Wilfred Hoare
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wilfred Norman Stewart Hoare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
23 October 1909 Gloucester, UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died |
28 August 2003 (aged 93) Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Bunny | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting style | Right hand batsmen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1931 | Cambridge University Cricket Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: CricketArchive, 8 January 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wilfred Norman Stewart Hoare (23 October 1909 – 28 August 2003) was an English cricketer, schoolmaster and headmaster of Strathallan School from 1951–1970.[1]
Early career
Hoare was a classics exhibitioner at Christ's College, Cambridge.[2] He was captain of the college rugby and cricket teams, and played one first-class cricket match for the Cambridge University Cricket Club.[2] Hoare played against Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in a 3-day match at Fenner's in May 1931; the match was drawn.[3]
Following his graduation in 1931, Hoare was appointed as an assistant master at Fettes College in Edinburgh.[2] In 1939 he became housemaster of Glencorse House at Fettes.[2] He held a commission with The Royal Scots during World War II, and served at home and abroad.[2]
During his time in Edinburgh he was captain of the Edinburgh Wanderers rugby club, and a member of Grange Cricket Club.[2] In 1950 he was appointed as the headmaster of Strathallan School, though he did not start until January 1951.[2]
Strathallan School
Hoare arrived at Strathallan at a time when most schools in the United Kingdom were still trying to recover from the effects of World War II.[4]:21 There were few qualified masters and the teaching profession had been neglected.[4]:21 In 1942 the school had also lost its founder, Harry Riley, and was still to find a replacement who shared his vision and zest for success.[4]:20 In Wilfred Hoare, Strathallan found his successor.[5]
One of his first appointments was that of Duncan McCallum, another Fettesian, as second master.[4]:25 Between them they would lead the school until 1975.[4]:25 Hoare introduced a new management style, delegating responsibility to everyone in authority.[4]:25 Everyone was encouraged to contribute to the success of the school regardless of their ability.[4]:25
Under Hoare's enthusiastic direction, Strathallan embarked on a series of developments and improvements.[4]:26 The school switched to the Cambridge O and A level exams, to try to improve results.[4]:25 A period of time was set aside for pupils to partake in activities; boxing, life-saving, highland dancing, etc.[4]:25 These activities were partially funded by a new tuck shop.[4]:25 A new study block was opened in 1953.[4]:25 The junior school, Riley House, moved to the redeveloped stable block.[4]:26
The drive to improve academic standards placed a great strain on the staff.[4]:26 As pupil numbers increased, classes had to constantly be reorganised.[4]:26 Each pupil was monitored by the staff, to ensure their progress.[4]:26 By the late fifties, the number of pupils had almost doubled.[4]:27 The choice of sports on offer and competitive school fixtures increased as a result.[4]:28
In 1957 the school purchased the Mud Flats (playing fields) and part of the east drive.[4]:27 New laboratories were built in 1958, as well as an extension to the study block.[4]:27 Big Acre (playing field) was expanded as was the boundary of the cricket lawn.[4]:27 In 1960 building work commenced on the new chapel.[4]:27 The following years saw the purchase of Coven Trees (house), classrooms harled, dormitories redecorated, the pond drained and stocked with trout, the vegetable garden became the garden pitch, Thorny Shades levelled for hockey, and the excavated soil used to build a causeway across the Dell (valley).[4]:27
A new sixth form art block and language laboratory was opened in 1964, as well as a new chemistry laboratory.[4]:29 The school also announced plans for a new boys house, as pupil numbers had doubled since 1951.[4]:29 Plans were also made to build a new dining hall.[4]:30 By the late sixties the school was thriving, exam results were excellent, and sports teams competitive.[4]:30
At the end of the summer term 1970, Hoare retired from the school.[4]:31 After his speech day address that term, he and his wife were piped from the dining hall to their house, the route lined with pupils clapping them home.[4]:31
Hoare always stressed that any success achieved during his tenure, was due to team work.[4]:31 A devoted board of governors, and dedicated staff, combined with Hoare's desire to succeed, cultivated an excellent environment for achievement.[4]:31 To preserve continuity of policy, Duncan McCallum was appointed as his replacement.[4]:31
Following his retirement, Hoare moved to Milnathort, then the West Country and finally to Shrewsbury.[5]
References
- ↑ "Wilfred Hoare". The Scotsman. 1 October 2003. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "New Head Master for Strathallan School". The Scotsman. 7 October 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
The governors of Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire, announce the appointment of Mr Wilfred Norman Stewart Hoare as the new head master of the school. He succeeds Mr A N Hamilton, who retires in December. Mr Hoare won a classical Exhibition to Christ's College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1931. After serving as an assistant master at Fettes College, he was appointed in 1939, at the age of 29, to the housemastership of Glencorse House, at that College, an appointment he has continued to hold, with a break of five years war service. During the war he served at home and overseas, holding a commission in The Royal Scots. Mr Hoare captained his college at both rugby and cricket, and on one occasion played cricket for his university. He is, in addition, well known as a sportsman in Scotland, being a past captain of Edinburgh Wanderers and a member of the Grange Cricket Club. He will take up his appointment as head master of the school in January.
- ↑ "Cambridge University V Nottinghamshire". Cricket Archive. 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Aldridge, J D; Spurgin, P R (1983). The Story of Strathallan School. Strathallan School.
- 1 2 "Wilfred Hoare; Inspiring headmaster who led the revival of Strathallan School". The Herald (Glasgow). 7 October 2003. p. 20. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
Acknowledged as one of the great post-war Scottish headmasters, WNS Hoare led the revival and expansion of Strathallan School during the 19 years he was in charge Although he won an exhibition in classics to Cambridge, WNS Hoare modestly never pretended to more than a sufficient academic standing. He was, however, persuaded that other activities, including sport, could and did play a significant part in education. He firmly believed that if a boy could be taught to excel in some enterprise, however remote from the classroom it might be, the confidence it gave him would eventually extend to his academic work. He was no musician, nor had he any talent for art, but he gave every encouragement to those who had. Cricket was his real talent. As revealed in an extract from The Story of Strathallan School: "His enthusiasm for the art of batting held an absolute pri-ority, and was liable to interrupt any business conducted indoors, the nets being within view and earshot of his study window. With an awe-inspiring bellow, he would leave his audience open-mouthed as he stepped through the French window on to the Lawn and, wrestling the bat from the grasp of a boy, he would demonstrate the supreme importance of keeping up the left elbow." Before arriving at Strath-allan, Wilf Hoare taught at Fettes and took over as housemaster of Glencorse. His time at Fettes was interrupted by service in the Army during the Second World War. He is still remembered kindly by Fettesians who knew him as "Bunny" Hoare. That was not, however, the image he presented when he arrived at Strathallan. All schools thrive under energetic headmasters. Strathallan under Wilf Hoare in the 1950s and 60s was no exception. Those who were pupils there at that time immediately realised the character and atmosphere in the school would be dictated by the enormous energy and enthusiasm of the new "Head", inspired as it was by his love for the school in its beautiful location overlooking the Earn Valley, and by his determination that the pupils should succeed. He was totally devoted to their welfare and progress then and subsequently, after they had left, he following their careers closely. He honoured, and expected, standards of beh-aviour from his boys, which included concern for others - haranguing them, for example, about the importance of dancing with any "wallflowers" when entertaining girls from The Beacon School at the annual dance. Soon, thanks to his efforts, the numbers in the school doubled and the governors found it necessary to build. Hoare took great pride in showing parents and former pupils round the new study block opened in 1954. Individual Houses were built to accommodate Nicol, Ruthven, Simpson, and Freeland. The chapel, dedicated in June 1962, replaced the Beech Walk at the front of the main school building. The plans then devised and translated into bricks and mortar shaped the future of the school for at least the next 30 years. "The endeavour to raise academic standards, while at the same time increasing numbers, placed a severe strain on the teaching staff To this end there were regular and lengthy meetings of the whole teaching staff to monitor the progress of each individual member of the school." It was a tribute to the headmaster that he earned and kept the loyalty and respect of his staff at this time, without which academic progress could not have been achieved. Former members of his staff speak highly of his leadership and drive. Likewise, members of the board of governors held him in high regard. In 1964, the arts block and language laboratory were opened, and soon after the science laboratories were en-larged. The foundation stone for the present dining Hall was laid in the 1960s. It was from this dining hall that Wilf and his wife, on retirement, were clapped all the way across to their house, an experience that quite overwhelmed them. In retirement, first in Milnathort, then in the West Country, and finally in Shrewsbury, Wilf maintained a keen interest in the further development of the school. It was, after all, the abiding love which he shared with his wife and family. He is survived by his wife, Gracie, daughters, Rosemary, Ruth, and Patricia and son, Ronald.