The First Twenty Years of the by David Sutcliffe

A personal view from the portcullis of St. Donat's Castle

(This account is dedicated to Lola Hahn, whose faith in her brother-in- law's ideas is itself an inspiration)

All who come to St. Donat's Castle must retain a vivid memory of their first impressions. My own introduction was in the dark, on an April evening in 1960. After twenty years it has lost nothing of its impact. I was a measurably unimportant but famous swimming pool. The of . immeasurably excited member loud and angry voice of the head of a small party—Admiral gardener, Arthur Evans, from the This fine, romantic castle was Desmond Hoare, his wife Naomi, top terrace, prompted hasty the subject of an anxious their children Judy, Stephanie dressing and retreat. We sought meeting in Brown's Hotel, and Mark, his rather formidable help from the housekeeper, Mrs. , on Thursday 13 father-in-law, the architect Adrian Davis, with whom I had made October, 1960. The purchase Gilbert Scott, and Dr . friends in April. By way of price was £65,000. The original Over a very good supper we response, and in uncharacteristic option to buy had expired in were treated by the castle agent, silence, she held out a recent August but had been extended Mr Roedemer, to 'the last bottle local newspaper article, which several times. However, unless from Randolph Hearst's cellar.' I stated that the sale had been the purchase could be wondered then and wonder still completed with another client. completed the following Monday, how many 'last bottles' had been We withdrew to to the cause was lost. £45,000 had offered to prospective telephone our office in London been promised, £15,000 purchasers. for guidance. They were as anonymously. There was the surprised and as worried as we remote possibility of a further After the meal we explored. A were, but all was to be well - just. £15,000 from an industrial small hand torch enabled us to sponsor, but no chance grope our way from one light 'Like a sleek grey battleship, whatever of the money by switch to the next. At about ready to slip her moorings for Monday. Desmond Hoare made midnight we found ourselves, action,' was how our first bursar, a formal offer of his naval unknowingly, on the small gallery John Pearson, described St. gratuity of £3,000. Sir Lawrance overlooking the armoury and Donat's Castle. Whatever else, Darvall made a similar offer, as ballroom, later to be the library of it is undeniably a part of its did another serviceman present, Atlantic College. Large marine environment. Most of its Admiral Sir Michael Denny. chandeliers suddenly lit the stonework must have been (Judy Hoare had already offered scene. It was a thrilling moment. carried up from the foreshore of her National Savings Certificates the . But it was 'out of committee'!). Moved, two My second visit was chastening. not only the bold exterior, defiant or three of the businessmen In July, as members of the great over centuries of the Atlantic present left the room for private new international project which gales from the south-west, but discussion and returned, ready was about to purchase, the also the variety and beauty of its to underwrite the difference. castle, my fiancée, Elisabeth, sheltered aspects, which were to Later events, above all the and I felt entitled to treat make the castle such a strong generosity of M. Antonin Besse, ourselves to a bathe in the influence on the life and purpose a Frenchman and close friend of Kurt Hahn, in donating the castle Switzerland. In October 1918 he It was not surprising that, a few and grounds, made it happily witnessed the unsuccessful months later and following a unnecessary to call upon the struggle by Prince Max, public speech against the service gratuities, but by thus 's last imperial National Socialist Party two days narrow a margin, and by such an chancellor, against the armistice before Hitler's nomination as act of faith, did Atlantic College offer. He was an eloquent chancellor, he should have been see the light of day. adviser to the German arrested. A young boy at one of delegation at the Peace Salem's junior schools wrote to Kurt Hahn had long been a man Conference of Versailles, and Hitler: 'Dear Mr. Chancellor. If who travelled hopefully. Born in much of the unhappy history of you carry on like this, National 1886 in Germany, of Jewish Europe in the nineteen twenties Socialism will not make much parents, his university studies and thirties was foreshadowed in progress in this school.' More were frequently interrupted by the memoranda and advice effectively, the British Prime the after-effects of the sunstroke which he urged on his leaders at Minister Ramsay Macdonald he had suffered just before that time. intervened. Hahn was released leaving school. but had to leave shortly His first school, Salem, was afterwards for England. Almost founded in 1920 and became without a pause the work began quickly well known. 1927 saw which was to lead to the the publication of the Memoirs foundation of , the and Documents of Prince Max, Movement, the in the preparation of which Hahn Duke of 's Award had played a decisive part. They Scheme, the unhappily short- contain many of Hahn's own lived Trevelyan Scholarships to political letters, and it cannot be and Cambridge, and long before, as suggested by finally Atlantic College. Professor Golo Mann, they are published separately, together It was Kurt Hahn's destiny that with other hitherto private his long working life should span papers, and thereby give a fuller, the worst-ever period in Anglo- more independent account of his German relationships and the full remarkable contribution as a story of his behind-the-scenes

Kurt Hahn looking atypically benign. young man to internal political contribution to those debate and decision-making relationships has yet to be traced It was the need to escape the within Germany during the First and told. The missionary zeal of heat which took him to his later World War. his own life was reflected in the much beloved Morayshire in missionary zeal of his during the summer Initially hopeful, with many educational ideas; and it was vacations at Oxford. Caught in others, as the National Socialists natural that all his ventures England in 1914 by the outbreak appeared to offer a means of should have the role of of war, he contrived to return regaining German self-respect, leadership and demonstration. home - he was ever a patriot - and encouraged against early and, unfit for military service, misgivings by his almost A lecture visit in 1956 (fateful became English reader at the unassailable optimism over year in international affairs) to Central Bureau of the German human nature, in which it was the NATO Defence College in Foreign Office. In 1917 he fell natural for him to include even Paris saw the beginnings of into disgrace on account of a Hitler, Hahn faced his own crisis Atlantic College. For here, the report in which he called the publicly in 1932. Hitler had sent British commandant Air Marshal impending declaration of a telegram of congratulation to Sir Lawrance Darvall was intensified U-boat warfare a some Nazi thugs who, at a place inspired by Hahn's analysis of 'decision doomed to disaster.' called Potempa, had trampled a Western society and the state of He was later to be in close touch young communist to death in the young; Hahn in turn was with the adherents of a peace by front of his mother. He sent a challenged by the success of this negotiation, and was sent on message to all former pupils of international military staff college several journeys of diplomatic Salem: Break with Hitler or with in reconciling national exploration to Holland and Salem. differences, often between former enemies, over a six-  that it was not simply an month period of work and study 'international Gordonstoun' together 'in the common cause.'  that it was not an Outward In general terms it was perhaps Bound School but a small step to envisage a  that it believed in and similar enterprise of a non- practised high academic military nature for the young of standards whilst being the Atlantic community. It was, concerned first and foremost however, original, imaginative with human attitudes and farsighted to conceive of  that it was a loyal two-year colleges with high expression of Kurt Hahn's academic standards, a ideas but not a slavish one, scholarship entry from all the  and that it was open to Atlantic community countries and many other influences as further a field, a common school well. leaving and university entry examination, and a strong Air Marshall Sir Lawrance Darvall, one of Failure on any one of these commitment to active community the three founders of the college. He was the Commandant of the NATO Defence College points alone would in my service; and it was Lawrance in Paris when Kurt Hahn lectured there in judgement have been fatal. The Darvall's great contribution over the mid-19 50’s. His support for Kurt Hahn man who won through on them the next six years, during which never wavered, but he was unhappy about the introduction of coeducation and exerted all was a senior naval officer with he laboured so loyally, and with little influence on the college once it had a son at Gordonstoun, who such firm confidence in the opened. He remains nonetheless an essential figure in the AC story. believed that the Outward Bound eventual outcome, that makes Movement was Hahn's greatest him an irreplaceable figure in our achievement. His educational story. complement the military alliance experience, which was was urgent, but the lady who extensive, was with naval ratings It was clear almost from the wrote to the press before the aged 16-19 and with young and outset that the College was to College opened was to be right tough people of the same age suffer from its apparent in the long run: from the youth club world of connection with NATO. Public Notting Hill Gate in London. A misunderstanding was “Dr Kurt Hahn's admirable critical observer of the British excusable - we had Air Marshal schemes for a chain of idealistic educational scene, he was free Darvall, Rear-Admiral Hoare, boarding schools . . . will not of the preconceptions which any Captain Pearson the bursar, and attract the world-wide support professional schoolmaster must Major-General Hare, the first they deserve if they are linked in acquire, and he recognised in secretary to the board. These any way with the the Hahn-Darvall concept a gentlemen and their titles made campaign . . . calling the schools venture of genuine novelty and a special impression on Alec 'Atlantic Colleges' will needlessly relevance. It was Desmond Peterson's youngest daughter, associate them with the NATO Hoare who, as founder who was very proud of having idea. His ultimate aim to attract headmaster, brought the concept tagged along on one important as students boys from the into being. occasion with 'a captain, an uncommitted nations, and then admiral, a general and an air from Russia and Eastern Desmond Hoare had an marvel.' Europe, is wholly admirable, important early disagreement and, I suggest, is more likely to with Kurt Hahn over the choice Both Kurt Hahn and Lawrance be achieved if he contrives to of site. Hahn wanted Scotland Darvall saw the college as a place himself outside the world and had found a castle. Darvall demonstration of the values of struggle and to appeal to supported Hahn. Desmond the Atlantic community and character-builders the world Hoare refused. He wanted to be therefore as a challenge to other over, irrespective of race, colour within reach of London for the political systems. It has to be or creed, or political persuasion.” sake of visitors, close to a remembered that the sense of university, close to industry, and threat from the cold war was In its opening years the Atlantic with real opportunities for active very serious, and that the need College had to prove several rescue service. for a cultural and human effort to things: After the purchase of the castle between them managed to Switzerland 1 and estate in October 1960, achieve this. By April there was More than half of these were on John Pearson, a naval friend of a teaching staff of eleven, scholarships. Desmond Hoare's and the future selected from some four hundred bursar, went down to St. Donat's applicants. By the end of August If the period 1956-62 was the 'temporarily as our we, the teachers, had preface in the Atlantic College representative for three months.' assembled, and on 19 story, the period of Desmond He spent the first winter there September we opened. The Hoare's headship from 1962-69 alone. Randolph Hearst had interior of the castle had been forms the natural first chapter. installed thirty-two marble renewed and adapted to provide My personal memories are ones bathrooms. John Pearson filled dormitories, classrooms, the first of intense enjoyment based, I in the 1961 population census school language laboratory in have no doubt, on complete return and had to answer the involvement. In this I was of question: Do you share a tap? course helped by my own earlier participation, my acquaintance On one of his visits Lawrance since 1956 with Kurt Hahn Darvall had instructed the stone- himself and other founding masons to remove a bare- figures, and my consequent bosomed lady in stone (a understanding of the long term valuable roundel from a set aim, but I have little doubt that whose fellows adorn Hampton the same was true of colleagues. Court Palace) on the grounds Atlantic Colleges Language Laboratory – the The general picture was one of that she would be bad for the first language laboraty in a Bristish School strong-minded and enthusiastic morals of the young men and Britain, a staff common room, personalities given the freedom would lend herself to decoration; offices, living quarters and an to develop their departments and and Desmond Hoare had her put infirmary; the Hearst swimming exercise their responsibilities in back in the belief that a sixth pool had been adapted to school their own way, with differences form college should be able to use and given a new heating and of opinion always quick to take such things in its stride. filtration plant, and laboratories surface but equally quick to be Both were right. When I left for the sciences had been set up talked through; and of tiredness Atlantic College in 1982 the lady in an old pre-war wooden hut. rarely taking a hold against the had indeed been decorated by excitement and pace of general three first-year students of the Even more importantly, thanks to development. By 1969 we had a 1981-83 generation, but as no much persuasive presentation of school of 270 students, a one else made any remarks to the Atlantic College case to campus with enviable if not yet me about this, I did not see why I British local authorities, completed facilities, an should not maintain my own ministries of in Europe outstanding record of university discretion. and Scandinavia in particular, entry success, a co-ordinated and extensive correspondence, coast rescue service which had In the spring of 1961, Robert Desmond Hoare and Robert performed some fifty life-saving Blackburn, a historian from Blackburn had assembled the operations, and an embryonic Merchant Taylors School, was following enrolment of students: international organisation of appointed director of studies Brazil 1 national committees which was against strong competition. On 1 Germany 7 finding some one hundred January 1962 Desmond Hoare Scotland 9 scholarships each year for new courageously took early Greece 1 students. Of course we also had retirement from the Royal Navy, Sweden 2 an overdraft, but that story and on 9 January the College 3 comes later. sponsoring committee under Denmark 2 Lord Fleck, chairman of I.C.I., England 15 All members of the College gave the formal instruction to N. Ireland 1 during that period will treasure open the College in September. USA 8 their own memories. My own This left the rather meaningful France 3 include the reception given in the period of nine months to bring 1 village hall for the newly arrived the enterprise to life. Desmond 7 teaching staff by the entire Hoare and Robert Blackburn Holland 1 community of St. Donat's; our disappointment that a particular motion on the crests of the potent factor that he overlooked French chef could not be enormous deep-water waves of was the motivation of the appointed because he wanted a the Bristol Channel (it failed); students themselves—and this higher salary than that of the and of the Queen's visit in June has proved true of every headmaster; the Dutch boy who 1965 which all the press took successive generation. All have came in from an expedition with (wrongly) to be the visit of a made a conscious decision to 'bubbles' on his feet; the boy mother looking at schools for her apply for a scholarship place; all recently arrived from Malawi who eldest son. It was a time of have been ready to leave home, found himself in a snowstorm in excitement and glamour, but the examination system, and often the Brecon Beacons and locked real achievements of that period language, for the sake of the himself up in a telephone box require more detailed comment. international ideal. Little wonder (he was later to be a wonderful that all are so determined to carpenter); the ten-day camp on The Academic Build-up make the best of themselves! In Lundy Island with a party of practice a far greater problem twelve College students and An early prospectus was quite was to make acceptable to non- twelve boys from a local specific: British students and non-British approved school and our lobster universities the unique suppers; the time when our A man today who goes abroad to narrowness and specialization of rescue services were giving a work, and who takes his family the English and Welsh A-level life-saving demonstration and with him, cannot educate his system, which was the only were called away to the real children in another national option available to us at that thing, leaving the practice victim system and yet give them a fair time. Early work on a possible at the foot of the cliffs, to be chance of entry to the curriculum was undertaken at rescued later from an unplanned universities of their own country. Kurt Harm's request by Dr watery death; the argument Inadequate knowledge of foreign Eugen Loffler, a former president between two of our cliff rescue languages is one difficulty. of the foreign committee of the staff as to which should go down University admission procedures permanent conference of the cliff to the assistance of a are a still greater problem. It is German ministers of education, pregnant woman being won by inconceivable that such barriers but his proposals, closely the married one, and the other will exist at the turn of the founded on contemporary getting married a few months century. Nevertheless, we have European practice, with little if later 'to improve his rescue yet to remove them. Change by any freedom of choice for service qualifications'; the first political means is uncertain and individual students, would have time a student hand-rolled his slow. The force of example is required a school of some five canoe (not more than half-a- needed ... on a scale and of an hundred pupils and a complex dozen people in Britain could academic stature to carry structure. The significant figure perform this feat at the time, and conviction. The Atlantic College was to be , then the entire school gathered round project is aimed at setting this director of the department of to watch); the first examination example . . . The rational long- education at Oxford University. results; the first serious rescues term goal . . . must be a His eloquent 1960 report to the and the first recovery of a body; genuinely international Gulbenkian Foundation, Arts and the night when most of the matriculation examination. Science Sides in the Sixth Form, College worked in shifts at the had, it was clear, fallen on deaf scene of the Aberfan tip disaster, The expert who described the ears, although to the best of my one German student uncovering College plans publicly in 1962 as knowledge its findings were not two bodies and all returning 'educational poppycock' was seriously disputed in the deeply shocked and moved; the convinced above all other things educational press. Aided by Sir visit of one of our earliest that it would not be possible to John Cockcroft of Cambridge supporters, H.R.H. The Duke of bring seventeen and eighteen- University on the science side, Edinburgh, in November 1963, year-olds from so many different Alec Peterson recommended a when he launched an countries, systems and programme based on the British extraordinary four-man wave- languages, up to a common advanced levels but sufficiently riding canoe designed by standard within two academic broadened to meet the ideals of Desmond Hoare which was years which would enable them the College and to reassure the intended to give a practical to compete successfully for Europeans. The result was a demonstration of perpetual university places. The most stopgap, since the College subsidiary courses could not credibility and confidence. Trial his Gulbenkian report the lead to any recognized examinations were prepared and British, the European and the qualification, but there were two written. For a while Atlantic North American systems, had important consequences. First, College attempted a promising asked: the College marked up a number comparability study by of notable successes in requiring all its students to “May it not be that we are all negotiating bi-lateral agreements write the A-levels, the feeling for the same thing and with foreign ministries of American scholastic aptitude that France and Germany by education, thereby enabling and achievement tests, and the reducing the number of students from many countries to trial IB papers. Colleagues subjects, England by qualify for university entry at were frequently absent at increasing it and America by home. Secondly, the scene was 'important study meetings in rationalizing it, may arrive at set for the development of the .' We had the feeling, very similar conclusions?” International Baccalaureate. not unjustified I am sure, of being in the forefront of At a time of great flux in It was natural for Atlantic something really important, educational thought world wide, College teachers to ally and our aim of using our the IB provided a widely themselves quickly with College as a field laboratory for acceptable synthesis and, colleagues of the International experimental work in above all, a practical way School of Geneva, to whom international education was forward. Problems of must be given the credit for the being achieved. The students, administration remained, but first pioneering work. In 1962, who were being asked to carry by 1969 the Atlantic College they had stimulated the the burden of our enthusiasm, was almost ready to change International Schools did not complain—indeed, they examination systems, and the Association (ISA) into holding a seemed to share our sense of deed was done with the 1971 conference on History in excitement, albeit with less entry of students. International Schools. In 1963, rhetoric! the UNESCO General This account of our academic Conference passed a resolution The finally agreed framework affairs would be seriously inviting the ISA to investigate of the IB suited us well: three incomplete without mention of standards and curricula in courses at higher level and the remarkable achievements of international schools. In 1964 three at subsidiary level, the Lord Robin Hankey and Sir Eric the International Schools six to be chosen from the Berthoud in negotiating Examinations Syndicate was following groups—mother scholarship and equivalence established in Geneva to pursue tongue, first foreign language, agreements for us with these matters at the secondary study of man, experimental ministries of education and level, the primary schools sciences, mathematics, and other authorities and individuals curricula being left to the ISA. In finally art or music (or, if overseas. Their qualities of 1966 Alec Peterson took a necessary for university faculty patience and determination year's sabbatical leave from requirements, another language were impressive, and quite Oxford to become the first or science or more essential to the success of our director of the newly named mathematics). educational task at St. Donat's. International Baccalaureate Sir Eric was able to continue Office. A major conference in All had to follow a compulsory his work right into the nineteen- Paris in 1967, with delegates but initially unexamined course eighties. It is inconceivable to from eleven countries, observers in the theory of knowledge, me that, without him, we would from UNESCO and the Council and all had to give evidence of have had so steady and of Europe, and the directors of an involvement in aesthetic worthwhile an entry of students three important national pursuits or community service. from the socialist countries of examining boards (the French The overall pattern was close to Eastern Europe. If the test of a Baccalaureate, the London Lóffler's concept but with the key good ambassador is how much University GCE and the advantage of flexibility and a he can achieve after retirement Advanced Placement degree of specialisation within on the basis of personal Programme of the American an overall framework. contacts made whilst in office, College Entrance Examination R.B.A.H. and E.A.B. must Board), gave the whole project Alec Peterson, comparing in indeed rank highly. craft. The wooden sectional floors—and other parts—were very quickly damaged. The constant need of repair stimulated Desmond Hoare, who had been a design engineer in the navy, into his development of the rigid-hulled inflatable which led to the introduction into RNLI service of the Atlantic class lifeboat, named after the College. The step-by-step design from early Bacchus to the final prototype X.21 which, with minor modifications, became the RNLI craft, is a story on its own. The Desmond Hoare on the left of the picture. Angus matthews, son of Jack Matthews, Founding College students were involved Director of Pearson College, next to him, leaning on the bow. at every stage—as builders, drivers, critics, repairers, and The Community Services enthusiasts. It is hard to Naomi Hoare bore the brunt. conceive of a more exciting and Desmond Hoare had caused Every sea-going student was worthwhile technological project some bewildered amusement issued with parts for an for a school. That the results of among naval ratings in Plymouth individually tailored suit, all the design and constructional when he appeared on a local prepared by her. In this way, the work were tested by the rigorous beach in the late nineteen-fifties College led the country in the natural conditions of the Bristol wearing an early neoprene design of jacket and trouser and, Channel, and were at the same rubber suit with the word 'Tarzan' a little later, one-piece neoprene time directly involved in the across it in bright yellow letters; suits. It initiated winter dinghy saving of life, could only and St. Donat's Castle sailing. When the Norwegian enhance the challenge and the employees had many questions students presented a cup for reality. on their minds as they observed winter racing, their imperfect the future headmaster floating on English coined the phrase 'frost One craft in this story must be his back in the Bristol Channel biting,' which spread rapidly mentioned individually— whilst wearing the same suit and through the yachting world. The Psychedelic Surfer. In mid-June smoking his pipe as he tested case was really made one winter 1969, Desmond Hoare took a the strength of the local currents. Sunday at Barry, when College telephone call from a young crews spent the day sailing and man who wanted to enter the The highly competent local Barry capsizing, pausing only for Round Britain Power Boat Yacht Club and other experts lunch. The rugged locals could Race. A firm had let him down. warned Desmond Hoare that sea not manage more than an hour Could the College lend him a activities off the St. Donat's of this 'frost biting' in their boat? The RNLI had not yet dangerous foreshore would not traditional woollens and oilskins. accepted the concept of the be possible. He felt confident Skinsuit-making courses were rigid-hulled inflatable. Desmond enough to disregard their advice. offered at the College, and Hoare saw his chance and said The essential innovations he lifeboat crews began to ask to be he would build one for £700. brought in were the use of equipped. The producer of the He designed it that night. Two neoprene wet suits for all sea- James Bond film Thunderbolt Dutch students and the College going students, and fast even asked Naomi Hoare to fit carpenter began work the inflatable rescue boats. out Sean Connery and the cast, following morning. There were Memories of the early years are but the students had priority! special requirements in inseparable from sheets of equipment not yet encountered neoprene rubber, glue, talcum Six months ahead of the Royal by the College, but three weeks powder to ease the suits on and National Lifeboat Institution, the later to the day Psychedelic off, and the scraping of rubber College began to use light Surfer was afloat. Of fifty-two fabric for the boats. inflatable rubber boats as rescue starters in this tough race, Psychedelic Surfer was the five of the first six places. Almost every year the cliffs as smallest, the cheapest, the most well as the waters of the Bristol quickly built—and nineteenth From the outset the College Channel claim victims. Early to finish! RNLI crews right trained members of its third experiments with a flexible round Britain had seen her for service, the beach rescue unit, crane, designed by the head of themselves, and the case was in the techniques and for the biology, Peter Jolley, enabled a made. awards of the Amateur cliff rescue team to handle Swimming Association, the casualties safely up and down In addition to designing a Royal Life Saving Society and the cliff face. Within a short time number of smaller 'mini-boats' the Surf Life-Saving the team was registered as an for rescue off beaches, Association, anxious always to auxiliary unit of Her Majesty's Desmond Hoare also designed do whatever it could to Coastguard, and had performed the Lundy Puffer, a thirty-three- harmonize the procedures and its first rescue. foot craft on the same principle, purposes of these three to transport College students the national organisations. Twice, None of these adventurous forty-eight miles between St. in 1968 and 1970, the College activities could take place Donat's and Lundy in the team won the SLSA national without safety standards which mouth of the Bristol Channel. championships, the first and were refined year by year in the Constrained in her width by the only school or college ever to do light of experience. The keynotes dimensions of the College so, and were well in line for a were the quality of training and slipway, she was not a the standard of equipment, and successful design and was many an initially timorous young later capsized and lost on her man was encouraged, by mooring at Lundy in a vicious carefully graduated training, to northerly gale. acquire skills and self-confidence far beyond anything he (or his parents) thought were within his Canoeing and surf life saving reach. All students in the College formed the second branch of were trained in swimming, life the College's rescue service. In saving and first aid. All training 1962 glass-fibre canoes had was conducted to a professional only just been introduced, and level in accordance with designs had not yet taken standards laid down by the advantage of the new appropriate national authority. material. Canoeing techniques in the country at If the College was unusual in large, particularly in sea providing rescue teams each canoeing and surfing, were year from August onwards who poorly developed. Thus the the previous September had College was able for three or been complete novices (and who four years to play a leading part First aid being given to the mock casualty in therefore had to complete their in relearning the old hand- the filming of A Place in the World after falling rocks turned a mock casualty into a training in the winter months), it rolling and surfing techniques real one. We were very lucky! was unique in offering a co- of the Greenland Eskimos. ordinated response to The sea proficiency test of the high place in 1969, when the emergencies with teams trained British Canoe Union was first last-minute introduction of a in cliff work, beach and surf drawn up at the College; the visiting team from rescue, and fast inshore life- College canoe lifeguards were led the team by open vote to boats. Just as the College's able to give numerous withdraw on the morning of the academic development was demonstrations of the value of a final day—a decision of consciously aimed at the canoe in expert hands as a conscience which was emergence of an international rescue vehicle just in and controversial and little matriculation certificate from beyond the surf line; and when understood on the beach itself, which many others could also the British Canoe Union held its but which earned the team a benefit, so too the rescue service first canoe surfing standing ovation the next concept was to have wider championships, the College took morning from the assembled student body of the College. implications. Summer courses were offered in The Social and Disciplinary A different contemporary view of all the coast rescue techniques. Framework sixth form colleges was that they A conference at the College in would be no more than 'transit 1964 made recommendations to Asked to define, Atlantic College, camps.' the Glamorgan County Council Desmond Hoare, drawing the and urban and rural district analogy of course from his own The Atlantic College was a sixth councils. Increasing press naval experience, often form college because it wished publicity helped to focus described it as a 'staff college for to influence young people from attention on the 'drowning teenagers'—a short course many countries at the season' on British beaches. The drawing selected people impressionable and idealistic College's extra-mural together for a new and intensive age of sixteen to nineteen, and department under the director of experience to broaden their at a time when they were not yet activities, Charles Thomson, set horizons, and returning them to under the pressures of about founding surf life-saving their old circumstances with specialized university education clubs round Wales. Hundreds of fresh perceptions and enriched or preparation for a career. But it young people joined in. Between attitudes. Neither Kurt Hahn nor was clear that we had much to April and September of 1967, for Lawrance Darvall could have gain too from Wearing King's example, 1,326 young people foreseen the emergence and view of adolescent development. received life-saving training at growth of sixth form colleges in the College, but still the demand Britain in the nineteen-sixties, could not be met. So Charles but R. Wearing King, chief Thomson moved to establish the education officer for Croydon National Rescue Training Centre from 1954-63, had pressed the at Aberavon near Port Talbot. sixth form concept on his education committee at about Understandably—and the time when Hahn and Darvall increasingly as numbers grew— first met, but without success. college students felt the need for He was very forthright in his an avenue of service to the local views in an article in Dinnertime in the Great Hall, 1962-64, community which did not depend Educational Supplement Stephanie Hoare, first female student, can be on drama and emergency. John published after his retirement: seen on the second table on the left. Grant Wood, our first geographer, initiated social “In the English educational Our approach was to avoid service in the first year and his pattern, round about sixteen is student hierarchies and initiatives were later much the point of change and decision prefectorial systems at all costs, developed and formalized by ... a successful transition to a to accept and encourage female Stuart Nichols and other new environment is a stimulating companionship, and in general colleagues. Few things can, I am experience for a spirited and terms to adopt an 'adult' view convinced, have done more for growing personality ... If you within prescribed limits towards the College in the cannot perceive that the youth of such matters as smoking, neighbourhood than the daily seventeen is nearer to the young alcohol and weekend visits away programme of visiting the elderly man who is four years his elder from College. Nonetheless, the and lonely, the physically and than he is to the child who is four College was by later standards a mentally handicapped, and the years his junior; that at bottom very formal place in its early socially disadvantaged. This is he no longer wants to be in the years, with a uniform for all and not work which can enjoy the environment where he spent his a routine throughout the working excitement and publicity of the twelfth birthday, and that this is a week which left little room for rescue services, but members of part of his search for adult flexibility. But the responsibilities the social service know that it too dignity; that the watershed were serious ones, whether in has its own special moments of comes at about sixteen, some the services, the activities drama and crisis combined with little time after puberty; then I generally, the numerous clubs a daily sense of achievement can only classify you among the and societies or the students and reward. great majority of adults . . . who council. I found it refreshing, and just do not understand young more reflective of real life, that people.” authority was tied to specific responsibilities (unlike traditional prefects, who are in authority To many of our foreign students truth and an intellectual integrity. wherever they go in the school), and parents our failure to mix the and the expertise of the second- sexes is regarded as unnatural It cannot be disputed that as the year students in the services and in the fullest sense of the word . . problems which will face these activities offered many . The philosophy of the Atlantic young people become larger, opportunities for leadership in College is just as applicable to and their responsibilities the instruction of the first-year girls as it is to boys, and few correspondingly greater, it is all students. Of course the parents would question that the the more important that they excitement of the early years mothers of future generations should achieve emotional created its own momentum in are as important as the fathers in maturity and a reasonable student morale, which was the creation of human attitudes knowledge of and confidence in greatly strengthened by the ... In almost every aspect other the opposite sex. This end is not College's invariable policy of than team games, the Atlantic served by a segregation lasting allowing, indeed encouraging, all College is at present a half five months at a time. its many visitors to talk alone school . . . and with complete frankness to I am afraid I cannot agree with groups of students. Nonetheless, This paper is brief, but there is the view that the presence of the it was natural for pressures for really nothing more to say on a opposite sex is necessarily a change from the students to decision which only in Britain distraction. From my own stiffen as we approached the could be regarded as very observation of human nature I end of the sixties, but there then significant. feel it more often provokes a occurred an event of the first desire to excel and win importance. Re-reading the many papers of admiration, and thus both the the time I am specially struck by academic side and the activities In June 1965 the headmaster the statement of Sir James would gain. gave an interview to a journalist. Whitaker, a long-standing and He was asked the increasingly personally most generous In the event, the £40,000 common question as to how, member of the board, later, in donated by Mr. and Mrs. Maresi with all its ideals, the College 1982, to become chairman: was spent on other needs could continue to exclude one against the promise that girls half of humanity. He replied that, I agree with the Headmaster that would be admitted as soon as if someone would give him the Atlantic College would practicable. The legend £40,000, he would commission a benefit from the presence of girls surrounding the arrangements girls' dormitory the next day. and hope that, in spite of the for the first girls deserves to be Unsurprisingly, members of the many difficulties involved, this preserved since it corresponds governing body, which had not will come about. I feel more more closely in spirit to the truth been consulted on this rather strongly on this subject now than of the situation than sober and important policy matter, called I did a year ago, and am now isolated facts. for an emergency meeting. On most anxious that my own Thursday of the same week a children should be educated in The headmaster obtained the cheque for £40,000 arrived from co-end. schools. The modern agreement of the chairman of an American couple living on child's personality is developing governors to the experimental Lake Como who were hitherto in a very different atmosphere to entry in September 1967 of a unknown to us, Mr. and Mrs. that of myself or my elders. To small number of day girls. It P.H. Maresi. The next few weeks us was handed a somewhat rigid transpired late in the day that were exciting! The College, staff although sensible set of values some of these girls could not get and students, was crystal clear which was accepted without home each night—for example in its view. The anxiety of the challenge. The new generation, to Norway or Malaysia! The Old governing body was which incidentally grows up Vicarage just outside the College understandable, but it became much faster and becomes gates was found able to take six increasingly clear that the responsible sooner, is in process girls. This was thought a highly threshold must be crossed. I still of re-assessing all the old suitable and safe address. That find the points made by values, and this is both no vicar had lived there for forty- Desmond Hoare in his paper to complicated and sometimes five years was not mentioned. In the governors both significant painful for all concerned, but it is the event the girls found and convincing: marked by a real search for the themselves in the warmhearted but, on necessary occasions, 1963 by the bursar, which George Schuster, who had been appropriately stern hands of Mrs. concluded: 'There is very little one of Britain's most Xanty Thomas and her husband breathing space left', nor of the distinguished civil servants, to Percy, and the whole occasion early in 1964 when Kurt Hahn. He did this in relationship was a great John Pearson came to the response to Sir George's request success. The following headmaster's study to say: 'We for a worthwhile cause to which September, 1968, fifteen more cannot issue the salary chits at he might devote 'his declining girls were entered, this time the end of the month.' years'—a defiant phrase as he directly onto the College was then eighty-one years of campus, and it is only fair to add Until September 1962 the age! Still somewhat preoccupied that there were no warmer or donations had been made for an with completing the financial more convinced supporters of international demonstration of rescue of Voluntary Service co-education after the event than Kurt Hahn's concept of Overseas (VSO), Sir George did the governors themselves. education by people who not accept a full measure of believed in his analysis of the responsibility for Atlantic College 'state of the young in the until the month in 1964 'when the Western World.' The support in salary chits could not be paid', Britain came from admirers of his which was due to the formal previous enterprises, notably notice given by the bankers that from the then independent steel they could not continue their industry, led by Sir Walter overdraft facilities. With his Benton Jones of Sheffield. immense experience and prestige from having managed From 1962 onwards almost no the financial affairs successively money was donated without a of the Sudan and , Sir prior visit to St. Donat's. This George sought immediate Seven of the first nine girls to attend Atlantic was entirely understandable, but support from a wide variety of College. the burden it placed on the sources beginning with the My own view, looking back, is College was immense. governor of the Bank of England. that co-education was the one In his account of his work for important area of College life for The needs fell into three distinct Atlantic College in his memoirs, which we were not, despite the categories: Private Work and Public Causes, thoroughness of the earlier a. capital for the purchase, which he wrote at the age of discussions, properly prepared - renovation and alteration of the ninety-seven, he described the not with respect to academic castle, and the provision of fundraising campaign as a courses, activities, or facilities - teaching, living and other 'record of hard slogging appeal but rather with respect to facilities; work . . . interspersed by attitudes and a coherent b. scholarships; miracles without which we could philosophy. However, as I was c. the need to cover the annual not have survived.' Among those about to assume the deficit, which was inescapable who know anything of our headmaster's duties myself, this as long as student numbers history, the view is unanimous may be no more than a comment were low and the scholarship that Sir George saved the on my own shortcomings. costs had to be held down to an College in 1964, but some uneconomical figure. miracles had fortunately Fund Raising occurred before he took the It was vital to raise capital fast helm. It is not possible to recreate in enough to enable the College to retrospect the sense of strain grow rapidly to the point where it A few days after Christmas 1962 which marked the struggle for could break even; and it was no Desmond Hoare received a call survival in the early years. The less important to prevent the from the Ford Foundation. They real burden was carried by a annual deficits from leading to wished to send a representative small number of people. Few of bankruptcy. to visit 'the next day'. St. Donat's us, for example, knew anything was snowed up, the students of the handwritten financial Towards the close of 1962 John were on holiday, the castle was summary addressed to the Marsh of the British Institute of empty. Three students living in headmaster on 5th November Management had introduced Sir London were detailed by telephone to board the 9 am Foreign Office, made the first of The hard slog continued for train from Paddington station three annual contributions to the several more years, and indeed and, mid-way between London College for the purpose of for scholarships it can never end. and Wales, to search the first- covering operating deficits during However, by 1967 Schuster felt class compartments for the the years 1964, 1965 and able to say that he had gained person most likely to be a Ford 1966—the first of these grants control of the financial situation. Foundation representative. By was paid under a Conservative By the end of Desmond Hoare's the time the train arrived at administration, the other two headship, the College still faced Bridgend station most of the under Labour. substantial annual deficits, but work was done! In the afternoon these were no longer worries of the student trio, aided by two or Furthermore, it was now that the the same magnitude. It was time three others, took a variety of Dulverton Trust, very much for the project to develop and roles in the dormitories, the encouraged by the personal expand overseas, for unless library, the chemistry interest and enthusiasm of David more colleges could be founded, laboratories, the language Wills, initiated its own major the initial aims of the project and laboratory, the art department support for the construction of the entire effort devoted to the and the sea area, as Mr. dormitory accommodation and College at St. Donat's could not Matthew Cullen made his tour of science laboratories. As be justified. At his own the school. Desmond Hoare's recorded by Schuster, the Trust suggestion, Desmond Hoare parting words to him were: If you decided after full consideration to retired from the headship to take want us to survive, you'd better give the Atlantic College project up for a few years the new role be quick!' On 10 April, 1963, the the largest contribution it had of provost, resident at St. Ford Foundation announced its ever made to a single cause. At Donat's. A new chapter was first ever grant to an institution the same time, David Wills from opening. below university level in Europe. his own personal trust funds made extremely generous International Development Another lifeline of great symbolic donations for which he insisted as well as practical significance at the time on anonymity. In 1968 Lord Mountbatten, was the interest free loan of chiefly at Sir George Schuster's £50,000 extended to the College Other contributions, major and invitation and urging, agreed to by the Municipal and General minor, were to follow. Sir James take the new position of Workers' Union, as it was then Whitaker contributed on a president of the International called. personal basis, with the Bernard Council. For some years he had Sunley Foundation under the taken an interest in the venture The year 1964 was decisive. As leadership of Bill Shapland being behind the scenes, and his already recounted, it marked our among the most prominent influence had been of decisive most narrow escape from contributors. The story of the first help in 1964 in securing the bankruptcy. It was also the year donation from Mr. and Mrs. major donation from the British in which the financial Maresi has already been told, Government. Robert Blackburn, cornerstones of our future were but I shall return to the subject of deputy headmaster at Atlantic laid. In January the Federal their great generosity. College, moved to London to Government of West Germany establish a revitalized announced a donation of International Office. His resilient 500,000 German marks optimism and speed of work, in towards the capital fund, the particular in drafting papers, first capital support to come were to be as important here as from a government. In April the they had been in the launching Draper's Company of the City of of the College and in our work London put up the money for a for the International new dormitory for forty-five Baccalaureate. students; the architects were Mountbatten set his own target— commissioned to begin work Sir George Schuster, Chairman of Governors, to give the project a worldwide immediately, and the students and Dr Graham Loveluck with students in the reputation and significance. He moved into their quarters in castle grounds. 1972 insisted on two immediate October. Meanwhile the British practical steps: the introduction Government, through the of a new title which would more without referring to many of his realized in the final stages of the accurately reflect the true aims audience individually in his interview. He then remembered of the project, and the design of remarks, and he would always that the premier came from the a symbol, or logo, which would ensure that he knew exactly Agrarian Party, so he began “I clearly represent our aims. From where they were seated so that am also a farmer, I have a place this moment therefore our official he could be sure to gesture called Broadlands with so many title became the United World towards them at the appropriate cows, so many sheep . . .” College of the Atlantic. moment. I know too that every Understanding dawned with the meeting which he chaired was prime minister. “That makes you Lord Mountbatten set a fast pace given, if necessary, hours of a peasant too.” Lord for the small staff of the preparation, with his personal Mountbatten was rather quiet International Office under Robert copy of the agenda timed to about the outcome of this Blackburn. He travelled widely within periods as short as two meeting. and apparently tirelessly. One minutes even when the meeting sensed how invigorated he felt to was to last two days. However, Lord Mountbatten was an be working for a young project even for him things could go inspiration to many UWC concerned with young people on wrong. At the outset of one committees and personalities an international level. Public International Council meeting he round the world. His support too awareness worldwide was invited the delegates to endorse of the International sharply increased by his him formally as their 'chairman'. Baccalaureate was unstinting. involvement, and new avenues The charming but rather He presented the first ever of fundraising opened up. He determined lady representative diplomas at the International was able to arrange for both the from Iran invited Mountbatten 'in School of Geneva in 1970; his USSR and the People's Republic these times and at an intervention at one critical of to send students and international meeting' to call financial moment was decisive, teachers to Atlantic College, and himself 'chairperson'. and his prestige and influence to initiate a UWC scholarship Mountbatten was, at best, half- were of really great importance programme from the EEC for amused, but she stood her too in persuading certain developing countries. ground. The meeting, amid 'difficult' countries to amend their growing embarrassment, was university regulations in favour of unable to move forward for the new examination. The several minutes. Suddenly, manner of his death provoked a Mountbatten cut through the renewed sense of commitment whispered comments of would- to the UWC ideals. At the be helpful colleagues by conclusion of the television film answering that he would be which recorded his funeral happy to become 'chairperson' service in Westminster Abbey, for the day, and 'surely you will an Atlantic College student from be happy with that'. Amid the India was shown against the general merriment she really had background of St Donat's Castle no choice. speaking these words: Lord Mountbatten, the first President of the UWC International Council, with a group of early Chinese students. His contact with the Another occasion ended rather 'We say good-bye to you, Chinese Ambassador in London led to the first less successfully. Lord Mountbatten, and thank you. ever visit of a delegation from the People’s Republic. The first twelve students, Mountbatten had secured an Here are some words which you accompanied by a teacher/supervisor, were interview at short notice with the knew well: funded by the Chinese Embassy and were the first such students to attend a secondary Prime Minister of Sweden, and school outside China since the communist was rattling away in his high- At no time in human history has takeover after the Second World War. flying English about the there been a greater need for International Baccalaureate and drawing together the races and One of the strongest impressions the UWC, and how beneficial it nations of the world so that their I retain of him is the time he would be for Sweden to increase energies and many sided genius devoted to preparation— its grants to both organisations. can be combined in peace preparation of speeches and Unfortunately the Prime Minister instead of being wasted in preparation of meetings. I never did not understand English, conflict. knew him to address a gathering which Lord Mountbatten only A safe journey home.' continued unbroken to this day academic achievement is fine, and has been extended to three but it has not saved mankind, Lord Mountbatten had become additional colleges. and modern man needs a quality our international president in of caring and concern built into 1968. Desmond Hoare became The second purpose of these his life style which mercifully is provost in August 1969, insisting Asian journeys was to follow up not the sole preserve of an on residence at St. Donat's as the plan of the Prime intellectual elite . . .” being essential for the first-hand Minister, Mr. Lee Kwan Yew, to knowledge of the life of a college establish an international school These developments, in which and its students which was in the premises of the former St. Desmond Hoare played a driving necessary for the successful John's British Army School. The role, but in which of course promotion of the project world- Singapore International School others became increasingly wide. opened under the headship of involved—David Wills, Robin Meurig Owen, our first head of Hankey, and, naturally enough, Desmond Hoare had long English at Atlantic College and Lord Mountbatten with his believed that the colleges should subsequently headmaster of Oak immense prestige through that be regional. Now, he was Park Comprehensive School in area of the world—also opened persuaded by students and ex- Havant. His death after only other perspectives. Desmond students that each college ought eighteen months was a cruel Hoare, for example, had wanted to have a full cross-section of blow. He was succeeded by this Asian College to have three cultures and races, and he Peter Jolley, first head of science bases—in Singapore, Malaysia began a series of journeys to and then director of studies at and Indonesia, the UWC South-East Asia which were to Atlantic College before becoming students to spend parts of their be of great significance. founder headmaster of course in each. The practical Pleckgate Comprehensive difficulties have so far been too The first result of these journeys, School in Blackburn. His death great, but an extramural centre with his wife Naomi, was to bring only eighteen months later, has been built on the east coast scholarship students to St. without any prior warning or of Johore which has enabled Donat's from countries and illness, was another bitter hundreds of UWC students to cultures which were entirely new tragedy. The legacy of these two move across the border from to us—, Malaysia, fine colleagues of the St. Donat's Singapore to gain first hand Singapore, Indonesia, the 1962 generation was twofold—to experience of the jungle, the Philippines and , as well give the United World Colleges a ecology of the area, the local as Australia and New Zealand. firm base in South-East Asia, Malay communities and the Robin Duke, the outstandingly and to open up the whole issue impact on all of these of the vast helpful and effective British of extending our philosophy development projects being Council representative in Tokyo beyond a select academic group undertaken there by the at the time, has described his of 16-19 year-olds, for the UWC government. At the same time, amusement and amazement of South-East Asia, as it later Desmond Hoare pressed his over the visits of this ex-admiral, became, was and is in effect an UWC colleagues very strongly ex-headmaster, now provost international comprehensive indeed, but unsuccessfully, to (and what is that in Japanese?), school of boys and girls from associate themselves with the exposing the leading business twelve upwards. Peter Jolley in idealistic efforts of Mr. Somnuk men of Japan to forceful particular was to develop this to set up an international school descriptions of the UWC project, theme very strongly and in for carefully selected of which they had no prior persuasively in a paper he apprentices, initially from the knowledge, combined with presented in 1974: South-East Asian nations, at powerful clouds of tobacco which they would study the use smoke from what must have “Certainly there is an urgent of the land and the light industry temporarily been the largest pipe need for all young people to and accountancy which must go in Japan, and of leaving the share their views and feelings in with it. country with a national an international context and committee established, the there are good reasons to It was now that he expressed his active patronage of the influential suggest that the urgency is conviction more and more Keidanren, and a chain of greatest among the socially and frequently that UWC must work scholarships which has intellectually disadvantaged . . . out its responsibilities towards the developing world: however, entirely unsuitable from stage and the effort failed. every point of view. An exciting However, Lester Pearson had Our original philosophy may be, proposal was made for Vermont, shown his interest, and he was and, I believe, still is sound and in New England, but its cost and to pay two visits to Atlantic rewarding, but it must remain feasibility had not been College. I recall them both well. relevant . . . journalists who have assessed realistically. Another For the first, he arrived so visited in recent years have proposal, again short-lived, was exhausted that I thought the remarked . . . that no one could for a college in Iran, and there kindest if not the only course of quarrel with our philosophy or were others too, which did not action was to allow him to get to intentions . . . but what had this reach the stage of formal bed. When he finally retired after to do with the real world investigation and follow-up. dinner, he took with him the problems of poverty, repression College yearbook. By 8 am the and strife? What had this to do This was in my judgment, next morning he had not only with the students' revolution and looking back, not altogether a walked the campus but had their hesitant rejection of long happy time for the United World sufficiently memorized the accepted values, the defeat in Colleges. On the one hand we yearbook to recognize without Vietnam of the most had an international president of hesitation and without intro- sophisticated technology, the still world stature who was bringing duction our Canadian teacher growing disparity between the our efforts almost daily into the and all our twelve or so very rich and the very poor, the public eye somewhere, and who Canadian students—and he also shift in thinking on how and why was developing a growing knew all the latest Canadian ice and in what to educate, the international organisation of hockey scores. His second visit development of human committees, chairmen, was made specifically to instruments controlling human secretaries and patrons. On the introduce his wife to the UWC change, social and personal. other, we had attempted several concept, and I remember the (January 1971). projects without success; we did long discussion late one evening not really know whether we during which he listened It was at about this time that he could break out beyond the 16- attentively as our Polish and Andrew Maclehose, shortly 19 age range without diffusing chairman of the students' council to become director of studies at our aims; and there was a sharp explained how significant it Atlantic College, completed a conflict of opinion over our would be if the socialist countries feasibility study for a college in relevance and potential role vis- of Eastern Europe could have India which was detailed down to à-vis the Third World. For many their own United World College; the cost of the school handyman of the former students of Atlantic at a later stage it and Atlantic and with clear recommendations College, anxious to continue a College, under pressure from for a site; and some eighteen personal involvement but not their respective students, would months later that he presented a simply as 'old boys' and 'old girls' grow together. After the death of paper A Third Experimental of a single school, the project this great Canadian, world Shape, a proposal for a new kind appeared to lack a missionary citizen and Nobel Peace of college based on agricultural nature and forward-looking Prizewinner, it was the wish of training. idealism; and it was now too that his family that the Canadian Desmond Hoare was to move memorial to him should be a Desmond Hoare's ideas did not away from St. Donat's to Ireland. United World College. take root, and there were other failures and disappointments too. It was against this background The insistence of Pearson It had in 1969 seemed likely that, that the foundation of the Lester College that all students should at long last, a college could be B. Pearson College of the Pacific attend on full scholarships and opened in Kurt Harm's native in 1974, and its great success, without parental contributions, country, Germany, where the gave us all such encouragement. though immensely difficult to town of Cuxhaven had offered a In Canada, attention had been sustain, has greatly stiffened and site and facilities. Uncertainties concentrated in the early sixties encouraged the resolve of the and delays were all too common, on a possible project in the Banff movement as a whole to insist the offer lapsed, and much National Park under the general strictly on entry by merit alone. valuable time and effort were leadership of Senator Donald The village atmosphere of the expended on an alternative site Cameron, but we could not have beautiful Pearson College site on further south which was, sustained two colleges at that the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and the warm, informal committee, Antonin Besse, have activities in liaison with the relationships established there been well rewarded twenty-one departments of social welfare of between all members of the years after he donated St. both South and Mid Glamorgan. College community, have been a Donat's Castle by the two Three new developments have very important contribution to the distinguishing features of this been the estate service, which evolution of the UWC new College—it is the first firmly farms sixty acres of College land educational style. outside the English-speaking and offers students quite world, and it is the first to be comprehensive instruction in After a further pause of some sponsored entirely by animal husbandry and five years, there were more government initiative and funds. horticulture; marine science, developments, despite the which gives training in marine deepening world recession. How has the Atlantic College ecology and underwater Waterford/KaMhlaba School, prospered meanwhile? swimming, and was much founded only one year after involved in the establishing of Atlantic College in circumstances As the first College, its Britain's first underwater nature of great difficulty in Swaziland, continuing success has clearly reserve at Lundy; and a revived had grown from its original few been critical to the movement as extra-mural department which, indigenous huts into a fully a whole, for scarcely a day can both during College terms and equipped school of 330 pupils. pass without visitors, often the holidays, offers the facilities After several reciprocal visits and several, numbering hundreds and the expertise of the school a period of informal association, annually and, as Naomi Hoare to hundreds of young people the school was welcomed remarked early on, 'every visitor each year who suffer from enthusiastically into UWC is a VIP'. The College has grown physical, mental or social membership in 1978—the to 350 students; boys and girls handicap. The most striking second college to break the 16- are in equal numbers; and the recent innovations have been 19 mould. Perhaps more scholarship programme is residential courses for delinquent importantly, we had gained a beginning to benefit from a youngsters under intermediate focal point and a stake in the capital endowment fund. The treatment schemes, and affairs of southern Africa. range of nationalities among vocational training courses for both staff and students has been the young unemployed. The In 1978, just a year before his extended. From 1971 onwards influence of Alec Dickson, death on 27 August 1979, Lord all students have been prepared founder of both Voluntary Mountbatten handed on the for the International Service Overseas and presidency to HRH Prince Baccalaureate, the College Community Service Volunteers, Charles, the Prince of Wales, thereby becoming the first school has always been strong in the and the United World College in the world to abandon entirely College; and the extramural became one of the prince's a national in favour of an department in recent years has major preoccupations. international examination above all been an attempt, in his system. The aesthetic life of the words, 'to have a credit balance The year 1982 brought two new College has been much in the social as well as the Colleges—the UWC of the strengthened by the appointment financial audit at the end of the American West in New , of full-time music staff, by the year.' and the UWC of the Adriatic near restoration of old stables to Trieste in , of which the provide art and music The change from the British writer was to become departments, and by the opening GCE Advanced-level headmaster in September 1982. after many teething problems of examinations to the International The former we owe to Armand a community arts centre in the Baccalaureate has very greatly Hammer and his foundation; its fully-rebuilt old tithe-barn. enriched the academic life of the importance is that the United College, for the students are now States now has a full and fitting The coast rescue units have a committed, also by their role to play in our affairs. The remarkable record of service in examination results, to a more latter has opened after almost a incidents major and minor on the general and liberal education. decade of false starts and local coastline, with over 150 The threads are drawn together disappointed hopes, but the rescues having been effected. for them in one of the IB's most patience and determination of The social service group has innovative features, a course the chairman of the founding very greatly expanded its compulsory for all students in the theory of knowledge which, In 1983, as Atlantic College are successful in playing a interestingly, was foreshadowed completes its twenty-first year, it relevant role of innovation and in Dr Loffler's 1960 paper when is timely to consider how well we example in the field of he urged that the teaching must have been prepared by our educational ideas. enable the students 'to recognize 'adolescence' to face the future. corresponding relationships of It is, I believe, of hopeful First published in The Story of St fact, method and structure significance that the Desmond Donat’s Castle and Atlantic between the various branches of Hoare concept of training in College, ed. Roy Denning, D. learning.' One of Kurt Hahn's agricultural management has Brown and Sons Ltd, Cowbridge, principal ambitions has been been brought back to life as the 1983 realized too, albeit without his result of conversations between Biographical Note direct influence, in that all our new international president David Sutcliffe is a modern languages students, in preparation for the and, first, students at Atlantic graduate of Cambridge University. diploma examination, must College and, subsequently, Following a year in France, he spent submit an extended essay of former students in , four years teaching and housemastering at Salem in southern Germany and a some 4000 words, or a scientific and that the Simon Bolivar year at Gordonstoun School before project, as a training in working United World College will open in being invited by Desmond Hoare to join with primary sources. The Venezuela in the bicentenary the founding staff of Atlantic College. teaching staff have been able to year of Bolivar's birth. It is also Here he held the posts of housemaster, develop new syllabuses, ranging significant that renewed and chief coach of the beach rescue and inshore lifeboat services (in 1976 he from topics such as marine confident efforts are under way took part in the Observer single-handed science to political thought and to found a College in India and transatlantic race), director of studies to mathematical studies for the that Asia and the Pacific, 'the and deputy headmaster, before being mathematically 'blind'; two of the Mediterranean of the Future,' appointed to the headmastership in 1969. It was his energy and vision which most recent are peace studies (the world's six most populous set up the extra-mural centre, the arts and the religious experience of countries face Asian oceans) are centre and the farm as integral parts of man, both of which introduce moving steadily to the top of the College life. In September 1982 he new and difficult problems of UWC agenda. became founding headmaster of the assessment not normally United World College of the Adriatic at Trieste, being succeeded as encountered by academic How widely can the UWC river headmaster at Atlantic College by examiners in that the personal run whilst retaining the depth to Andrew C. Stuart. attitudes of the students on flow strongly and with banks high The family of the late Dr Kurt Hahn has completion of the course, rather enough to preserve its sense of invited David Sutcliffe to write the biography of this most important figure than achievement in any narrow identity? in the history of the United World scientific sense, represent at Colleges movement. least to some extent the success Sir George Schuster was fond of or failure of the student and his talking of 'the living body' of the teacher. Both point towards the project, and Desmond Hoare of fundamental purpose of the its 'human strength,' and of College, which is concerned, not course this vitality will be with knowledge, but with human decisive. The danger, however, attitudes. is that any institution, once established, claims an ever Finally, the past decade has greater degree of energy and seen the renovation of all the old good management to maintain buildings on the estate, the its momentum and good health, replacement of the old Hearst and the administration and swimming pool, and the financial management of the complete rebuilding of the UWC movement is now a very centuries-old cavalry barracks. complex and demanding task Much of this the College owes to indeed. We have to try to new benefactors, but much also remember that a Trojan horse is to old friends such as the more effective than the finest Bernard Sunley Foundation and, squadron of cavalry, and that the more than any other, Sonny and good health of the Colleges is Phebe Maresi. important only as long as they