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in finding out about their families. One of the
more recent requests was by Nic Sansom for
details of his father John Frank Sansom born
in 1926 and therefore arrived at Stationers'
circa 1937. In recent time our archivist David
Turner has been busy answering queries of
such a kind.
The magazines that exist from about 1914 to
about 1954 have been almost continuous,
even termly, in including a section on
'Welcome' and 'Farewell' even during wartime
apart from the odd issue in 1939-1942.
However, some bright spark on the editorial
board, circa 1955, decided that the list of new
pupils was not important and decided not to
include them. Perusing the December
magazines from 1955 to 1960 there is not one
list of pupils for the new entry in the September
of those years, a tradition that had been
always a significant part of the magazines for
over forty years!
Shame on that misguided individual or was it
a collective decision; but an individual must
have proposed the idea!!
Finding out a quick answer as to when a
former pupil was at Stationers', the 'Welcome'
and 'Farewell' lists were, and still are the most
used and therefore the most important parts
of the magazines. Only recently we had a
request for information by C.J.Kershaw about
his father J.B.Kershaw, born on 12.8.1900.
Well, it is not too difficult to work out that
CJK joined Stationers' in 1911 or thereabouts
and left in about 1916. No magazines
available till 1914, but except for the
'Welcome' list they would not have been
significant in tracking down this lad.
However, if any Stationer excelled at sport,
football, athletics, cricket or swimming and or
if not, appeared on an academic list
particularly in the fourth and fifth years, not
too many stayed on to the sixth in those days,
their names are etched on the hallowed pages
of the School Magazine. Such is the case of
John Brian Kershaw, who had an illustrious
career in the field of sport, who was 'Victor
Ludorum' obviously excelling in athletics in
his time at Stationers', and a first eleven
footballer. There are many references to him in
magazines of 1915 and 1916. “I have the
plaque exactly as the stained glass shown on
your website, so I know he went to Stationers'.
The plaque is for 'SPORTS Championship
1916 J.B.KERSHAW'. I will photograph the
plaque'. Are there any pupil records available
of J.B.Kershaw?” Regards C.J.Kershaw. Ed.
TWo oLD STATioNERS' FAMiLiES uNiTED... BY MARRiAGE!
In what is not without precedent (*see footnote), the families of
Old Stationers John Macara (1928-1938) and Andrew Forrow
(1960-1967) were this year brought together by the marriage of
John's granddaughter, Beccy, and Andy's son, Duncan. The
wedding took place in a civil ceremony conducted at Devonshire
Square in the City of London on September 14th2013. For those
who know the City, the venue is one of many restored warehouse
buildings to be found, down New Street or Cutler Street,
between Liverpool Street station on Bishopsgate and the historic
Spitalfields Market.
The Wedding Venue
Devonshire Square has fascinating history. In 1768, the East
India Company bought land on New Street for warehousing. Its
first building stored raw silk, piece goods and textiles from
Bengal. Further parcels of land were acquired and more
warehouses constructed right up until 1820. By then, the famous
old trading company owned most of the area and property that
the Devonshire Square Estate occupies today.
When the East India Company's trade monopoly to China
ended in the 1830s, the complex of warehouses was sold to the
St Katharine Dock Company.
The most valuable goods were stashed in the Cutler Street
warehouses, where the forbidding fortress-like walls and the
fireproof construction afforded excellent protection. Ostrich
feathers, chinaware, oriental carpets, cigars, tortoiseshell, silks,
mother of pearl, clocks, watches, cameras, drugs, spices, musical
instruments, perfumes, tea and other-prized artefacts were stored
here. (All sorts of useful commodities for Old Stationers'
gatherings we expect)
At one time, Cutler Street was the premier tea warehouse for the
Port of London Authority. But by the 1950s, most of the tea
business had been moved to the London Dock, and the space
was given over to casks of wine, port and sherry. (Again, highly
regarded by most Old Stationers!)
The Happy Couple
The lovely Bride was born in Buckinghamshire and attended
Chesham High School for Girls before enjoying her University
education at the University of Sheffield. Her Degree has led her
to her current position as Research Manager for a leading
educational charity, the Hansard Society, which works in the UK
and around the world to promote democracy and strengthen'
parliaments. This is where Beccy organises events and projects to
increase the understanding of political institutions, especially
among young people.
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