Prefects Index
The Prefects Pledge
"I promise, God helping me, to be a faithful servant of the school without fear and without reproach. I pledge myself to put the school first in everything; to uphold its best traditions; actively to oppose what is wrong; to protect the weak and to be humble in my office. I will do my utmost to leave the school better than I found it."
This promise or oath was taken by those pupils of Hemsworth Grammar School who were chosen to be Prefects and had to be learned and recited on the stage before the whole school. The Headmaster then presented the Prefect's Badge.
The Assistant Prefects Pledge
"I promise to be a faithful servant of the school and loyally to assist the prefects in the performance of their duty. I will endeavour to prove myself worthy of the confidence placed in me."
What are Assistant Prefects?
Assistant Prefects are a steely-eyed, warm-hearted, life-sapping necessity to every peaceful community. To the ordinary eye they are just somebodies, to the eye of authority they are nobodies. No other persons could cram into their life so many duties, so many bad dreams about Prefects, so many possible ideas for lenient trade treaties over broken "lollies" and so few privileges.
The middle classes tolerate them, 5th formers befriend them, some authorities scare them others think they scare them. Contrary to popular belief, mothers love them and nothing surprises them - (First formers have nothing to say in the matter).
An Assistant Prefect can be justice with red hair; genius with specs; beauty without a perm.; science with a song; noise with a choc-ice and an angel with wings.
They like "Frees", the girls' cloakroom, a certain science master, the word "imbecile", non-duty days and Jim.
They dislike Frederick the Great (or was he?), people who hand over 2/- for a 2d. lolly, sitting under open windows, smoking, and saying what it is they dislike most.
But, no matter what your opinions, when, exhausted by French and feeling that, the bottom has been completely knocked out of your ink-well, you enter their domains, what could be more refreshing than a greeting that excites your sinews and sends the blood coursing through your inferior vena cava; what more exhilarating than - "Get off the block, Jughead"?
"Worried" School Magazine 1952
Head Boys and Girls
Major Jenkinson becomes the Headmaster
1921-22: No Head Boy or Head Girl
1922-23: No Head Boy or Head Girl
1923-24: No Head Boy or Head Girl
1924-25: William Kirk and Freda Swaine
1925-26: ?
1926-27: ?
1927-28: ?
1928-29: Walter H. Wright and Miriam Wass
1929-30: Fred Williamson and Maisie Thorne
1930-31: Alec Ramsden and Phyllis Stoker
1931-32: ?
1932-33: Herbert Perry and Ida Farmery
1933-34: Thorpe, J.N. and Sybil Howson
1934-35: ? and Doris Hainsworth
1935-36: Stanley Perry and Lorna Jagger (followed by Betty Mulheir for two terms)
1936-37: Firman and Doris Watson
Mr. Hamilton becomes the Headmaster
1937-38: Harry Walker and Elsie Stamp
1938-39: G. Robinson and Matilda Cunningham
1939-40: ? and Beryl Townsend
1940-41: ?
1941-42: Alan Johnson and ?
1942-43: Herbert Brammer and Marjorie Duckworth
1943-44: ? and Gwen Dunn
1944-45: Leslie M. Tate and Cynthia Hemmingway
1945-46: Atkinson and Frances Hemmingway
1946-47: Birkin J.D. and Margaret Medforth
1947-48: Derek Wilkinson and Barbara Harwood
1948-49: Jim Foster and Marion Roberts
1949-50: Robinson J. and Gladys Alderman
1950-51: Peter Henry and Jean Dillon
1951-52: Keith Bruce and Edith Lill
1952-53: Eric Sale and Pat Atkinson
1953-54: Maurice A. Poole and Eileen Tate
1954-55: A.A. Allsopp and Valerie Manning
1955-56: Ron Smethurst and Yvonne Harris
1956-57: Terry McCroakam and Jean Snookes
1957-58: Colin Appleby and Sheila Farmer
1958-59: Jim Wild and Gloria D. Farnsworth
1959-60: Geoffrey M. Cartledge and Margaret E. Biggs
1960-61: C. David Hinks and Diana Wood
1961-62: David S. McKenzie and V. B. Jacqueline Leonard
1962-63: David Williamson and Margaret Birkin
1963-64: Ron Newitt and Jean Armitage
1964-65: Andrew Hudson and Christine Kenyon
1965-66: David Fearnside and Susan Holder
1966-67: John Foster and Margaret Preece
1967-68: John S. Covell and Christine Stephens
1968-69: Dennis Jordan and Marrion Pearson
1969-70: Steve Womersley and ?
Please let us know the Head Boys, Head Girls, Prefects and Assistant Prefects from the other years. If anyone has photographs of the Prefects, please send them in as large scans. If you were a Prefect, what are your stories/anecdotes?