Legacy – Be Who You Are #46 #cong24 #legacy

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1. Vision
2. Motivation
3. Confidence
4. Courage to make a difference

For the past 15 years I have been a trainer in Neuro Linguistic Programming, Timeline Therapy and Hypnosis.

I am in the business of transforming peoples’ lives in order to help them discover who they are and how they can create a more positive future for themselves.

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By Carol Passemard

Alan was born in London in 1927.  He was an only child and educated at Dulwich College.

In 1944 he left his parental home to find out about joining the Merchant Navy in Liverpool.  He lied about his age and was accepted as an apprentice on a ship bound for India.  He had told his mother he was just going away for a weekend!

Alan rose through the ranks to 2nd Mate. In 1948 he chose to give up the Merchant Navy and instead applied for a place at Peterhouse, Cambridge to study Geography and English.  He loved rowing and was captain of the College Boat Club.

He left Cambridge with a BA degree in 1951 and was appointed housemaster of a boys boarding house at Wellington School, Somerset.  The only problem was that this appointment required him to have a wife, so he married Sheila who had qualified as a state registered nurse.  She became a wonderful housemistress and excellent matron to the 16 boys who resided with them.  They all had to share bathroom facilities and Alan remembers asking Jeffrey Archer to move up so he could have some space to shave.

Alan and Sheila had two children born in 1952 and 1955 while still living in Gatehouse with the 16 boys.

In 1958 the family moved to Uppingham School where Alan taught English, Latin and Religious Studies.  Their third daughter was born in 1960.  The family lived in a large Tudor House which was cold and run down, but at least they had accommodation provided by the school.  Much to Sheila’s delight there were no boys living with them.

Alan was appointed Headmaster in 1964 to Wells Cathedral School.  There were 340 boys aged between 7 – 18. The school provided the Cathedral with around 16 choristers.

Alan and his family moved into a very large boarding house called, The Cedars.  Sixty boys, two matrons, two housemasters and Alan’s family all lived together.  At least this time Alan’s family had their own bathroom.   The family were provided meals from the school kitchen, even during the holidays.

It was part of Alan’s salary package!  And of course this arrangement provided year round employment for the kitchen staff.

Within that first year living in Wells, Alan soon recognised the horror of what was expected of him.  He was heard saying, one day – “Oh God! What have I done?!”

The school was clearly failing and faster than he could have imagined.  His confidence was at rock bottom.  To make things worse certain members of staff would send him very long letters in the holidays telling him all the things he was doing wrong!

However, not to be beaten, he decided that with the help of an outside advisor and support of the governors who played a very active role in the school, he would set up an appeal to build the biggest sports hall in the West of England.  This required a huge amount of extra work and his two older daughters were seen returning from their own school, an hour away,  and set to work stuffing hundreds of envelopes with letters inviting donations to the school’s appeal.

On July 3^rd 1969.  Alan’s vision was realised and the Queen Mother came to open the Sports Hall.

He constantly worried about what would happen to the school if a Labour government came into power?  Would they survive?  What was the next thing he needed to do to keep the school going?

All of his fears and concerns were played out during family meals.  Nothing was kept secret.  This was a place where Alan was able to display all of his lack of confidence.  As soon as he was out in public he acted as if he were a man full of confidence and bravado.

His next vision was to introduce girls into the school.  Questions arose. Where should they start?  At the sixth form or the lower end of the school.  After much family discussion and, no doubt debating with the governors, it was decided to admit girls at the lower end and for them to grow up through the school, allowing the boys to get used to having girls around them, and probably vice versa.

September 1969 saw the first 12 girl boarders and 17 day girls arrive.  The school is now fully co-educational.

Another of Alan’s visionary ideas was to make Wells Cathedral School famous.  He had a passion for music, despite being unable to play his mother’s beautiful baby grand piano that lived in his study or be able to sing a note in tune.  However  he never lacked focus and determination.

He started by inviting Yrfah Neaman, principal violinist at the Guildhall School of music to come and meet with him and discuss setting up a scheme for musically gifted violinists.  This led to further meetings with Yehudi Menuhin, Meredith Davis and other eminent musicians.

Since those darker days the school has gone from strength to strength and has recently celebrated its 50^th anniversary in launching the scheme for Musically Gifted Children.

In 2017 a beautiful room was dedicated to Alan,  in what used to be the old Theological College, opposite the cathedral.  It is known as the Quilter Hall.  Many lunchtime concerts are played there by students and appreciated by the public.

Alan Quilter was my father and I, his first born.  I remember those days living in Wellington, Uppingham and  the early years of living in the Cedars.

Life moved on when I left home in 1970.  I look back on those very tough days and my father’s lack of confidence. Despite that, Alan’s remarkable vision and tenacity made this beautiful school world famous.

 Today there are 700 attending.  There is a purpose built concert hall and many of the very old buildings have been transformed to accommodate the children.

Vicar’s Close, the oldest street in England houses many staff and students.  The buzz during school term time is palpable and the sound of music is everywhere.

My father would be incredibly proud of the legacy he has left behind.  His legacy continues to live on in the enormous talent of young musicians today, alongside others who may have chosen a more academic slant to their studies and careers.

Alan Quilter passed away on February 14^th 1998 at the age of 70.