The Shape of Things to Come
AW Tomalin (1939-1946), from the last Soham Grammarian, 1972
One September day in 1945 the deputy head boy was summoned to the headmaster's study (new headmaster, new deputy head boy!). There sat E.A. and on the desk in front of him a set of sparking plugs, knife in the pen tray, carbon in the out tray. No-one needs reminding that the new H.M. had written a book on Practical Physics.
In those days the front hall was used as an overflow dining room - one table even under the stairs. The conversation was brief - 'Boys eating on the table under the stairs cannot see; here is a pound, do something about it before tomorrow.'
With the benefit of hindsight I can see why the next twenty-five years at SGS were so good.
Edward Armitage - a headmaster to thank
Graham Docherty, Soham Grammar 'Old Boy', Toowoomba Queensland Australia: from an Ely Standard, 2001
It was a sad day for me to receive news of the passing of Edward Armitage, headmaster of Soham Grammar School from 1945 to 1972. May I draw to your attention and that of your readers in particular the Ely, Soham and Newmarket area of the tremendous loss.
Amongst his very many attributes he was a student's headmaster and educator par excellence. I speak for many when I say we could not understand the thinking when such an excellent school was "dissolved".
Edward Armitage devoted himself to sourcing ways and means to encourage students, who, like myself, had other ideas about what school was for, to realise the true value of education. He, with the school board, sourced and brought excellent teachers to Soham Grammar and achieved results which were the envy of many facilities of much higher public profile.
Edward's ideals that every one of his students should receive the best education available was hampered by the very large catchment area of the school, which necessitated very long and tiring journeys for the students at the extremities of the area. He and his wife came up with the idea of a Monday to Friday boarding house run at their home. They managed to persuade the powers-that-be of the value of the idea and so it came to pass that Mr and Mrs Armitage added to their already heavy timetables the running of a weekly boarding house. Many of us consider ourselves fortunate indeed to have been able to take advantage and become "boarders".
Edward Armitage considered that a well-rounded education included the sporting fields and was keen for his students to have opportunities in these areas. Needless to say he was behind all of the school teams. However, I seem to remember he queried the advisability of my playing for the City football team after playing for the school the same day.
Much of what many of his students achieved in later life can be attributed to this dedicated headmaster. I am pleased to include myself in that group. Against all odds he managed to turn my thinking and work ethic around to such an extent that I stayed on to the sixth form and finished up working and playing damned hard. I even continued after leaving school.
Edward Armitage achieved all of this for me and many others. If anyone ever warranted a niche in the educators' "hall of fame", it is Edward Armitage. He will be sadly missed and remembered by many.
The Soham Grammarians' main website can be viewed at www.sohamgrammar.org.uk