The Ruthinian 1 - Ruthin School

The Ruthinian 18
All the world’s a stage, and in the drama of real life, too, many very important and exacting tasks are
carried out constantly behind the scenes, often without recognition of the dedication they require. In
schools the limelight inevitably falls mainly on academic matters, but John was always mindful that
without the support of those who feed the troops, clean and maintain their quarters, look after their
clothing, receive and transmit messages, determine policies, in short attend to innumerable and often
unnoticed matters with good humour and efficiency, no community can operate effectively. By
example and precept he encouraged all members of the School to respect one another as fellowworkers
to a common end.
John also worked tirelessly to establish and strengthen ties between the School and the local
community. For example, the Rhewl Cricket Club are welcomed to treat Big Side and the Pavilion
as the venue for their home fixtures featuring teams from U11 to adult; the Sports Hall and parking
facilities are available as a base for clubs and other organisations to stage competitions from; members
of the School and John himself have served as marshals on several occasions for the David Lloyd
Mega Challenge a national cycling event, and we have similarly hosted the National Veterans Cross
Country Championships. John was also vice-chair of Ruthin Lawn Tennis Club and entered into a
facility share with the club allowing the School to play competitive tennis; he was also closely
involved in the development of the tennis complex at Cae Ddol which provided excellent court
facilities for the club and the town. John consistently encouraged the Combined Cadet Force and
made facilities available for the use of ACF. Local schools have used the school’s facilities and the
site and neighbouring farmland are used for the Denbighshire Schools Cross Country. Students from
the School participate in local teams and this has increased the community’s understanding of the
School and it pupils, who now come from 16 countries.
His active encouragement of fund raising initiatives found fertile ground in the School; many are the
charities, both at home and overseas, that have good reason to be grateful to our students and their
parents and friends for donations financed by home clothes days and similar events, often organised
by the youngsters themselves. Particularly close to his heart was the School’s sponsorship, through
the Action Aid programme, of the education of a young child - Eluit Chebet - in a village in Uganda.
The most eloquent testimony to John’s legacy to the School is the friendly manner, the obvious
happiness and the positive attitude of the pupils he leaves and the loyalty of those who had the good
fortune to study, to teach or to serve in whatever way at Ruthin School under his leadership. John
and Sue leave us with their energy and enthusiasm still undimmed. To their family we wish a happy
and successful future, and to John and Sue a long and happy retirement.
Michael Hewer and colleagues
Sue Rowlands: a tribute
Sue took up her post soon after her husband John’s appointment as Headmaster of Ruthin School in
the early 1990s. Initially in charge of Form 2, she finally took over as the Head of the Early Years
Unit. Passionately believing in the importance of children learning from their natural environment,
she organised countless trips outside school grounds. Whilst inspections have categorically - and
rather mystifyingly - given little credence to the significant advantages, it is clear that the pupils in
her care have benefited enormously from these experiences, gaining extra life and relevance to the
academic study within the classroom. She managed to meld a very organised and structured approach
with a caring and compassionate nature which gave young children an excellent grounding that cannot be