P.C. WHITE

Peter White took over as Head of Art in 1955: he followed Mr. C A Snelling and, for two terms, the Australian Mr. A.C. Russell.  During the post war austerity years art had been a rather secondary subject extending to little further than painting and drawing.  Peter’s arrival coincided with the opening of a new art room and he successfully introduced pottery and architectural modeling.  Moreover, the relative importance of Art increased and for the first time pupils could study the subject to ‘A’ level.

Peter was himself a fine artist and also a professional designer of stained glass windows.  An example of his work exists in Exeter Cathedral.  At school he was instantly recognised by his distinctive full beard and habitual wool ties!

One of Peter’s great qualities was his readiness to defend causes vehemently for which he had personal sympathy, although always willing to listen intently to others with differing viewpoints.  He left the school in 1975, continuing his career as Specialist Tutor in Adult Education at Canterbury College of Technology.  He died in 1999.