Mid Sussex Times April 20, 1979

School’s first headmaster

The first headmaster of Haywards Heath Grammar School (now Haywards Heath College) and a former well-known personality locally, Mr Donald W. S. Jarvis, of Lewes, has died at the age of 81.

Mr Jarvis, who graduated from Downing College, Cambridge, had lived in Sussex for 50 years, having been appointed in 1930 as senior master of the newly opened Lewes County Grammar School for Boys.

He was very much concerned with the development of that grammar school and well known to all the pupils, particularly to those of the early 1930s, until he left the school in 1946.

Apart from being senior master, he also taught geography and physical education, and was the first scoutmaster of the school’s troop.

In 1946, Mr Jarvis moved to Haywards Heath Secondary School as headmaster and became particularly well known for his interest in developing the full potential of pupils who, in the earlier secondary school years, found some difficulties with their studies.

There are, indeed, many men and women in this district who owe much to his help and advice when they were young.

As Haywards Heath developed and "Grammar" streams developed, so that the secondary school became a bilateral school, the Education Authority decided to build a separate Grammar School in Haywards Heath. This school was opened in 1958 with Mr Jarvis as its headmaster.

He guided the fortunes of the new school during the first four years of its existence, and laid the firm foundations on which it subsequently developed until his retirement in 1962.

With further reorganisation, it is now, of course, developing into Haywards Heath College for sixth form students. At Mr Jarvis's funeral they were present Mr E. D. M. Bishop, Mr D. G. Fisher, Mr J. W. Bagley and Mr C. J. Oxley, who were all appointed to the staff for the Grammar School in 1958 and who knew Mr Jarvis right from the opening of the school until his retirement.

Also present was Mr E. C. C. Wynter, the headmaster who succeeded Mr Jarvis and who had been taught by him as a boy.

After his retirement Mr Jarvis remained in close contact with the school and was always extremely interested in the careers and fortunes of the pupils he knew.

Further, he was able to follow with interest the school careers of his two grandchildren, Dr Peter Magnussen, of the Middlesex Hospital, and Mr Michael Magnussen, now a student at Camborne school of Mines, who were present at the funeral with their mother, Mr Jarvis's daughter, Mrs P. Magnussen.

Mr Jarvis, who leaves a widow (Mrs E. Jarvis) in addition to his daughter and two grandsons, played football for Corinthians as a young man, and was also a hockey and cricket player.

A kindly man who went out of his way to help those who needed it, he will be greatly missed by many in Haywards Heath with whom he remained in contact, and particularly by Old Boys of Lewes County School for Boys as he was a staff committee member of their association.

The funeral service in Saint John sub-Castro Church, Lewes, on April 4 was conducted by the Reverend M. Bell and was followed by cremation at the Downs crematorium, Brighton.

The family mourners were Mrs E. Jarvis (widow), Mrs P. Magnussen (daughter), Dr Peter Magnussen and Mr Michael Magnussen (grandsons), Mr and Mrs S. Jones (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mrs G. Phillips and Mrs F. Jones (sisters in law).

Others present included Mr and Mrs E. C. C. Wynter, Mr and Mrs E. D. M. Bishop, Mr D. G. Fisher, Mr J. W. Bagley, Mr C. J. Oxley, Mrs Mari Phillips, Mr J. Rendel Jones, Mr P. R. Noel, Mr F. Kirkham, Mr J. Thornley, Mr W. Gourlay, Mr I. V. Vaughan., Mr I. Wycherley, Mr R. Gearing, Mr R. Holder and Mr R. J. Rothwell.

There were family flowers only, and donations to Victoria Hospital, Lewes, were invited.

Funeral arrangements were by William Weller Ltd, of Lewes.