Page 21 - The Badger - Issue 8

THE BADGER Celebrating 125 Years of The Downs
Arguably, one of Hoyland’s most famous developments was the introduction of the Downs Light Railway in 1925, a working miniature steam railway where boys learned real engineering skills. He also substantially developed the early forms of many traditions that our pupils enjoy today, including the radical idea of ‘hobbies’ as a central part of the curriculum.
A strong believer in leadership training, Hoyland established the “Tribe” system with pupil-led “Packs” that met weekly to discuss pupil governance. A plaque listing the original Packs - from the Pagans and Beans to the Tykes and Cherubs - still hangs proudly in the lower dining hall. He also championed emotional and creative development alongside intellectual rigour, and under his headship, The Downs gained an ethos that balanced freedom, responsibility and joyful exploration - qualities still actively promoted throughout the school. His belief in the transformative power of the arts shaped his bold appointments, most notably the artist Maurice Feild and the poet W. H. Auden, both of whom left a lasting imprint on the school’s creative ethos.
Frazer Hoyland (1940-1952)
The Wartime Steward
Geoffrey’s brother Frazer took over at a time of national crisis. With bombs falling, Dunkirk evacuated and parents deeply anxious, Frazer held the school together through sheer resolve.
He documented this period extensively in moving diary entries:
“The war has thrown down a great challenge to us, which we are proud to accept. Though we, in this peaceful countryside on the slopes of the Malvern Hills - one of the most ancient parts of the world - have more than our share of good fortune, we are being put to the test and know that if we come through it, we shall be all the better for it. Beside us stand loyal boys, loyal staff and loyal parents, whose loyalty and friendship are a most cherished possession.”
To help offset the restrictions caused by rationing, Hoyland’s boys worked in gangs of 20, planting and ploughing a three-acre plot and, over time, producing an incredible 41 tonnes of potatoes. The school also played a notable role in the local community and, through an art exhibition and various competitions, helped to boost Colwall’s Warships Week fundraising total to £51,398 4s. 11d.
Often referred to humorously by the boys as the result of “forced labour”, by the late 1940s Hoyland had overseen the construction of a boating pond. In addition to providing an exciting new area for pupils to explore, it later inspired a popular boating hobby.
“ Days at The Downs started with a quick dip in a bath of cold water, icy cold in the wintertime... We felt it was good to be alive and better too to be at a school like ours. We felt like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn rolled into one! ”
John Gerrard (1920s)
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