 | Rutlish 1957 - the 50 Year Reunion |
| Rutlish 1957 - the 50 Year Reunion |
H A (Harry) Hathway
Notes and MemoriesHarry Hathway taught maths and had a reputation for getting his pupils through their O-level exams. He was at Rutlish 1929-1967 and died in 1979. His surname is often mis-spelt as Hathaway - the quotes below have, where necessary, been corrected.He had international respect, and even fame, way beyond Rutlish School. He was a leading expert in starting and timekeeping for athletics. The book he co-authored on the subject (J. W. Aspland and H. A. Hathway, Starting and Timekeeping, Amateur Athletic Association, London, U.K.) was first published in 1963 and reprinted in 1977. A manual for officials published by USA Track and Field in 2002 still includes quotes from the book, referencing the 1977 edition. See memories of Harry Hathway by Mike Bartlett, Dudley Brown, Nick Bryant, Chris O'Hanlon, Derrick Pope, Peter Walpole, and Peter Watts. Robert Walpole (1965 joining year) wrote on Friends Reunited in 2002:
My own memory of Harry was of someone who made me understand what Maths was all about and allowed me to know the pleasure that can be obtained from the study of numbers. I certainly owe my two 'A' levels to him. (I also remember receiving his slipper across my buttocks a few times as well!) John Major (1954 joining year; The Autobiography): Rutlish and I were not getting on. Some masters, like Bobby Oulton, the deputy head, and Harry Hathway, who taught maths, remain clear memories, but most have long since been pushed from my mind; although we were not mortal enemies, we were certainly not good friends. I avoided after-school activities because it took too long to travel home. The Combined Cadet Force did not appeal to me – even apart from the cost of the uniform. And the lure of wearing a boater in the upper forms was certainly resistible. It all seemed rather pretentious to me. David Uden (1956 joining year; Friends Reunited): Harry always carried an enormous pile of books under his right arm, which caused him to lean rather dramatically to one side. One consequence was that he was only ever able to turn right! Mick Clarke (1958 joining year; online tour diary): I'm sure the ghost of Harry Hathway the maths master still roams the corridors muttering 'you haven't done your homework, I'll have to fetch my slipper'.. Peter Stokes (1958 joining year; quoted in The Times): It was easier to remember the cane [than John Major, the Prime Minister]. If boys misbehaved that was how they were punished. There was a Maths master, Harry Hathway, who kept a slipper in his back pocket as boys regularly discovered to their cost. Discipline was strong. Paul Gardner (1960 joining year; Friends Reunited): 'A squared+ B squared = C squared, remember it boy!!' The best teacher of all time. Even at the age of 52 I can still remember how to prove pythagarus (never could spell that Claude's fault). A truly remarkable man, I only wish I'd realise that when I was 16. Michael Whittington (1961 joining year; Friends Reunited): Best teacher ever. Really made you learn maths. Did 'O','A' & 'S' Level with him. I still remember enough to help my kids with their calculus, trig etc. He taught the basics never the short cuts. Once met him when I was on holiday in Cornwall. His first question was 'How were your 'O' levels?' Colin Brock (writing in Rutlish School The First Hundred Years, page 70) Harry Hathway, a formidable teacher of mathematics at Rutlish from 1929, in the 1970s became the world's leading expert on timekeeping. He officiated in this capacity at the 1948 Olympic Games and at many other international meetings. Harry also carried out research into the reliability of human timekeeping, which resulted in the grading system for timekeeping introduced in England and Wales being introduced. In 1963 he co-authored (with J.W. Aspland) "The Technique of Starting and Timekeeping". FootnotesHe is probably the person in the following records:
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