Dunstable Grammar School

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Dunstable Grammar School was in the north end of the market town of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. It existed from 1888 to 1971, when it formally ended. After that date the remaining teachers and pupils moved to a new building (at the opposite end of the town) and started the Manshead Upper School under the new Comprehensive Education system. The original Grammar School building was modernised and it is now Ashton (VA) Middle School, from 1973, for children aged 9-12 years.

Dunstable Grammar School buildings, now used by Ashton Middle School

Dunstable Grammar School was founded by a group of Trustees for the Almshouse Charity created by the Will of Frances Ashton. Hence the inscription on the building which says:

'Dunstable Grammar School Founded A.D. 1728 By Mrs. Frances Ashton Built A.D. 1887.'

In 1888, the school opened with 49 pupils. The school had grown to 67 boarders and 100 day boys in 1917. The first headmaster was L.C.R. Thring, of the Thring family of Uppingham. (The family included celebrated British educationist Edward Thring (1821-1887), headmaster of Uppingham School.) A school library was built in memory of the former pupils who died in the Boer War and World War I. A memorial in the library commemorated the names of 62 former pupils who gave their lives, including Ashton Edward Thring, the only son of the headmaster,[1] and the Victoria Cross winner, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Henderson (G G Henderson on the memorial).[2]

[edit] Alumni

Gary Cooper, (known as Frank Cooper while at school) who became an actor and starred in many Hollywood films, e.g. as the town Marshall in High Noon (1952).

Khawaja Nazimuddin, (known as Khaja Nazimuddin while at school) who became the second Prime Minister of Pakistan (October 17, 1951 - April 17, 1953). (The first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in 1951.) Khawaja visited his old school dormitory in 1952.

Sam Kydd, another actor who appeared in many films and on TV (e.g. as Mr Walton in the UK soap-opera Crossroads).

Nigel Benson, who became an international best-selling author. His book Dunstable in Detail is a standard reference for the town and includes details about the Grammar School.