Herbert Matthew Dickson - Revision history

Smeeds at 00:38, 21 September 2026

2026-09-21T00:38:44Z

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	Dickson was brought up in Swindon. He came to BGS as a science teacher in 1927 with an honours degree in natural sciences from [[Wikipedia:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge\|Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge]] and after a spell lecturing at [[Wikipedia:University of Greenwich\|Woolwich Polytechnic]]. Dickson was acting headmaster for a while, when [[Leslie Thomas Waddams]] left in 1954. In 1962 he was awarded the MBE and he also left BGS in that year.		Dickson was brought up in Swindon. He came to BGS as a science teacher in 1927 with an honours degree in natural sciences from [[Wikipedia:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge\|Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge]] and after a spell lecturing at [[Wikipedia:University of Greenwich\|Woolwich Polytechnic]]. Dickson was acting headmaster for a while, when [[Leslie Thomas Waddams]] left in 1954. In 1962 he was awarded the MBE and he also left BGS in that year.

	He was a founder governor and Chairman of Pilgrim College a member of Boston Preservation Trust, Secretary of the Caledonian Society of Holland, a member of the [[Wikipedia:Civil Defence Corps\|Civil Defence Corps]] and formed the [[CCF:BGS Air Training Corps]].		He was a founder governor and Chairman of Pilgrim College a member of Boston Preservation Trust, Secretary of the Caledonian Society of Holland, a member of the [[Wikipedia:Civil Defence Corps\|Civil Defence Corps]] and formed the [[CCF#The Air Training Corps\|BGS Air Training Corps]].

	Upon his retirement, the annual [[Dickson Science Prize]] was instituted by the [[Old Bostonian Association]] in his honour.		Upon his retirement, the annual [[Dickson Science Prize]] was instituted by the [[Old Bostonian Association]] in his honour.

Smeeds at 00:27, 21 September 2026

2026-09-21T00:27:15Z

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	We were deeply shocked to hear of the death of [[Herbert Matthew Dickson]] on 20th June after a short illness. Since his retirement in 1962 he had retained an active interest in the affairs of the school and was a keen and loyal supporter of the [[Old Bostonian Association]], whose functions he attended very regularly until a few weeks before his death.		We were deeply shocked to hear of the death of [[Herbert Matthew Dickson]] on 20th June after a short illness. Since his retirement in 1962 he had retained an active interest in the affairs of the school and was a keen and loyal supporter of the [[Old Bostonian Association]], whose functions he attended very regularly until a few weeks before his death.

	He spent his childhood in the railway town of Swindon from whence he made his way up to Cambridge University and obtained an Honours degree in Natural Sciences at [[Wikipedia:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge\|Fitzwilliam Hall]] after active service in the [[~~Wikiedia~~:Royal Flying Corps\|RFC]] and [[Wikipedia:Royal Air Force\|RAF]] in the First World War, in which he received wounds which left him always with a slight limp. His early teaching was at [[Wikipedia:Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys\|Woolwich Polytechnic]], and he left London for reasons of health to join the staff at [[Boston Grammar School]] in 1927 under the headship of [[Herbert Haycroft Morris\|Mr Morris]], soon after the opening of [[Quadrangle\|the new classroom block]], at a time when the school had first reached the 200 mark. This was the beginning of a highly successful teaching career as Head of the Science Department and later as Deputy Headmaster, during a period of great expansion of the school, in which he was responsible for building up the very strong Science side. He had a great insight into boys and followed, with keen interest, their careers; he had a remarkable memory and was rarely at a loss to recall the school days or subsequent achievements of his former pupils. They, no doubt, will remember with gratitude the inspiration which he gave them and the sound scientific learning which resulted from his teaching.		He spent his childhood in the railway town of Swindon from whence he made his way up to Cambridge University and obtained an Honours degree in Natural Sciences at [[Wikipedia:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge\|Fitzwilliam Hall]] after active service in the [[Wikipedia:Royal Flying Corps\|RFC]] and [[Wikipedia:Royal Air Force\|RAF]] in the First World War, in which he received wounds which left him always with a slight limp. His early teaching was at [[Wikipedia:Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys\|Woolwich Polytechnic]], and he left London for reasons of health to join the staff at [[Boston Grammar School]] in 1927 under the headship of [[Herbert Haycroft Morris\|Mr Morris]], soon after the opening of [[Quadrangle\|the new classroom block]], at a time when the school had first reached the 200 mark. This was the beginning of a highly successful teaching career as Head of the Science Department and later as Deputy Headmaster, during a period of great expansion of the school, in which he was responsible for building up the very strong Science side. He had a great insight into boys and followed, with keen interest, their careers; he had a remarkable memory and was rarely at a loss to recall the school days or subsequent achievements of his former pupils. They, no doubt, will remember with gratitude the inspiration which he gave them and the sound scientific learning which resulted from his teaching.

	He will be remembered by a wide section of the community for his many and varied interests. He was a founder Governor, and at one time chairman of [https://bostonstory.co.uk/chapters/51-55/51-fydell-house-and-the-boston-preservation/fydell-house-boston-preservation-trust.html Pilgrim College], where he taught for many years, and established a strong link with the teaching staff of the school. He virtually created the [[Wikipedia:Workers' Educational Association\|WEA]] in the thirties, not only in Boston but also in Spalding, and was chairman of the branch. He was a member of the [https://bostonpreservationtrust.org.uk/ Boston Preservation Trust] and was for a time the teachers' representative on the Education Committee. He was keenly interested in sport, particularly athletics, in the Caledonian Society, and was deeply involved in [[Wikipedia:Civil Defence Corps\|Civil Defence]], where his devotion led to the award of the [[Wikipedia:Order of the British Empire\|MBE]].		He will be remembered by a wide section of the community for his many and varied interests. He was a founder Governor, and at one time chairman of [https://bostonstory.co.uk/chapters/51-55/51-fydell-house-and-the-boston-preservation/fydell-house-boston-preservation-trust.html Pilgrim College], where he taught for many years, and established a strong link with the teaching staff of the school. He virtually created the [[Wikipedia:Workers' Educational Association\|WEA]] in the thirties, not only in Boston but also in Spalding, and was chairman of the branch. He was a member of the [https://bostonpreservationtrust.org.uk/ Boston Preservation Trust] and was for a time the teachers' representative on the Education Committee. He was keenly interested in sport, particularly athletics, in the Caledonian Society, and was deeply involved in [[Wikipedia:Civil Defence Corps\|Civil Defence]], where his devotion led to the award of the [[Wikipedia:Order of the British Empire\|MBE]].

Smeeds: Obituary

2023-12-16T01:39:58Z

Obituary

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	\| citizenship =		\| citizenship =
	\| education = Natural sciences, Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge		\| education = Natural sciences, Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge
	\| roles = ~~Senior~~ Science ~~Master~~; Senior Master from 1949, and later Deputy head (c1950-1962); Acting headmaster (1954)		\| roles = Head of the Science Department; Senior Master from 1949, and later Deputy head (c1950-1962); Acting headmaster (1954)
	\| years_at_BGS = 1927-1962		\| years_at_BGS = 1927-1962
	\| departments = Science		\| departments = Science
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	<blockquote>...the time we bought Gaffer ("Gad") Dickson a parcel of candles after he had complained about the poor lighting in the Boston area. We were reprimanded for it by our form-master, [[Joseph Whiteley Lockwood\|"Laddy" Lockwood]], but Gaffer saw the funny side and actually apologised to us for Laddy's actions afterwards. I remember Gaffer`s habit of picking the warts on the back of his hand.</blockquote>		<blockquote>...the time we bought Gaffer ("Gad") Dickson a parcel of candles after he had complained about the poor lighting in the Boston area. We were reprimanded for it by our form-master, [[Joseph Whiteley Lockwood\|"Laddy" Lockwood]], but Gaffer saw the funny side and actually apologised to us for Laddy's actions afterwards. I remember Gaffer`s habit of picking the warts on the back of his hand.</blockquote>

			==Obituary==

			''From [[The Bostonian]] 1967''

			We were deeply shocked to hear of the death of [[Herbert Matthew Dickson]] on 20th June after a short illness. Since his retirement in 1962 he had retained an active interest in the affairs of the school and was a keen and loyal supporter of the [[Old Bostonian Association]], whose functions he attended very regularly until a few weeks before his death.

			He spent his childhood in the railway town of Swindon from whence he made his way up to Cambridge University and obtained an Honours degree in Natural Sciences at [[Wikipedia:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge\|Fitzwilliam Hall]] after active service in the [[Wikiedia:Royal Flying Corps\|RFC]] and [[Wikipedia:Royal Air Force\|RAF]] in the First World War, in which he received wounds which left him always with a slight limp. His early teaching was at [[Wikipedia:Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys\|Woolwich Polytechnic]], and he left London for reasons of health to join the staff at [[Boston Grammar School]] in 1927 under the headship of [[Herbert Haycroft Morris\|Mr Morris]], soon after the opening of [[Quadrangle\|the new classroom block]], at a time when the school had first reached the 200 mark. This was the beginning of a highly successful teaching career as Head of the Science Department and later as Deputy Headmaster, during a period of great expansion of the school, in which he was responsible for building up the very strong Science side. He had a great insight into boys and followed, with keen interest, their careers; he had a remarkable memory and was rarely at a loss to recall the school days or subsequent achievements of his former pupils. They, no doubt, will remember with gratitude the inspiration which he gave them and the sound scientific learning which resulted from his teaching.

			He will be remembered by a wide section of the community for his many and varied interests. He was a founder Governor, and at one time chairman of [https://bostonstory.co.uk/chapters/51-55/51-fydell-house-and-the-boston-preservation/fydell-house-boston-preservation-trust.html Pilgrim College], where he taught for many years, and established a strong link with the teaching staff of the school. He virtually created the [[Wikipedia:Workers' Educational Association\|WEA]] in the thirties, not only in Boston but also in Spalding, and was chairman of the branch. He was a member of the [https://bostonpreservationtrust.org.uk/ Boston Preservation Trust] and was for a time the teachers' representative on the Education Committee. He was keenly interested in sport, particularly athletics, in the Caledonian Society, and was deeply involved in [[Wikipedia:Civil Defence Corps\|Civil Defence]], where his devotion led to the award of the [[Wikipedia:Order of the British Empire\|MBE]].

			Among his memorials at school is the [[CCF]], which he started as the Air Training Corps and ran throughout the Second World War. His name will be perpetuated in the school by the annual award of the [[Dickson Science Prize]] with the Old Boys instituted in his honour on his retirement only five years ago. Our deepest sympathies are with [[]Mrs Dickson]] and their son [[John Dickson\|John]], who was himself a Parry Gold Medallist and who, after a distinguished career at Cambridge, is now on the staff of the [[Wikipedia:United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority\|Atomic Energy Authority]].

	==See Also==		==See Also==
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	[[Category:1950s]]		[[Category:1950s]]
	[[Category:1960s]]		[[Category:1960s]]
			[[Category:Obituaries]]
	[[Category:See Also]]		[[Category:See Also]]

Smeeds: MBE

2023-11-30T20:03:42Z

MBE

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	\| honorific_prefix =		\| honorific_prefix =
	\| name = Herbert Matthew Dickson		\| name = Herbert Matthew Dickson
	\| honorific_suffix =		\| honorific_suffix = MBE
	\| image = Dickson H M.jpg		\| image = Dickson H M.jpg
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
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	\| citizenship =		\| citizenship =
	\| education = Natural sciences, Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge		\| education = Natural sciences, Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge
	\| roles = Senior Science Master; Senior Master from 1949, and later Deputy head; Acting headmaster (1954)		\| roles = Senior Science Master; Senior Master from 1949, and later Deputy head (c1950-1962); Acting headmaster (1954)
	\| years_at_BGS = 1927-1962		\| years_at_BGS = 1927-1962
	\| departments = Science		\| departments = Science
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	Upon his retirement, the annual [[Dickson Science Prize]] was instituted by the [[Old Bostonian Association]] in his honour.		Upon his retirement, the annual [[Dickson Science Prize]] was instituted by the [[Old Bostonian Association]] in his honour.

			Dickson was awarded an [[Wikipedia:Order of the British Empire\|MBE]] in the New Year Honours List of 1963. The award was for his [[Wikipedia:Civil defense\|Civil Defence]] work. He had been Chief Scientific Intelligence Officer of Holland Corps of Civil Defence since 1952.

	[[Edwin Killick]] (BGS 1955-1962) remembers...		[[Edwin Killick]] (BGS 1955-1962) remembers...

Testbot: 'See also' updated by Bot

2023-03-20T13:19:30Z

'See also' updated by Bot

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	*[[:Boston Grammar School Speech Day 1942]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School Speech Day 1942]]
	*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]
			*[[:Debating Society]]
	*[[:Geoffrey Medforth Goodacre]]		*[[:Geoffrey Medforth Goodacre]]
	*[[:Grahame Hugh Clement Waters]]		*[[:Grahame Hugh Clement Waters]]

Testbot: 'See also' updated by Bot

2023-02-16T13:13:17Z

'See also' updated by Bot

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	*[[:Boston Grammar School 1939 (Part 4 of 8)]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School 1939 (Part 4 of 8)]]
	*[[:Boston Grammar School 1962 (Part 3 of 6)]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School 1962 (Part 3 of 6)]]
			*[[:Boston Grammar School Speech Day 1942]]
	*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]
	*[[:Geoffrey Medforth Goodacre]]		*[[:Geoffrey Medforth Goodacre]]

Testbot: 'See also' updated by Bot

2023-02-15T13:12:32Z

'See also' updated by Bot

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	*[[:Boston Grammar School 1962 (Part 3 of 6)]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School 1962 (Part 3 of 6)]]
	*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]
			*[[:Geoffrey Medforth Goodacre]]
	*[[:Grahame Hugh Clement Waters]]		*[[:Grahame Hugh Clement Waters]]
	*[[:Herbert Haycroft Morris]]		*[[:Herbert Haycroft Morris]]

Smeeds: Image

2022-01-16T19:02:02Z

Image

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	\| name = Herbert Matthew Dickson		\| name = Herbert Matthew Dickson
	\| honorific_suffix =		\| honorific_suffix =
	\| image =		\| image = Dickson H M.jpg
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| alt =		\| alt =
	\| caption =		\| caption = Herbert Matthew Dickson
	\| nicknames = Gaffer, Gad		\| nicknames = Gaffer, Gad
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =

Smeeds: More detail and anecdote

2022-01-16T18:59:47Z

More detail and anecdote

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	\| alt =		\| alt =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| nicknames =		\| nicknames = Gaffer, Gad
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} -->		\| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} -->
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	\| citizenship =		\| citizenship =
	\| education = Natural sciences, Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge		\| education = Natural sciences, Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge
	\| roles = Deputy head; Acting headmaster (1954)		\| roles = Senior Science Master; Senior Master from 1949, and later Deputy head; Acting headmaster (1954)
	\| years_at_BGS = 1927-1962		\| years_at_BGS = 1927-1962
	\| departments = Science		\| departments = Science
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	'''Herbert Matthew Dickson''' was a teacher of science at [[Boston Grammar School]] (1927-62).		'''Herbert Matthew Dickson''' was a teacher of science at [[Boston Grammar School]] (1927-62).

	He came to BGS as a science teacher in 1927 with an honours degree in natural sciences from [[Wikipedia:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge\|Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge]] and after a spell lecturing at [[Wikipedia:University of Greenwich\|Woolwich Polytechnic]]. HM Dickson was acting headmaster for a while, when [[Leslie Thomas Waddams]] left in 1954. In 1962 he was awarded the MBE and he also left BGS in that year.		Dickson was brought up in Swindon. He came to BGS as a science teacher in 1927 with an honours degree in natural sciences from [[Wikipedia:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge\|Fitzwilliam Hall, Cambridge]] and after a spell lecturing at [[Wikipedia:University of Greenwich\|Woolwich Polytechnic]]. Dickson was acting headmaster for a while, when [[Leslie Thomas Waddams]] left in 1954. In 1962 he was awarded the MBE and he also left BGS in that year.

			He was a founder governor and Chairman of Pilgrim College a member of Boston Preservation Trust, Secretary of the Caledonian Society of Holland, a member of the [[Wikipedia:Civil Defence Corps\|Civil Defence Corps]] and formed the [[CCF:BGS Air Training Corps]].

	Upon his retirement, the annual [[Dickson Science Prize]] was instituted by the [[Old Bostonian Association]] in his honour.		Upon his retirement, the annual [[Dickson Science Prize]] was instituted by the [[Old Bostonian Association]] in his honour.

			[[Edwin Killick]] (BGS 1955-1962) remembers...

			<blockquote>...the time we bought Gaffer ("Gad") Dickson a parcel of candles after he had complained about the poor lighting in the Boston area. We were reprimanded for it by our form-master, [[Joseph Whiteley Lockwood\|"Laddy" Lockwood]], but Gaffer saw the funny side and actually apologised to us for Laddy's actions afterwards. I remember Gaffer`s habit of picking the warts on the back of his hand.</blockquote>

	==See Also==		==See Also==

Testbot: 'See also' updated by Bot

2021-07-13T12:14:41Z

'See also' updated by Bot

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:14, 13 July 2021
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	==See Also==		==See Also==
	*[[:~~Parry Gold Medal~~]]		*[[:Air Raid Shelters]]
			*[[:Boston Grammar School 1939 (Part 4 of 8)]]
			*[[:Boston Grammar School 1962 (Part 3 of 6)]]
	*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]		*[[:Boston Grammar School Staff]]
			*[[:Grahame Hugh Clement Waters]]
	*[[:Herbert Haycroft Morris]]		*[[:Herbert Haycroft Morris]]
	*[[:Boston Grammar School 1962 (Part 3 of 6)]]
	*[[:Boston Grammar School 1939 (Part 4 of 8)]]
	*[[:Air Raid Shelters]]
	*[[:Mrs Dickson]]		*[[:Mrs Dickson]]
			*[[:Parry Gold Medal]]