Henry Shorland (Shor) Gervis (1897-1968).
Tribute to H.S. Gervis on his retirement, The Shirburnian, Summer 1964
H.S.G. came to Sherborne in 1921. In common with other masters of that now rare vintage, he had seen service in the Great War; in his case, this meant a spell of trench warfare followed by the campaign in Palestine under Allenby. He has taken an active part in the local branch of the British Legion ever since; otherwise few would suspect that he had any military background.
The School knows that he, with several others, teaches Physics; it does not know that for his first fourteen years he taught it almost single handed. Numbers were then around 400 and science was steadily acquiring status and adequate facilities.
In out-of-school activities, he helped to encourage tennis in its earlier days, and has long been a member of the Games Committee, first as Secretary, and for the last ten years as Chairman. The proceedings of this august body are perhaps as mysterious to most of us as those of the Cabinet; and its debates are doubtless at times no less heated. To have been Chairman for so long is proof of his patience and diplomacy.
These qualities, with his public spirit, have led him to be the enthusiastic Chairman of the Sherborne Youth Club, and to serve for a spell on the Urban District Council. He has also been prominent in the Sherborne Art Group, whose autumn exhibitions are so successful; he is himself no mean artist, and indirectly the art of the School owes much to him, for his wife [Ruth Gervis] presided over it with notable success for some years during and since the last war.
A man of many hobbies, he has been an ardent bee-keeper, who thought nothing of a few stings whilst mowing his lawn before breakfast – indeed, this may help to explain his success with the Games Committee.
It will be seen that this account has spread outwards from the sphere of School to those of the town and of private life. This may be partly because the writer is not qualified to say more about any of the activities here mentioned. But chiefly it is because H.S.G. is notably a ‘whole man’; each aspect contributes something to the man, and his work in each sphere has been enhanced by the others. The School thanks him for 43 years’ service, and for helping to keep it in touch with the town. As he and Mrs Gervis will remain in Sherborne, they will still be in touch with the School, and the town will surely hope for their services in many a good cause. Their many friends will be very glad that they are staying here.
Obituary for Henry Shorland Gervis by R.W. Powell, Old Shirburnian Society Annual Report, September 1968
Shor Gervis came to Sherborne in 1921, taught in Sherborne until 1964, and died in Sherborne on July 23rd, 1968. If no more than this was said of him it would argue a deep loyalty and affection given to the School and to the place. Shor himself, intelligent, courteous, and modest – a Wykehamist true to his school’s motto – would have deprecated anything beyond urbane understatement about himself. But there is much to be said of him if no more than justice is to be done to his quality. As a physicist he was best appreciated by, and most successful with, boys who were really intelligent, though his sympathy with the less able was always kindly. As a gifted and sensitive artist he supported the efforts of his wife, Ruth Gervis, who was creating a lively and happy Art School. Not himself a passionate player of games – though I remember often being nonplussed by him on the tennis court – he was Chairman of the Games Committee, his still small voice cogent because wise, frequently ensuring that there should be light as well as heat. Above all he was a most agreeable colleague, whose judicious sanity was appreciated because it did not overlay a warmth of friendship. Outside the School he served the town as a Councillor, and for many years gave much of his time and devotion to the Youth Club.
His colleagues, his pupils, and many people in Sherborne will remember him more affectionately because he himself regarded his virtues and his contribution as the normal expression of his civilised self. I should like to add a personal acknowledgement of his kindness and helpfulness to me when I came as the new Headmaster in 1950. If the School has made progress it is in no small part because men like Shor came to it and stayed with it.
Henry Shorland Gervis.
Born 20 March 1897.
Educated at Winchester College.
MA, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
WW1, Captain, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Assistant Master (Natural Science), Sherborne School, 1921-1964.
Died 23 July 1968.