Seeds of success sown at Magnus
Former pupils of Newark’s Magnus Church of England School read like a Who’s Who? of prominent public figures.
The school’s history stretches back nearly 500 years and ex-pupils have found fame in, among others, the fields of sport, medicine, the military and entertainment.
Sir Godfrey Hounsfield (1919-2004) the inventor of the CAT scanner attended the Magnus, as did Sir Joseph Lockwood (1904-1991) chairman of the record label EMI.
Other well-known old boys include the television comedian Norman Pace, one half of the duo Hale and Pace, who still has family in Newark.
He attended Magnus from 1964-70 and said he had fond memories of the school, although at the time, he failed to realise the start that it was giving him.
Speaking from his London home, Norman said the teachings of the classics when the school was a boys’ grammar helped him to become an actor and comedian.
He said: “Four or five pupils would go to Cambridge, and on the sports side, which I truly enjoyed, people would represent the county and beyond at tennis, football, cricket and rugby which was all massive for a provincial grammar school.
“It’s sad to hear, particularly now that I look back. I wish them all of the very best in turning things around.”
Former England international rugby star Dusty Hare, of Fiskerton, now a coach at Leicester Tigers, was a pupil at the Magnus from 1964-70.
Dusty, who left to initially become a professional cricketer before switching sports, said hearing about the special measures was a sad day.
“I was never too good on the education side but I enjoyed my time there immensely,” Dusty said.
He said he felt things had never been the same since tinkering saw the Magnus become a mixed school.
He said at that moment the school lost its identity and 500 years of history effectively came to an end, reinforced when an all-weather multi-use pitch replaced the first team rugby pitch.
“In practice that system of an all boys’ school and an all girls’ school worked successfully,” said Dusty, who was picked for the England under-19s rugby side while a pupil.
“The Magnus was the vehicle that gave me my start and the core skills that I needed for my sport. It is those core skills that we use at Leicester Tigers today.
“There was a professionalism and an enthusiasm that everyone from my era will recognise.
“What we learned at school from the very outset was respect. That word seems to have left the system.
“My thoughts are with the Magnus but I think it’s a reflection on our society.”
