Harry Marks, (1898-1961)
MATHS master Harold Frederick Marks was born at Wellington in Somerset, the son of a cabinet maker.
He went to the local school leaving in 1915 to attend the University College of the South-West of England at Exeter, but after less than a year he entered war service in the
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Bristol Division).
He moved from Ordinary Seaman to signalman at the shore-based stations of Victory VI and Pembroke I.
He then served at sea for nearly two years on the cruiser HMS. Astraea.
In 1919 he resumed his course at Exeter, and gained external degrees from the University of London, with an Honours BSc. (Second Class).
After graduating he chose to become a schoolmaster, first as mathematics master at Truro, then as senior mathematics master at Morley Grammar School, Leeds from 1924.
In January 1928 he took the post of mathematics master at The King’s School, Grantham
In 1948 he was appointed Second Master, on the retirement of Billy Rowell.
Harry Marks undertook much of the organisation of the school and prepared the timetable and worked with four headmasters.
He was a keen rugby man, and for 22 years until 1950 he was actively coaching School teams.
In 1945 he stood for election to Grantham Council, as a Conservative candidate in the strongly Labour St. John’s Ward, but he was defeated.
He became Chairman of Grantham Building Society.
Mr Marks died in Grantham Hospital following a heart attack, only six weeks before he was due to retire.
I remember my father Gordon Wyllie telling me that he taught him maths at Kings – I think that when I went there in 1960 he was still at the school and I think taught me for one term – I also remember that Gus Golding (or was it Golder?) had taught my father history and was still teaching at the school while I was there – he was a bit like Grantly Budgen from Waterloo Road as I remember- and was alway over at the pub at lunchtime and often came back with a bottle of stout in the pocket of his tweed jacket!
Happy days
I believe Gus Golding was the brother of the brilliant novelist William Golding (Lord of the Flies, Rites of Passage, etc)
Mr. Marks taught me for a year. He was a very stern man who disliked lateness – I know to my cost.
Gus Golding also “taught” me. At least some of the time…… He used to give us a passage to read and then, robes flowing, went straight to the pub (Five Bells?). We used to look out of the corridor windows to see him going through the pub doors. I never had a detention or had to write 500 lines for mis-behaving……. he was never there to hand any out ! That’s not strictly true – he always came back in time to give you homework.