ALFRED  BROWNSCOMBE

Born on 16 December 1877, Alfred Brownscombe came to Kent College as Headmaster in 1911 after taking a degree at St John’s, Cambridge, teaching for two years at Truro School and being Headmaster of a private school at Maidstone for eight years.

His span as Headmaster included the difficult years 1914-1918, the transfer of KC to the Methodist Board of Management in 1920 and a flowering of athletic distinctions in the 20’s – all ending in a dying fall as the depression of 1929 brought his career to a close.

While no great scholar himself, the basis of his faith was transparent.  In appearance a jolly, well built, fresh faced man of 34…’like a kindly farmer of middling prosperity’ (Centenary History), he was an enthusiastic extrovert - hospitable, with a keen understanding of boys, a love for manly sports and a perennial cheerfulness – thereby gaining the respect and affection of the family school he built around himself.  He was ‘patient, honest and fair’, declares the 1934 magazine; he stimulated hobbies; he took part in and encouraged all school games teams and activities; he had a sympathetic eye to notice the unhappy boy.