West End Secondary School, Headteachers.

The First Headmaster Major Frederick H Morris was born in Wellington, Shropshire and educated at St Paul’s College, Cheltenham. He came to Glossop in 1895 to take up the post of Assistant Master at Whitfield C of E School. He was later appointed Headmaster on the retirement of Mr G E Cox. Under his skilful guidance the school became the largest in the Borough of Glossop and achieved some remarkable scholarship successes. He was head of the Evening classes organised by the Local Education Committee, of which he was also secretary.

He was promoted to Major whilst serving with the Cheshire Regiment during WWI. He was awarded an M.B.E., from King George V, for his services to the Empire. Following the recommendations made in the Hadlow Report, that pupils would attend a Primary school up to age 11 years and then continue in a Secondary School up age 14 years, the Pikes Lane Council School became West End Secondary Modern School in September 1930, and Major Morris was appointed its first Headmaster. He remained closely connected with St James’s Parish Church, being a Sunday School teacher and Church Warden. He retired in May 1937 and Mr Clarence Bowden was acting Temporary Headmaster until the successor to Major Morris, Captain W V Furniss, was able to take up his new post in August.

The Second Headmaster Captain William Victor Furniss had only been in charge at West End for four days before he departed for a family holiday on the Isle of Wight. Sadly he became seriously ill and died in a Shanklin Nursing Home. He was born in Glossop in 1887, the youngest son of Mr Victor Furniss who was Mayor of Glossop. As a boy he attended Whitfield C of E School and became a pupil teacher under the guidance of Major Morris. He trained to become a qualified teacher at Goldsmith’s College, University of London and afterwards became Assistant Master at schools in Liverpool, Sheffield, Bollington, and Glossop & London.

Whilst he was training at the College, he was a member of the 20th London Territorials and was at camp with them at Littlehampton when WWI broke out. He mobilised with the 20th London Regiment in August 1914, and went to France with the 47th Division in March 1915, and became successively Lance-corporal, Corporal and Sergeant. He attended the officer-cadet course at Trinity College, Cambridge in September 1916 and was gazetted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Cheshire Regiment in December 1917, joining them in Belgium in February 1917. He was further promoted to Lieutenant then Captain and Adjutant. He took part in some very severe fighting in France and during the Somme retreat he was badly wounded and lost his right leg, and being mentioned in dispatches. After the War, in 1919, he was appointed as the first assistant master at Glossop Council School; in 1923 Headmaster at Dunmow C of E School, Essex and in 1925 Headmaster of Stifford Council School, Essex. Whilst in Essex Captain Furniss founded the Orsett Educational Fellowship, an association of teachers and others interested in education, and organised its first summer camp. In 1930 he was appointed Headmaster of Whitfield C of E school, succeeding Major Morris. During his time at Whitfield he gained some brilliant successes with the school choir and won several premium prizes at the Buxton and Blackpool Musical Festivals. In his youth he was a skilled musician and member of the Whitfield Church Choir. Captain Furniss also had a love of sport and played football, hockey and cricket. He was also a member of the British Legion and was General Secretary of the Glossop Branch. He also took a prominent role in in forming the dramatic section of the branch, producing several successful productions. Mr Clarence Bowden was acting Temporary Headmaster until the appointment of Mr Cedric Blackman on 13th September 1937.

The Third Headmaster Mr Cedric Blackman was born in Glossop in 1898 and attended Glossop Grammar School and was the first past student to become a Headmaster. In his early career he was a pupil teacher at Padfield School 1913-1915 and then a full-time teacher at the Glossop Council School. He served in the Durham Light Infantry during WWI and was a founder member of the Glossop British Legion. He returned to the Council School after the war and remained on the teaching staff, when, in 1930, the school became West End Secondary. In 1932 he was appointed Headmaster of the Castle Secondary School, Hadfield and then in 1937 returned to West End School when appointed as successor to the late Captain Furniss, where he remained for the next 24 years, until his retirement on 31st December 1961. Mr Blackman was secretary of the Glossop National Union of Teachers for 21 years and also held the office of president of the Derbyshire teachers Association.

Mr Blackman was a senior deacon at Littlemoor Chapel and was president of the Free Church Council. He also keenly supported the operatic and dramatic societies. After his retirement he was elected to Glossop Town Council in 1962. Mr Blackman still continued to be involved in educational matters; he was chairman of the Grammar School Governors and served on the North West Derbyshire Executive. He was also a member of West End, Whitfield and St Luke’s Schools and the Adult Education Centre. From May 1967 to his death in January 1968 he was Mayor of Glossop.

The Fourth Headmaster On May 1st 1962 Mr Geoffrey John William Joyce commenced duties as Headmaster of West End School, after being appointed on 25th January 1962. He was born in Liverpool in 1921, and served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War. He resigned his position on December 31st 1964 to take up an appointment as Headmaster of a school in Sidmouth, Devon. He died in 2001.

Miss Elizabeth Dorothy Eason, Senior Mistress, was appointed acting Head on 1st January 1965 until West End School closed on July 15th 1965. The new school term in September 1965 would be the start of Comprehensive Education in Glossop. Miss Eason wrote the final words in the West End Log Book on August 31st 1965 “TOMORROW TO FRESH WOODS AND PASTURES NEW.”

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Last updated: 17 November 2021