Standing on the Shoulders of Giants – Edwin Bean and Jimmy Hough
After a break for Classics Enrichment week, in Monday’s assembly, we returned to the History of our school with the story of two Headmasters whose time here between 1891 and 1945 not only revived our School but arguably shaped its very identity for the modern era.
Edwin Bean (1891-1913) succeeded John Newnum in 1891. Born in Bombay, India, he arrived with a profound belief that education should focus on forming character first and foremost, before training the mind. Despite suffering nervous exhaustion during his final exams at Oxford, he served successfully as a headmaster at All Saints’ College in Australia, where he quadrupled pupil numbers and introduced a host of innovations, including school magazines, cadet corps, sports days, and the very first sixth-form prefects, something he introduced during his time at Brentwood. Both his parents were from Brentwood, and his father had attended our School, which is perhaps what drew him to Essex, where he was selected unanimously as Headmaster. Bean embraced the idea of inclusivity and advocated ‘rich and poor sitting side by side in the same classroom’. By the time he left in 1913, nearly a third of Brentwood’s pupils were on full fee remission, and he worked hard to break down divisions between day pupils and boarders. He also significantly reduced the use of corporal punishment, restricting its application by ruling that only he could administer it. However, Bean was also a traditionalist. A devout classicist, he championed Latin as a cornerstone of the curriculum and initially neglected science. The school’s finances were also in a poor state, and its buildings were rundown, until a critical turning point arrived with the generosity of Evelyn Heseltine, the Chairman of Governors, who acquired land and largely financed the construction of Main School. By the time of his retirement in 1913, Bean had revitalised Brentwood, increasing the roll to 225 pupils and forging a clear identity for the school.
He was succeeded by James Fisher Hough (1914-1945), who had served under Bean as Second Master and a teacher of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. Hough would become one of the most revered figures in the School’s history, steering it through two World Wars and a period of remarkable expansion that saw pupil numbers quadruple, from 211 pupils in 1914 to 887 by 1945. Hough’s leadership was defined by his dedication and commitment. He significantly modernised the curriculum with a greater focus on Science and Maths, as well as broadening the range of modern languages taught. His tenure as Headmaster bookended the two World Wars. During World War I, the School briefly served as barracks, and, as was the case for many communities across the country, Brentwood was profoundly affected, with 60 former pupils and teachers losing their lives, as well as a severe influenza outbreak. World War II brought even greater losses, with 173 Old Brentwoods perishing, something that deeply and personally affected him. Nonetheless, the School proved resourceful, contributing to the war effort through various initiatives, including raising £6100 for a Spitfire Fund. Hough oversaw an extraordinary physical expansion of the School. During his time as Headmaster, numerous boarding houses and playing fields were acquired and facilities like the Memorial Hall, Bean Library, and the Lawrence Building were opened, often in part funded by Hough himself. His sister, Ethel, also played an important role, managing the boarding side of School life and being an active member of the local community.
Jimmy Hough retired in 1945, leaving behind a large and strong school, and his immense contributions were recognised with the award of an OBE. Both he and Edwin Bean left an indelible mark on the School with their distinct leadership styles and profound dedication, in Bean’s case despite major financial challenges and in Hough’s despite having to navigate the physical and emotional toll of two World Wars.
Their portraits hang in Mem Hall – when I’m in that room, I often think about the legacy they left behind that continues to serve the School to this day, and the fact that all who work here today are, in one sense, standing on the shoulders of these two giants of Brentwood School history.
Have a great weekend
Best wishes
Michael Bond
