Nigel Gilpin (1933-2014)

Charlie Lambert (G 64-68) adds the following to the appreciation which appeared in our last issue:

“He was a great teacher who could really bring English to life. He also had some unusual methods of making us think (always a challenging task!). I remember very clearly one lesson when he decided to give us clues in the style of a cryptic crossword, the answers to which were all surnames of pupils in the class. The first one was straightforward: 'Panting for cooling streams' which, since we sang a certain hymn on a regular basis, we all immediately solved as Hart (Martyn Hart who became a governor. Martyn was the best place-kicker of a rugby ball I've ever seen, with the possible exception of Jonny Wilkinson). The rest of Nigel's clues provoked a lot of head-scratching. The one relating to my own name foxed me completely but I can still recall it to this day: 'And after you've done that, clout Fred.'  Answer, as he gleefully revealed: Lam Bert. Ha ha!”

John West (SH 61-64) adds:

“Mr. Gilpin reignited my passion for English. I was soon back at the top of the form. We had discussions in class - often ranging far outside the lesson. I remember we argued about the morality of the great train robbers, a current event at the time.
I recall his horror when I tried to say that language was strictly for communication! He coaxed us into loving words for their own sake and of course he expanded our vocabularies.
My favourite line of his was written on Tim DeGruyther's prep: 'DeGruyther, you must learn to eschew the glib!' Magic! He helped us grow up.
It takes a special man to infuse a love of English into a group of fifteen year olds, and Mr Gilpin was a very special man.”

 

 

Home

The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk