Magdelen College Wainfleet Headmaster Gerrish

Magdelen College Wainfleet Headmaster Gerrish

Written by Angela Gooch on March 29th, 2008 in People, Schools.

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1923
On the afternoon of Saturday last; October 20th, the Rev. William Gerrish, Master of Magdalen College School, Wainfleet, peacefully passed away in his apartments at the above school.
Seventy eight years of age, he had been in failing health for the past two years, though he still continued with his work in connection with the school.
During the summer he had had several illnesses of short duration which had caused him to decided to spend the Midsummer vacation at Wainfleet.
He was taken ill on Wednesday last and, about mid-day, he was forced to retire to this bed. On Thursday evening lhe was well enough to rise, and wished to prepare his lessons for the following day, but he was dissuaded by his wife.
About 1.30 a.m. on the Friday morning, he was taken seriously ill, and the doctors were summoned. He made a slight improvement on Friday, and, although the seriousness of his illness was realised, no one thought that it was likely to be fatal.
On Saturday morning he had a relapse and was unconscious for several hours, and, though Mrs. Lunn and Barker did everything in their power, he passed away peacefully about 3.45 in the afternoon.
The causes of death were acute gastritis, gall stones and inflammation of the bladder.

Born at the village of Batheaston, near Bath, he competed his schollastic training at St. Mark’s College, Chelsea, and thence won an appointment as Assistant Master at Worcester Cathedral School. While at Worcester, in 1872 to be exact, he was presented with a silver hunter watch in recognition of his saving some of the pupils from drowning.

He left Worcester in 1877 to take appointment of Master at Magdalen CoIllege School, Wainfleet, an appointment which he held until his, death.
When he came to the school there were but three scholars at the present time the scholars number more than a hundred.

He was always intimately connected with Church affairs and he was made a deacon in 1891; about this time he was one of the prime movers in Church work in the district. In 1912 he, became a priest, and, during the absence of the Rev. Leach on war service, he regularly took the services at St. Mary’s Church, while previous to the war, he gave invaluable assistance at Steeping.

His first wife died in the early years of the present century; and on Jan 11th, 1912, he married Edith Liliain Hayman, a member of a highly respected Wainfleet family.

During his later years. came to depend very much on his wife, and she proved a true helpmate, sharing his burdens to such an extent that he was enabled to carry onwith his work to the very end.

Throughout the district he, was greatly respected, especially by those who passed through his hands as scholars many of whom have gone far afield.

His loss will be felt by innumerable old pupils in all parts of the world.
The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, at 2.45 p.m., at S. Mary’s Church, Wainfleet.

Photo above: Rev William Gerrish.
Photo below: Magdalen College Wainfleet Lincolnshire.