Dacre Watson (SH 56-62) writes: John S. Boulter - Master at St Bees 1913-1939 and Headmaster from 1939-1945.
“During the summer an Old St Beghian friend, Hugh Boulter, died quite suddenly and his wife, Carol, asked me to contribute a short piece on the influence the Boulter family had on St Bees School, in particular Hugh’s father, John S Boulter, who became Headmaster in 1939 during a very difficult period for the school. During my time as President, Tony Reeve kindly presented me with a copy of the ‘History of St Bees from 1583 to 1939’, which I found fascinating and which helped me to write the account below. If any Old St Beghian cares to read this illuminating history, I have no doubt that they will experience a deep sense of déjà vu.
Hugh’s father, John Sydney Boulter, came to St Bees as a master in 1913 where I think he taught Classics (most Headmasters in those days seem to have been classicists). He appears to have followed the normal life of a master at a minor public school such as St Bees, immersing himself in particular in ‘games’ (rugby and cricket) as well as the cadet force which was probably known as the OTC in those days. He was also deeply involved in general Cumberland life. As happens so frequently, it was only when the school was faced with serious financial difficulties which were threatening its closure, that JSB came to the fore and was the one who stood up to lead a remarkable recovery in the fortunes there. During the late 1930s St Bees School had experienced a steady fall in its numbers of pupils and by March 1938 the Headmaster (Howard Mallaby) was obliged to write to all parents that the school was in consultation with the Cumberland Education Authority with a view to changing its status so that it could come under the umbrella of that body; in other words, become a ‘maintained’ school. This led to many of the parents who were left withdrawing their sons and thereby exacerbating the problems the school was already facing. Later in March, the Headmaster issued a formal statement: ‘If these negotiations do not ultimately reach a satisfactory conclusion, the Governing Body will be compelled to close the School after July 1939.’
	Hugh's father, John Boulter (centre), as Headmaster in 1941
In May the Headmaster announced his retirement, and the fact that Mr J S Boulter would become Headmaster the following September. Notwithstanding the dismay felt by those involved with education in Cumberland and in the nation generally, there was little coordinated action by anyone.  However, the annual Old St Beghians’ Day was held at St Bees in June 1938 and it was at this meeting that John Boulter came forward with a plan which, if accepted by the Governors, might just give the school a chance of surviving and even of prospering. John Boulter turned to the Old St Beghians in an appeal for financial help, asking them to raise among them a sum of £2000 per year (£135,500 in today’s terms) for up to five to seven years; in fact, the final sum raised was £18,000 to cover those years. In September 1938 John Boulter became Headmaster of St Bees School, at which time there remained only 71 pupils, but it would be true to say that had it not been for him, his strength of character and his organisational skills, the school would undoubtedly have closed in 1939. John Boulter saw the school through the war years and only retired in 1945. In 1939 he had married the matron of School House, where Hugh was born in 1940. John Boulter died in 1969. St Bees School owes him a great debt.”

 

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