David Jesson-Dibley: RIP

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Zoe Mitchell
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David Jesson-Dibley: RIP

Post by Zoe Mitchell »

We received a call in the office from former teacher Morton Peto, informing us of the sad news that a fellow ex teacher, David Jesson-Dibley, died this week. He first joined the school in 1949 and stayed for some years before moving on, and then later returning to the school towards the end of his career.
He will be fondly remembered by many Old Blues as an exceptional English teacher.
The funeral will be taking place in the New Year, I will post further details as we receive them.
Zoe Mitchell
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Post by Zoe Mitchell »

The funeral will take place on Thursday 4th January at 2pm, at St Mary's Church, Battersea.
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J.R.
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Post by J.R. »

A sad loss. Thanks for the info Zoe.

He was one of the teachers I had a great respect for.

We met by accident in Dorking town centre quite a few years after I left CH and had a great chat.

I will always remember him as a gentle, quiet and very intelligent man !

He certainly didn't warrant his rather nasty nick-name.

JR.
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
Zoe Mitchell
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Post by Zoe Mitchell »

Note from David McKie (Col A 1945 - 1953)
David Jesson-Dibley was a wonderfully gifted, enthusiastic, exhilarating teacher of English who produced many plays at CH and wrote the 1953 anniversary celebration play: his funeral took place at St Mary's, Battersea, on 4th January, where he had been a churchwarden and a much loved member of the congregation. There were well over 100 people present including old colleagues (Morton Peto, PE Daunt) and Old Blues, among whom I recognised Michael Marland, Basil Etheron and Robert Betson but there were others --including the actor Roger Allam. He died on January 19 after a long and progressively worsening illness. A full obituary will follow in a later edition of The Old Blue magazine.
njeffcoat
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Post by njeffcoat »

I only heard of D J-D's death a few weeks ago, and it has really re-engaged me with just one of the many lasting benefits which CH bestowed: an abiding passion for Shakespeare. As a 10 year old in PrepB I can remember seeing David's production of "Macbeth" in Big School, and it bewitched(!) me at once: the great jagged silhouette of a briar bush, dimly lit and partly hiding the witches (Nell Todd's designs during those years were a miracle of economy and a vivid, atmospheric sensibility). Thereafter, whether I was taking part in subsequent Shakespeare productions (every spring), or studying with him in the class room, David easily and gently drew us into the world and language of the plays, with never a hint of dryness or pedantry. He was a delightful and inspiring presence throughout my time at CH.
Perhaps I will write more fully about my memories of him for the "Old Blue"

Nigel Jeffcoat
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Nigel
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J.R.
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Post by J.R. »

njeffcoat wrote:I only heard of D J-D's death a few weeks ago, and it has really re-engaged me with just one of the many lasting benefits which CH bestowed: an abiding passion for Shakespeare. As a 10 year old in PrepB I can remember seeing David's production of "Macbeth" in Big School, and it bewitched(!) me at once: the great jagged silhouette of a briar bush, dimly lit and partly hiding the witches (Nell Todd's designs during those years were a miracle of economy and a vivid, atmospheric sensibility). Thereafter, whether I was taking part in subsequent Shakespeare productions (every spring), or studying with him in the class room, David easily and gently drew us into the world and language of the plays, with never a hint of dryness or pedantry. He was a delightful and inspiring presence throughout my time at CH.
Perhaps I will write more fully about my memories of him for the "Old Blue"

Nigel Jeffcoat
Prep.B and Ma.B, 1958-1965
Same here !

It was the first time I'd experienced Shakespeare, and it was the in my first year, and obviously Nigel's as well.
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
sejintenej
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Post by sejintenej »

J.R. wrote:
njeffcoat wrote:I only heard of D J-D's death a few weeks ago, and it has really re-engaged me with just one of the many lasting benefits which CH bestowed: an abiding passion for Shakespeare. As a 10 year old in PrepB I can remember seeing David's production of "Macbeth" in Big School, and it bewitched(!) me at once:
Nigel Jeffcoat
Prep.B and Ma.B, 1958-1965
Same here !

It was the first time I'd experienced Shakespeare, and it was the in my first year, and obviously Nigel's as well.
Interesting - I remember that same performance. It was customary to do the Shakespeare play which was set for O levels that year; I even passed the exam!
What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
Churchward
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Re: David Jesson-Dibley: RIP

Post by Churchward »

Anyone interested in the way English was taught to Grecians in the 1960s may be interested in an article about 'Sixth Form English' by David Jesson-Dibley in the Critical Survey of Summer 1964 that I recently stumbled across on the JSTOR website.

The whole article is worth reading but I'll just give a few extracts without comment:

'Only in recent years has English become a subject of special study ...'

'We do not regard the 'A' level course as a two-year stint. We prefer to spend the first two terms of the Sixth Form studying, not in great detail, a variety of texts...'

'... a certain amount of deplorable spoon-feeding for those who have no special fair for the subject is liable to occur.'

'It is arguable that some of these boys (being prepared for Oxbridge entry) are being 'subjected' to excessive specialisation.'

'I like to see formal classroom teaching kept to a practicable minimum ... I was interested to hear recently of a remark passed by the Headmaster of a forward-looking school to the effect that he would welcome the end of classroom teaching to Sixth Formers.'

'If his syllabus allows him little time for making his own discoveries at 17-plus - and there are plenty for him to make in Literature and Language - is he likely to shed his schoolboy approach in his first year at university?'

'Though I believe that the provision of literary background is essential for a fruitful understanding of texts, I prefer not to encourage the reading of Bradley, Granville-Barker & Co. until at least one piece of 'unalloyed' written work has been handed in.'

'... there is an understandable desire to be informed about contemporary literature, especially drama and fiction ... I believe that their pursuit should occur outside rather than inside the classroom.'

'I am paid, I like to believe, to stimulate, to provoke, to guide and direct, not to serve out information.'
sejintenej
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Re: David Jesson-Dibley: RIP

Post by sejintenej »

I have always been puzzled about the teaching of "English" in schols. What is it? How is it done? What is so-called "Good" English?

My primary school teacher, up to the age of nine, was a martinet over nouns, verbs adjectives and copperplate writing. I probably missed the pronouns, adverbs, pluperfects etc when I left to go to CH - and even now I can only guess what they are. Thank goodness they do not have to change with gender.
At CH we were into The Rape of (i've forgotten what ) but I certainly knew what rape is and it didn't make sense. Kit Aitken simply terrified me as a teacher and as a person though as a person the conflict eventually ended. From there we went on to Hardy (The Trumpet Major) and The Scottish Play whose name must never be spoken. I remember nothing else about CH English grammar (which I presume is what English lessons are supposed to be about.

Yes grammar in other languages is interesting - I love reading an original Chateaubriand and especially how he uses words and phrases. His portrayal of George Washington in Washington, of the Huron and Iriquois tribes and how they lived when he was with them seems unavailable in English. Next will be his trip to the Middle East in the early 1800''s which I am looking forward to
What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
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