Staff

A very comprehensive staff list

  • A Farewell to T O Balk
  • Miss Kershaw

     

    Cyril Corner joined the Staff of Hackney Downs School in 1947 becoming, in due time, Head of French. Mr. Corner had suffered badly as a P.O.W. at the hands of the Japanese following his capture in Burma during World War II. He served in the Durham Light Infantry.

    He was a very popular member of the staff and had been the instigator of School Journeys to St.Malo (from 1950) which many former pupils will remember.

    Sadly, in 1964 at the age of only 47, his life was cut short by illness. This photograph was published in 'The Review' along with a tribute written by Joe Brearley, a fellow Yorkshireman.

  • Cyril Corner

    Mr. Barron joined the Staff of Hackney Downs School in 1919 after service during the First World war with the Middlesex Regiment and the Machine Gun Corps.

    He retired in 1949 and this photograph of him appeared in 'The Review' in September of that year. Mr. Barron was titular Headmaster of the School at Hackney Downs, organising the emergency classes during World War Two, when Mr. Balk was in charge of the school.

  • Mr. Barron

    When the school opened boys were organised into "Divisions" - North, South, East and West. Shortly after Mr.W.Jenkyn Thomas became Headmaster in the early years of the Twentieth Century the Divisions were replaced by the House names.

    This is a picture of Mr.Lucas, as published in 'The Review' at Christmas 1925, marking his retirement from the School. Mr. Lucas

     

    Charles Adrian Gee

    Mr. Gee was on the Staff of the School from 1925 until his retirement at the end of Summer Term 1961.

    Many Doctors, Dentists and others in medical and biological professions will have cause to remember his teaching.

    James Ellis Metcalf

    Surely one of the best remembered members of Staff. He once taught French but retired as Head of English having served the School from 1920 until his retirement in 1956.

    Philip Henry

    From 16th January, 1890, until his retirement in 1947, Pip Henry attended at Hackney Downs in an almost unbroken length of years.

    He started as a boy - at the Grocers' Company's School - and retired as a member of the teaching staff 57 years later. Alexander Ernest Williams - The Sixth Headmaster

    Alec Williams came to Hackney Downs in 1960, serving until his retirement in 1973. This photo, unattributed, was published in The Review to mark his retirement

    With Degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge Alec Williams was outstandingly qualified.

    It seems that our Head Teachers were pre-destined to have eventful terms of office. Gull retired when the Grocers' Company gave the School to the Government, Jenkyn Thomas oversaw those changes and the tumult of World War 1, T.O.Balk suffered evacuation of the School to Kings Lynn and the trauma of World War 2, John Kemp witnessed the changing nature of Hackney and the School through the 70's and Eighties.

    Our Sixth Headmaster suffered both the destruction of the original School by the Fire of 1963 and its re-birth and transformation into a Comprehensive.

    One day, I hope, he will be persuaded to tell his story - for the record.

    Thomas F Fox

    Another stalwart of the Staff Room was 'Tommy' Fox who served the School from 1920 until his retirement in 1958.

    E C Pressnell

    Another of the long-serving members of Staff who joined the School just after the First World War. "Percy" Pressnell (as he was called in the 50's) reigned over the Metalworking end of the Workshops and served the School from 1920 until 1956.

    Dr. Herbert Daniel Wing

    Dr. Wing was educated at Hackney Downs School from 1916 until 1923. After University, followed by other teaching posts, he was appointed to the Staff of Hackney Downs, serving until 1945 when he left to take a post at Newlands Training College. Before long he had left to become Principal of Burderop Park Training College. It was from this position, in 1947, that he recommended Leslie Mitchell to apply for a position at H.D.S. The rest, they say, is history.

    DOUGLAS EUSTACE STANLEY BALL

    Douglas Ball joined the School Staff in 1949. He taught French, was enthusiastic in his support for Sports and Football and was a participant and leader for many years in the annual School Journeys to St.Malo. He left Hackney Downs to become Senior Modern Languages Master at Tottenham Grammar in 1958.

    Leslie Mitchell

    The Commanding Officer of the Cadets and late President of The Clove Club pictured, circa 1952.

    Mr. and Mrs. Dunham

    Mr. and Mrs. Dunham with their "sweetshop" at an Athletics event at the School Field.

    T.O.Balk, with a young looking Joe Brearley

    The Headmaster, T.O.Balk, with a young looking Joe Brearley, photographed in the front playground. The photo was taken after the 2nd World War, probably taken in 1946 after Joe's return from service.

    THOMAS OSCAR BALK, M.C., T.D.

    The Fourth Headmaster of Hackney Downs School, affectionately known by his initials - T.O.B. - pictured before the Second World war, standing on the front steps of the School.

    T

    John Kemp

    John Kemp became the 7th Headmaster in succession to Alec Williams (on the latter's retirement in 1972) and held the post until his own retirement in 1989 having been at H.D.S. for 35 years. He had earlier succeeded Jimmy Metcalf as Head of English.

    John Kemp with 5 alpha 1959-1960

    Back Row L to R: David Barnett, Michael (Lord) Levy), Alan Moss, John Moss, Hyman Wallach, Norman Weinstock, Stanley Goron, Melvin Lewis
    Middle Row L to R: George Visick, Victor Hustwitt, Robert Stanley, Jeffrey Lewis, Michael Lewis, Nathan Arwas, Michael Sandpearl, Jack Linder, Geoffrey Alderman
    Front Row L to R: John Larter, John Mitchell, Tully Lowenthal, Allen Levy, John Kemp M.A., Michael Samuels, Stephen Rubenstein, Zach Harazi, Maurice Steinhart.

    Roger Symons

    Sydney Weekes

    W.Jenkyn Thomas, a portrait by Abram Games.

    Abram Games, an Old Boy, was later appointed O.B.E. for his contribution to the war effort (when he designed several posters) and for his design of the logo for the 1951 Festival of Britain. This portrait of his old Headmaster was painted by Games and presented by him to WJT (who subsequently presented it to the School) in 1937.

    The original was lost in the fire of 1963, only the metal label from the frame surviving.

    Shortly before his death, Abram Games very kindly presented this, the only known colour print of the original, together with the copyright, to The Clove Club