Teacher and journalist John Wilkins died from a sudden heart attack at his home in Exeter in May 2006. He was aged 60 and unmarried.

His brother Peter writes: “John was at Shebbear from 1956-62 and left to attend Avery Hill College of Education in London where he was successful in obtaining a B.Ed degree.

“He taught in various primary schools in London and Devon before leaving for Queensland, Australia, to take up a teaching post there.

“Through part-time study he took a degree in journalism at the University of Queensland and went on to work for the Publications’ Department of the Queensland Department of Education, a post in which he felt very happy and fulfilled.

“He returned to England in 1986 and worked briefly for Reuters news agency before going on to accept a post as a writer for an Exeter firm producing medical manuals for use in hospitals.

“John remained a committed socialist and Christian to the end of his life and regularly attended St Leonard’s Church in Exeter.

“He was very proud of being an Old Shebbearian and to the end of his life often mused about his old friends and their likely careers. He possessed very fond memories of the school.”

Dr Alan Hall, who spent his working life as a General Practitioner in Sleaford, Lincs, has died at the age of 85.

He was at Shebbear from 1930 with his younger brother Keith and then entered St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, as a medical student.

Keith, two years younger, writes: “We were both very happy at Shebbear. Alan was quickly spotted as a high flier. He matriculated at fourteen, then spent three years in the sixth form before he was able to get entrance to St Mary’s Medical School.
“Alan was a very good all-rounder. He was opening bat for the 1st X1 when Don Farley was captain. Her also got his rugger colours as a centre three-quarter.

“He finally went into general practice as Assistant GP in Sleaford where he was to spend the remainder of his medical career.

“He lived a very full and active life and read the Daily Telegraph every day. He wrote his first letter to the Telegraph from the sixth form at Shebbear. If I recall correctly it was about the New Prayer Book.

“He continued to write to the Telegraph all his life, usually about politics, about which he was very passionate.”

Dr Hall died in Lincoln County Hospital on April 2. He leaves a widow and two daughters.

Trevor Ward, outstanding Shebbearian sportsman in the early 1950s, has died after a short illness. He was 71.
After Shebbear, he played cricket and rugby for the RAF, rugby for Dorset & Wilts and Devon, and cricket for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship..

As a left-handed batsman, he formed a formidable opening partnership with Paddy Hipperson. Against Bideford Grammar School in his last season at Shebbear in 1953, Ward scored 105 not out and Hipperson 116. The school declared at 252 for 2.

He trained as a teacher at St Luke’s College, Exeter, and taught for more than 30 years at schools in Paignton.

He had a long association with both the cricket and rugby clubs in the town, scoring more than 1,500 points at fly half for Paignton and was top scorer for 14 seasons.

He was immensely proud of his ability to spot young sportsmen with talent.

One of them was Chris Read who went on to play cricket for England and another, Les Mears, a former pupil, who was picked to play rugby for England recently.

In a tribute, former Test umpire Dickie Bird, who was the cricket professional at Paignton in the late 1960s, said: “I know that helping young youngsters find their way in the sporting world was immensely satisfying for him.”

Old Shebbearian Roger Horrell, with whom Ward played schoolboy rugby for Devon, said: “Trevor was a school hero and immensely popular. Of course, that went with being such a good sportsman, but it owed much to his rather gentle, modest and undemonstrative manner.”

Another OS, author Leslie Scrase said: “I shall always remember Trevor as modest, unassuming, gentle, quiet, good-natured, cheerful, friendly, decent and honest – a man of absolute integrity and reliability.”

The funeral was at Preston Church, Paignton, on April 7.

He leaves a widow Ann, and three children, Rosemary, Joanne and Tim.

Known throughout the school as “Gabby”, Bill Gibbons was at Shebbear from 1948-56. His home was in Lynton.

He became a Ruddle House prefect and played rugby and cricket, captaining both the 2nd XV and 2nd X1. A hardworking boy, he gained a County Major Scholarship to the University of North Staffordshire (Keele) then one of Britain’s newest universities.

In a letter to the Shebbearian in 1958, he wrote: “The main interest in this university seems to centre on the Foundation Year in which one studies all the subjects under the sun. In short, you are given ideas, or ideas are created by you, which you have no time to follow up, and as a result some form of Chauvinism creeps in. However, the first year does give you time to think over your choice of degree subjects and gives you an idea of subjects you might otherwise be totally be wholly ignorant of …”

We were never to know the subject in which he graduated but at some point later he emigrated to New Zealand where he worked as an administrator in education. In 1985 when his old school friend Geoffrey Wrayford, then Vicar of Frome, featured in a news story about officiating at the marriage of an American whose family links with the town went back to the Middle Ages, the story appeared in newspapers around the world.

From Wellington came a letter from Bill saying he had spotted the item. He added he was married, had two small boys, aged three and six, “a house, a mortgage, three quarters of a car, a stamp collection and an overdraft!”

In the 1990s Bill visited the Wrayfords at their new Ministry in Minehead and later one of the Wrayford children stayed with Bill and his wife in Wellington.

Sadder news was to follow. A letter to Geoffrey from Mrs Christine Gibbons said Bill had passed away towards the end of 2005. He would have been about 67

Simon Birks came to Shebbear from Sussex in 1968, well into George Kingsnorth’s headship, and left after the Upper Sixth in 1975.
Read his own profile notes and you get the impression that he achieved little. Not quite the case, M’lord!

There is no mention, for example, of the academic successes– form prizes, the OSA’s Civics prize -and nine O-Levels and three at advanced level.

Nor that he was a Thorne House Prefect, Senior Librarian, Editor of the Shebbearian, as well as being successively, the Secretary of both the Lower and Upper Union of Debating and Dramatic Societies.

He would claim to have had no gift for acting. Yet, a little research, shows that he played a leading role as Sir Oliver Surface in Sheridan’s School for Scandal in 1973.

The reviewer commented that the acting was of a consistently high standard throughout and that Mr Birks gave a “strong” performance.

From Shebbear, Simon went to Trent Polytechnic, gaining a BA in Legal Studies in 1979.

He was called to the Bar in 1981.

“Following the usual Shebbear practice I applied to the very best chambers for pupillage – regardless of the fact that I had never even studied their special area of practice,” he said.”

Twenty-five years on finds him almost at the top of the practitioners’ list at the prestigious Clarendon Chambers in Lincolns Inn, London.

His specialist area covers Real Property and Public Law.

“Occasionally” I will meet another Old Shebbearians as an opponent, judge or a solicitor.”

In 2004, he appeared for the head teacher and governors of a comprehensive school when a 15-year old girl lost a battle in the High Court for the right to wear strict Islamic dress in school.

Simon argued successfully that the girl had not been excluded from school, which multi-cultural and multi-faith, but had simply stayed away. The case was widely reported.

He was persuaded to join the OSA by another Old Shebbearians barrister, now his Honour Judge Michael Carroll.

Subsequently he has been one of the association’s most loyal committee members. He was also a regular visitor to Shebbear for career evenings held in the 1980s and early 1990s.

And lest you think, that his life consists of all work and no play, he is an enthusiastic sailor “Dinghies – usually rather slow ones, always battered – and often someone else’s.

“In more recent years, living in Kent, I have also been introduced to Thames sailing barges and to a friend’s narrow boat.”

Another excellent year for the school, with numbers of both day pupils and boarders rising and the governors releasing a million pounds from income to pay for more improvements.

That was the central message from headmaster Bob Barnes at the annual reunion dinner of the Old Shebbearians Association held at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, London, on January 21.

He said the school roll stood at 280 – a 10 year high – and by Easter should be at least 285 which would be the highest for 14 years.

Furthermore , the number of boarders had risen to 90, thereby bucking a national trend against boarding.

There would be 47 candidates sitting the entrance examination at the school for Year Seven and five for Year Nine. Another candidate would be taking the examination in Bali. Tuis was the highest number of candidates for Shebbear since 1990.

“It is a reflection on how well the school is doing. Our reputation locally and wider is getting greater and greater,” said Mr Barnes. “Indeed, this year at Shebbear we have pupils from France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Hong Kong. We have even had an application from Azerbaijan and interest also from the United States and Australia. It is warming to know that we being looked at globally as well as on a local scale.”

If the news from the headmaster was good, then the attendance at the 98th consecutive annual dinner was just as heartening. A total of 103 guests and Old Shebbearians -more than half of recent vintage and many old girls – attended.

Grace was said by the Rev. Geoffrey Wrayford and the assembly stood in silence to remember Old Shebbearians who had died since the last gathering. The now customary toast to absent friends was made.

Continuing with his reply to the toast to the school, proposed by President Michael Buckingham, Mr Barnes reported a truly unique event – the arrival of the first true, all Shebbearian – a baby born to former pupils Michael Carpenter and Charlotte Brady, who had married after leaving Shebbear.

Another new arrival was the first full-time Chaplain for eight years. The Rev. Oluyemisi Jaiyesimi, from Nigeria, was doing a remarkable job.

And what of the improvements to the fabric of the school?

The Pollard House had been totally refurbished. Double glazing was being installed in most of the bedrooms.

“And,” he said, “This is really going to hurt. We are spending money on new bedroom furniture as well! Perhaps , he suggested, constant hot water and a central heating system that worked marked the end of the character-building cold of yesteryear and was producing a “real bunch of softies?”

Old Shebbearians, old and young, roared their agreement.

There were other improvements: the kindergarten had been redeveloped, the refurbishment of the science block would be completed by Easter, new desks and chairs had been purchased for most classrooms and interactive whiteboards would be standard throughout the school.

Shebbear was also seeking to improve links with the village. A joint venture scheme was going ahead to put a synthetic turf pitch on Dartmoor field.

More thought was going on to try to improve links with the local community to provide joint facilities

“Compared to other schools, we are now one of the most sound, forward looking schools in the area. There is a lot to be proud of in that.”

Shebbear added value to education and that made it a leader in the market place. The school had come a long way through difficult times. “We are a business as well as an educational institution – never lose sight of that.”

He congratulated Mike Heath and John Harding on organising the 40 years on reunion at Shebbear in May.

“There were a lot of them. They enjoyed staying in a girls’ house (it was half-term) They liked the cushions, the smell of perfume and the messages left in lipstick on the mirrors!

“The group, from Canada, from Tasmania, from far away in |Britain,. was fantastic. Such a sense of fun, whether walking around the college, in the village pub, the church, walking around the Triangle.

“I would suggest we do this more often. If you are passing please drop in to see us. The school is changing and needs you to reaffirm the links between the school and the Old Shebbearians.”

The toast to Shebbear was proposed jointly by Emily Cooper, Head Girl, and Jack Warner, Head Boy. Mike Heath, responding, reiterated his thanks to the Headmaster and the school for the warm hospitality he and his 40-years-on group had received during the May reunion.

War Memorial Fund

Then, former President David Shorney was called on to make the War Memorial Fund award. Before doing so, he outlined the history of the fund and called on Old Shebbearians to support it.

“It has been said that Shebbear is a very special place and that was no more so than 80 years ago when Old Shebbearians got together to found the fund six years after the end of the First World War.

“Those who founded it themselves found it very difficult to come to terms with the fact that 48 of their number were no longer with them because they had died in France or Gallipoli or one or other of the war zones of the first major conflict of the 20th Century. They wondered how they could honour the memory of the men who died and for whom they felt a great affection – their friends.

“They collected £1,000 or thereabouts which in present day values was the equivalent of £100,000.

“I think that one of the reasons why they did it was because Shebbear up to 1914 was a pacifist school. It had two headmasters who were pacifists who had been brought up to abhor war. I doubt whether half a dozen Shebbearians went into the armed services between 1841 and 1914. And yet when war came they volunteered in their scores, their hundreds, because they believed it was a cause worth fighting for. Many paid the price.

“So for Shebbear the losses of that war meant more than for most other schools which had strong military traditions.

“During the last year we have tried to augment the fund. Five years ago at the annual reunion we decided to change the fund’s remit to award scholarships to boys and girls at Shebbear. An appeal was launched in June. We have had a very generous response but until we get a 100% response we will not be able to award scholarships.

“Although there are many who can afford to keep their sons and daughters at Shebbear, there are some who cannot and find themselves having to withdraw their children before they have completed their education. We would like to ensure that this never happens in the future.

“But only you and your friends can do that. I appeal to you tonight for no-one to leave this room without filling in a standing order form.

“The Head has already talked about cementing links between the school and old pupils. One of the best ways to do that would be to support the fund year in and year out so that we can make a major contribution to Shebbear in the years ahead. “

He said it was hoped the first scholarship would be awarded in September, 2007.

This year’s award to a former pupil in higher education was made to Rebecca Betambeau who is studying music at Birmingham Conservatoire – someone “who has enchanted us year after year by her music at speech days”.

With that it was left only for His Honour Judge David Pugsley to propose Simon Birks as President for 2006; Chris Blencowe, vice-President, and the re-election of David Haley, Secretary; Michael Buckingham, Treasurer, and the committee en bloc.

A boy at Shebbear from 1936-42, Brian Andrew was a highly-respected estate agent in Somerset for all his working life. He was also a local politician in Yeovil and a stalwart of the Methodist Church.

He died aged 79 in hospital in Taunton after a long illness in December 2005. An obituary will appear in the next edition of the Shebbearian.

‘Schools at War’ by David Stranack is published by Phillimore & Co, Chichester, West Sussex, at £14.99.

There is no mention of the great defensive trench that stretched the length of a cricket field, the Home Guard, the nightly blackouts or the sadness when the lengthening list of casualties was read out after prep in the Old Third.

But a new book says Shebbear’s remoteness made it a popular choice for parents seeking a safe refuge for their sons during the Second World War.

While not actually hosting a complete school, Shebbear received a steady stream of individual evacuees from urban areas at risk from attack.

In fact, “In the late 1940s the school roll was 50 per cent higher than it was in 1939.”

When Jack Morris arrived from Bryanston in 1942 to take over the headship, pupils were faced with a variety of attitudes among the staff.

“Morris was a jingoistic patriot but some of the older members of the common room who had had personal experience of action in the First World War viewed the new conflict with apprehension, and a couple of masters who were confirmed pacifists completed an interesting spectrum of opinion.”

It adds: “Apart from the usual deprivations caused by a shortage of food and fuel, Shebbearians’ lives were largely unaffected by the war.

“But perhaps helping with the potato harvest alongside prisoners of war from Italy and Germany gave them some inkling of how other lives had been affected.

Other West Country school mentioned in the book include Blundell’s and Kelly College, while it is also records that Bideford Grammar School hosted pupils from Selhurst Grammar School, Croydon, for a while.