letter standing for some aspect of family life (Adolphus was a bad-tempered goose). Z was for zeal and Michael reminded us of the dictionary definition: passionate ardour or intense enthusiasm. Everything that Bill did, he did it with zeal. We remember that at Pinner, be it his teaching, his running of the scout troop, or his appearances in staff plays. He was enthusiastic about everything.

Fittingly, Michael’s word for N was “nice”: Bill was always referred to as a “nice man”, a gentleman – which is, I am sure how his old students will remember him. 

Tim Hood (1944)

 

 

Bill became Headmaster at Acton County Grammar School in 1956. The second memory was published in the Acton County School magazine in summer 1978.

 

Mr Kibblewhite

This appreciation of Mr Kibblewhite is really an identikit picture whose features have been supplied by present members of staff who were here during his Headship. My pen is merely the means of putting together various aspects into a recognisable whole.

Mr Kibblewhite is most remembered – to use an almost outdated phrase – for being a gentleman. This was evident in his quiet, firm manner, his “unflappability” whatever the circumstances and in his diplomatic but fair management of the four often irreconcilable elements of a school, the Local Education Authority, the teachers, the parents and the pupils. His gentlemanliness showed too in his kindness and consideration. His colleagues recall many actions of his, striking in their compassion, but too personal to recount here. Many would link with this the fact that he was always approachable. His door was always open to all, but especially to young teachers, whom he was ever ready to guide and help. Further than this, he was often around the school, talking with children and assisting his staff.

Mr Kibblewhite’s actions in other aspects of his job as Headmaster are equally memorable. He showed vision in his policy decisions and conscientiousness and integrity in carrying them out. He was scholarly in his own teaching and expected a high standard in the classroom from each of his staff. An excellent speaker, his Prize day reports were models of simplicity and clarity; his remarks when saying goodbye to members of staff leaving – often accompanied by his engaging chuckle – sparkled with wit and humour.

Perhaps those who were privileged to visit him and Mrs Kibblewhite at their “rural retreat” should have the last word in rounding off this picture. We discovered that out of school he has just as many qualities, these being of a more practical nature. For example, he was an expert bee-keeper and did a highly efficient job at maintaining his house. There was once a gathering there of past and present members of staff, who saw two moving examples of his deep love for the school. Proudly on display were prints of all pictures taken of the school, pupils and teachers from the time he became Headmaster, and a copy of each of the yearly school timetables.

Mr Kibblewhite was appointed to succeed Mr Giles in 1956, the year of the school’s 50th anniversary. He saw the school change from a small boys’ grammar school to its present size as a comprehensive. He relinquished the Headship in 1974 and, until his retirement last August, acted as an Adviser to the Chief Education Officer.

 

H.E.W.