Biography of Arthur Passingham
Transcript of history taken from Arthur Passingham
Ropley School’s oldest Living “Old Boy”
Eighty-three years ago a three-year old boy, Arthur Passingham, started his school days at the Church School, as Ropley School was named at that time. Two classrooms were given over to children between the ages of three years and seven and eight years, and older children in another section up to the age of 13, the recognized school leaving age. There were about 100 or so children attending. The school master, as the Headmaster was called in those days, was Mr Rice. He left the school in 1889 and was succeeded by Mr Reginald Charles Turner a solid Yorkshire-man. Mr Turner’s wife was a teacher and she also took up her duties at the school, starting a long service it’s reward in due time I was heavily chalked on an oak beam running the length of the hall and was Mr Turners message to all pupils throughout his reign.
Arthur Passingham joined the church choir at 8 years old, sponsored by Mr Turner and he left school at 13 years. He decided on the Royal Navy as a career and served throughout the 1914-18 war. He was called back on the reserve at the start of the 1939-45 war and spent most of his service doing the dangerous work of convoy duty. An interesting event took place in the school grounds during the 1914-18 war when the King’s birthday was fittingly celebrated by the children attending the church school on June 3rd when the new school flag and flagstaff were used for the first time. The staff is the gift of Miss Hagen and the flag was presented to the schoolboy two old boys, PO Arthur Passingham RN and CPO Albert Budd Passingham, RN in memory of their brother CPO William Passingham, who was killed by the explosion of a shell on board his ship while serving in the Dardanelles early in the war. The cost of the preparation of the Flagstaff was borne by his sisters…. The headmaster gave the school details regarding the personality of the late William Passingham….
The lady who presented the flagstaff Miss Marianna Sophia Hagen, was a rich woman and owned most of the land and property in and around Ropley and was a great benefactor being responsible for the restoration of the church bells and the provision of a new treble bell, and allowing many social benefits for the children and inhabitants of the village . She carried her interest in in the welfare of children to her death and a fortune of £38,000 was bequeathed to Great Ormond street Children’s hospital in London. Mr Arthur Passingham survived his sister Annie who died about four years ago at the age of 92. She too attended Ropley School. He lives happily with his wife in Gascoigne lane tending his large garden, a model of tidiness for all to behold, a regular worshiper and helper at St Peters Church, the oldest ‘Old Boy’ of Ropley school, aged 86 – one of natures gentlemen.
Note to Headmaster. Mr Potter my grandson Leonida Rosetti was responsible for getting Mr Passingham to give me a few notes for the compilation of this short article by me, and if of any interest to you for the centenary year notes please use it.
CF Nash
Berneval
Gascoigne Lane
Ropley
Ropley 3229
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