Hemsworth Grammar School
Labor ipse voluptas

 

As most Hilmians may know, Major Arthur Godfrey Jenkinson was appointed Head Master of Hemsworth Secondary School, a post which he held until 1937, when he retired.

Mr. Jenkinson was educated and trained at Dulwich College and Brasenose College, Oxford, and before he became Headmaster of St. Austell's County School, had held appointments at Aysgarth School, Yorkshire, Harrow School, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh Academy. When first appointed Headmaster at St. Austell's in 1910, there were 120 pupils, a low standard of work, and poor discipline; at the time of his leaving, there were 225 pupils, good discipline and traditions, and a standard of work reaching to first-class Honours, Oxford Senior (local) and London Matriculation, Division 1.

Mr. Jenkinson had principally taught classics, French and English, and had lived abroad. He could speak French and Italian, and was musical and athletic. In December 1914, Mr. Jenkinson joined the 24th Royal Fusiliers as a private, and later held a commission in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, from which he was discharged in March 1919 with the rank of Major. He served two years in France and fifteen months in Italy.

 

►Mr. Jenkinson was the first Headmaster of the school when it opened in November, 1921. Then Hemsworth Grammar School was called Hemsworth Secondary School and had 101 pupils and a staff of four, with two Houses only - Holgate and Talbot. From the outset, Mr. Jenkinson showed that he was determined to see that the school progressed both on the academic and sporting sides. Anything which would be to the betterment of the school was given full encouragement. On the Sports side, "Rugby" and "Fives" were introduced. He made folk-dancing known throughout the district and was an enthusiastic dancer himself. "Drama" was encouraged, and he was always an actor in the Annual Staff Play. A keen lover of music, he took a keen interest in the School Choir, and was the author of the School Song. In 1925, he formed the Old Hilmians' Association, and was its President until his retirement. He always lived up to the School motto for which he was responsible, and, without any shadow of doubt "left the School better than he found it". Major Jenkinson died on the 11th February, 1968 Aged 93.
L.N. Collette

 

 

Term after term we have had to say goodbye to very many members of staff, but twice only since the School was opened in 1921 have we said goodbye to the Head of the School. Mr. R. W. Hamilton was Headmaster of Hemsworth Grammar School from 1937 to 1967, and under his wise guidance and leadership the School grew in size and in reputation to its present strength. Great progress was made on the academic side of school life; sporting and cultural activities were increased, and the team work of Headmaster, Staff and pupils did indeed succeed in "putting Hemsworth on the map".

 

Not only was Mr. Hamilton an excellent organiser, but an able participant in all School activities. A good all-round games player, he excelled in Hockey and in Cricket, and captained Staff teams in countless matches. His example was an inspiration to all our teams. At the annual Folk Dancing Festival, he and Mrs. Hamilton always led the procession as pupils from all schools in the area took up their positions for the opening dance.

 

Mr. Hamilton's talents were not, however, confined to the field of sport. Music he always encouraged; Drama was constantly to the fore, as was shown by the annual School and Staff plays; the establishment of Esperanto both as a Club subject and also as part of the curriculum was another of his many achievements. Nor was Social Welfare overlooked. With the Headmaster's encouragement, regular help was given to the Save The Children Fund, to the Lord Roberts Memorial Fund, and to other deserving causes, local, national, and international. Mr. Hamilton has left his mark on the School. During his long term of office, he "upheld its best traditions", and won the respect and affection of Staff and pupils. His retirement at Christmas 1967 was truly the end of an era.


We are proud to have this opportunity of paying our tribute to Mr. Hamilton, and of thanking him for all he has done for the School. To him and to Mrs. Hamilton we wish good health and happiness in the retirement they have so well earned.

School Magazine 1968

 

 

The School Song
Words by A. G. Jenkinson
Music by Mrs. Wilks

Sons of Yorkshire, lift your voices, joyfully proclaim,
Honour to the School that bred you, glory in its name
Yorkshire's daughters swell the chorus, echo loud your praise,
Hail with song the School that gives you joyful happy days.

Here to-day and gone to-morrow,
Days at School will quickly pass;
Let your work be joy not sorrow;
"Labor ipse voluptas."

Mind and hand alike here gather, strength to see life through,
Gaining skill and storing knowledge, sifting false from true;
Goals and wickets, bursts and rallies, matches won and lost,
All are part of one great lesson "strive nor count the cost".

Here to-day and gone to-morrow,
Days at School will quickly pass;
Let your work be joy not sorrow;
"Labor ipse voluptas."

Arm you then for life's endeavour, choose your weapons here;
Keep them bright, your shields untarnished, records clean and clear
Bear the torch as borne before you, hand it on again:
"Work with pleasure" be your motto, this your glad refrain

Here to-day and gone to-morrow,
Grasp your schooldays ere they pass;
Struggle gaily, banish sorrow,
"Labor ipse voluptas." 

 

Across Five Decades 

►I started Hemsworth Grammar in 1927 and left in 1933. I was in the school choir and a Prefect, and thoroughly enjoyed my days there. I'll never forget the day I opened that green door in the stone wall and looked into what looked like heaven after Grimethorpe Primary!
Eileen Morley (1927-33)

 
►Leighton Smith sent me your web site address in his Christmas mail. What a wonderful Christmas gift! Seven happy years spent at HGS. It was an excellent school with beautiful grounds. I am proud to be a former pupil and an Old Hilmian.
Irene Wright (1944-51)

►I have many fond memories of H.G.S., a beautiful building with those gorgeous magnolias as you walked up the driveway, the shuttered windows and that impressive staircase. The Green Gate was the entry to a special world.
Pat Cockburn (1955-62)

►I think it's wonderful to find such an informative site dedicated to a school and staff who nurtured us in our formative years.
Gordon Clarke (1943-50)

►What memories this site has brought back: the Green Gate, the spring flowers, the wonderful grounds and so many excellent teachers.
Anne Norrick (1949-56)

 

►"Welcome and enjoy your visit! This is a site for all who have been associated with HGS. I hope you find the site both interesting and "memory-jogging". Please make the site interactive in the sense that if you have material or comments that you would like to see published, please send them in. Also, if you see any errors, please let us know of them. The site will always be positive in nature as were my seven years at HGS."
Dave McKenzie (1955-62)

mdeemac@yahoo.com

  

►Please note that all drawings on this site from the book Hemsworth High Hall are reproduced with the permission of the artist Mr. G. Holdsworth.

► "Those people we all met at HGS came into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Any way you look at it - it was a memorable time for everyone, and this site celebrates it. Needless to say, Dave and I seem to have made it our mission to record as many details of our education at HGS as we can. There isn't any other easily-accessible record of those days in existence, and judging by the number of Hilmians who have joined us and sent us the smallest details, there are many of a like mind who can't bring those times back, but would want the knowledge of them available to succeeding generations. Anything you can remember for us would be valuable."
Sheila Kelsall (1955-62)
sheilan@bethere.co.uk
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