After thirty-one years as headmaster of the School, Mr. W. H. Struthers is retiring at the end of this term. These thirty-one years comprise the most fruitful period, so far, in the history of the School and his part in creating it has been noteworthy and significant.
Mr. Struthers came to us from Ashton-in-Makerfield Grammar School in 1922 to succeed Mr. R. D. Price as Senior and Science Master, and in 1924 on the retirement of Mr. Oswald H. Lace, became Headmaster. In those days, the School-part boarding and part day-school-was emerging from a period of reorganization, begun in 1917, and was being prepared to meet the needs and demands of educational developments visualised after World War I. Mr. Lace had worked hard in that time of preparation and had infused into the life of the School a new spirit which received a fresh impetus when Mr. Struthers succeeded him. Much remained to be done and despite the drastic economies that were thrust upon us then, he persisted in his aim of making the School into a complete Grammar School with the arts and the science sides more evenly balanced with regard to staffing, and with a Sixth Form in which boys could pursue higher studies. These additions were not long in coming. To fill the first vacancy on the staff he appointed a science master; to establish Sixth Form he introduced two-year arts course. These were beginnings, but the opportunity they afforded pointed a way to enter the universities and the professions, by means of scholarships and awards.
When the School eventually became an entirely day-school, serving the town and the immediate locality, it was a great disappointment to him that no extensions could be made to accommodate comfortably the numbers that attended. The many makeshifts that had to be endured and the handicaps they imposed, however, were patiently and cheerfully borne. In the meantime, Mr. Struthers introduced the House system-replacing what had hitherto been a nebulous arrangement-and obtained a shield to be competed for. Well one recalls that time and the excitement that prevailed when the names, Clare, Ferrers and Neville were chosen for the three Houses. Each house selected its own colours. Through the years House competitions have been a stimulating factor in the life of the School. The lack of a school hall did not restrain Mr. Struthers in his desire to encourage dramatic work. Short plays were performed on Speech Days but no public performances, as such, had as yet been given. In 1934, "Macbeth" was performed, in the Watson Hall, by a School company under the direction of Mr. Knoyle, and a tradition was then established,
Mr. Struthers watched over the early struggles of the Old Theocsbrians' Society, and saw it, during the 30's, beginning to grow into the organization it now is.
Came World War II. We were to accommodate the Vittoria Street School of Arts and Crafts, Birmingham. He so organised affairs then that our guests were accommodated without difficulty. They were very contented and happy here and remained with us until the end of the war. Mr. Struthers formed the School Flight of the A.T.C., became its first commanding officer and guided its progress until shortly after the end of hostilities.
After the war was over, the 1944 Education Act came into force. The G.C.E. replaced the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate. Such a change presented many problems to the small Grammar Schools-particularly with regard to adequate staffing to meet the demands the innovation made. Through Mr. Struthers's patient efforts our anxieties were removed and we were able to face the new conditions confidently. In the midst of these deliberations came the wonderful news that the School was to be moved to Southwick Park To Mr. Struthers this was the fulfilment of a hope that he had long entertained of seeing the School one day in new premises, and also the gratifying realisation that the possibilities at one time very remote now awaited the School whose function he had moulded.
One cannot omit mentioning Mr. Struthers's interests outside his school. He is a past president of the Tewkesbury Branch of the Dickens Fellowship, a past president of the Tewkesbury Rotary Club; and a member at one time of the Management Committee of the local Y.M.C.A. During the war he held the office of Honorary Deputy-Superintendent Registrar, for the Tewkesbury district. He was also at that time Information Officer for Tewkesbury, and the Borough representative on the Cheltenham and District Information Committee. As a member of its Council, he gave of his time to his own professional association, the Incorporated Association of Headmasters, and served for some years as Secretary and once as Chairman of Gloucestershire, Somersetshire and Herefordshire Branch of the I.A.H.M.
In his devotion to the School and its welfare and in the example he set therein, Mr. Struthers could not but inculcate in us all the desire to emulate him, and by his readiness to treat sympathetically our difficulties and problems he easily gained our loyalty to work with him and for him. He recognized and granted the freedom to grow and develop where the will to succeed and to serve predominated. Though failure might come he gave the encouragement that led to renewed effort. We gladly sought his advice which was always willingly given and proved invariably sound,
As we bid farewell, we wish him and Mrs. Struthers many years of happy and unclouded retirement J. G. THOMAS (Senior Master) Summer, 1955.
Note; Tribute to W. H. Struthers, Theocsbrian 1972 by J. G. Thomas, (Senior Master), Summer 1955.