Brentwood Preparatory School Magazine

Brentwood School Preparatory 20 1972 – 1981 – Mr S P Beresford-Davies My name is Mr Beresford-Davies and I was Headmaster from 1972 – 1981. The world was constantly changing and technology developing and in 1973 the United States launched Pioneer 11 to explore other planets in the solar system.1980 saw the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war and Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. The first Star Wars movie appeared in cinemas in 1977 and McDonalds opened their first restaurant in London in 1974 when a cheeseburger cost 21p! 1981 – 1998 – Mr T J Marchant My name is Mr Marchant and I was Headmaster from 1981 - 1998. In 1982 the Prep School purchased its first computer, a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. In 1992 boarding came to an end and work began to change the dormitories into classrooms. In 1993 the first edition of the Prep School magazine, Incipe, was produced. The Pre- Preparatory School was founded in 1995. In 1984 the Miners’ Strike began in Britain and in 1986 the Chernobyl nuclear power station exploded. The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990. 1997 was also a busy year, seeing the launch of a US spacecraft to begin the exploration of Mars and the deaths of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana. Harry Potter also made his first appearance in print in 1997. 1998 – 2005 – Mr P R MacDougall My name is Mr MacDougall and I was Headmaster from 1998 – 2005. In 1999 the Prep became co-educational and girls were admitted for the first time! I was in post when the world celebrated the turn of the millennium in 2000 and when Facebook was launched in 2004. Pixar also launched the film “Monsters Inc” in 2001. 2005 – 2011 – Mr N L Helliwell My name is Mr Helliwell and I was Headmaster from 2005 – 2011. In 2009 a School Librarian was employed and the number of school clubs on offer increased to over 60 subjects, including web-page building, lego, arts and crafts, and karate. In 2006, “to google” became a verb and entered the Oxford English Dictionary for the first time. Bruno Mars, Justin Beiber and Little Mix also gained fame during my time at the Prep School. 2011 – Mr K J Whiskerd Of course, I need no introduction as I am your current Headmaster. In 2013 the Pre-Prep and the Prep were amalgamated into one Preparatory School and what an enjoyable journey this has been. Tablet technology has also arrived at the Prep School and is very popular with all pupils. I started at the Prep School the same time as Swansea City started in the Premier League and 7 years later we are both still in the same place. I am certain that we will all look forward to opening up these buried time capsules in 25 year’s time. Past Headteachers 1892 – 1897 - Miss S Brimley My name is Miss Brimley and I was the first Headmistress at the Prep School when it opened in 1892. When the school first opened, there was one class of 9 boys. The Prep boys had the nickname “Parrots” and the “Prep” was known as “The Parrot House”. Many historic events occurred whilst I was at the Prep School including the first modern Olympic Games in 1894 and the introduction of Coca-Cola in 1894. The first escalator was installed at Harrods in London and was considered to be an overwhelming experience for its shoppers as it travelled at nearly 2 miles per hour! 1897 – 1917 - Miss E Powell My name is Miss Powell and I became Headmistress in 1897. By 1908 the size of the one Preparatory class had doubled from 9 in 1892, to 18. It was growing too large for the School House dining room so, in 1910, it moved to the former Chemistry room opposite the school chapel. During my time at the Prep School, the Boer War started in South Africa in 1899, Queen Victoria died in 1901 and was succeeded by Edward VII in the same year. 1917 – 1941 - Miss E M Elsey My name is Miss Elsey and I was Headmistress from 1917 – 1941. In 1917 Roden House was purchased by the Governors and became the home of the Preparatory School from the summer of 1918. The boarders who lived in the house became known as “Rodents”. I was Headmistress here during part of both World Wars. Also during my Headship, the first ‘talking’ movie was produced, Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin and Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in Steamboat Willie. 1941 – 1947 – Miss E O Haynes My name is Miss Haynes and I was Headmistress from 1941 – 1947. After the end of the Second World War in 1945 in which 45 million people died, the boarders were transferred to Old House which became available in 1946, and the Prep School moved to the Hermitage in 1947. In 1945, the United Nations was formed. T Shirts were first produced in 1942 and the polaroid camera made its debut in 1947. 1947 – 1950 – Mr E A Robertson My name is Mr Robertson and I was Headmaster from 1947 – 1950. In 1949 the Prep School moved to Middleton Hall. The House system was introduced: Old House (later Hall House) for the boarders, Lawrence, Heseltine and Quennell. In 1947, Pakistan and India gained independence from Great Britain and in 1949 Albert the 2nd become the first monkey to go into space. 1950 – 1972 – Mr J R G Higgs My name is Mr Higgs and I was Headmaster from 1950 – 1972. In 1957 Brentwood School celebrated its 400th Anniversary. The school was honoured by a visit by the Queen in October of that year. The Prep School hamsters, Peter and Ella (named after the Queen’s racehorse Petronella) were presented to the Queen as part of a tableau of a ‘Day in the Life of a Prep School boy’. In 1952, George VI died and our current Queen (Elizabeth II) became monarch and in 1953 New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hilary, reached the summit of Everest for the first time. 1969 saw Concorde make its maiden flight and in 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Curly Wurlys first appeared on the shelves in 1970. 125 Celebrations