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Posted by John Hawley A brass plaque which was once affixed to the wall of the JCR at St Nicks was presented to the SNOBS’ Rugby Club by John Hawley on Saturday 1st October 2005, after the day’s reception and matches. John Hawley, Head of Department at St Nicks from 1974-1977 and afterwards full-time at Haydon until 1997, said that he realised that many present did not have any connection with the former grammar school (1955-1977) at Northwood Hills, but hoped they would find some of the following history interesting. “The plaque bears the inscription: (Broad outline of the history delivered): The shield depicts a bishop's mitre, for the ecclesiastical connection with the former Lords of the Manor, King's College Cambridge, who used to own the land on which the school was built and whose patron saints, St. Nicholas and St. Mary, gave their name to the two former grammar schools on the Haydon site. I would point out that the saint is St Nicholas of Myra in Asia Minor and not Father Christmas! The three gold money purses represent those which St. Nicholas gave anonymously as dowries around 325 A.D. for the daughters of a bankrupt merchant, to save them from a life of prostitution. St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of children; so that fits well too. The depiction on the shield became the blazer badge of the former school. As you can see, there is no motto in the stained glass window and there wasn’t one on the blazer either. There were suggestions, but St Nicholas Grammar must be one of the few boys’ grammars not to have had a motto. Haydon School has followed this tradition. Now I know I should get out more, but I have found that there were 400 churches in England in the Middle Ages dedicated to St Nicholas; only 22 schools or former schools in the UK had this dedication……………and rugby clubs?.........maybe you are the only one! A posthumous motto? St Nicholas the saint gave all his possessions to help the poor, so maybe “Give” might have been an appropriate motto for the school. For a rugby club, maybe that has some resonance, but it is not quite right! Maybe “Give All” sounds better! Finally, amidst the post match hubbub, camaraderie, taking of food and imbibing of alcoholic beverages, John Hawley presented his own replica St Nicks rugby shirt - he believed designed by Hardy Amies (fifty had been made and sold during the life of the Haydon School Former Pupils’ Association {1987-1997}). He later suggested that, if it was put on display, it should be labelled, “…as worn whilst gardening” as he had never actually played or coached in that particular one!
on 3/10/2005, 10:02 am
82.44.179.122
(Text appearing on SNOBSRFC site - www.snobrfc.co.uk):
"The Junior Common Room
Donated By the St. Nicholas
Grammar School Parents Association
Opened by RICHARD SHARP
British Lion & England Rugby International
6th July 1963"
The JCR was demolished around 2001 to make way for a language block at Haydon School, the successor to St Nicks, but I was fortunate, whilst still working there part-time, to have been given, for safe-keeping, this reminder of the existence of the former grammar school. Much of the school has been enlarged or refurbished in recent times as Haydon has grown, increasing by 70% the size of the former girls’ and boys’ grammar schools and, may I say, the new school has maintained the excellent academic traditions of the those schools. It is a delight to go to teach there still and it is reassuring to know that the area is well-served by good schools such as Haydon, Vyners and Bishop Ramsey.
The stained glass window (also presented), in the form of a shield, used to have a position high up in a window in the school assembly hall. It was removed around 1996 when the hall was redeveloped into a Sixth Form Centre, classrooms and offices. Like the plaque, the stained glass is a valuable one-off artefact and must have been expensive to produce at the time.
The photos are of St. Nicholas Grammar School in 1969 and 1977 – apologies that the 1977 ones have suffered wear and tear. The 1969 photo has the boys’ school buildings as the backdrop and the two of 1977 have the girls’ school behind them
I am grateful to both Steve Robson and John Quilllfeldt, former colleagues of mine and current Deputy Heads at Haydon School, for assisting me to rescue these permanent reminders of a great institution which, nevertheless, had a very short existence of 22 years. Fewer than 2000 boys ever passed through the school’s portals. Thanks are also due to Peter Woods, Headmaster of Haydon School, for agreeing the release of the items and to Ann Wignall for keeping the stained glass safe.
It is good to know that the old grammar school name survives in a number of contexts, not least here at this fine club, and that some former students and staff are still actively associated with these. It is also reassuring to know that the "relics" of the "Saint" will now have a safe home and be on permanent display.”
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