Minchenden Grammar School
| Motto | Robur durabit |
|---|---|
| Established | 1919 |
| Closed | 1984 |
| Location |
High Street Southgate London England Coordinates: 51°37′49″N 0°07′46″W / 51.63035°N 0.12952°W |
| Local authority |
Middlesex (1919-1965) Enfield (1965-1984) |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Colours | Green |
| Website | Minchenden School |
Minchenden School was a mixed secondary school situated in Southgate, North London, established in 1919 with 90 pupils.[1]
History
The school was established in 1919 in Tottenhall Road as a mixed secondary school. In 1924, it moved to Southgate House, where it remained until 1987,[2] and was renamed Minchenden School. The staff and pupils built an observatory.[3] From 1960 to 1967, there was an annexe in the Fox Lane school, Palmers Green.[1] The school's English department was particularly strong. Head of English Douglas Barnes 1959-1966 introduced a series of important innovations in teaching methods. In 1967, Minchenden Grammar School was converted from a grammar school to Minchenden School, a comprehensive school, with the upper school in High Street and the lower school in Fox Lane.[1] It was merged with Arnos School in 1984 to form Broomfield School, after the Conservative council sold the extensive playing fields to a development company to build homes, with the original Southgate House protected as a Grade I listed building.
The building is now used by Southgate College.
Former teachers
- James Kirkup, poet
- Leslie Watkiss Deputy Head 1973- 1983
- Frank Jackson Stabler d.March 2013
Notable alumni
- Peter Brugnani, Sportsman, (born 1958)
British International in 3 different sports. Athletics, Bobsleigh, American Football.
1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo 10th 2man, 15th 4man events. Was also coach to the Jamaican Bobsleigh team 1989-1992
- Graham Robert Allan, mathematician and an expert on Banach algebras, Professor of Pure Mathematics from 1970-8 at the University of Leeds
- Neville Brody (born 1957), graphic designer, typographer and art director
- Prof. Harold Brookfield (born 1926), scholar of rural development, Australian National University
- Thomas Carlile CBE, President from 1972-4 of EEF the manufacturers organisation, and Chairman from 1995-2000 of the British Society of Master Glass Painters
- Prof Peter Clarricoats CBE, Professor of Electronic Engineering from 1968-97 at Queen Mary and Westfield, and vice-president from 1989-91 of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (since 2006 the Institution of Engineering and Technology) Fellow of the Royal Society (1990)
- Air Vice-Marshal William Disbrey CB CBE, Director-General of Engineering from 1964-7 of the RAF
- Judy Dyble (born 1949), Singer songwriter and founder member of Fairport Convention
- Hugh Featherstone CBE, Director-General from 1969-84 of the Freight Transport Association
- Lynne Franks (born 1948), public relations innovator
- Judy Fryd (1909–2000), political campaigner
- Hazel Genn (born 1949), legal academic
- Anthony Giddens, Baron Giddens (born 1938), sociologist, Director from 1997-2003 of the London School of Economics
- Ken Haddon, Chief Executive of AXA Reinsurance UK from 1987–98
- John Hodge (born 1929), engineer and NASA flight director
- Peter Kellner (born 1946), journalist and political commentator
- John Kent, Keeper of Coins and Medals from 1983-90 at the British Museum, and President from 1984-9 of the Royal Numismatic Society
- William Orbit (born 1956), musician, composer and record producer
- Chris Pond (born 1952), Labour MP from 1997-2005 for Gravesham
- David Puttnam, Baron Puttnam (born 1941), film producer and politician
- Martin Rushent (born 1948), record producer
- Peter Sallis (born 1921), actor
- Sir Peter Soulsby (born 1948), Labour MP since 2005 for Leicester South
- Barry Took (1928–2002), comedian, writer and television presenter
- Nick Dunning, actor - credits include The Tudors, My Boy Jack, Alexander
- Dr Leslie Watkiss (1928-2013) Deputy Headteacher, Author, Latin Translator.
- Jana Jeruma-Grinberga (born 1953) Bishop in the Lutheran Church
- John Wimpenny (1922-2015), aerodynamicist and holder of the world record for man-powered flight for ten years from 1962, when he flew the Hatfield Puffin over a distance of 995 yards.
References
- 1 2 3 T F T Baker, R B Pugh (Editors), A P Baggs, Diane K Bolton, Eileen P Scarff, G C Tyack (1976). "Edmonton: Education". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 196-203. British History Online. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ↑ "The High Street". A Walk in Southgate. Southgate Civic Trust. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ↑ "Notes". The Observatory. 59: 200. June 1936. Bibcode:1936Obs....59..199.
Further reading
- Minchenden School golden anniversary, 1919-1969, published by Minchenden School, 1969 ISBN 978-0-9501826-0-5
- Douglas Barnes, Becoming an English Teacher (London: NATE, 2000)
External links
- Social Change and English, 1945-1965 - Minchenden is one of three schools in London that are included in this Leverhulme Trust-funded project about the teaching of English in the period 1945-1965. The project is collecting oral histories from former teachers and pupils at the school.