AYTON SCHOOL

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Reprinted from the 52nd Annual Report 1939-40

HERBERT DENNIS
Headmaster, 1913-40

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Ayton School without Herbert Dennis will need some time to recover from its strangeness. Forty-one years is a long time to be part of the life of a school and Herbert Dennis came to school as an apprentice in 1898; an interval of six years broke the continuity; then in 1913 he returned as headmaster, to remain until 1940, when he retired full of years and honour.

I was teaching at Ayton when the young apprentice first arrived and know how quickly he fitted into the routine of school life. From the first, collects and duty held no terrors for him; the boys recognised his power of control, his fairness, his decision; ability in class teaching came with practice ! I am inclined to think that H. Dennis, Dan Browning and myself were a trio of assistant masters who ran the boys' side with drastic efficiency and who did not hesitate on quibbles of legality.

H. Dennis's efficiency extended to the football field. What battles we had in compulsory games amid the mud of the lower field. The boys vied with the masters in keenness and undid ties and bootlaces in the dining room, and H. Dennis's long stride often took him first over the teachers' bridge. No mercy was shown in games nor in matches and many a struggle took place in the mud of the goalmouth or the foul slush of the far side. Most of the matches, regularly two a week, were against men's sides, and here H. Dennis shone. He was the best centre half I have seen on that field; his heading in defence was precise and powerful; he tackled clean and close; he appeared to use either foot with equal ease; his stamina ran others off their legs.

His cricket had in those days the merit of surprise, for the bowler never knew whether a length ball on the off stump would be pulled ferociously into the wood or snicked into slip's hands. He kept wicket ably to Browning and myself, though I still remember with a pang the needle match against the village when in my first over he dropped the great Newstead, who played for Yorkshire and who proceeded to score 115. Those were the days.

Work and play, cricket and hockey, football, swimming and lawn tennis "filled the day"; nights saw many a jape in the masters' room, even conflicts with authority as to lawful occasions, and thus and thus H. Dennis passed from apprentice to assistant, from assistant to head assistant, accepting and resolving heavier responsibilities and more manful tasks.

For 27 years as headmaster Herbert Dennis controlled the work and life of the school. In 1912 there were 107 children in the school; in 1940, 187. New buildings were put up in 1915, and in 1921, after the coming of the Rawdon scholars; in 1938 the centenary block replaced the old lecture room and library. .A dam which made the lake, altered the very landscape. On the educational side the school became a recognised secondary school in 1920, and thus maintained its position and extended its influence in the face of fierce competition from the new State aided secondary schools, until 86% of passes were secured in the School Certificate. Side by side with this the community side of school life grew; disciplinary restrictions became fewer; girls and boys mixed more freely; the arts were more fully recognised; a leaven of social graces began to work; hobbies and craft work extended their scope; school societies flourished; the House system brought into being fresh relations between staff and scholars; older children accepted greater responsibilities.

Such changes marked the growth of 27 years and all this growth felt the steady influence of Herbert Dennis. He was ready to advance when he thought a case for advance had been made out, to experiment when experiment was justified; he was no rash innovator nor was he ponderously stuck in the mud. His even mind controlled an even temper and his influence was always a steadying one. As he conceived that his main duty was to watch over the opening minds and souls of the children, he treated them with a wise kindness; he interested himself in their likes and dislikes; he was ready to help in trouble, to encourage in the struggle, to cheer the victory. He preferred to teach his ideals of life by practice rather than by preaching. The girls and boys, as in the school they gradually grew older, began to see dimly at first, but gradually, more clearly the kind of man he was; the old scholars with their growing experience of life recognised more surely still the spirit that moved him; his colleagues and friends in closer personal association knew more of the essential man and, as they got nearer, appreciated him more. I myself can ascribe to him an exact and orderly mind delighting in accuracy, a quiet humour that with a patient tolerance enabled him to suffer fools reasonably gladly, a dislike to condemn and a willingness to help, a love of truth and beauty, a fondness for nature, and above all, the ever precious gifts of sympathy, understanding and loving kindness. Others besides myself count ourselves fortunate to have known and worked with Herbert Dennis.

Hail, and Fare Thee Well.

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