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*Richard Todd QC, MA (Oxon), RA. Author of the two leading text books on Family Law in England and co-Editor of Jowitt's Dictionary of English Law.
*Richard Todd QC, MA (Oxon), RA. Author of the two leading text books on Family Law in England and co-Editor of Jowitt's Dictionary of English Law.
*T/Sub-Lieut.John Herbert BABINGTON,GC Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Awarded George Cross for bomb disposal work 27Dec 1940. Headmaster 1947-1956
*T/Sub-Lieut.John Herbert BABINGTON,GC Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Awarded George Cross for bomb disposal work 27Dec 1940. Headmaster 1947-1956
Tony Hall, Founder and censor in chief of RHSA website.


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 21:51, 12 May 2009

Greenwich Hospital,
Royal Hospital for Seamen:
The Royal Hospital School at Holbrook
File:RHS1.JPG
Location
Map
Holbrook
,
Suffolk
,
IP9 2RX

England United Kingdom
Information
TypePublic School

Boarding School

Independent School

Military School

Royal Foundation
MottoReg Hosp Gren

'Celebrating Britain's seafaring heritage through educating young people for the future'

"The Cradle of the Navy"

"Fear God and Honour the King" (Greenwich)

Association: [Otia Tuta] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)

(Template:Lang-la)
Religious affiliation(s)Christian
Established1694 Royal Charter

1712 Greenwich

1933 Holbrook
FounderWilliam and Mary
Local authoritySuffolk
SpecialistIndependent Comprehensive
OfstedReports
HeadmasterHoward Blackett MA (Oxon)
ChaplainRev. Dr. C.E. Stewart PhD. Formerly Chaplain of the Fleet, Royal Navy
Staff72
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrollmentc. 700
Houses11 Boarding Houses

Nelson      

Anson    

Drake  

Raliegh  

St. Vincent  

Collingwood    

Hawke    

Hood    

Cornwallis    

Howe  

Blake  
Colour(s)     
Publication"The Magazine"
School VisitorHRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York
Charitable AssociationGreenwich Hospital
Former PupilsThe Royal Hospital School (and Boreman Boys) Association
Websitehttp://www.royalhospitalschool.org/

The Royal Hospital School, (usually shortened as "RHS" and historically nicknamed "The Cradle of the Navy"[1]), is a British co-educational independent boarding school, the largest in East Anglia and the oldest military school in the United Kingdom. It admits pupils from age 11 to 18 (years 7 to 13) through Common Entrance or the school's own exam. The College of William & Mary, located in the United States, is the sister institution.[2] The school is regulated by Acts of Parliament[3].

It is located in the village of Holbrook, near Ipswich, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom. The school's campus is of Queen Anne style and set in 200 acres (0.81 km2) of countryside, overlooking out the River Stour on the Shotley Peninsula in an area known as Constable Country.

The Royal Hospital School was established by a Royal Charter in 1694. It was originally located near Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, which is now part of London. The school moved in 1933 to East Anglia.

As a Military school, The Royal Hospital School is the oldest and largest military themed school in the United Kingdom among Pangbourne College, Duke of York's Royal Military School, Queen Victoria School, Gordon's School, Welbeck College and the defunct Indefatigable School, Watts Naval School, Royal Naval Asylum and Royal Naval College, Osborne. It is also the largest boarding school in East Anglia.

The Royal Hospital School is the only independent school in the United Kingdom to have ever been continuously granted the Queen's Banner and flies its own Royal Hospital School Blue Ensign, as well as being the only school in the United Kingdom to have the privilege of wearing Royal Navy uniforms.

The school is a public school, affiliated to the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

Overview

The entire student body are cadets of a "Naval Division" via membership of a house, band or guard. Seafaring traditions, are important and integral elements of school life. Royal Navy uniforms (sailor suits) are issued to all pupils used for ceremonial, formal events, chapel services and occasionally for weekday lessons. School uniforms are used during weekday lessons, school travel and non ceremonial events. Uniform inspections are held every day by the house master, school prefects, house prefects and seniors, demanding high standards of maintenance[citation needed]. The Royal Hospital School has historically had a very high percentage of its alumni serving in the Royal Navy, and this heritage is reflected by the school's privilege of earning both a naval ensign and a Royal Banner; it is the only independent school to have ever been given this honour. The school has served as a model for several similar schools, academies and nautical colleges, such as Canadian Coast Guard College.[4]

The school is supported by the Crown naval charity, Greenwich Hospital. As a collective organization, this has one of the largest financial endowments in UK.[citation needed]

Leadership development is another distinctive feature of The Royal Hospital School derived from the naval background. Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines Combined Cadet Force along with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme are the most popular extracurricular activities at the Royal Hospital School. The Combined Cadet Force is unique as it also includes Her Majesty's Coastguard and St. John's Ambulance. HMS Illustrious is affiliated with the CCF.[citation needed]

The front of the main building overlooking the sports pitches

The Royal Hospital School has a partnership with America's second-oldest institution of higher education and "sister institution", The College of William and Mary, Virginia, USA.

The school runs a "six day" week where most Sundays are reserved for ceremonial divisions and formal chapel services.

Several schools share similar historical charitable and or military characteristics with the Royal Hospital School: Pangbourne College, Christ's Hospital, Duke of York's Royal Military School, Queen Victoria School and Gordon's School.

History

The School has been at Holbrook since 1933. The land on which the school is now situated was bequeathed to the school by Gifford Sherman Reade, along with the sum of £1 million. Originally the school was located at Greenwich Hospital and was based in what is now the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London. The Hospital was founded by Royal Charter in 1694 but the school was not formed until 1712.[5][6] The Royal Hospital School at Greenwich was once the largest school for navigation and seamanship.[1] The school was designed by the Birmingham based arts and crafts architect Herbert Tudor Buckland. Most of the buildings are now Grade II listed with the main range and chapel being Grade II*.

Boys of The Royal Hospital School, Greenwich c.1900

The Royal Hospital School at Greenwich was Britain's largest school of navigation and seamanship.[7] It was founded by Royal charter to provide assistance and education to the orphans of seafarers in the Royal and Merchant Navies. Thus, until relatively recently, entry to the school was limited to the children or grandchildren of seafarers. Until the 1950s, boys of the school were also required to join the Royal or Merchant Navies and as such the education was very much maritime focused. However, this requirement has not been in force for some time, but the school has retained certain naval traditions such as Naval uniform, divisions and an element of marching.

Greenwich Hospital

Greenwich Pensioner, 1845

The school was founded by Royal Charter and is maintained by Greenwich Hospital who support a number of pupils with bursaries who demonstrate sufficient charitable need. The school also awards academic, sports, music and sailing scholarships, as well as bursaries to the children of seafarers in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Merchant Navy.[8]

Traditions

Many of the modern day Royal Hospital School traditions are associated with the Royal Navy or seafaring. The school's close ties with Greenwich Hospital are highly respected and valued in school life. "Sunset Ceremonies", marching to dining halls, polishing shoes, daily uniform inspections and Prefects referred to as "Petty Officers" demonstrate strong Naval traditions in daily life.

As well as standard school uniform, pupils wear Naval uniforms for ceremonial occasions such as "Divisions". All boys are issued with Royal Navy junior rate Dress Blues. Until early 2008 Girls were issued with Women's Royal Naval Service Dress Blues. However, all girls now wear Royal Navy Dress Blues.

All house prefects wear a chevron on their left arm.

The School Prefects (approximately 20 Upper 6th Formers) wear chief petty officer ranks and uniform, including canes.

The Deputy Heads of School (one male and one female prefect) carry the rank of Warrant Officer (second class).

The Heads of School (one male and one female prefect) carry the rank of Warrant Officer (first class).

Music

The Royal Hospital School has a distinctive musical tradition, with all pupils required to attend weekly congregation practice on Friday at 8:20 till 8:50 am. The Chapel houses the third largest pipe organ in Europe. [citation needed]

Band

The Royal Hospital School marching band is a perennial part of school life. The band is usually managed by a former member of the Royal Marines Band Service. The band forms a separate division and is the largest division. The Royal Marines Band style is the format of the RHS Band. It has travelled abroad for tours. Heart of Oak, A Life on the Ocean Wave and "Holbrook March" are some of the marches played.

School songs

William and Mary Scholars

William and Mary Scholars is an intercultural exchange programme, celebrating the heritage of the founders. It is for upper sixth formers to study a semester at The College of William and Mary and for a William and Mary graduate to teach at The Royal Hospital School for a year.

Events

  • Burns Night (Upper Sixth Form Only)
  • House Shout
  • Christmas Dinner
  • RHSA Reunion (Sporting Events)
  • Trafalgar Night: Sixth Form dinner in honour of Admiral Lord Nelson.
  • Speech Day: Headmaster's annual "year in review".
  • Remembrance Sunday
  • Royal Hospital School Association Weekend: Royal Hospital School Old Boys & Girls Annual Reunion.
  • Commemoration Sunday: Leavers' Divisions and Chapel Service

Royal Foundation

The Royal Hospital School has some connection with the British Royal Family. The royal connections are principally The Royal Charter, School Visitor, and King's & Queen's Banners. The school's political breadth is shown by both its acknowledgement of its royal connections and its honouring the great republican hero, Admiral Blake, after whom a House is named.

Many members of the Royal Family have involved themselves with the development of the school. Queen Mary's involvement with the Royal Hospital School is noted as "the darling object of her life".[9]

Houses (Divisions)

All 11 Houses or Divisions, at the Royal Hospital School are named in honour of a famous seafarer.

The boarding houses and colours:

Boys

West Side

East Side

Girls

West Side

East Side

Upper Sixth

Holbrook Coastguard

The Holbrook Coastguard, founded in 1996, has a fully operational watch station and CRV, affiliated with Her Majesty's Coastguard. The area the team covers stretches from the Dry Dock in Ipswich to Shotley and then from Shotley to the White Bridge at Manningtree, but often operate in the Wrabness area with the neighbouring team.

Holbrook Coastguard is unique since, in term-time, it is run entirely by students. While there is a student-operated coastguard in Scotland and Wales, it is the only one of its kind in England. There is a student in charge elected every year but there are adult team members who are in control during the school holidays. The student team has members aged 14–18.

Royal Hospital School Association

Founded in 1925 as the Greenwich Royal Hospital School Old Boys Association. In 1992 the name changed to the Royal Hospital School Association (RHSA) in order to accommodate female ex-pupils, and it now has a world wide membership of over 3,000.[citation needed]

Notable ex-pupils

  • Admiral Arthur Phillip - founder of Sydney, Australia and the Governor of the first European colony on the continent (NSW)
  • Admiral Sir Phillip King Enright (1894-1960)
  • Major General Jasper Baker, CB, CBE - Director of Ordnance Services and Commandant RAOC, 1932 - 1945. (1877-1964)
  • Admiral Sir Henry Felix Woods, Pasha, (1843-1929) - Admiral in the Turkish Navy
  • Vice Admiral Sir Benjamin C.S. Martin, KBE, DSO - Commanded HMS Dorsetshire when she fired the torpedoes that sank the German battleship Bismarck. (1891-1957)
  • Air Vice Marshall Desmond Hall, CB, CBE, AFC (1925-?)
  • Rear Admiral Stanley McArdle, GM (1922- 2007)
  • Don Topley - (Essex CCC and coach of Zimbabwe)
  • Peter Richards (Rugby, England, Gloucester and London Irish)
  • Captain Thomas Henry Tizard (1839-1924) - Oceanographer, Hydrographic surveyor and Navigator
  • John Deane (1800 – 1884) and Charles Deane - inventors of the diving helmet, and discoverers of the wreck of the Mary Rose in 1839, whilst clearing the wreck of the Royal George.
  • Professor Bernard de Neumann (1943- ) – Mathematician
  • Commander Harry Pursey MP (1891–1980) - Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull East 1945-70
  • Captain Oswald Tuckv (1876-1950) – Naval Chaplain and Instructor
  • Malcolm Douglas Cooper (1947-2001) - British marksman who won Olympic gold medals at Los Angeles and Seoul and beat or equalled 15 world records
  • Henry Davenport Sarratt (1828-1899)- Navigator, Royal Navy, Command of the Royal Yacht which brought Princess Alexandra from Denmark to marry the Prince of Wales
  • Duncan Scott-Ford (1921-1942) executed for treason.
  • The Brazilian footballer Pelé spent a brief period at the school as an exchange student in 1956.
  • Lieutenant Colonel Richard Cantelo FRCA RAMC Consultant Adviser in Anaesthetics to the Director General Army Medical Services
  • Richard Todd QC, MA (Oxon), RA. Author of the two leading text books on Family Law in England and co-Editor of Jowitt's Dictionary of English Law.
  • T/Sub-Lieut.John Herbert BABINGTON,GC Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Awarded George Cross for bomb disposal work 27Dec 1940. Headmaster 1947-1956

References

  1. ^ a b The Royal Hospital School gallery : On display : Exhibitions : What's on : Visit the museum : NMM
  2. ^ "Greenwich Hospital School: A Brief History of The Royal Hospital School". Mariners. March 5, 2003. Retrieved February 9, 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Greenwich Hospital Act 1865
  4. ^ Greenwich Royal Hospital School 1
  5. ^ "A Brief History of The Royal Hospital School", Bernard de Neumann, The City University, London
  6. ^ Royal Hospital School Association
  7. ^ http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/on-display/the-royal-hospital-school-gallery
  8. ^ "2009/2010 Fees"
  9. ^ "http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/GreenwichRoyal.html

Literature

  • Desmond, Morris. "The Royal Hospital School Holbrook 1933-1993," United Kingdom.
  • McClean, David. "Education and Empire: Naval Tradition and England's Elite Society," British Academic Press, I. B. Tauris (January 15, 1999), ISBN 1860642950
  • Newell, Phillip. "Greenwhich Hospital: A Royal Foundation 1692-1983," United Kingdom.
  • Turner, H.D. The Cradle of the Navy: The Story of the Royal Hospital School at Greenwhich and at Holbrook, 1694-1988, William Sessions Limited of York, United Kingdom, 1990, ISBN 1-85072-077-0
  • Waldie, Paul. "Ghosts and Kippers: Schoolboy Memories, from the Royal Hospital School, Greenwich," United Kingdom.

See also

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