Brentwood School - Brentwoodian 2020

96 When Mr Willis started teaching at Brentwood, fresh out of Oxford University and a newly qualified teacher, the Cold War and VietnamWar still raged and the UK was in its first years of decimal currency and EEC membership. It was 1973. As a long-standing Head of Politics, Mr Willis is one of the most straightforward and apolitical of men. He has suggested that one of his greatest sources of relief was to have avoided election, by a mere 24 votes, as a Brentwood Councillor. That independence from an ideological straitjacket is part of the reason why he has been able (and so willing) to expose Brentwood students to contentious issues, from inviting controversial figures to SABS and the Historical Society, and from speaking out on points of principle. During his time overseeing the Sir Antony Browne Society he has secured visits from Cabinet Ministers, Peers of the Realm, a former hostage, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, a previously jailed Government Chief Economic Adviser, art critics, Strictly Come Dancing competitors and Big Brother Housemates. One speaker agreed to come on the basis that Mr Willis was the only person he knew who still issued handwritten invitations. Hopefully a small section of the History of the School - a project which Mr Willis is going to write - will be reserved for the meeting where a hypnotist convinced half of the audience that an elephant had walked through Old Big School. In all of his years of teaching, Mr Willis has remained innovative and intellectually curious. Generations of pupils, upon seeing his pained facial expression, feared they had the wrong answer - only for him to nod in grudging acceptance of their viewpoint. Mr Willis’ contribution has encompassed far more than Politics and his stewardship of SABS, of course. His Kentwell Hall visits saw the entire First Year dressed as Tudors, Art History trips to London involved him standing in the middle of the road and ordering Brentwood traffic to stop for his charges, House Diplomacy competitions, re-enactment of a Victorian lesson, and custody of the school archive - including centuries-old oyster shells - have all been part of his story here. His contribution and idiosyncrasy will not easily be forgotten; generations of pupils have been inspired by him, as evidenced by the number of them who have entered Politics and related careers. The number of former pupils who remain in touch with a teacher is one measure of our success in this noble profession - Mr Willis’ contacts are varied, distinguished, and genuine. We can leave it for Mr Willis, as he writes - or perhaps re-writes - the School history, to discover if his half-decade length of service has ever been surpassed. Even if so, it is unlikely that we will see his equal in the School’s next half a millennium. Mike Willis Mary Belsham Mary Belsham was a part of the Brentwood School community for 20 years. She played key roles in the academic and pastoral life of the School, spending time as Head of Year and Head of History. As Head of Second/Third Year, she was valued by parents and students alike, who appreciated her supportive approach to her year group, as well as the time she spent steering every student in the right direction with sensible advice. As a History teacher, she was appreciated by her students for all the extra time that she spent supporting them outside the classroom. This was enjoyed by the Third Year for whom she ran a trip to the First World War Battlefields for several years. She used her expertise to bring to life many parts of the History curriculum, particularly in the case of her Russian History A Level students, who always appreciated her support and expertise. She was a wonderful teacher, a kind and generous colleague, and a genuine friend to those around her.