Staff (after Wennington)
KENNETH BARNES
After retirement in 1968 Kenneth remained on the governing body of the school until its closure. When Frances died he married Eleanor Spray, who had been a pupil at Wennington. He continued to write and paint, and travelled to many parts of the world. Kenneth died May 1998 aged 94.
See the tribute written by Sybil Pentith.
FRANCES BARNES
Frances died in 1969, a year after she and Kenneth retired.
FRANK BURGESS (Woodwork)
Died April 1998
MICHAEL CAMPBELL (English and Drama)
Michael had three spells of teaching at Wennington, in the 50's, 60's and as deputy head in the 70's. From 1956 - 64 Michael taught at Frensham Heights, another liberal/progressive school. Later he went on to teach at Dartington Hall School. Michael died in 1989 after spending several months in a hospice in Devon.
TONY CASHMORE (French 1945 - 50)
Died on 14th September 2000.
ROGER GERHARDT (French)
After Wennington Roger had various jobs ranging from working for Burton's the tailors to being a house-parent in a children's home run by Leeds Social Services. In the late 80's he moved from Leeds to a hillside cottage overlooking the Colne Valley on the outskirts of Huddersfield (it reminded him of the Pyrenees) where he enjoyed his retirement years. In 1995 , on his 69th Birthday, Roger died in Killingbeck Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack following a successful minor heart operation the day before.
See the tribute written by Brian Hill.
BRIAN HILL (English and Latin, Headmaster 1968 - 1973)
Brian died on 19th February 1997
See the tribute written by Dick Jones
LOUIS JONES (1910 - 1980) (Pottery and Art)
Louis died in July 1980. He served on the staff for 35 years, joining the school soon after it opened, and retired at the same time as its closure in 1975. He came to the school after being sacked, as a conscientious objector, from the Birmingham College of Art. A most gifted artist ranging over a wide variety of activities, he quickly put the school in the forefront of pottery. Many of his pupils have become studio potters, teachers, experts in ceramics, painters, silversmiths and designers.
His years of retirement were full of activity. His German wife Irmi, whom he married after the death of his first wife Phyllis, encouraged him to travel widely in Europe, visiting the art galleries containing the works about which he had so eagerly taught. In his own pottery he remained enterprising to the end
FRANK LEAFHEAD
Frank Leafhead joined the staff in 1955. He died on December 3rd, 2005.
See appreciations by Irene Hill and Paddy Butcher.
WOLF MENDL (1926 - 1999) (History 1950-53)
Wolf wrote in August 1999 to say that he'd had a major bladder operation in June 1999 and was making a slow recovery but at the beginning of December we heard that he had died on 29 November, aged 73.
Wolf was a German Jewish refugee brought to Watford by his parents at the age of 10. While still a schoolboy he followed his mother into the Society of Friends. After graduating from Cambridge Wolf taught History at Wennington then studied Quaker Peace literature at Swarthmore College, Philadelphia. From then until 1961 he worked as a Quaker in France then Japan, where he met his wife, Takako. In 1962 Wolf became a research student at King's College, London where he played a formative part in developing the ethos, and multi-disciplinary approach of its war studies department. He rose to become reader emeritus. As a teacher Wolf specialised in military sociology, especially civil-military relations.
A memorial meeting was held at Friends Meeting House, Euston. Many people from all parts of his life spoke of their memories of his outstanding human and intellectual qualities and how much Wolf had meant to them.
SYBIL PENTITH (Music 1949 - 53) [written by Sybil Pentith, 21.12.2000]
After leaving Wennington the following thirteen years were spent raising a family, Laurie, John and Katy, and moving around the country as husband, Gerald, moved up the ladder in the NCB. I did a small amount of private teaching. When Katy started school in 1966 I returned to part-time work as a peripatetic music teacher in SW Durham. This eventually expanded into full-time work in a variety of primary and secondary schools and a Saturday Music Centre.
All three Pentith children attended Wennington at different times between 1965-75 and are grateful to have been part of the 'Wennington experience'.
A move to South Yorkshire in 1972 as a peripatetic string teacher led to my appointment, in 1973, as Director of Music at Thomas Rotherham College, an open access Sixth Form College. This job involved preparing students for O & A level as well as Oxbridge entrance and instrumental teaching. I still worked on Saturdays as part of the local music centre team preparing pupils for AB theory exams, and began working as an assistant examiner for several O and A level boards. By the mid eighties I was Reviser for GCSE music and Chief Examiner for the History & Appreciation of Music GCSE for the NEAB.
On retirement from Thomas Rotherham College, in 1993, I was fortunate to walk into two part-time jobs teaching years 10-13 at a local comprehensive, covering maternity leave for a former student; and working for Sheffield University's Adult Education Department. From 1996/97 I was co/Scriptwriter for Classic FM's Masterclass programme in conjunction with QCA - a wonderful opportunity to introduce a variety of less well known music to a wide audience. A change of ownership of CFM led to the project being abandoned.
In September 2000 I moved to Hemingbrough, North Yorks, with my partner of 28 years, John Belcher, until retirement, Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Family Housing. He spends a lot of time promoting the music of Alan Rawsthorne as Chair of the Alan Rawsthorne Trust and Secretary of the Alan Rawsthorne Society.
I am still Reviser for the GCSE Music exam and a question setter for A level, as well as marking A level papers annually. I do some CD reviewing for musical journals, have time to help anyone needing advice on music exam work or research projects, and having a large archive of material on a variety of topics am available for talks to music societies.
See the tributes written by John Belcher, former staff and students.
DAVID & PEGGY THOMAS
Were staff at Wennington from June 1945 to July 1952. David taught Maths and Country Dancing, Peggy taught History and Needlework. Peggy wrote saying that David died on 23 June 2000. She did not say 'sadly' as he had been ill for a very long time (a very distressing illness) and they were all happy for him.