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History Project Update

The first official written history of the school is nearing completion and should be published in 2010. If you have any documentation or images that you think might be useful please contact us enquiries@sibfordoldscholars.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Yesterday's Refugees
Extracted from a paper written and compiled by Michael D.T.Farr in 1999. A more complete article can be found in 'The Sibfordian'.

As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the commencement of the Second World War on 3rd September 2009, we remember the horrors that were unfolding on the world.

It was an extremely unreal time that affected Sibford as much as it did the rest of the U.K. population. In many ways in 1939 Sibford was cut off from reality and somewhat cocooned in the tranquility of the hilly beauty of North Oxfordshire, yet it remained positive in its approach to educating children and encompassing a better future. In some ways the School took on the mantle of caring for a generation of students that were being deprived by the hostilities around them. Michael Finch has included in his history of the School, which will soon be published, a chapter about a largely unknown bit of Sibfordian history. It reflects the times and the anguish of those terrible days that encompassed the World for many years.

In the late 1930's the spread of Nazism throughout Europe was forcing large numbers of people opposed to that narrow and hostile regime, including many Jewish families, to flee their homes and businesses...

The first mass deportation occurred on 24th October 1938, when 15,000 Polish born Jews were rounded up and driven over the border into Poland. (Their reprieve was short lived though as Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3rd September 1939.) Nevertheless, what followed in the space of a few weeks was the outcome of a remarkable co-operation between Quakers and other bodies: namely in their setting up of the Kindertransport. The aim was to organise the large scale escape of child refugees from Nazi tyranny. Quakers were involved at all stages of this amazing rescue plan, from the first train on 1st December 1938 until the outbreak of War.

A good number of them arrived at Sibford:

Peter Gutkind - At Sibford 1940 until 1942. Peter's father was an architect in Germany who had managed, in company with Peter and his sister, to espape to London. Peter's missing mother and grandmother were later found to have perished in the Holocaust. At the end of his schooling, and for a while after, Peter resided with the Canning family in Sibford Ferris. A notable athlete and sportsman, he was awaiting entry to Loughborough College, intending to study PE, when suddenly (for family reasons) he travelled to the USA. It is understood that he was studying at Earlham College but after that little is known. However, in the 1980's Peter re-appeared at several School Open Days. He was by then a professor of anthropology attached to the Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick. His profession had seemingly taken him around the world, including posts in the USA, Canada, Britain and various universities in the African continent. He died in the late 1990's.

Rainer Guillery -

At Sibford 1940 until 1946. Professor Guillery (as Ray now is) has won international acclaim as a neuro-scientist, specialising in ocular-brain surgery and associated research. He and his sister Ria came from Germany. He was Head of Department at Chicago University until 1984, when he came to Oxford to spend eight years in charge of the Department of Anatomy and Fellow of Herford College. He has now returned to America, which he and his family feel is their true home, and he is continuing there with his highly specialised research. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1983. Ray gave a rivetingly interesting Leslie Baily Address at the Old Scholars Reunion of 1985. His friend Philip Manasseh tells me that he and his sister Ria, during their vacations from Sibford, stayed as guests in Oxford where - by the oddest of chances - they visited the very Department of Research which Ray was later to run.

... read about many more 'Yesterday's Refugees' in 'The Sibfordian'.

Charley Boorman

Charley Boorman, ex Sibford pupil, actor, adventurer and best selling author visited Sibford School on 15th November 2009.

Charley, who is dyslexic, came to Sibford because of its reputation for helping children with dyslexia. Speaking at a whole school Meeting he explaining that he was immediately comfortable as a pupil at Sibford School. "Sibford gave me the confidence to go out and do things" he said. You can read about his latest adventures in his book 'Right to the Edge'.

Jim Shields

Sadly, another great stalwart from Sibford’s past died on 10th January 2010 aged 92. 

Jim was appointed Head of Science in September 1956, being the first appointment of the new Head at that time, Hugh Maw. Jim worked with distinction at the School for nearly thirty years until his retirement in 1980.

He will be remembered by many generations of Sibfordian’s and former members of staff who will have happy memories of his kind, gentle and caring manner.

 A full tribute will appear in the April Newsletter.

Ken Francis

It is will great sadness that we have to record the death of Ken Francis, who died on 9th September 2009 aged 85.

Ken was a Sibford legend and will be remembered with affection by many old scholars. He was Penn Housemaster for many years having been appointed to that position when Penn House opened in 1960. He later became Deputy Head until his retirement in 1986. He leaves behind his wife Elisabeth and his two surviving sons Timothy and Anthony.

A full tribute will appear in the April Newsletter.

Diana Lloyd

It is with the deepest regret that we have to report the death of our popular former SOSA President 2004-05, Diana Lloyd (nee Wright) who died after a cancer related illness in June 2009.

A full report will appear in the next SOSA Newsletter.

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