AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AYTON SCHOOL
HEADMASTERS' & HEADMISTRESSES' GALLERY
(an asterisk * against the name denotes: deceased)

In the 157 years of Friends' School, Great Ayton there were nine Headmasters and three Headmistresses. All are listed on the left hand side of your screen, starting with George Dixon, who - according to the Ayton School Centenary History - was described as superintendent. His son Ralph Dixon succeeded him - thus during the Dixon's rule of 54 years nearly 900 boys and 800 girls passed through the School.

The entire fascinating history of Ayton School over the first 100 years is recorded in great detail in the Centenary History, mentioned above. It is hoped to add the text of this book to this website within the next year.

This addition to the History section of our website now seeks to show visitors who were the School's Headmasters and Mistresses. To look at their photographs you will need to use scrollbar to move the list up or down and the click on a name which is coloured and underlined; this is a link to that person's photograph. When the mouse pointer is over a linked name it will change colour to red.  If the name is not highlighted there is no photograph available.

As the years go by there is now no one who remembers Headmasters and Headmistresses from the early part of the twentieth century but there are quite a number of Old Scholars with vivid memories of Sophia Wells and Herbert Dennis, followed by many more with clear recollections of Evelyn Nicholson and Stanley Carr. 

At foot of each page bearing the photograph of Headmaster and Headmistresses who are no longer with us there is a means whereby Old Scholars can record their memories and anecdotes of these very special people in the History of Ayton School, which will appear in much the same manner as is adopted for the Visitors' Book There is - in addition an e-mail link for those who would wish to send their contribution this way for addition by the Webmaster. Please leave your personal memories here for visitors to read and enjoy, and for posterity . (For those who may be concerned about misuse of this facility the Webmaster has editorial access).