inspire such an appreciation of place in 12 to 13-year-old boys, but Maggie can. That was one of the best hours I have spent with students in my career as a teacher.’ A little-known fact about Maggie is that, in addition to her Geography degree from Cambridge, she has a post- graduate qualification in graphics and illustration from St Martin’s. Her visual arts training has not gone untapped: she designed the layout for two editions of The Alleynian , and produced stunning logos for the Upper School Symposium. Her Lower School displays have always been a treat for the eye, showcasing boys’ work to great advantage. Maggie’s eagle eye for detail extends to the written word. Her beautiful handwriting is much envied, and many of us remember with fondness the way her gloriously expressive script would stray way beyond the box in the long-gone days of hand-written reports. Equally, in the age of online report writing, many colleagues turn to her for her superb proof-reading skills. On the quiet, Maggie is also a writer of considerable ability, equally at home penning a beautiful nature poem, or producing journalistic work of publishable quality. As Lower School Housemaster for Jonson (House colour: purple!) for nearly three decades, Maggie has been K en encourages his classes to s-l-o-w the pace of their drawing to all but a standstill so that the subject matter can be properly studied. To eager faces he relates the story of his own artistic endeavour; a tale of one painting in particular that he’s been working on for longer than he’s been at Dulwich, and which remains unfinished. Ken is in no hurry and just likes to get things right. Initially joining The College in 1986 to cover Barry Adalian’s sabbatical year, Ken immediately fell under the spell of the Art Department’s oasis of civility and with his Slade School of Fine Art credentials in tow, found that when the year was up, a job had been created for him. Countless pupils will most likely remember Ken for his Zen-like teaching style. Rising above any need for heavily scripted lesson plans, Ken prefers to focus on creating what he calls ‘the right atmosphere’. Rather than explaining the science behind the colour wheel from a laminated diagram, Ken passes round the watercolour sets and lets the boys discover tertiary colour theory for themselves. By the way, he refers to them as young artists, not boys. Drawing from direct observation is Ken’s oft- admired specialism, with the claim he can teach anyone to draw. Beyond instruction, his ability to read expertly the needs of the individual fosters a well-balanced and positive tutorial dialogue. He is typically elevated to ‘Legend’ status by those who have felt this connection.
thoroughly involved in motivating her team to give their best in House competitions; she has been responsible for running many House events (House Photography, House Poster, House Recitation and House Journalism), and has provided all Lower School actors, regardless of their house allegiance, with much-appreciated support during the weeks leading up to the Lower School House Drama competition, an event she was instrumental in launching. Maggie Jarman has made her mark on our school in more ways than one. She has, to quote a colleague of long date, ‘made Dulwich College a far more beautiful place in which to work – from her exquisite watercolours secreted around the campus to her life-sized action photographs of Wales, enlivening the Lower School corridors.’ Maggie has brought colour to us all, through her photography, design, costumes, writing and artwork, and her own prismatically hued person. But she has not just dazzled us with shades of orange, green, magenta, turquoise and vermillion. Maggie shines with creative energy, intellectual brilliance, and – so essential in a teacher – the light of human kindness. Few colleagues could hope to be described as irreplaceable. Maggie truly is. Observing nearly three decades of change – the studios, technology, new colleagues – Ken has steered the conscience of the department with the quiet aim of preserving its core values and sanctuary-like environment. His roots may be set firmly within the concrete pillars of the studios, yet few will know Ken successfully taught Lower School English for many years and that he designed and painted sets during the early days of the Edward Alleyn Theatre (née Hall). Closer to home, Ken’s delivery of Upper School History of Art and Liberal Studies has drawn upon a seemingly limitless bank of knowledge and personal insights to ensure his students view the world from a wider perspective. Equally likely to reference a Hitchcock film still, note down a link to some obscure Jazz LP sleeve or dissect a scene from an early On The Buses episode as illuminate the geometric beauty of his beloved Piero della Francesca, Ken is blind to conventional artistic hierarchy. Similarly, his pupils benefit from the same unbiased attention, with curiosity and engagement always ranking above mere talent and what has been learnt being of greater importance than any finished outcome. Where others may have written off an unyielding, disconnected Year 10 hopeful, Ken is prepared to let them grow under their own terms in order to help them overcome the College’s routine challenges. Ken ‘retires’ to Pembrokeshire, to join wife Nerys and their numerous feline house guests. While he won’t miss the
weekly 500 mile commute, Ken will overcome the passing of almost 30 years in our studios, a painstaking devotion to the craft of hanging our annual exhibitions and making us laugh with envy at his self-mocking wit, by getting back to his first love: painting, as a full-time artist. With
website and a Facebook page in the pipeline, a possible first commission is finally to complete that fabled painting, too long held ‘in progress’ while watching the paint dry on what has been a truly significant Dulwich career.
Susan Roberts
Lucy Rand
S usan joined the College in September 1986. She completed her Chemistry degree at Leicester University, taught at a comprehensive school in Essex, worked at Unilver, and then taught again at Runshaw Sixth Form College in Leyland. Held in high regard and viewed as ‘firm but fair’ by her pupils, Susan was a caring and dedicated teacher. She always had the best interests of her students in mind, and worked hard to ensure that they give their best. She was meticulous about training the boys in correct chemical techniques, and her lab sessions always conveyed a sense of calm, orderly organisation. Within the Department, Susan was incredibly supportive. Always prepared to do more than her fair share of examination marking (and even help out others when they were pushed for time), she was always willing to provide cover for absent colleagues. I have greatly appreciated the efficient way in which she has helped with the unglamorous, but very helpful task of copying examination papers for the Department. Her desk space in the Science Common Room was always kept meticulously tidy – discreetly adorned with mementos in support of her beloved Manchester United. If you ever wanted to check when the next
set of reports were due, or when the next Parents’ Evening loomed, you could rely on Susan’s carefully completed calendar to provide the answer. Intrepid and adventurous, Susan spent a year away from the College, working in Alaska. Whilst doing so, she went on an ‘Eskimo course’ and gained her Private Pilot’s Licence. Outside the Chemistry Department, Susan ran squash for a number of years and helped out with tennis. She also accompanied several expeditions to the New Forest to assist the boys completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s awards. Her sense of fun is another attribute that is going to be hugely missed. Mufti days will not be the same without the appearance of Susan in her old school uniform complete with blazer and school cap. Also, she regularly and enthusiastically participated in the Science Department’s popular contributions to the Sixth Form Leavers’ Revue, singing with gusto. Having been a valued member of the Chemistry Department for 28 years, Susan is going to be very much missed at the College, for her kindness and generosity to her colleagues in particular. I hope that she thoroughly enjoys her retirement in the Lake District, and will come back to visit us whenever she’s in London.
Ken Maycock
Robert Mills
Harold Maxfield
John Bardell
H arold joined Dulwich College in September 1987 to teach Biology. Prior to his arrival, he had been teaching in the state sector and he had been much involved in looking after the wellbeing of his pupils. On arrival at the College he established himself as an enthusiastic and hardworking member of the Science Department, but his concern over the welfare of pupils soon showed through. He was always ready to take on the responsibilities that involved looking after pupils and, indeed, staff. He was a Union Representative of ATL for several years and many staff will have benefitted from his wisdom. His teaching programme not only included Biology but also some Chemistry, ICT and General Studies,
and he was the driving force behind the introduction of the College PHSE programme. He was a Housemaster of Marlowe and then Sidney House and he enjoyed many years of Rugby with the U14 and U15 teams. He was also involved with the College Scout Troop for many years. He became involved in Information Services in 2006 and as a result took up a role in the Audio-Visual Aids Department. After two years as part-time Head of Information Services, running the Audio-visual Aids Department, in 2012 Harold decided to retire from teaching to concentrate on his work in the Information Services, leaving Information Services a year later to become Head of Audio-Visual Aids. At this time he
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