Devonport High School for Boys is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2021.
Founder Alonzo J Rider opened his new school, Devonport High School for Boys – incorporating the Stoke Naval and Civil Service School – on January 16 1896, in a building at the top of Albert Road in Stoke which he had purchased for £3500.
Mr Rider was no stranger to education, or the area, as he had previously been headmaster of Stoke Public Elementary School. He retired in 1906 when the local education authority bought it in a reorganisation of secondary education.
He didn’t go far though, as his home adjoined the school and that is where he passed away 100 years ago in 1921. He kept a close eye on his school and was Chair of Governors until his death.
In one of his final speeches he expressed his paternal pride in Devonport High which he had founded 22 years previously. Many parents had no confidence in this municipal school and consequently transferred their sons to alternative ones!
By 1913, the subsequent headmaster, Mr A F Treseder, proudly announced that Devonport High School for Boys was now the largest boys’ school affording secondary education in the three towns of Devonport, Stonehouse and Plymouth.
Mr Treseder retired in 1932 and to this day is the longest serving head of Devonport High. It was said that he rarely smiled but did his best!
Cue the next headmaster – HATS! Mr HAT Simmonds became the third headmaster, in 1933 at the age of 33 and made his mark by introducing the school blazer!
By 1940 the school had grown to 700 boys, from only 94 in 1906 at the time of the local education authority takeover. On May 14 1941, following the March and April air raids, the school was evacuated to Penzance – although some pupils opted to attend the Emergency High School within Sutton High School.
School did not resume in Plymouth until the September 10 1945 – in a new home. Local philanthropist Albert (Archie) Ballard had paid £10,000 for the empty Stoke Military Hospital and gifted it to Plymouth for educational use.
Beverley Kinsella, who is co-ordinating plans to celebrate the anniversary, said:
“Just last week a pupil from this period told me how excited all the boys were to be going to their new building and how impressed they were by the colonnade which is 165.5 metres long and linked by 41 arches.”
She said that tentative plans were being made for a celebration later this year.
Those interested should register at www.dhsb125.co.uk She would also love to hear any DHSB memories and see any memorabilia which former pupils may have. Please email Beverley Kinsella at alumni@dhsb.org
