John Weitzel recently went on holiday to the Isle of Man and whilst he was there he was inspired by what is ‘unofficially’ the largest heron in the world – part of the Silverburn Art Trail – at Castletown. It proudly stands at a height of 8m. He was also delighted to see four, not 3 herons, on the rocks in Douglas. As a result he is currently working on a publication on the School Shield and Ralph Lemyngton which will be ready before Christmas.
He also went to the Manx Museum where there was an exhibition celebrating the work of Archibald Knox and there he was drawn to the ‘Retirement Scroll’ for William Callister, Headmaster of Kirk Onchan School on his retirement in 1923. This reminded him to look in a bit more detail on his return at the ‘Leaving Scroll’ for Headmaster Cecil Kaye (LGS 1894-1900) which is on the wall outside G1…. and I bet most boys have ignored it!
It is a magnificent document and appropriate for a fine Headmaster who had seen a huge revival of the School during his seven years in charge: – doubling the numbers, building the Science Block and Manual Training Room and introducing compulsory games for the boys. He was to take up the Headship of Bedford Modern School, which was five times larger than LGS. The Kayes gave the boys a farewell tea on the last night of term with entertainment provided by Professor Hercat, conjuror and ventriloquist, who also showed cinematographic films! The illuminated address from past and present staff noted that ‘While always ready to introduce such changes as seemed to be for the best interests of the School, you at the same time have succeeded in preserving intact all that was highest and noblest in her institutions and traditions’.
Appropriately after spending 16 years at Bedford Modern and a further nine years at St Bees’ Grammar School he retired in 1926 and died at the age of 75 in May 1941 while holidaying on the Isle of Man. You will gather the same fate did not happen to the archivist!
