In the second of two articles, Terry Joyes reflects on his 12-year journey to publishing a book about the history of Wanstead High School, just in time for the school’s 100th anniversary this month
In 2012, I and fellow Wanstead High School alumnus Patrick Renshaw had begun to put the wheels in motion to bring my idea of compiling a history book about Wanstead High School to life. The project was due for completion by 2014 ahead of the school’s 90th anniversary, but we were thwarted by a rigorous Ofsted inspection which caused the anniversary celebrations to be cancelled, and with it, the impetus we had for the project was lost.
What could revive our lost enthusiasm? Would it be the 95th anniversary in 2019? That proposition died with the advent of Covid. For those of us who lived throughout World War II, it was like facing the aerial weaponry represented by the silent V2 rocket missile; one never knew where and when it would strike. The major social difference was, of course, that segregation turned individuals toward electronic communication; emails did not require social integration. Ironically, in such domestically located circumstances, considerations of the production of a history of the school could be renewed in earnest, with the obvious goal of the 100th anniversary.
Searching through the remnants of the previous book projections, and with the continuing support provided by Patrick Renshaw, I found I had a firm basis on which to fulfil earlier promises. New material was supplied by willing collaborators and it soon became evident that two major themes were emerging: unity and continuity – mostly in positive contexts, but occasionally in the negative, which helped to give the book balance. The rose-tinted views could be questioned and contextualised.
Then, in the summer of 2023, I was deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden death of my prime collaborator and friend, my inspiration, Patrick Renshaw. Entitled The Story of Wanstead High School, the book is dedicated to his memory. It bears his name as co-author and was published over the summer; A4 in size with about 275 well-illustrated pages.
The book is also dedicated to every pupil and member of staff who has passed through the doors and walked the corridors of Wanstead High School since the first individuals – 92 pupils and five staff – gave birth to the original Wanstead County High School, under the leadership and headship of the visionary Arthur Frederick Joseph a century ago on 23 September 1924.
All proceeds from sales of the book will remain with the school; it has been enough for me to enjoy searching through the school’s history and trying to produce a coherent analysis. I wish Patrick were still alive to mark his critical analysis of the book, which, together, we had initially projected 12 years ago.
A reunion will take place at the school on 22 September. For more information and to order a copy of The Story of Wanstead High School by Terry Joyes and Patrick Renshaw, visit wnstd.com/whs100
