Priestley
I would like to think that Priestley House is a community within a community, where individuals strive to be the best that they can be; encouraging strong, positive and supportive relationships built through mutual respect. We aspire to one common goal; ensuring that all members of Priestley House have the opportunity to reach their full potential before they leave Tewkesbury School.
Priestley House is named after an inspirational man called Raymond Priestley. He was born in 1886 and educated at Tewkesbury Grammar School. In 1907 Priestley, whilst a geology student at Bristol University applied, to join Shackleton’s expedition to the South Pole. A year later, he was recruited by Captain Scott to take part in the 1910-1913 expedition.
The party split up and Scott and four companions failed to reach the pole and died. Priestley and five companions could have lost their lives when the expedition ship failed to pick them up, as it was cut off by ice. They survived the long, dark and extremely cold Antarctic winter in a snow house, equipped only with tents summer clothing and four weeks of rations. They combated boredom by reading aloud and singing remembered songs. During the First World War Priestley served as an officer in a Signals company of the Royal Engineers and won the Military Cross in 1918.
Each time you go into the Humanities Block, look up for inspiration, as Priestley’s sledge is suspended from the ceiling. Raymond Priestley struggled against personal adversity to achieve extraordinary things, and we too need to be ambitious in what we do, regardless of the individual challenges we face.
“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.” Roy T. Bennett
Mrs Kathrynne Newcombe is the Head of Priestley House.
