David GRIFFITHS (retired in 1996)

David Griffiths is a rarity: he is a man of clear principle who is also always a boon companion; a man earnestly concerned about issues and causes, whose company is consistently a delight. The last of his many 'A' Level classes described him as a loveable man and he is quite simply one of the nicest people at Elstree. His concern for others, his skill as a listener, his wise counsel and forbearing acceptance of human quirks and eccentricities have accompanied him through a wide range of academic and pastoral roles at Haberdashers'.

David cares about education and he cares about people, in both cases with a care which is one hundred per cent honest. He has always wanted his pupils to use their minds, to discover their own responses to ideas and to unlock their true potential. He has always tried to help boys to behave reasonably rather than unreasonably, constructively rather than destructively. He has willingly offered the hand of friendship to those in trouble in the hope that if they can get back on their feet, they will be able to stride forward.

A native of Cardiff, David read History at Queens College, Cambridge, after boarding school and two years in the R.A.F. He taught at Embley Park and was senior history master at Silcoates. Modern historians regard 1968 as a year of change, of incipient revolution, and it was in the autumn of that year that David joined Haberdashers' at the invitation of the then Headmaster, Dr Taylor and his dynamic Head of History, Keith Dawson. The width and depth of his vision and his interests were recognised early when he assumed responsibility for both Sixth-Form General Studies and the Special Service Unit (forerunner of School and Community Service): an appropriate dual role for such a passionate believer in good thinking and good action. He also coached a Rugby XV, was a sixth-form tutor and quickly established himself as an affable and respected member of the Common Room whose collegiality mattered so much to him.

In 1977 David became Head of History and also a Boarding House Master - again a brace of appointments marking his academic and pastoral gifts. As Head of Department for twelve years, David led and nurtured a happy team who enabled junior boys to enjoy their history and senior boys to proceed to prodigious success at the very highest levels including Oxbridge starred 'firsts'. Many young teachers were grateful for the genial encouragement of this self-effacing and (in those days) pipe-smoking mentor.

Always keen to give credit to others, David made a central contribution to considerable success. One particular moment was when a Cambridge candidate received a letter from the examiners saying that his essays in the entrance paper written as a Haberdashers' schoolboy would guarantee him a "first" if reproduced in his university "finals" three years later. The admiration and affection of past and present pupils and colleagues assumed tangible form in a very happy surprise dinner in David's honour in 1989, at which he himself made an unprepared but memorable and thoughtful speech.

Until 1983 David was also living in Aldenham House with his wonderful wife Flora and children John and Fay (then pupils at the two schools). When boarders had problems and parents were too far away, they did not turn to David in vain, and the Griffiths family flat was invariably a place of warmth and security. Indeed their flat served as a major centre of the School's social life. One happy memory is of Flora teaching a diffident young teacher to do an 'eightsome reel' before he went to a Scottish house party where a fellow guest would be a girl whom he hoped to know better. The reel was a success, the girl married him and their family is now a five some.

Aldenham House was also the setting for the residential holidays for mentally handicapped children which provided such golden memories for the generations of boy and girl helpers who participated in them. David was involved from the start and led the last three holidays: first up, last to bed, driving the minibus, organising musical activities, swimming and games.