The Old
Pocklingtonian
Staff Annex
His bright and breezy personality blew through the
School as the numbers of boys and girls grew through
the early years of the new team of ‘Clements and
Dawes’. His cheerful chuckle and happy demeanour
were a feature of his interactions. Working alongside
him on the management team, a most reassuring sight
was to notice him grin and smile his way through the
particular ‘problem of the day’.
years of supporting two Headmasters, overseeing
a rapidly changing school in terms of infrastructure,
pastoral diversity and the modern worlds of ICT and
marketing outreach, we shall miss him hugely, and
extend the warmest of farewells to himself, Sandra,
Hannah, Ben and Liberty.
Andrew was an excellent Deputy who believed in
the School and its future. He was instrumental in
restructuring the pastoral system into the vertical
House Tutor Groups and horizontal Divisions that we
still take for granted today. He was a gifted manager,
not just with the day-to-day running of school life, but
also with looking to develop the initiatives that the
School needed to effectively broaden its horizons and
to market itself beyond the confines of East Yorkshire.
He was a tower of strength to the now numerous
Housemasters and Pastoral Managers in the School.
Jim Roberts (06-15)
Always approachable, generous with his time
and willing to shoulder the tough decision and its
consequence, Andrew punched his weight through
the often demanding bubble of the Deputy Head.
Sandwiched as he was between the Headmaster
and the staff, Andrew effortlessly negotiated his role
with that friendly grin and that scientific, Christian
mind looking for the moral solution. I was always
personally reassured when he concurred with a
decision of mine. If Andrew thinks that too, then I
must have got that right…
More recently under the Headmastership of
Mark Ronan, Andrew led on the Pocklington 500
celebrations and events timetable, orchestrating
diverse committees, groups, historians, authors and
editors of books, the York Minster Service, Pock
500 promotional material, the planting of 500 trees
on the School grounds, the clock over Wilberforce
Court, a Royal Visit, special brew beer…coffee…!
During this time he also chaired the Marketing
Committee as Open Days and ‘Come and See Us
At Work’ days evolved. During his final year, he also
led on the pastoral and staffing needs of the Boarding
community.
Born in North Brazil to British parents, just avoiding
being press-ganged into completing Brazilian National
Service, Andrew was educated at Haywards Heath
Grammar School in Sussex and then Newcastle
University. At Pocklington he loved many of the
simple things around our great School, such as the
courtesy shown by staff and children to each other,
and the Friday morning Church services. A highlight
for him was Archbishop Sentamu of York blessing
the Wilberforce Statue in September 2007 and
then splashing and charming the amazed audience
of children! He loved watching Saturday afternoon
sport and supporting our teams. He hated unkempt
uniforms and any litter (though he constantly picked
it up himself!). He hated cancelling Saturday games
for bad morning weather and then watching the sun
come out!
Andrew takes up his new position as the Development
Director at Monkton Coombe School near Bath in
September 2015. He leaves us as a pivotal personality
in the most recent history of the School. After 14
41
(by David Dyson)
3. As a colleague and friend: Jim is great company. He
never takes himself or others too seriously and in the
staff room, if you’re ever frustrated by a new policy or
another protocol, or if you’re snowed under with the
burdens of teaching, he can put things in perspective.
The fact that Jim has taken the weddings and baptisms
of numerous staff, their families and students gives
some indication of the high regard in which he is held
by the Pocklington community. He is more than a
colleague to many of us: he is a true friend.
Whether in the classroom, the chapel, the staffroom or
even preaching from the pulpit at the Quincentenary
services in both York Minster and St Paul’s Cathedral,
it is the same Jim whose candour, humour and
generosity of spirit have been an inspiration to us all.
For those who don’t like change – sorry. The next
Chaplain will not be like this one. Not that tall and
certainly not bearded. Jim is a ‘one-off ’ and we shall
miss him. Thanks, Jim.
(by Martin Davies)
Jim joined Pocklington as Chaplain and teacher of
Religious Studies in September 2006. His predecessor
had been here for well over twenty years, so for staff
and students uncomfortable with change, it was
helpful that we appointed a chaplain who looked
very similar to the last one – both similarly slim and
bearded.
Jim’s looks, you’ll be pleased to know, were not the
only reason for his appointment. We knew when Jim
joined Pocklington that he was a highly experienced
teacher, Head of Department and an inspirational
priest. Over the last nine years we have all become
aware of how fortunate we are to have had him as
our Chaplain.
Jim, as regulars to Friday morning church services
will know, helpfully breaks things down into threes,
allowing us to digest the important themes of the
sermon. Reflecting that, here are three elements of
Jim’s ministry at Pocklington for which we are grateful:
(as Teacher, Rev, Colleague – TRC)
1. The teacher: warm, funny and engaging. Students
enjoy Jim’s lessons for all these reasons. Jim thrives on
and encourages discussion and debate in