A matter of Principal…
It’s been quite a busy month for us in terms of alumni visits, with no less than five groups of visitors coming to York St John during September for either a campus tour, a visit to the Heritage Room, or both.
Last week, we were delighted to welcome Debbie to York St John. Debbie had traveled over from the state of New York, in the United States of America, with part of her visit focused on retracing some key family history.
Debbie finds a picture of her Grandfather in the Heritage Room
When I first walked down to our main reception to meet Debbie, all I knew was that we had a visitor who was keen on having a look in our Heritage Room, not an unusual request for many visiting alumni, but Debbie is not one of our former students. Instead, Debbie was here to see what she could find about her Grandfather, who we soon discovered was Rev H Walker, Principal of St Johns College from 1908 – 1935. It’s not every day we have the granddaughter of one of our former Principals walking through the door.
Once we got to the Heritage Room, it didn’t take long at all to find a picture of Principal Walker, much to Debbie’s delight there he was, on one of our main display tables, sitting alongside the College football team of 1931-32. (it was customary in these times for the Principal to be included in team photos) Debbie’s association with York St John it turned out, stretched slightly closer down the family tree than just her Grandfather. Back in the earlier half of the 20th century, the main place of residence for the then Principal was right here on campus, Principal’s house, as it was back then, is what is now the McGregor building, just off the Quad. As this was where Principal Walker lived for almost 30 years, it also happened to be where Debbie’s Mother grew up and spent her childhood. It is no great surprise then that our campus holds such a special place in Debbie’s family history.
Rev H Walker, Principal of St John’s College, from 1908 – 1935
Before Debbie left we spent some time looking through Gordon McGregor’s book, ‘Life More Abundant’, to read up on some of the years for which Principal Walker was at the helm of York St John. We didn’t get a chance to look through all of, but Debbie left with a copy to read at her leisure, and share some more of her family history with other family members back home in New York.
It’s always a real honour when we have the chance to meet people who have strong associations with York St John, whether they’re former students of staff members, or whether they’re people with strong family ties to the campus like Debbie, our visitors always have great stories to share, and we love hearing them.
If you’d like to arrange a visit to our Heritage Room, you’re very welcome. The room is locked when not in use, and it is usually best to arrange an appointment in advance so as not to be disappointed if no-one is available to facilitate your visit.
Thank you Debbie for taking the time to visit and to chat with us.
I came across this writing by John Maw about the time Rev. Walker took over from Rev. Nottingham:
St. John’s College, York around the year of 1907
By 1907 the name of the College had changed from the York Diocesan Training College to St. John’s College, York. As the biggest of the Diocesan Colleges its increased numbers allowed for a broader curriculum to be taught.
ln the year 1907 to 1908 Principal Nottingham was ill and incapacitated for most of the time. ln June of 1908, at the age of 40, he was forced to resign the Principalship. He had led a successful reformation of the College most courageously but at high personal cost. Vice-Principal the Revd. H. Walker was appointed to succeed Nottingham and he immediately improved facilities by providing lights in the Students’ Common Rooms, improvements to the Fives Courts and by having a gravel path constructed in the lnner Quadrangle.
A strong religious environment prevailed with regular attendance at Chapel services being required and with religion permeating the curriculum. At the same time the College had acquired a considerable reputation in playing Rugby and Association Football, cricket, rowing, tennis, cross country running, swimming and fives.
ln their free time students enjoyed a lively social life within the College where a range of ‘pranks’ prevailed. Visits into York were possible but the regulations surrounding them were strict in terms of dress, behaviour and length of absence.
The College continued to move forward for the next twenty-five years under the direction and leadership of Principal Walker.
J.E. Maw (Honorary Fellow)