Time Line of Events In the History of Sinjuns

 

 

This page contains an table of dates of the history of Sinjuns, this information being extracted from the excellent book by Frank T. Smallwood, MA, FA, "A History Of Sir Walter St. John's School Battersea, 1700 - 1986".

As always, we are looking for information to add to this page, so if you have any that you would like to share with fellow Sinjun's please e-mail them to us, along with any verification you may have and we will put them up for all to enjoy.

For more information on how to purchase the book "A History Of Sir Walter St. John's School Battersea, 1700 - 1986" please click on the link.

1622 ~ May ~ Birth of Walter, 6th son of Sir John St. John, Bt.

1631 ~ January 27th ~ Christening of Joan, eldest daughter of Oliver St. John, at High Laver, Essex

1649 ~ Wedding of Walter St. John and Joan St. John

1656 ~ April 13th ~ Succession of Walter St. John to the baronetcy and estates

1668 ~ September ~ Mention of 'Free Schoole' in Battersea Hearth-Tax Assessments

1670 ~ December 1st ~ Christening of Thomas Percy at Battersea

1685 ~ November 12th ~ Apprenticeship of John Hyott to William Petre

1700 ~ July 16th ~ Sir Henry Bond's release of lands to Sir Walter

1700 ~ September 7th ~ Sir Walter's Trust Deed

1705 ~ January 15th ~ Death of Lady Johanna

1708 ~ July 3rd ~ Death of Sir Walter

1714 ~ Death of William Petre

1722 ~ October 4th ~ First appointment of additional Trustees

1780 ~ Cessation of Isaac Akerman's annual gift

1817 ~ May13th ~ Union of the Parish School to the National Society

1820 ~ Death of John Parvin

1841 ~ June 12th ~ Visit of HRH Prince Albert

1852 ~ March 31st ~ Public Meeting at the Swan Tavern

1852 ~ November 3rd ~ Hearing of petition in open court

1853 ~ January 10th ~ Sir John Romilly's signature of Chancery Scheme

1859 ~ June 25th ~ Opening of the Butterfield building - Feast for the boys

1863 ~ January 31st ~ First formal presentation of prizes (Saturday, 9.30 a.m.)

1873 ~ February 1st ~ Trustees' Meeting - appointment of William Taylor as Head Master

1873 ~ August 9th ~ Royal Assent to new Scheme

1875 ~ April ~ Opening of the new Upper School

1880 ~ Closing of the Elementary School

1882 ~ October 31st ~ Governors' Resolution establishing the Governors' Prize for Good Conduct

1892 ~ January ~ First issue of School Magazine

1892 ~ July ~ Formation of Football Club

1896 ~ Autumn ~ The Sixth Form 'Weekly Whirligig'

1897 ~ June 21st, 22nd, 23rd ~ 1897 Diamond Jubilee Holidays

1898 ~ June 22 ~ Opening of Science Building (ground floor) by Edward Bond, MP

1989 ~ November 17th ~ Inaugural Meeting of Old Boys' Association

1900 ~ March 5th ~ 1900 Holiday for the relief of Ladysmith

1902 ~ Board of Education recognition as a Secondary School

1902 ~ October ~ First issue of The Gazette of the OBA

1904 ~ February ~ First Inspection by the Board of Education

1904 ~ May ~ First Celebration of Empire Day

1904/5 ~ Governors' decision to award School Leaving Certificates

1906 ~ Addition of second floor - for Art and Manual Training - to the Science Building

1906 ~ Erection of Fives Court

1907 ~ February 2nd ~ Decision to found the Old Sinjins'Lodge

1907 ~ July 12th ~ Governors' Meeting - appointment of J.G, Taylor as Head Master

1907 ~ December 7th ~ Old Boys' Dinner - Presentation to William Taylor

1909 ~ June ~ First University Scholarship - C.W. Nichols, Exhibition, Emmanuel College, Cambridge

1910 ~ January 4th ~ Death of William Taylor

1910 ~ November ~ First issue of School Magazine, New Series

1911 February 2nd ~ Recognition of the Cadet Corps

1915 ~ March 5th ~ Opening of Great Hall and West Wing by J.W. Gilbert, Esq.

1915 ~ July ~ Retirement of Mr E. Mills after forty-five years of service

1917 ~ August 29th ~ Board of Education approval of first Advanced Course

1918 January 16th ~ Appeal for Playing Field Fund launched by S. Cresswell, Esq.

1918 ~ December ~ Death of Mr E.L. James after forty years of service

1919 ~ April 13th ~ War Memorial Service in the Parish Church

1920 ~ First State Scholarship - W.E. Miller, held at Peterhouse, Cambridge

1921 ~ October 14th ~ Unveiling of War Memorial Window and Tablet by Earl Howe

1922 ~ January 28th ~ First School Play - The Fugitive and St Patrick's Day

1923 ~ May 18th ~ First Celebration of Founder's Day

1926 ~ June 25th ~ Opening of Library Wing and new Laboratories by Her Grace the Duchess of Atholl

1928 ~ July ~ Retirement of Mr I. Jones after forty years of service

1929 ~ July ~ Retirement of Mr F.C. Luckhurst after forty-eight years of service

1930 ~ April 9th, 10th, 12th ~ 1930 First Gilbert and Sullivan Production - Trial by Jury

1930 ~ November 7th ~ Opening of Organ by Edward Mills, Mus.Bac.

1931 ~ December 5th, 14th, 15th ~ First renderings of School Song - OBA Dinner 5th, Speech Days 14th & 15th

1932 ~ January 31st ~ Retirement of Dr J.G. Taylor

1932 ~ Easter ~ Arrival of Mr J.E. Taylor as Head Master

1938 ~ February 3rd ~ Opening of North Extension by Dr Cyril Norwood

1939 ~ September 1st ~ Evacuation to Godalming

1940 ~ August 2nd ~ Opening of 'Lockites'

1940 ~ September 17th ~ Explosion of bomb at Battersea High Street

1940 ~ December 19th ~ First Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Godalming Parish Church

1941 ~ February 1st ~ Recognition of Flight No. 664, ATC

1942 ~ July 24th ~ Death of Dr J.G. Taylor

1945 ~ July 18th, 19th ~ Farewell to Godalming

1945 ~ October 1st ~ Reopening in Battersea

1945 ~ November 14th ~ Thanksgiving Service in the Parish Church

1946 ~ June 2nd ~ War Memorial Service in the Parish Church

1946 ~ September ~ Arrival of Mr J.T. Wharton as Head Master

1947 ~ April 30th ~ Formation of Parents' Association

1949 ~ April 2nd ~ Unveiling of War Memorial Tablet

1950 ~ July 7th-20th ~ Celebrations of 250th Anniversary of Endowment

1951 ~ May 3rd ~ Instrument and Articles of Government as a Voluntary Controlled School

1952 ~ Erection of new West Wing

1952 ~ November ~ First issue of The Sinjun

1954 ~ February 19th ~ Opening of new organ by Sir Ernest Bullock, CVO, Director of the Royal College of Music

1954 ~ September ~ Arrival of Dr W.L. Presswood as Head Master

1955 ~ July ~ Retirement of Mr F.T. Smallwood after forty-four years of service

1957 ~ June 7th ~ First Founder's Day Luncheon

1957 ~ July ~ Retirment of Mr S.W. Broadbent after forty-three years of service

1961 ~ Erection of new Science Block

1961 ~ July ~ Retirement of Mr A.G. Stripp after forty years of service

1964 ~ December ~ Opening of Old Sinjuns' Clubhouse at School Field

1965 ~ April ~ Death of Dr Presswood

1966 ~ January ~ Arrival of Dr P.L.P. Clarke as Head Master

1968 ~ February 10th ~ Unveiling of the Presswood Memorial Window (created by Lawrence) in the School Library

1970 ~ The School acquires the use of Devonshire House

1971 ~ January ~ Arrival of Mr D.W. Tilley as Head Master

1971 ~ May ~ Official Opening of Devonshire House

1974 ~ September ~ Arrival of Mr E.W. Crook as Head Master

1977 ~ September ~ Amalgamation with William Blake School to form the Sir Walter St. John's Comprehensive School. Arrival of new Head Master, Mr J.J. O'Brien

1985 ~ July ~ Retirement of Mr O'Brien

1986 ~ July ~ Closure of Sir Walter St. John's School by merger with Battersea County School to form Battersea Park Comprehensive School

1988 ~ July ~ Closure of buildings at Battersea High Street