Borden Grammar School
Borden school was founded in 1878 by the Trustees of the William Barrows Charity from its surplus funds. The original foundation caused controversy as some people considered this to be an inappropriate use of the charity’s resources. William Murdock M.A., B.Sc. worked at Borden Grammar School for some 23 years. His predecessor as head had moved to Hearn Bay, setting up a new educational establishment with many of the staff and students from Borden. Murdock later retired to Kingskerswell, near Newton Abbot in Devon. His interest in the school remained and he was writing to the Old Boys magazine on 18/07/1937 by which time Mr. Claydon had succeeded him as head.The building which housed the school has had a succession of uses since the school moved to its present site in Remembrance Ave, Sittingbourne. I attach a picture of the building in which Mr. Murdock worked and also a picture of Mr. Murdock and his prefects.A former pupil describes his then headmaster as, “A modest, unpretentious, nice man.”Keith Lainton
New Borden Grammar School
On 11th October 1929, the new Borden Grammar School opened, in the Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne.
The new school was opened by Lord Harris and the headmaster Mr William Murdock MA, BSc (1870-1951). Mr Murdock was appointed in 1906 at the old school, and remained until he retired in 1936.
At the opening the chairman of the Governors, Rev R E Harding, in his speech included the following:
“The site of the school had been well chosen in that Avenue of Remembrance. They could never forget the happenings of the War, and so there had been dedicated for all time that Avenue of Remembrance and in that Avenue of Remembrance that day they were opening the door of hope.”
The building was designed by Major W H Robinson FRIBA Architect of the Kent Education Committee. The 12th October 1929 edition of the East Kent Gazette reported “the finished building is one of the finest Secondary Schools in England.” It noted the bricks, manufactured in Newington, were moulded to a special pattern. It was built by Mr. George Browning of Canterbury at a cost of £30,025 (approximately £1.32m today).
Lord Harris, Colonel George Robert Canning Harris, 4th Baron Harris, GCSI, GCIE, CB, TD, ADC (1851-1932) (pictured right) was a prominent member of the Kent community, who lived at Belmont, Throwley.