Pilling by Merry

Ernest Pilling was born in 1895 at Newton Heath, north east of the city of Manchester. Early documents record that after leaving Manchester University in 1917, Pilling commenced teaching at Manchester Grammar School. The venerable Old Hall Lane institution with it's "Sapere Aude" (Have the Courage to Think) motto seems to have proved a fertile breeding ground for Pilling's ambitions and it was at this time that he surely came to the notice of S. B. Hartley, a Magdalene scholar and ex MGS pupil who had returned to his old school to teach Classics. In all likelihood they first became friends playing cricket for MGS's alumni and old boys team and this friendship thrived when they discovered a mutual interest in music, Pilling it seems, leaning towards opera and Hartley, an enthusiastic pianist and composer. There must have been many discussions regarding the future of education between the two. Pilling, although a disciplinarian, could understand Hartley's views on interacting with pupils and providing support for boys who perhaps due to social pressures, could not rely upon their own parents for assistance and advice. He agreed with Hartley's approach but also felt that
discipline should not be neglected.

Hartley was beginning to attract national attention with his radical views regarding the teachers role in education at this time and after he met Hilda Johnstone, a Professor of History at Manchester University at a gathering, she spoke with the Rev. Canon Claude Jenkins, Head of the History Department at Kings College about Hartley's ideas. Jenkins probably invited Hartley to speak at Kings early in 1919 and Hartley traveled south and addressed an enthusiastic audience sometime during the spring of that year. He talked of his philosophy, doubtlessly addressed the necessity of building relationships with pupils and acting as a mentor rather than the prevailing trend of the day, which was control by discipline. Present at the event was Augustus Hickley, a prominent member of Chelmsford Star Co-operative, a Methodist elder who thought like Hartley and who wielded some influence in the country's educational circles at the time.

In 1920 when plans were being formed to open a new boys school in the Romford area, Hickley it seems, spoke with friends at the Government Board of Education and suggested that Hartley be considered for the post of first Headmaster. Hartley was interviewed at Chelmsford in December 1920 and two weeks later the powers that be offered him the post officially. Before accepting the position, Hartley requested that he be able to name his own assistant, and after hearing of Pilling's qualifications, no objections seemed to have been raised by the Board. In January of 1921 the two men submitted their resignations to MGS as of the end of the school year ( July 1921). In mid July they traveled south to take up their new positions. By bringing Pilling with him, Harley was ensuring a more traditional disciplinarian was his deputy which would offset any repercussions resulting from any lapses in his own philosophy.

There must have been an enormous amount of work to do before the official opening of the school in November. One of the first problems would have been when Hartley decided that the school should be called The Romford Royal Liberty Grammar School for Boys while the Government Board of Education insisted that the name was Romford County High School for Boys. This issue it seems, was resolved before the opening ceremony, although according to comments made later, Hartley and the President of the BOE, Henry Fisher did discuss the matter privately during the morning of the inaugural day.

According to Pilling, Hartley engaged in spirited correspondence with anyone who disagreed with his designating the school "Royal Liberty".
There is a story concerning a letter from Albert Illingworth, who was Postmaster General at the time, which seems to have chastised Hartley for appropriating the word "Royal" in the schools title. He wrote "it has been bought to my attention by Postal officials that your establishment uses the word "Royal" in its name. It is my duty to ask you if a charter was granted allowing you this privilege?" It's said that Hartley's reply was "sharp and to the point", telling Illingworth that the lands on which the school stood had indeed been a "Royal Liberty" in Henry VIII's reign and therefore the school had every right to utilize the name.

We are told that Hartley and Pilling it's recorded, attended Church on November 6th, 1921 and "Gave thanks to God for providing us with the opportunity to teach at the new Royal Liberty School". The School had actually opened and accepted pupils since November 1st, however, the official opening ceremony took place on November 9th and the Liberal Member of Parliament H. A. L. Fisher, President of the Board of Education opened the school at that time. He was reportedly accompanied by Sir Amherst Selby-Bigge, the Permanent Secretary to the Board, and Pilling spent quite some time that afternoon begging and pleading for additional supplies, which were in short supply after the 1st World War. Selby-Bigge explained to Pilling that the Board of Education, was established in 1899 from earlier bodies. The board however, never actually met, and the President acted in all respects as Minister of Education. The board's activity covered only England and Wales and most education was actually run by local education authorities, part of borough and county borough councils. It was established in 1902, and the board has supervisory powers only. He did however, promise to "assist in whichever way possible" and it appeared to Pilling that Selby-Bigge "was going to be of great help in the near future in allowing the new RLS to function smoothly with all of the necessary tools."

Pilling's tasks, in addition to his responsibilities for English and Religion, included recruiting young men to teach at Royal Liberty. It appears that in August of 1921 he met Paul Nash, the surrealist, who was convalescing in Romford where he had been a map-reading instructor during 1916. It's likely that he asked Nash if he would be interested in teaching Art at RLS and it seemed for a while that Nash might take the job. However in October of that year he returned to London and later joined the Royal College of Art as an assistant. Pilling seems to have been undaunted. There were many ex military men who were desperate for teaching jobs and by 1923, the school was already making a name for itself both as an institute of learning and a budding power in the sports field.

It was in June of 1925 while they were both playing cricket for Gidea Park that Hartley asked Pilling to undertake yet another mission. This was to liaise with the local education authorities and generally push for any additional help outside of the regular boundaries that the school could get.

Pilling met and seems to have cultivated the friendship of Charles Rhys, the National Liberal MP who had won a Military Cross for service in France in 1917. Rhys probably provided Pilling with introductions to influential citizens in the Romford area and Pilling made sure that they were invited to events at the school and encouraged to send their sons to be educated there.

In 1926 Ken Farnes who was to become one the greatest fast bowlers for England, Essex, and Cambridge University in the years before the Second World War, joined RLS and was taken under the wing of Hartley and Pilling, both cricket enthusiasts. Pilling talked of watching Farnes play at Reed Pond Walk, which he describes as `behind the Raphael's tennis courts'. This is where it's said that Farnes began his cricket career. The masters encouraged Farnes efforts and soon had him playing with the Gidea Park side, of which they were both regulars.

By 1930 RLS was well established and considered as a viable second choice to Brentwood School. In fact, as Pilling so succinctly stated "and our lad's wear caps. The Liberty motto is "Semper Procedens" (which I need not translate) while the boater bunch at Brentwood can only boast "Virtue, Learning and Manners" in English. Perhaps we are more of the Public School than they." From various sources it seems that Pilling was very happy doing what he did and one gets the idea that he enjoyed his liaison duties perhaps more than teaching.

Through the 30's, RLS's reputation grew, as it sent more and more of its pupils on to University. Honors were published in the annual Speech Day program and every year the number and luster of the awards increased. The schools athletes now traveled far and wide to meet any challenger. They played against amateur sides and junior university XI's and on one occasion according to Pilling "thrashed the Essex Regiment's football team on their home pitch at Colchester". In 1939 when war broke out the school suffered an exodus of pupils and teachers who went to join the armed forces. Those that remained were either to old to fight or who were prohibited from doing so due to illness or injury. Pilling we learn, at 46 volunteered for the Home Guard but was turned down due to "the importance of providing education and leadership to our young men" as we so aptly learn from notes made during the later months of that year.

From all events and circumstances it appears that about this time Pilling was "recruited" by Charles Rhys. Rhys, the ex MP, was now with the Auxiliary Units, as they were known. These super-secret groups were to stay behind when civilian populations were evacuated should the Germans invade England. They would hide in specially constructed underground bunkers, which were dotted around the country. Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex alone contained over 300 of these bunkers. After training at Coleshill House in Highworth (Wiltshire), Pilling was assigned to a sub-Patrol under Leader Keith Seabrook who was based in Brentwood. There were three bunkers and about 18 men under his command. All had been recruited by Rhys and Seabrook and none were professional military men. They were chosen for their unquestioned loyalty and their ability to get things done with a minimum of fuss. There is little information from Pilling regarding the Units. It seems they were so secret that the records regarding their activities have still to be released. Pilling did say that they were "authorized by the highest authority to carry out sabotage to German communications, destroy or immobilize vehicles and even to "execute collaborators if so instructed'." There are only two recorded events regarding this phase of Pilling's life and both are brief and apart from the basic information, somewhat lacking in detail.

At RLS, Pilling seems to have thrown himself into preparing trenches and enforcing air raid drills at the school. He met frequently with Romford authorities and was instrumental in bringing experts to the school to talk to the boys about various subjects involving the war. He played an active part in planning the menu's for the School Dinners as we find from notes dated Monday March 9th, 1942. The week's menu was "Monday boiled potatoes, boiled cabbage, cheese pie, Spotted Dick. Tuesday Sausages with Mash and boiled greens, Baked sultana cake. Wednesday Haddock, mashed potatoes, baked beans, jelly. Thursday Pea Pure pancakes with turnip mash and green beans, Prune Pudding.. Friday Mock sausages, macaroni, cabbage, mock date pudding. He writes of `making sure the boys had their Virol', which seems to have been some kind of vitamin. The first Americans had arrived in Britain in January and the Blitz was intensifying. In the desert, Rommel's forces were advancing on Tobruk in a counter attack. Pilling mentioned to a friend on March 22nd ".. yesterday the wife had to queue up for two hours and managed to get a pound of cooking apples and two oranges. We spent yesterday night in the Anderson and didn't get any sleep. Helped move along the knitting of my newpullover however!"

Piling at these times was very upbeat and spoke often of happenings at the school and around the district. There seems to be significant gaps in Pilling's routine for a couple of days each month. These are explained by notes referring to "out on camping trip for two (or four) days". These `Camping Trips' seem to occur every month on or about the 23rd or 24th, whichever was a weekend, perhaps these were the periods when Pilling was training in the Auxiliaries. Later that year on July 5th, Pilling recorded "There was " a grand concert in Raphael's Park given by a band from the Royal Air Force. I believe that all of Romford and Gidea Park turned out to hear the music".

By 1943 things had started to improve as far as the war was concerned. Pilling met with "young Ralph Bennett who does something hush hush at a place called Bletchley in Buckinghamshire. He was down here to see the Head who he had followed to Cambridge". Bennett was with the Enigma project as we learned after the war and was an admirer of Hartley who had encouraged him to attend Cambridge. From this information it seems that even someone who was involved in secret activities apparently had no knowledge of the secrets of others.

Although the war news was better, the food situation was still poor. Milk was provided, whenever available, for pupils and occasionally, when real sugar was available, the cooks were able to produce meringues. Otherwise the various pies, puddings etc. were produced using sugar beet. In May of 1943 the Dam Busters dropped their bombs and a newspaper cutting boasts large headlines proclaiming "German Dam's breached". In June, Churchill met with Roosevelt in Casablanca and in July Mussolini was deposed. In November Stalin met with them in Tehran where Overlord, the invasion of France, was discussed. On December 6th a cryptic note attributed to Pilling records "Seabrook said that Rhys called to say no more uncomfortable weekends – Thank God for that!", probably a reference to the Auxiliary Units being stood down around that time and Pilling's relief at not having to rough it any more.

By 1944 there was little doubt that the allies were winning the war. In June came the invasion of France and the following year, victory over both Germany and Japan. By 1946 people were trying to forget the war but rationing continued and even bread was included due to a very bad harvest. Bread rationing continued we learn from Pilling "through 1948." In 1954, with meat finally becoming more available rationing ended in England. Pilling mentioned in August of 1946 that his wife was often able to `pick up a little extra' by arriving early at Romford Market on a Wednesday morning.

One difference that the end of the war made to RLS was that there were now thousands of ex-servicemen attending teaching colleges throughout the UK. Many of the men had been at university before and during the war and now it was over, were ready to enter the field of education. Pilling seems to have been the interviewer for these candidates and the resulting hires accurately reflected the philosophy of both Harley and Pilling and the direction in which RLS would sail in the future.

It must have been about this time that Hartley first mentioned to Pilling his intentions to retire from the Headmastership in the not to distant future. Hartley was about sixty six in 1946 and had been with RLS since day one. Pilling must have thought that his chances of succeeding Hartley were high, after all he had been the strength behind the throne and had a better working knowledge of the school and the politics involved in running it, than anyone. As 1946 ended then, Pilling could face the future confident that his highest ambitions might well be realized in the next 24 months.

(The contents of this essay were a result of the examination and interpretation of documents, books, papers and letters. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents accurately reflect the happenings, there is no sure way of determining if the events depicted herein took place in the order they are set out, or if indeed, these events did actually take place as described. It is impossible to predict what a subject thinks in any situation and to prophesize why certain actions were taken. It falls to the historian to use available materials to propose their best analysis of a situation and this missive does just that, no more. The contents, far rom being portrayed as a definitive history, should be viewed as the author's view of what he believed occurred.)

Ernest Pilling - The final 13 years.

It was 1946. The British classic film "Great Expectations" Starring John Mills and Valerie Hobson had just been released and perhaps this title, more than anything, summed up Ernie Pilling's hopes at the end of that year.
In January, shortly after the school returned from the Christmas holidays, Gus Hartley had told Ernie he would be leaving Royal Liberty within the next 18 months or so. Naturally Ernie thought that he might well be given a shot at the Headmasters job. He'd served Gus faithfully since 1921, some 25 years and had become the recognized spokesman for the school and its staff and its relations with the various organizations which were responsible to the Ministry of Education for its wellbeing. Gus made it clear to Ernie that the Board of Governors headed by Clive Barney at that time, would be ultimately responsible for the choice of the next headmaster. He also refrained from raising Ernie's hopes about the job. In a diary entry Ernie wrote "GH spoke to me today about the HM job. Said there would be several candidates". That was Ernie's only recorded comment on the matter.
Royal Liberty was starting to change its war-time routine by the middle of the year. The Japanese had finally surrendered and the Nazi leaders had been tried and punished at Nuremberg. Food was still scarce and the dinner menu's did not change much until well into 1947. Few boys wore what was to become the "school uniform" of royal blue blazer, tie and cap. There was insufficient material for this type of luxury and besides, cloth was still not generally available for what was considered "luxuries". In March of 1947, George Henry Reginald Newth was appointed by the Board of Governors to be the next Head Master of Royal Liberty. "Reg" as he was known to the Caesar's who oversaw RLS's wellbeing, was a very well regarded senior math teacher from Giggleswick School who had been recommended to RLS by the Clerk to the Governors, G. Taylor Jones, who had lived in Yorkshire and who had met Newth some years before when he taught at Giggleswick.
It was from his old friend Charles Rhys that Pilling learned that the job he coveted would go to another. Rhys, one of the youngest MP's ever to be elected (he was not yet 25 when he entered the Commons in 1923) was responsible for recruiting Pilling to the Auxiliary Units in 1940, when incidentally, Pilling was almost 47 years old! Rhys was a good friend of George Chaplin, the Mayor of the Borough Council and a long serving Justice of the Peace. Chaplin knew Pilling but told Rhys that he could do little to influence Clive Barney, the Chairman of the Board of Governors in Pilling's favor. Barney thought that Ernie was just to old for the job, 54 at the time. Thus, the honor fell to Reg Newth and his ascetic reign of 15 years would outlast Ernie who eventually retired on July 22nd 1960. In a diary entry for July 7th 1947, Ernie recorded " Seems that we who are close to being OAP's are no longer in favor at Mercury House" .
As 1947 progressed, the school started to expand again. It enjoyed a sterling reputation in the area and the input of new boys in September that year saw a better nourished boy than had been seen for quite some time. The population of Romford was growing at that time also and had reached almost seventy thousand as 1948 came around. New Masters began to arrive. Some of them had served in the armed forces during the war and we are different breed from the pre-war men who were now nearing retirement age.
New blood in the way of teaching staff and a new Headmaster, a strict disciplinarian. Under these circumstances the boys were "encouraged" to behave themselves.
By '48, it had became obvious that Ernie Pilling's role as go-between was ending. GHRN himself took up the task of liaison with the Governors and local authorities. An enthusiastic Rotary member, though bothered with an ill-repaired hair lip, Reg Newth was a much sort after speaker at local events.
Pilling took up his new responsibilities as GHRN's "enforcer" with gusto. He still attended the football and cricket matches and enjoyed a pint with the local gentry but at the school he ruthlessly enforced Newth's policy of "strike fear into them and they will bend to your ways". Ernie had served Gus Hartley faithfully and still counted Hartley amongst his closest friends. He would often stop by the Edwards Rd. house to see his old boss and check on how he was doing. Even after he left the school in '60, Ernie would stay in touch. A diary entry for July 1962 records "Gus's 80th birthday today, we had a glass of sherry together".
Pilling stayed in touch with the Auxiliaries. They would meet each November in London and talk over their experiences. Because the organization had been (and indeed still is) somewhat secret) he never mentioned this at RLS. Hartley knew of course, he had had to approve Ernie's absences during the war years. However no other staff member and certainly not GHRN, every had an idea that Ernie had volunteered for a very dangerous band of men.
Under Newth, and as he grew into his late '50's , Ernie's patience wore thin. He was shorter with pupils and seemed to lose a good deal of his sense of humor at times. The type of boy that Pilling was used to was also changing. After the ware a new class of pupil started to attend RLS and for good or for bad, over the next 20 years these pupils went from blind obedience to having a very clear idea of their own aims. A glance at the school Punishment Book, with its columns and columns of GHRN initials, was occasionally interrupted by groups of "EP". There might be four or five on one day and then nothing more until the familiar "GHRN" appeared again some days later. These were the days when Newth was away, meeting possibly with local authorities or visiting the Navy at Portsmouth in his official capacity as an interviewer for would-be officers. One memorable day there are thirteen, yes thirteen entries for punishment with a total of 37 strokes of the cane. That indeed is a record as Newth's one day record was seven punishments of one stroke each.
Ernie continued though to support the RLS Old Boys teams and could still be found every Saturday afternoon at the Gallows Corner Pavilion or at RLS Saturday mornings, if one of the XI's had a game. He would watch the games and then sit with a group in the bar and tell amusing stories of his times at RLS, especially those before and during the war. His jokes about the food and its preparation would leave his audience in tears at time and with his Yorkshire accent the telling of the most simple story would bring out laughs.
Ernie remained proud of his school and its achievements and was always available to speak with returning pupils. He actively supported discipline by the corps of Prefects and along with Newth, made sure that Head Boys were selected for their all round abilities and agreement with school policies.
While not active in dramatics, Ernie could always be found prowling around during rehearsals. He would enter the stage through the door opposite the geography room and stand at the bottom of the wooden stairs sniffing the air. Woe on anyone who had lit up a Woodbine! Ernie would be under the stage and moving props around until he found the culprit! Then it was off the Head's study and a couple of strokes of the cane. Ernie was definitely not one for handing out lines.
In 1952 the Spring Shakespeare play was "King Lear" Produced by J. R. Fox, it was an ambitious production and chest upon chest of costumes and other props arrived at RSL a week before the dress rehearsal of March 24th. When the first chest was opened after school on the 17th, it revealed a collection of medieval weapons that made every boy's eyes light up. Naturally enough several sword fights ensued and it was probably the noise of clashing blades that drew Ernie from his Room 7 down the corridor to find out what was going on. He arrived at the same time as Bert Pead and the repercussions were swift. Ernie lashed out with slaps to the ear which were quite indiscriminate. Within fifteen seconds all the weapons were back in the chest and there were at least half a dozen very red cheeks and ears being sported by the cast. He took no future action because at that moment Mr. Fox arrived. Ernie mumbled something to Fox and took off down the corridor. Bert stayed and explained what had happened and Fox was not pleased. He was angry at the boys and from what they could gather, he was not happy with Ernie for lashing out at everyone for something that only a few were involved with. However, the incident was not mentioned again and that play was a great success.
At the RLS Old Boys club Ernie would often tell the story of the Ashes matches in August of 1953. The school was enjoying its annual summer holidays and Ernie was fortunate to get tickets for the final at the Oval. As Ernie would explain, the series was level so the match was extended to six days to make sure a result was forthcoming. Australia batted first and were soon in trouble, but thanks mainly to Lindwall and Hassett they recovered to make 275 all out. A last wicket partnership for England helped them pass Australia's total and achieve a 31 run lead. Lock then took 5 wickets and Laker 4 as Australia were bowled out for only 162 leaving very little to defend. England won the match and the series by 2 wickets, Edrich top scoring with 55. It was the first time in 19 years that England had won the Ashes. Bedser who's 39 wickets was also an Ashes record for a series. Pilling said that when Denis Compton hit the winning run, the whole ground came to its feet cheering. He described it as the most emotional sporting event he had ever seen, although he qualified that by saying the RLS Old Boys cup final victory over ICH Old Boys at Dartford in 1951 also held a place in his heart.
As the 50's progressed the school changed again. Now the Masters that entered had better qualifications than those who arrived shortly after the war. Educational standard were changing also and it became harder and harder for the older Masters to grasp that things were changing for the good. Younger teachers encouraged boys to question statements made by the staff. This was to encourage discussion and therefore understanding. However Ernie, as he records in his diary felt that this was somewhat disrespectful. His entry of November 23rd 1958 says "Told 5G that Bridge over River Kwai showed all the best characteristics of British soldier. They did not agree. Found this very annoying".
In 1959 Ernie turned 66 years old. At the end of the summer term of that year he spoke personally to Newth and told him that 1960 would be his last year at RLS and that he wanted to retire. A diary entry of July 7th 1959 records "Spoke to Reg today and told him that next year would be my last".
Much as he hated to leave the school where he had spent the past 38 years, he knew that the time had come to turn over the reins to a younger man.
On July 22nd 1960, Ernest Pilling retired from RLS after a distinguished career spanning almost 40 years. He went home to Chalfont Drive that afternoon knowing that when he walked through the gates of the school the next time, it would be as a visitor and not as a respected and feared Master.
I have been unable to find any records of Ernest Pilling final years. I wonder if anyone can cast some light on them? (The first part of this essay was posted as number 26066 on the 23rd of October 2003.

Mike Merry

(The contents of this essay were a result of the examination and interpretation of documents, books, papers and letters. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents accurately reflect the happenings, there is no sure way of determining if the events depicted herein took place in the order they are set out, or if indeed, these events did actually take place as described. It is impossible to predict what a subject thinks in any situation and to prophesize why certain actions were taken. It falls to the historian to use available materials to propose their best analysis of a situation and this missive does just that, no more. The contents, far from being portrayed as a definitive history, should be viewed as the author's view of what he believed occurred.)

Congatulations to Mike Merry on an absorbing series of stories on Pip Pilling. Although I thought I knew a fair amount about the history I never was aware that Pip was a candidate for Headmaster.
One or two other stories- Pilling was gassed in WW1 and continually suffered problems with his chest.
He had an attractive daughter but he kept her well away from RLS lads.
There was a tortoise in the quad that on the night I was leaving school (to join the army next day) I painted the words "PIP" on the shell. I never knew what happened the the poor animal thereafter. I believe Bert Pead was amused.
Once I was playing in a school cricket match and Pip was umpiring. I had the batsman clearly caught behind first ball but Pip declined to raise his finger saying without hesitation or apology that he gave nobody out first ball! (Bernard Coe)

Posting from around 2000 by MJM: When I left the school in '56 I became a member of the Old Boys. I played football and after the matches at the Eastern Avenue ground we would get together in the bar. Ernie Pilling was often there and we would have a conversation over a beer. He was nothing like the Ernie I remembered as a pupil, nothing at all. He would talk without being sarcastic and was a perfectly normal person, a far cry from the relationship between pupil and schoolmaster. (Mike Merry)