Aged thirteen John started, left, then re-joined Summerhill School two years later to spend his final happy years there. Before that he had attended ten different boarding schools while his parents were constantly on the move. Situated in the Suffolk countryside, the most famous free school of its time and catering for up to seventy pupils in a good year, Summerhill, devoid of any sort of violence, offered John peace and stability. Although lessons were voluntary, he had got past the stage of wanting to join younger pupils messing around outside. He attended art classes provided by Harry Herring, an inspired teacher. Already practised at drawing lorries, fighters and bombers, John was now encouraged to make good use of large pieces of paper and lots of paint He also liked English lessons, some of which were given by Summerhill’s charismatic founder and guiding spirit A.S. Neill. Bizarrely failing art at his School Certificate exams, John still passed in English Literature.
From top: A letter from Neill to John on the publication of Borka in 1963.
A.S. Neill reading the Jungle Book aloud. On the wall behind a large alphabet…
John and schoolmates at Summerhill.
John, known to all as ‘Brum’, took full advantage of the relaxed, determinedly child-centered atmosphere
He loved the cheerfully shabby main building, where pupils could wander about at will, and the grounds outside, ideal for play but too over-grown for any organised sport. Sleeping in converted railway carriages, with making beds, brushing teeth and washing very much optional extras, John, known to all as ‘Brum’, took full advantage of the relaxed, determinedly child-centred atmosphere there. Had he wanted an academic career, the paucity of specialist teachers would have been a handicap. Working for meager salaries, some of the other teachers were also sadly inadequate. But concentrating on art, granted as much space as he wanted to do his own thing, was just what he needed. He grew in other ways too. Initially stealing from the school larder, one day Neill, from behind a newspaper, called out to him ‘Some bugger has got the key to the store room, Brum. You wouldn’t happen to know who that is, would you?’ John returned the key and never stole again.
A craggy, laconic Scotsman radiating unstinting kindness and affection, Neill always remained a hero for John. Dedicating one of his early illustrated ABC books to him, he wrote inside ‘I managed to pick up the alphabet upon leaving Summerhill.’ Neill was delighted, always glad for former pupils to follow highly individual life choices. They both knew no other school would have suited the young John quite so well as did this one.
Nicholas Tucker
From top: A letter from Neill to John on the publication of Borka in 1963.
A.S. Neill reading the Jungle Book aloud. On the wall behind a large alphabet…
John and schoolmates at Summerhill.
Have a look through Burningham’s ABC
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