No . 136 The Trusty Servant he has worked so unremittingly hard will thrive as he passes it on . Possibly Tim ’ s finest achievement of all , of course , was to marry Jane . Her role in keeping him grounded , and supporting him and the school with her quiet shrewdness , has been a key to his success , and to his staying power . As a member of the Chaplaincy team I ’ d like to thank both of them especially for their unflagging commitment to the religious life of the school . Initiatives here included the return to the Cathedral , not least for the New Men ’ s Service and the Christmas Carols , and also a Christmas Eve
Service in Chapel for the resident College community . Tim and Jane are both expert in hymns , unlike most Wykehamists who know about five . One of those five , however , is number 316 , which has traditionally provoked a wince from Tim on the line : “ There is joy for all the members in the sorrows of the Head ”. To misquote Shakespeare , Tim - those sorrows now are ended .
So , as music fans both , and constant promoters of its excellence here , Tim and Jane are heading off now with a project to visit every opera house in Italy . This is considered a great idea by their children , who hope thereby to continue for a while longer throwing parties in the house in Putney .
Tim and Jane , thank you for all you have done and we wish you a long and happy retirement .
Extract from To Dr . Tim Hands – An Ode by Richard Wallace ( Coll , 68-72 ), delivered during Tim and Jane ’ s visit to Hong Kong ( see P39 ).
( the full version available on request )
A scholar he by Battersea ’ s Emanuel first nourished , In music versed , a fiddler first , At Guildhall School he flourished .
At London ’ s Kings he spread his wings In English Lit abounding . No sluggard he , theology Then added to his grounding .
Midst Oxford ’ s cream of Academe His path for life was charted – St Cats then Oriel the wells He drew from to get started .
His students there saw him prepare For teaching roles not glamour – King ’ s Canterbury and Whitgift preening Him for Portsmouth Grammar .
Headmaster there a decade fair Till Oxford re-installed him . For eight years Magdalene ’ s School he ’ d lead , Then Wykeham ’ s GoBo called him !
“ Good Doctor Hands , what are your plans ? We need a new Head Teacher ”. “ I am ” he said “ a hardy Head And no Distracted Preacher .”
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