Mr James Jeffery taught at Epsom College from 1858 until 1879. Known as John, he was born in 1834 and was educated in Clapham and then qualified as a teacher at Battersea Training College. Arriving at Epsom College to teach in 1858 he brought a passion for sports, in particular cricket.
First Headmaster of the Epsom College Preparatory School
By 1879 a need had developed for a prep school, particularly as many pupils arrived without the fundamental academic basics in place. Mr Jeffery was known for his patience with the younger pupils and his solid teaching experience propelled him to become the first Headmaster of the Epsom College Preparatory School.
Located in central Epsom it sheltered the younger pupils from some of the unsuitable behaviour and wayward influences of the older pupils. New pupils could join the Prep school as well as those who had already started at the College, but were struggling academically, could return to Mr Jeffery’s school for extra coaching. He was known for having the kindness and tolerance to prep the young pupils for a successful transition to the Upper School.
He lived with his wife and family in the cottage next door to the prep school. Mrs Jeffery, also a teacher, had spent several years teaching in Germany, and she became a vital part of the academic team, alongside raising their young family.
A Passionate Sportsman
Mr Jeffery was a passionate sportsman and was instrumental in establishing cricket at the College. He coached it, played it, wrote about it and documented it. Indeed, his photo album from the mid to late 1800s, now in the Epsom College Archive, contains some of the earliest photographs of the College, giving an unparalleled and comprehensive visual history.
Writing Under the Pseudonym “Straw Hat”
In parallel to his teaching career, Mr Jeffery also worked as a sports writer, writing under the pseudonym “Straw Hat”. In the 1890s, the publishers Dean & Son Ltd of Fleet Street wanted to capitalise on the growth in the nation playing sports by publishing sporting handbooks. They had read an article about angling written by “Straw Hat”, and they employed him to expand Dean’s Champion Handbooks by adding tennis, rowing, swimming, croquet and football to the series. They had attractive and colourful cover designs and cost a shilling for the hardback copy.
Mr Jeffery successfully ran the Prep school until it closed in 1900; moving the last boys to the Upper School. In the meantime, the Lower School was established on school grounds, paving a new way forward in education for the younger years.
Mr Jeffery aka “Straw Hat” died in 1907. Mrs Jeffery stayed on in their house in Epsom before moving to Wimbledon and dying in 1924.
