On the Hill some 23 years

The Historian - a keen student of this subject

John Guthrie Essame arrived and joined the staff of Kingham Hill School in September 1959. I remember it well. 'Sir' remained teaching for a total of some twenty three years until his retirement in August 1982.

John was our new biology teacher, replacing Mr. Sam Manning who ran the young farmers club, and he was also the deputy house master to Sheffield House.

John Guthrie Essame

A new realm of study was included in the school's curriculum when John Essame introduced Geology. However, it must be noted that due to the Rohilla tragedy that year, there was a need for someone to take over much of Mr Colin Noble's work at the beginning of that Christmas Term of September 1959. John Essame stepped unflinchingly into the breach also assisting Mr Gordon Gentry with the 1st. KHS Scouts.

Us lads knew very little about this new teacher when he joined. I recall him being very tall, erect, a ram rod like gentleman who would have graced any international rugby team's scrum for a line out. However, the size of his gym shoes also gave me some concern not to be on the receiving end for some petty schoolboy misdemeanour.

What we did not know then was that John was born in England on its south coast at St. Leonard's on sea in East Sussex on the 26 September 1926. In fact he was to enjoy the traditional pot of Jam from the warden on your birthday in his first term. For him that would have been his thirty third birthday that year. However, I do not recall him going to collect this as traditionally was only for us school boys.

Cap badge of the
Royal Marines

Now, there is a lot we did not know then about Mr. Essame.

On leaving School he went on to Eastbourne College and at the outbreak of war he joined the Home Guard as an officer cadet.

With the onset of the war Eastbourne College was evacuated to Radley College in Oxford around 1940 where John continued his studies.

Then with war still raging in 1944 and being the age to volunteer he did and joined the Royal Marines. On joining John was posted to Marine Barracks, Stonehouse - just off Durnford Street in Plymouth - the home of the marine corp since its foundation in 1664.

On completion of his basic training he was selected for officer training and posted to Thurlston Training Hotel on Dartmoor.

Eventually he was posted to HMS Unicorn. This was a UK maintenance aircraft carrier, and light fleet carrier, which saw war service in World War II from 1943 until the Japanese surrender. She was the only ship of her class, her design was influenced by the Ark Royal class.

In January 1946, on return to Devonport, John was assigned to her. On completion of this service, he applied for a place at university.

HMS Unicorn

1947 to 1950

John Guthrie Essame gained a place at Cambridge University in Emmanuel College.

Majored in: biology and geology

On graduating John found employment in both Australia with the National States Rivers & Water Supply General Survey and at home with the National Coal Board on Open Cast Mining.

However, it was while at Cambridge doing some museum work with fossils that he had made up his mind to become a teacher. So, after this eight year span of employment working in industry, he pursued his quest and joined the staff at Kingham Hill.

With the arrival of Mr. John Essame our historian recalls that Biology lessons came alive with field trips to look for old fossils, exploring Sarsden Brook, and dissecting large mammals.

One of these was a doe hare that had been shot by our history master one Mr Martin Ian Taylor - a recent young subaltern late of Her Majesty's Ghurkha Rifles. As recently as June 2007 John Essame, now nearing his 82nd birthday, recalled dissecting this animal, preserving the four embryos and rebuilding the skeleton. The historian being one of the three lucky lads to have their first taste of jugged hare cooked by Mrs McLean - much loved house keeper to bachelor staff living in Severn House and us boys.

I also have recollections of being one of the biology students who assisted on the farm at lambing time. Washing hands and arms with carbolic soap and assisting by gently pulling the lambs from the womb. Then presenting it to the mother to clean off the after birth. So, yes - John Essame "His lessons came alive, literally".

On arrival on the Hill in 1959 John Essame was appointed deputy house master to Clyde House retaining this for a number of years.

On 1st Jan 1974 Mr John Essame married Miss Flora Crosland -Taylor (who was then the school's nursing sister in charge of the Schools Sanatorium).

Soon after they where appointed House Master & Mistress for Norwich House - a responsibility they held from September 1974 to August 1982 when they retired to live locally in Lower Oddington. John renamed his house "SEVERN House" affectionately after the school's Bachelor teachers' house.

John took a big part in the development of the Sixth Form Careers - assisting with career development via university entrance. He was also keenly active in supporting the 1st Kingham Hill Scouts and working in the Young Memorial Library.

John Essame passed away in the early hours of 5th May 2008.

This article was prepared by the historian - a diligent and attentive student to this much appreciated former master. July 2007.

Photo: John Guthrie Essame
John Guthrie Essame