Samuel Hey (1904-1977).
Many Old Shirburnians will have read with sadness of the death of Sam Hey on 16th September [1977]. Over a period of 51 years he had first served the School and subsequently the Town and County with a devotion to duty which was quite remarkable.
He came to Sherborne as a young man from Uppingham and Sidney Sussex, Cambridge in 1926 and I well remember the slim, athletic figure with fair, curly hair. I knew him throughout his life at Sherborne and my wife and I often stayed with him and his sister Margaret, who presided so charmingly over their home in the Bradford Road.
Sam was born a Yorkshireman and remained one basically throughout his life. He possessed to the full the qualities of his breeding – loyalty, honesty, directness of approach and speech, and with it all a twinkle in the eye. Members of his form 4E will remember him as a strict disciplinarian. The ‘stupid boys’ who failed to come up to his standards returned for extra work in the holidays and he loved to tell the story of one boy, son trapped, who used to phone his bookmaker daily – unknown to Sam until the bill came in.
Geography was his subject and he was head of the department for over 20 years. He was Housemaster of The Green from 1936-51, guiding it through the difficult war years and then making it one of the best houses in the School at that time. He was above average as an athlete with the Yorkshireman’s ability to coach, which he did for the 2nd XI and 3rd XV with much success.
His happiest years came towards the end of his career when, already Master in charge of the Grounds, he became Headmaster’s Assistant from 1953-64. (The title of Second Master did not then exist). Bob Powell once described him as ‘A wonderful full back – he caught everything’. The Playing Fields were his particular joy and living close to them he spent many hours walking over them and planning their improvement.
He retired officially in 1964 but continued to teach on a limited scale until 1973. But freedom from school duties gave Sam the opportunity to enlarge on his other interests. He had become Secretary of Dorset Cricket in 1957 and of the Town Club in 1964 and served both with devotion until his death. He was everything to the County as an administrator, both for the team itself and the coaching system he initiated for boys. The greatest moment in his cricket life came only last year when he was presented with the miniature Torch Trophy by Viscount Cobham, on behalf of the Torch Trophy Trust, for his ‘outstanding service’ to the two Clubs. He also rendered great service to the Conservative party in West Dorset for many years, being President of the Constituency Association for 3 years from 1971.
Finally this Society owes Sam Hey a great debt of thanks for the enormous amount of work he did as our Treasurer for many years. I can speak personally of his amazing attention to detail and his work for the Bursary Committee which revolved around him.
Sam was the last of his generation still living in Sherborne and taking an active interest in School affairs. They loved their work and they were devoted to their School – none more than Sam himself. Valete, Mr Chips!
J.A.T.
Samuel Hey (1904-1977).
Born 3 February 1904.
Uppingham.
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
Assistant Master, Sherborne School, 1926-1973. (Retired officially in 1964 but continued to teach on a limited scale until 1973)
Housemaster of The Green, 1936-1951.
Headmaster’s Assistant (Second Master), 1952/3-1964.
Master i/c Grounds, 1941-1960.
Honorary Treasurer, OS Society.
Secretary of Dorset Cricket 1957-1977.
Secretary of Sherborne Cricket Club 1964-1977.
Died 16 September 1977.