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Bo r l a s i a n 2 0 1 3
Old Borlasians
Tributes to Roy.
Many of Roy’s friends have expressed similar messages of
sadness at the passing of a loyal friend but of the warmest
of memories of a person with a sympathetic ear, a sense of
humour, a determination of purpose despite a sometimes
shy facade, and an aura of stalwart trustworthiness and
dependability.
It is best that the stories that unfold in the tributes paid
to Roy are left in the words actually written by individuals
and here are some of them.
Peter Heywood. Head of Design & Technology since
September 1984.
Youmay be interested to know that I am the last remaining
current member of staff who was appointed by Roy. I can
remember vividly my very first encounter with him as he
personally showed me around the school on leavers’ day
May 1984. He was confiscating water pistols from boys
and as he did so he enquired how they were getting on
with something pertinent to them whether sporting or
academic and also how their parents or siblings were.
He was the consummate gentleman and the most polite
man I ever met, constantly apologising for the almost
everything in a Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier-esque)
way. He gave me an opportunity to change things in the
curriculum and he never, in all the years I worked with
him, had anything but encouragement for my approach
and work. I hugely appreciated his incredibly civilised,
courteous and humorous approach, he was totally
approachable and those days in the mid 80›s were the
happiest of my career.
Peter Hogg (1974 – 76)
Roy was always open and ready to help us and arranged
for trips, such as to Oxford to view Oxford colleges, and to
see what life as a student there entailed. He was also very
patient and gave guidance in a gentle, approachable way.
I recall that he was so good at remembering our names
both at school and somany years afterwards (on occasions
such as at the many OBC dinners he attended) and always
greeted us with a warm smile and took great interest and
pride in all of our endeavours.
Andre Compton (1985 – 89)
Roy Smith – a different breed.
Roy was an enormously respected Headmaster at Borlase
in the 1980’s. His management of the school through a
period of falling rolls, cultural and curriculum change
have been well documented elsewhere. For my peer
group he projected a caring, accessible and supportive
approach to all around him. Slightly forgetful, impeccably
mannered and immensely well read, he embodied both
the traditional with the modern.
Our lasting memory will be in his description of his Borlase
students having“theThamesmist”about them. Today, I still
wonder at the ethereal nature of this description. Those
who had it understand what he meant, and continue to
smile at his erudite manner and words.
His concern for my grandparents’wellbeing when running
into me in the cloisters would always throw me off guard.
Surely this wasn’t how a Headmaster engaged with his
pupils. Even a serious reprimand and a visit to his office
resulted in sitting down over a cup of tea. The Thames mist
indeed.
Mark Ringrose (1975 – 81)
Memories of Roy!!
I started at Borlase in September 1975 in the 3
rd
form,
so I missed the first year. My French, even at that early
stage, was very poor, but despite this I was allowed a
place at the school – my French interview was with Mr
Bateman. Mr Smith very kindly gave up about 45 minutes
for one evening each week to coach me in French for the
first term. I was much too embarrassed at the time to let
anyone know. I had to “sneak” out of the Heights boarding
house on these evenings and walk over to Sentry Hill to
his house with my French text book under my jumper and
“disappear”. It was a great help to me, and I don’t think I
ever thanked him properly. Fortunately my mother did.
I used to row at Borlase. This meant two things as far as
boarding house life was concerned: many entries in the
late tea book and, during regatta season, packed lunches
on Saturdays. Unfortunately the choice for packed lunches
was not always as diverse as those that wewatched the day
boys eat between our Saturday race events. One Friday
evening we were presented with the raw materials for our
sandwiches and the main filler was canned spam. This
was just about my least favourite food. I complained, and
rather rudely and loudly I think. I am sure if I had asked
nicely, someone would have found something else for
