Mr Ernie Marsh; mathematics teacher, house parent, head of house, head of mathematics, sports competition announcer, house chess organiser, helper at D of E expeditions, choirs and shows...and luggage store organiser.  There are lots of reasons why anyone at Concord between 1990 and 2019 will remember this sociable staff member!

After much persuading, Ernie has managed to find time in his busy schedule since retiring to share his happy memories, and a few great photos with us...

Q) What were you like when you were at school and what was your favourite subject?

"At school I was a bit of a rebel, never worried too much about academic work or exams, but participated in many activities particularly Scouting (Queen’s Scout & D of E Silver) but also sports (football, cricket), life saving, choirs, archaeological & Scottish country dancing societies.

I was good at Maths and enjoyed problem solving, but my best subject at O-level was actually English language! I did OK at Bolton School, but should have done better and wanted to leave rather than stay on for the Oxbridge exams."

Q) What were you like at University?

"I went to Keele University (1962-6), I was always going to study Maths, and toyed with Economics as my subsidiary subject but decided on Physics, eventually changing to Psychology.

I loved my four years at Keele! I enjoyed the academic challenge and had the opportunity to participate in many activities and societies (folk singing, Scouts, walking, football, table tennis to name a few) and successfully graduated."

Q) How did you and Jean (also a Concord teacher) meet?

"Not surprisingly, at Keele University, where we got together in the first week and remained an item throughout. In fact, after graduating on a Wednesday, we married on the Saturday and by Monday we were in Ballymena (NI) negotiating our new employment at the Academy!"

Ernie and Jean Marsh on their wedding day in 1966

Q) Were you always a teacher (if not please tell us what you did) and what attracted you to teaching?

"I have been a teacher/lecturer of Mathematics/Statistics for all my 53 years of professional working (but have also worked casually on a building site and at a bakery for about 6 years). Strangely enough, Jean & I started at the same school and finished at the same school!"

Q) What would you like to have been if you had not gone into teaching?

"Just before graduation, I did think of a career in computing or of becoming a research student, but I was anxious to leave, get married and start a new life. Of course, I did lecture for a few years, started on a Phd and worked on several projects, but the loneliness of the long-time researcher was not really for me!"

Q) Tell us about how you came to be working at Concord.

"With our children due to leave home for further education over the next couple of years, I felt that it was time for a change and I felt that a sixth form college, particularly internationally orientated, would present a good challenge. I applied for the post at Concord, as advertised in the TES, and attended an interview. My only acquaintance with this type of school previously, was a chance meeting with a student from Atlantic College."

Q) What were your first impressions when you got here?

"During my job interview I was very impressed with the situation, the grounds and, of course, the most affable and welcoming principal,  Tony Morris, but I did not meet any students on my first visit. When I started to work here, Paul Hickman was head of maths and his Maths team proved excellent colleagues. I also enjoyed the company of the night security staff, Tony & Mike, who were both reassuring and very welcoming. 

Our daughter decided that she wished to complete her two years sixth form at her present school and our arrangements meant that I would live in the College during the week and attend to various duties, but go home at Friday lunchtime for the weekend. In fact I ended updoing this for 3 years. We did eventually manage to move to Shropshire and subsequently into the College itself when Tony determined to initiate a more comprehensive house tutor system.

In those days, duties consisted of waking up about half of the boys in the morning and checking curfew for all the boys at night. I was well tutored in the proceedings by friend and colleague, Tom Lawrence."

Q) How did Concord change over the years you worked here and what stayed the same?

"Having worked for so long at Concord, obviously the changes effected have been immense in many ways ranging from the grounds and buildings, through the staff, the organisation and the number of students. Despite all these changes, the fundamental aspects of Concord and the philosophy behind its inception have remained remarkably intact.

There have been many significant innovations over the years. A new building project seemed to happen every other year and, towards the end of the Millenium, we widened our catchment, introduced scholarships and found that the feared league tables proved very favourable to us!

Our wonderful Malaysian students bolstered by a new Chinese intake stood us in very good stead. The excellent work, appointments and, most importantly, the outstanding results of the Maths department were continued most ably by Albert Leon, Mark Chadwick and Tom Phoenix, as successive heads of department."

Ernie and Albert Leon at one of Concord's may sporting events

Q) Your are well known for your love of musical theatre. Which is your favourite and why?

"Having participated in and produced so many musicals over the years, this is a very difficult question!

A list would include (in no particular order) Joseph, Cabaret, Oliver, Pirates, Mikado, Iolanthe, Lion King, Carmen etc., but my favourite would be Les Miserables. Toby Belfield & I produced a short version in 1999, which will long live in our memories. Jean & I have seen the show many times and it never fails to induce that raw emotion despite the ever changing cast and the inventiveness of the production. Other shows at Concord were directed by Judith Hickman with my wife Jean making in charge of the wardrobe department.

Mr Marsh as 'Mein Herr' in a production of Cabaret, 2003

Q) Please tell us any funny Concord memories you have!

"I possess a kaleidoscope of recollections about our time at Concord and would require prompting to elicit specific items: The many times we enjoyed old-fashioned type parties with Tony & Gaynor Morris at their house; the joy of sports day with Albert Leon; the Science & Maths Christmas dinners; the fellowship of the staff room; events in the old West End; the dinners at the end of the year with students dressed up to the nines etc., etc.

It is impossible and maybe invidious to select from all these memories, but perhaps just a couple of very simple things.

• Before lighting was installed in the grounds, the path from Main Hall down to the residences was very awkward to negotiate and often led to people straying from the curving path and into the bushes, even without the assistance of alcohol!
• Secondly, the proliferation of keys for the various buildings has left me with holes in my pockets! We needed keys for house, office, staff room, accommodation blocks and many others, quite apart from access to the myriad of keys from the office board necessary for performing duties."

Q) How do you think your students would describe you?

"Oh dear! Hopefully hard-working, conscientious and careful, but with a strict side when required! I was renowned for singing to them in class, which I trust kept them interested, at least!

Of course the real purpose of our existence is the students of Concord!

Collectively they must be the most delightful people with whom to work and it is impossible, and even invidious, to single out individuals from the huge number who have achieved such success and fulfilment at Concord over the years I feel privileged and honoured to have been a part of this.

It is a real tribute to all the staff, both academic and maintenance, who have facilitated the development of the School over the years but especially to Tony Morris and Neil Hawkins."

Q) What have you been doing since you retired, and do you keep in touch with your old friends and students?

"Since our initial retirement, we settled in Church Stretton and enjoyed the many opportunities in that that friendly environment including walking, entertaining, joining various groups and activities, as well as our own individual pursuits, which in my case, revolve around singing and philately.

We have enjoyed many holidays within GB, particularly Scotland, Ireland & SW England, but also some wonderful trips abroad to Canada & the US, mainland Europe, Norway & Madeira to add to previous visits to Australia and New Zealand.

Often we would indulge in some quite ambitious walking expeditions (all the Monroes, ‘en furth’ as the Scots say, but sadly only about half of the Scottish mountains), however time has taken its toll!

We have two children, who each have two boys of their own and we do have a close but extended family to visit and meet. Having lived in quite a number of different locations, we do have many friends all over the British Isles dating back to school & University through former work colleagues, neighbours etc., with whom we correspond and visit.

In 2016, we had quite a huge gathering in Church Stretton to celebrate our golden wedding. Four years ago, we decided to move on again to Wantage, south of Oxford, to live closer to our daughter Beth but we still maintain many of our interests, activities and  travelling, even returning occasionally to Concord!

Jean and Ernie Marsh at their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2016