Sewell, Ben – Grantham teacher was cricket mad

Ben Sewell (1906-1980)

THE son of a Westgate Barber, V E Sewell, was deputy head of the Boys Central School. He was known throughout his life as ‘Ben’.

Christened Vern Edward Sewell he was known as Ven within the family and outside as Ben.

He was educated at Dame Margaret Thorold’s Grammar School, Sedgebrook, and King’s School, Grantham.

In 1921 he joined Swinegate builders Parks as an apprentice joiner.

Over the next eight years he was involved in building several notable landmarks in the area, including the reading desk on the pulpit in St Wulfram’s and the Duke of Rutland’s stabling at Eastwell Hall.

He also worked on the new Boys’ Central School in the late 1920s, after its original, the former town jail behind the Guildhall, was destroyed by fire.

After qualifying as a handicrafts teacher, he joined the school’s staff in 1933 where he remained for 38 years, raising to deputy head.

Ben was also an enthusiastic cricketer and often amused his pupils by practising his strokes in the woodwork room while they were engaged in set work.

He played for Grantham Cricket Club from 1921 until 1951. He was also a regularly visitor to Trent Bridge, in his younger days cycling there.

He took up golf in the 1950s, joining Belton Park Golf Club and amused his pupils by practising his strokes at both sports in the woodwork room during practical work.