nevill holt school

The Victorians were less Victorian than we imagine. Perhaps he ought not to have done that. Establishment Nevill Holt School URN: 120315 Other independent school Download establishment data This establishment closed on 10 August 1999. That's why they went to the school to confront him with it. WebStable Block At Nevill Holt Hall Preparatory School Media in category "Nevill Holt Hall Stables" The following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. I thought NH was a very strange place and wondered if all boys prep schools were like that. David Phillips taught me cricket ,rugby and soccer very well . In the early years, before I believe young Philips stopped it because of a high rate of injury, playing British Bull Dog on the road behind the wrought iron front gates, was a highlight for me. F.S.P. One night I remember Griz arriving late at night and going into his room opposite. I was only there for a few years but it seemed like much longer and has had a profound effect on my character and life since.Yes, there were good times and some "rose tinted" memories. It is very difficult to believe. The gardens at Nevill Holt contain elements of their 17th-century structure, but were restored in the early-21st century in the form of three walled gardens, including a kitchen garden and an Italianate garden. The house dates originally from the late-13th century. Im pleased to see Karl Popper back in fashion. Ratty (Mr Wraight) was in a car crash during one school holiday period and it was after that he turned violent towards the fabric of the school building and instilled fear into boys like myself who dreaded his approach to evening homework forms during prep. That's what you got at fee paying IAPS schools then. clements you have affected many young lives and should be punished far more than you have been.I feel sad the school is no longer as many good teachers good pupils have been affected by these gross acts. David Phillips was good to me. but I'm afraid when the police were making their enquiries about Clements they turned up real, yes real, evidence against Copas. Like Graham Walker I spent a lot of time with Copas and I liked him a lot.On a walking holiday when sharing a dorm with him in bunk beds, in the middle of the night he asked me to get into his bed. Also having to take nets wearing huge pads on my legs while the boys bowled as hard as they could at any totally unprotected areas - lots of bruises. I returned when it was empty and for sale . recalls her father giving her the answers in advance of a scholarship entrance exam for a girls' school in Oxford. Passing sentence, Judge Peter De Mille told Clements, a married man, of Hove, Sussex, that he had committed a "gross breach of trust" and selected at least two of his victims because they were particularly vulnerable. However, its a beautiful place and I have fond memories too. I remember 2pm as the dreaded hour each dayI have to say I don't recall anything untoward in the behaviour of the teachers during my sentence.stay, but I do remember Mr Moorhouse (he of the jam making company?) I wish them both wellSports day with mother and son egg and spoon race, cricket against a professional side? Miss Crombie was a bit like Miss Danvers in the Daphne du Maurier novel/film; 'Rebecca'. He was a real moster. It's a long story which I won't bore you with but when the police began investigating that nasty shit Clements they turned up a whole load of other stuff. In hindsight though it was thoroughly Dickensian. I find it very hard to reconcile the Copas I remember (kindly, caring, pretty much everything that was good about the school came from him) with some of the comments/innuendo I've read. I remember sharing a den with W.. who used to make his own radios - at prep school - love to know what he is doing now! Im not suprised by the scandal really about the perverts there, I just feel sorry for the children that suffered unbeknown to anyone. I chose not to put my daughter through the same; that gives a flavour of my general experiences! I've chucked it away now. The place was certainly not health and safety central - the swimming pool was a death trap and some of the higher dorms would have been very difficult to exit in a fire, even with the harnesses. That boy was taken down to Copas's place in the village to 'decorate' for him. Nevill Holt Hall is a Grade I-listed building, dating back to around 1400. This was a school which would be impossible to imagine these days. And there were some very peculiar men on the staff though I was unaware of sexual abuse. I remember spending my break and lunchtimes hiding round the back near the stables where I made friends with other sensitive types. I made some excuse but he put me under pressure over the course of a few days.After a few days Deas took me to one side and told me that he was aware of what had happened, that Copas felt terrible about it and it would not happen again. every year, who batted with specially reduced width bats;FSP's green Bentley and the other one with the NH no plateThe gravel being raked every Saturday morning and the smoke of Corby in the distance. I was sexually abused by my music teacher and when my parents complained, nothing was done about it. Nevill Holt lies roughly one mile north of the Northamptonshire border. Mr Moorehouse was eccentric and had me beaten for pulling a chair away from somebody about to sit down .Mr Waite was my favourite teacher ,he drove a Sprite I believe . The model club, of which Mr Wraight (Ratty) was supervising master used to fly this and other craft around the Warren. No I wasn't Miss Pickering I was Miss Viney but I was only there for one term in your first year, so you may not remember me. I was at NH 90-93 and remember it being mean and unforgiving; some fun times but whilst I was not always successful, survival strategy was to keep your head down. Best of all was the wonderful historic architecture which has given me a lifelong interest in history and architecture especially medieval. I was there 86-90. I remember distinctly him getting them to do this to a couple of younger pupils in the boot hut. I'm sorry for the people who were abused. EEC (he with the wooden leg and the terrible old jokes) was an outstanding teacher and was basically the sole reason I gained a Maths scholarship to Uppingham. We reported it to DCSP and Mr Wright disappeared from school. Sadly on the day we went to an opera production, the house was full of sponsors so the tour was not possible, but I did peek in to as many windows as possible! He drove a big Humber. The paths through the estate give you great views of the chapel, stable block and mansion, as well as the beautiful pieces of sculpture that are dotted around the grounds. He picked up one of the older boys and threw him over the top of piano. I will treat any information received in confidence.You can reach me at holtnevill [at] gmail [dot] com, I thank you for being the whistle blower as others do but why did it take 20 years forany of us to pluck up courage ? if you thrive, it is at the expense of some part of your personality that would be better served by remaining with your family. Much fun for us boys, along with his stomach injury ability to burp "Arhbishop of Canterbury" and fart relentlessly. Crombe. I was there at the same time, Copas was an inspiration but Clements taught me at an early age to be street wisethe caning every week was a badge of honour, handled that. That so many of us have hidden this is incredible and many more had a good education. A headteacher who faked his name, age and qualifications to run a boarding school in Leicestershire for 40 years has been exposed as a fraud by his son. Mixed in to the mundane there were plenty of comic moments that still make me laugh and there were a few tragedies along the way too. It is truly shocking to read the few posts which reveal Peter Copas' dark side. His departure preceded that of the inspection team. They were all let down it seems by just one particular individual who had betrayed the trust bestowed upon him. But it was a very different world back then and one in which channels of communication and concern were quite restricted compared to what is now the case in similar establishments. WebEric Herndon shares his journey from graduating from the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2000 to becoming a strength coach at Neville High School in 2010. Did anyone else actually see the ghost walking through the wall in Goths dormitory, towards the chapel, or was that always just the terrifying Miss. Check out, & 'Like' FB's "Survivors of Nevill Holt"! This became less frequent as the years went by and the will of the younger, enlightened, Latin teaching with a terrible lisp, Mr. Philips was increasingly felt in the corridors.Good staff at the school were, a female art teacher, and the young nurse, the sister of a Man. He boasted to me that he had had over 70 boys during his teaching profession and he was glad that girls were about to come to the school because he wanted to see them naked.Three other things I recall from the above.One was when he leathered his two Doberman dogs with his dog walking chain in the warren. Anyone remember him? I think she was the sister of a Man United footballer - at least that was the rumour. I remember being beaten many times on the hands and the bottom .His Secretary was always in the office I believe . Actually, he was just a traumatised victim of the system, as most certainly was I. I never suffered any sexual abuse, though reflecting with a better understanding of crude life when a little older, I was upset to realise that many more 'handsome' boys had been its victims. At no time was there any abuse such has been described here. My parents pulled us from the school when they were told we would have to board, the following year. The present-day gardens are beautiful, just large vegetable patches in the 40s. He also told me not to tell a soul not until I was on my death bed. I am very aware that many pupils had far better experiences than me at the school even during those years. Old Serrill Phillips used to beat selected children at whim, and beat them again if they cried. I can honestly say I never witnessed any abuse that went on, I certainly would of reported any concerns I had.Neville Holt is a beautiful place and I enjoyed my working time there so sorry to the victims of abuse. Clements as a violent psycho. possibly the only male teacher who I remember genuinely wanted to do right by the pupils. - we became friendly and one weekend when a little boy called Christopher Ogle was actually forgotten and left behind at half term! He died in 1982 Swansea-born Frederick Phillips changed his accent and pretended he was a graduate from the Sorbonne to get a job teaching French at Nevill Holt.He had, in fact, only attended summer school at Besancon university, France.In 1927 he adopted the double-barrelled name Serille-Phillips and claimed he was the son of a gentleman (his father was a wheelwright) to secure a bank loan of 12,000 to buy the Grade I listed 13th century school building.He said he was 30, to substantiate a lie that he was a former squadron leader, secret service agent and medal-winner in the First World War. Reading some of these posts - and also recently the book English Monsters - is horrific. More could, I think, have been made of this, and it was only later that I began to appreciate it.Does anyone still have their copies of Condescend? Have read all this with astonishment as I had no idea what had happened at the school. Indeed. Was chatting to someone recently about NH. I can believe everything here about Clements. I am truly shocked by what some of you went through at this school. It was such a different world back then. I loved the visits to local historical sites. When I went back to NH after leaving (I must have been about 19) and went to see Fred and Miss Graham in their pad built in the walled garden he scared me then! A super snob, he promoted a newly arrived sixthformer to headboy because he was the Honourable Leith. Mr Clements is still living in Eastbourne. I feel I should make my contribution. Frederick I did though suffer extreme physical abuse, usually by cane to the hand, from the old headmaster and others, supplemented perhaps once every couple of weeks by the whipping of my arse, often protected by a layer of writing paper in my short trousers. I was not aware of any sexual abuse; Phillips used the cane quite frequently but that was normal for the time but it was a repressive atmosphere. If, as people allude, David Phillips and Ron Deas did know of abuse and covered it up/facilitated moves of abusers to other schools, then I am appalled. I cannot find any corroboration for this, but being in his late 80s, it is not unlikely. But being the person I am, I look back at that formative time with a lot of nostalgia.I say all this, not having been abused. threatening to tell the headmaster that I had a 4" fruit knife (it didn't cut fruit never mind cause harm to a human being)I enjoyed his music sessions though when he played gramophone records. The 400-seat auditorium - which sits in the But the education was good thanks to some very gifted teachers. WebIn 2013, Nicholas founded Nevill Holt Opera and established an award-winning education and associate artists programme. I was the one that mentioned Mr Moorhouse first. However, the worst of all those to me; the first -year teacher, a female of short, round, stature whom literally rendered me unconscious on one occasion. As for copas. Phillips was a real piece of work, and that French bastard Draggy abused me for years.I always found Coppas to be quite nice, and Deaso was OK with me.As for all the others it was completely mad.Recently had a look on facebbok, and found a site about old schools, with a couple of familiar names talk about history! He walked over to the other side of the dorm (backing on to Florentine dorm) and spent sometime at one of the boys bed then left for his room. Other memories include reading to the Bimms dormitories and going round and tucking them all, some with their teddies - they were almost babies I thought, should never have been at boarding school! Tatler. I heard, sadly, that DCSP died a few weeks ago. There seems to be much innuendo in these comments about Mr Copas but nothing substantial. Does anyone remember Miss McRonald's two assistant matrons? He had a temper on him which I saw rather than experienced thankfully!Headmaster Wooley was a smiley weirdo who always seemed to be going off to seminars or such like. It is on a hilltop. I feel like a complete coward even now for not having said anything.Copas cheated those he abused out of justice and closure by his cowardly death. Who are you Jonathan Calder? Nothing but the best for old Deeso and his order of the boot. Entrance to Nevill Holt Hall - geograph.org.uk - 565944.jpg 640 441; 125 KB. I remember woodwork being taught by the likeable Mr Bakewell who doubled as the school handyman, PE in the stable yard - now the site of the new opera house. I don't remember to much of Clements except that he was an unpleasant character. I remember Wraight had a car crash during the holidays (in a Jag he had) and appeared some months later back at school with scars and a changed personality. Funeral notice here: http://announce.jpress.co.uk/harboroughmailcouk/obituary/david-phillips/42098148To anyone affected by the events alluded to above: I was a pupil at Nevill Holt in the 1980s and am compiling the recollections of former pupils of all ages, to better understand my own experience there, and possibly with a view to writing something in the future. Official Deas and Phillips covered this up for years. He used to stutter, sometimes terriblyprobably due to nerves (FSP) a tall good looking man with a v attractive wife. The transformation of Nevill Holt Opera in Leicestershire brings a touch of Glyndebourne to the Midlands and is a unique celebration of music, landscape and the English country house William Cash Watch the video Posted by David Ross Foundation at 08:47 Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Mr Bellinger? Only caned once, but deservedly so after getting into a fight. The French abbess Ann Nevill was born here in 1605. Either way, he's guilty of a gross abuse of trust in my opinion. Overview. Meanwhile, I have very good memories of Peter Copas. I remember all the staff - David Phillips and his rags to riches wife Nina. It was horrible. WebThis page refers to Nevill Holt Preparatory School, a boarding prep school operated between 1929 and 1998 at The Hall, Nevill Holt, Medbourne, Market Harborough, Going away to school at 8 is tough. I was hugely saddened to learn about his death and could not credit the things which were said of him. (18961965) was born at Nevill Holt Hall in 1896. might have been subject to a bit more scrutiny. England. He has left me with a passion for history. I think it was your aunt who forgot to collect you so I and the under matron looked after you. I was at Nevill Holt from 1956 to 1961 (or thereabouts). For the rest of the year it runs a youth outreach programme, taking its work with music and drama to 34 academies across the East Midlands, aiming to bring the arts to school children who might not otherwise be Problem was the school I went onto was doing new maths - Venn diagrams etc. Clements was undoubtedly strange and unpredictable. All in all a not unpleasant time was spent in beautiful surroundings. played the piano, may have taught Latin? Being beaten behind the knees which the sharp edge of a ruler. He could be very supportive and I still remember him being a very good history and geography teacher. The coincidence of having two geography masters exhibiting the same tendencies, one after the other is extraordinary. As for Clements and Copas, Clements was a violent and spiteful man, full stop. Having explored the centre of the village with its medieval Packhorse Bridge and churches, the route leads you out through fields to reach the nearby old mansion, Nevill Holt. I did not tell anyone until I met my wife - some 13 years later.When Copas hung himself the police came to see me and they were already aware of what had happened. He was a systematic, violent, sex abuser who inflicted considerable pain on me whilst he violated me. Like the contributor mentioned above (we must have known one another), I was invited - and went - to Clements' house, while his wife was out, to learn how to body-build. Why can't I imagine Boris or Liz thinking up the green lane idea? - told us off one day with the line Winston Churchill never wasted a day of his life (hah! I remember his once humiliating Mr Bellinger in front of the whole school for leaving a bit of baked potato on his plate.On the other hand, I have fond memories of DCSP, who was a good, kind and talented man, but my real hero, apart from his terrible jokes, was Mr Cooke. I said I hope you don't mind Mr Phillips but I've just told form 4 the facts of life. But I certainly remember Mr Copas as a very inspiring English teacher. As for Wraight he died in a car crash and in pre-seat belt days flew through the windscreen of his VW Dormobile and landed in a hedge tangled in barbed wire. I was a pupil at Nevill Holt from 1994-98 when it closed down and I witnessed first hand the horrific ending. I was, like others before me it seems, just googling for old images of the school. I had every NH record from 100 1500 Long Jump & High Jump and won the County Championships all under his tutelage. I started in 78 and remember my first roll call taken by Clements. And yes, I have happy memories as well. Remember him chasing poor old Ernie up the stairs shouting something like clockwork man and spitting in the library? Nevill Holt Opera has announced that due to financial headwinds in the arts sector, it has reconsidered its festival program. i cant believe the teacher in the scandal hung him self, i never thought of some one with his teaching skills and personality would be involved in such a thing, I new him very very well and spent allot of time with him and had no sense of funny goings on at all! Me again! I did not have any untoward experiences with either Mr Copas or Clements. The teachers I encountered I remember fondly to this day, and would want them to know that they provided me with an education that has enabled me to go far and become a leader in my small field.To name a few (apologies for wrong spellings/first names): Claire Pearce-Smith, David Hopper, Geoff Hancock, Ron Deas, the Grodetskis, Mr. Coon and his tall tales of international espionage, Mr. Foreshaw (willingly) dressed in drag to entertain at Christmas (?) 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