Christopher Herman Gilkes (1898 - 2 September 1953) was a noted educationalist and was Master of Dulwich College from 1941 to his death in 1953. Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dulwich College is an independent selective fee-paying public school for boys in Dulwich, a suburb of south-east London United Kingdom Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
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Early life
He was born the son of the Reverend Arthur Herman Gilkes who had also been the Master of Dulwich College. Arthur Herman Gilkes MA ( 1849 - 13 September 1922) was a noted educationalist Author, and Clergyman, and was Master of Dulwich Christopher Gilkes was educated at Dulwich College whilst his father was its Master and whilst at the school was Captain of the school, captain of boxing, a member of the 1stXV Rugby Union side and editor of the school's magazine. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short [1] He then went to Trinity College, Oxford on a classical scholarship. The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope (Knight, or Trinity College for short is one of the [2]
Career
Having completed his education he went on to become Assistant Master from 1922 to 1928 at Uppingham School under another Old Alleynian, R H Owen[1]. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Uppingham School is a co-educational Independent school situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England. Old Alleynian is the official title given to former pupils of Dulwich College. From there moved to Stockport Grammar School where he was Headmaster from 1929 to 1941. Stockport Grammar School is a co-educational Independent school in Stockport, England, founded in 1487 by the 1482 Lord Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [2]
Dulwich College
He joined Dulwich College in 1941 during the Second World War and led the school through this traumatic period. Dulwich College is an independent selective fee-paying public school for boys in Dulwich, a suburb of south-east London United Kingdom Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including His bravery and leadership has been cited as unfailing and unshakeable during this time, as the school suffered much damage during bombing raids. As well as suffering ancillary damage from nearby detonations, the school was hit directly, destroying a number of buildings including the Fives and Squash courts, most of the science block and severely damaging the main school buildings as well. Fives is a British sport believed to derive from the same origins as many racquet sports. [1]
When Gilkes took over, the school's finances were in need of improvement and part of the reason for Gilkes' appointment was to provide a 'boldness and imagaination'[1] necessary to achieve this. The greatest step towards this was Gilkes' agreement to house boys who were particpating in a War Office sponsored scheme under which the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) would provide a crash course in Turkish, Persian, Chinese and Japanese in order to ensure the three armed services had men who could speak eastern languages. The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963 when The School of Oriental and African Studies (commonly abbreviated to " SOAS " pronounced (so as or (so az is a constituent college of the University of The boys on the scheme, termed The Oriental Scholars[1] would study at SOAS in the morning and then return to Dulwich College where they would do more general work. Dulwich College is an independent selective fee-paying public school for boys in Dulwich, a suburb of south-east London United Kingdom Gilkes part in this was later lauded by Sir Ralph Turner, who was the Director of SOAS at the time, as a great contribution to the war effort. Sir Ralph Lilley Turner MC ( 5 October 1888 &ndash 22 April 1983) was an English Indian languages Philologist [1]
The Dulwich Experiment
Prior to his appointment, the school had had a decline in academic reputation and an urgent need was emphasised to Gilkes to raise the academic standard. Contemporaneously, the school's finances were not in good shape, as discussed, and there were discussions as to whether to hand the school to the London County Council to become a state school. London County Council (LCC was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889-1965 existence and the first London-wide general municipal The Governors were intent on the school remaining independent. Gilkes addressed the academic side by taking immediate advantage of the provorn the isions of the Education Act 1944. The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary Schools in England and Wales. One of the terms of this landmark Act was that a common entrance exam was implemented, and any child who passed the exam qualified for a free place at a secondary school, fees being paid by the local authority. Gilkes made it clear to the London County Council, that he wanted the College to take advantage of the scheme. London County Council (LCC was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889-1965 existence and the first London-wide general municipal Thus was born the Dulwich Experiment. Both the financial and academic fortunes of the school would benefit from this and Gilkes also made clear to the school's Alleyn Club the following: "It is now possible to choose as our entrants the best boys, quite regardless of their father's income". Dulwich College had already had a good reputation for having a steady intake of LCC scholars but under Gilkes' Dulwich Experiment the scale became massive. Gilkes also managed to ensure that not only was the common entrance exam to be passed but also the College's own papers. This gave Gilkes' free choice from among the candidates. It also lowered the main age of entry at Dulwich College from thirteen to eleven, because this was the age at which the 1944 Act stipulated the change from primary to secondary education took place. Another effect of the Experiment was a huge increase in numbers at the school, going from less than seven hundred to more than one thousand. [1]
Rebuilding
Partially, Gilkes insistence on maintaining as normal a school life as possible during the war meant that Dulwich College became attractive to parents who returned to London during the early 1940s when there had been a lull in bombing. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. [1] After the war, restrictions that had been placed on the Dulwich Estates Governors as to the size of the school's endowment were partially lifted to allow rebuilding to take place.
Other areas
The school's musical and drama contributions also flourished under Gilkes, and indeed the House Drama Competition, which still runs today, was inaugurated in 1948 under Gilkes. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [1] The school's various societies also began to proliferate.
Death
In the autumn of 1953, Gilkes died of a heart attack whilst on holiday with his family. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He had known that he was suffering from what was diagnosed as congenital malignant hypertension for at least three years and that it would limit his lifespan. However, he had not told any of his staff. This unfortunately meant that he did not see the full fruits of his work at the school. It was later said by a former classics master of the school that "it was the vigour, often maybe ruthless vigour, of Gilkes that saved Dulwich. "[1]
Personal life
Christopher Gilkes married Kathleen Josephine Trinidad in 1939 with whom he had two sons and a daughter. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hodges, S, (1981), God's Gift: A Living History of Dulwich College, (Heinemann: London)
- ^ a b Who Was Who 1951 to 1960, page 421, (A&C Black: London)
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Walter Reynolds Booth |
Master of Dulwich College 1941–1953 |
Succeeded by The Deputy Master was Acting Master for 12 months following the death of Gilkes, then Ronald Groves |