MONOVIAN CELEBRITIES.
V.-Rev. H.A. ALLPASS.

It is fitting at such a time as this, when we are preparing to leave our present building for one more suited to the activities of the School, that we should have in proud and grateful memory, the life and work of the man whose personality and untiring labours were largely responsible for the present importance of the Monoux School as an educational force in Walthamstow. The time could not be more appropriate, for the School is entering now on a period of fuller, more vital existence, just as it was in Mr. Allpass's time.
The Rev, H.A. Allpass, a layman when he came to Walthamstow, was not ordained until after he had accepted the position of Headmaster of the Monoux School. He subsequently became Assistant Curate at St. John's, and in other parishes of the town earned considerable reputation as a preacher. When, in 1903, he resigned his post as Headmaster, he became Chaplain to the British Legation at Monte Video. On his return to England some time later, he accepted the incumbency of Stanway, in Essex; this post he resigned a few months before his death, which occurred at Chingford in 1916.
Besides his religious duties, Mr. Allpass did important work in connection with the Walthamstow School Board, of which body he was twice made Vice-chairman. Moreover he was always interested in the philanthropical and intellectual activities of our town. Mr. Allpass's lifework was done, however, during his 17 years of splendid headmastership at the Monoux School.
It must be understood, to appreciate to the full the importance of Mr. Allpass's work, that the School, during the years preceding his term of office, was in a sadly decayed condition. It had lost the dignity of its origin as a Tudor grammar school, and had become little more than an insignificant private school, totally inadequate to meet the needs of secondary education in Walthamstow. In 1878, owing to this sad state of affairs the School was closed altogether, to be re-opened eight years later at the Trinity Schoolroom, West Avenue, with Mr. Allpass as Headmaster.
During the years 1878-1886, a drastic re-organisation of the School finances was conducted under the direction of the Walthamstow Charity Governors, and in 1889 the present building in the High Street was opened by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London. From this time on the prosperity of the School increased by leaps and bounds. It resumed its proud position as one of the most important institutions of Walthamstow, and ever since that time our Prize Distributions and Sports Days have been events of considerable social moment, though the town has made rapid growth both in size and population.
This advance was, in large measure, due to the personality and labours of Mr. Allpass. Under his able and popular guidance the School rapidly filled up, and from being only 20 strong at the outset of his period of office, came to number some 200 boys at the time of his resignation in 1903. Our admiration for Mr. Allpass is increased when we consider the difficulties with which he had to cope. Meagre endowments and a numerically inadequate teaching staff were the chief of these. Nevertheless, Mr. Allpass fought bravely, cheerfully, and successfully for the welfare of the School.
In this great work his popularity was perhaps Mr. Allpass's most valuable asset, for the "Guv'nor" (the nickname by which his old friends still habitually refer to him), though a firm disciplinarian, possessed the happy faculty of inspiring affection and loyalty in the hearts of all with whom he came into contact. His teaching philosophy is well summed-up in the following lines :
" O'er wayward childhood wouldst thou hold firm rule,
And sun thee in the light of happy faces,
Faith, Hope, Patience, these must be thy graces,
And in them must thou first keep school,"
Such a brief account as this cannot pretend to do full justice to the personality and work of Mr. Allpass. Inadequate as it is, however, it could not have a fitter or truer conclusion than the thought that is inscribed on the tablet erected to his memory:
" And his work continueth broad and deep,
Continueth great beyond his knowing."
J. H. PAYLING (VI. Lit).