Timeline

 

John Lyon Timeline

John Lyon was granted a charter for a School for local children
1572

John Lyon was granted a charter for a School for local children

Charles Vaughan (then Headmaster of Harrow) raised the suggestion of a new School for local children
1851

Charles Vaughan (then Headmaster of Harrow) raised the suggestion of a new School for local children

1853

At his own expense, Charles Vaughan, inaugurated the “English Form”, a separate institution from Harrow School but legally part of Harrow School

Henry Hutchinson was appointed the first teacher of the dozen or so boys in a building known as “The Barn” School Roll: 12 Number of Staff: 1

Montagu Butler became Headmaster at Harrow School and took over the personal funding of the English Form
1860

Montagu Butler became Headmaster at Harrow School and took over the personal funding of the English Form

Public Schools Enquiry Commission recommended Harrow School Governors should provide a building and teachers for the English Form
1861

Public Schools Enquiry Commission recommended Harrow School Governors should provide a building and teachers for the English Form

1874

The Lower School of John Lyon was established

1876

Charles Gregg appointed as Head

The Lower School of John Lyon moved into the “Old Building” on Middle Road and was opened with a celebratory banquet for the 15 boys currently at the School School Roll: 15

1879

John Williams appointed as Head

School Roll: 30

1880

Metropolitan Line reached Harrow

1883

Fees were £10

(£12 for those living outside Harrow) School Roll: 53

1889

Fees were reduced

John Lyon Fees were reduced £5 flat rate for all students.

1890

The Lyonian Magazine was launched by Ernest Young

“March 1890 will be an eventful month in the history of the school. It is the birth-month of a school magazine, which, we venture to predict will last as long as the name of John Lyon is remembered in Harrow…”

1890

Pupils started to wear School Cap

“Everyone will soon know the Lyon boys by their caps. No owner of such a cap should ever do anything which would be likely to bring himself, and therefore his schoolfellows into disgrace. To all outsiders the dark blue cap should be a sign that its wearer is a gentleman,…

1891

The first Sports Day

The first Sports Day was held in 1891, the first Old Boys’ dinner

Thomas Blackwell donation
1896

Thomas Blackwell donation

Thomas Blackwell donated £1,000 in 1896 to the School for its first extension to the Old Building (now renamed the Thomas Blackwell Centre). School Roll: 117

New Head Ernest Young
1898

New Head Ernest Young

In 1898 Ernest Young was appointed as Head

1902

Old Lyonian Association

In 1902 the Old Lyonian Association was formed

1910

Ernest Young left JLS

In 1910 Ernest Young left John Lyon School to become Headmaster at Harrow County School, taking many boys with him as well as the assistant master. School Roll: 150

1910

E.H. Butt appointed as Head

School Roll: 100

Boys fundraise and collect £3 to pay for a dog to go with Captain Scott on his expedition to the Antarctic…hoping it wouldn’t be eaten…in the end Scott took no dogs
1910

Boys fundraise and collect £3 to pay for a dog to go with Captain Scott on his expedition to the Antarctic…hoping it wouldn’t be eaten…in the end Scott took no dogs

“Captain Scott adds a little personal note to the acknowledgment, “Will you please convey my personal thanks to the boys, for their generous contribution, and I shall REALLY buy a dog with it and call him ‘Lyon.’ We all hope ‘Lyon’ will return safe and sound from the Great South…

CCF Started
1911

CCF Started

In 1911 CCF was started under the leadership of Vivian Stranders (later convicted of spying for the Germans before he joined the SS during WW2).

1914

Lyonians served during the First World War

During the period of 1914 to 1918, 350 Lyonians served during the First World War; it claimed the lives of 59 of them.

1919

Metro-land Development

In 1919 Metropolitan Railway Country Estates Ltd formed and began development of Metro-land leading to population increase and higher demand for places.

1921

Pinner View purchased

Pinner View purchased by 10 or so Old Lyonians for the OLA

O.A. Le Beau appointed as Head
1926

O.A. Le Beau appointed as Head

The first official Head of School was appointed: N P Goldhawk. School Roll: 180

Metropolitan Railway Electric Locomotive
1927

Metropolitan Railway Electric Locomotive

In 1927 the Metropolitan Railway Electric Locomotive No. 1 received the name plate ‘John Lyon’.

1928

Le Beau New Building Proposal

Le Beau made the case to Governors for a new building: a 200% population increase in the area in preceding 25 years, lack of 6th form facilities, huge demand for places and the scope to recover the building costs from future fees.  The requirements of the School were a Building…

Le Beaus’ New Building
1928

Le Beaus’ New Building

In 1930 the “New Building” was completed and Governors announced the purchase of 10 acres of land at Sudbury to be a sports ground.

WW2
1939

WW2

From 1939 – 1945, 500-600 Lyonians served in the Second World War which claimed the lives of 61 Lyonians.

1951

R.F. Boyd Campbell appointed as Head

In 1951 R.F. Boyd Campbell appointed as Head of John Lyon School

Purchase of the Red House
1956

Purchase of the Red House

1958

Houses Renamed

At the suggestion of the pupils, the Houses were renamed from the points of the compass.  North became Butler, East Norwood, South Moore and West Vaughan

1960

First Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award for a John Lyon pupil

In 1960 the First Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award for a John Lyon pupil: John Mathers.

1965

School Name Change

In 1965 The School changed name from “The Lower School of John Lyon” to “The John Lyon School.”

The Music School was opened
1965

The Music School was opened

First female teacher appointed
1967

First female teacher appointed

In 1967 John Lyon appointed our first First female teacher, Alison Dillon.

1968

Gordon Surtees appointed as Head

The locomotive sign “John Lyon” was given to the School
1971

The locomotive sign “John Lyon” was given to the School

1975

The main reception area was built

1976

CCF Disbanded

The CCF was disbanded with the official reason being the dwindling demand, an alternative explanation was concern that the stores would be targeted by violent groups.

1977

Demelsa the Goat

A goat named Demelsa was bought to keep the grass short, she remained at the School until the 1990s

Oldfield Opened
1981

Oldfield Opened

Oldfield was opened to house three first forms and the Art department.

1983

D.Dixon appointed as Head

1986

T Wright appointed as Head

1990

Opening of the Lyon Building

Opening of the Lyon Building to accommodate the Boyd Campbell Hall, Geography,the Senior Common Room, English and Modern Languages.

1991

The John Lyon Charity

The John Lyon Charity was formed to distribute funds from the lands originally owner by John Lyon.   Since 1991, John Lyon’s Charity has distributed over £156 million in grants to a range of organisations that seek to promote the life-chances of children and young people through education.

1994

Pavilion at Sudbuy

The current pavilion at Sudbuy was opened.  It is the fourth pavilion at Sudbury.

1997

The John Lyon Sports Centre Opened

In 1997 The John Lyon Sports Centre was opened, by HRH Duke of Edinburgh

2001

Chris Ray appointed as Head

2005

Kevin Riley appointed as Head

New Building Further Extention
2008

New Building Further Extention

The end of the “New Building” was extended further to create new science laboratories, refurbish Drama facilities and Religious Studies.

Katherine Haynes appointed as Head
2009

Katherine Haynes appointed as Head

2012

Works completed on the Ernest Young Building

in 2012 the works completed on the Ernest Young Building, New Memorial Hall and move of the library to the Lyon Building.

Renovations to the Old Building
2012

Renovations to the Old Building

Renovations to the Old Building and its renaming as the Thomas Blackwell Centre

2016

OLA Move

In 2016 OLA moved out of Pinner View and into the South Vale pavilion at Sudbury.