Mr. G. Heddle

Some Details:

Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in the U.K., Teso College Aloet’s second Deputy Headmaster, Mr. Graham Heddle began his term in January 1966. Heddle’s passion for development motivated his move from Essex to Uganda and there he served under Mr. Jonny Jones and Mr. A.K. Tiberondwa, before becoming Acting Headmaster in 1971. He later served as Headmaster of Moyo Secondary School. An alumnus of the University of Oxford, Heddle believed that the aims of the College should be twofold:

1. “To train boys of ability in academic disciplines, to encourage them to reach the highest standards of academic excellence, and to enable them to obtain academic qualification with which they will be equipped to play an active role in the future development of their country.

2. To produce men of honesty, integrity, and sound judgment: not men of uniform, stereotyped views, but of confident mind, capable of weighing the evidence on any question, and of acting with tolerance toward those of differing outlook; men who will be prudent, balanced, humane leaders in their society. “

Other stakeholders are crucial in the progress and success in a school. Our gratitude goes to them for the concerted efforts they made in ensuring that the school sustains the upward trend in the revival of its once lost glories. These include, among others, the government of Uganda through Ministry of Education and Sports, Board of Governors, Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) Executive committee, Soroti Local Government Authorities, parents and guardians.

Biographical:

Born 1930 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, U.K. Secondary Education: – The Priory School, Shrewsbury (for 4 terms during World War II when school children were evacuated from Southend owing to the threat of bombing and of invasion). Southend High School for Boys National Service: – Royal Army Ordinance Corps, including service in the Suez Canal Zone and in Agaba, Jordan. University: – University of Oxford (St. Edmund Hall) B.A. (Hons.) in Modern History, M.A. Diploma in Education Teaching experience prior to Teso College: – Eleven years at Rickmansworth Grammar School, teaching History and R.E., and becoming Senior History Master.

Teso College Aloet:

Both to widen my experience and to make some small contribution to the developing world I applied for service in Uganda under the British Overseas Aid Scheme, and was posted to Teso College in Jan. 1966. In November 1967, on the retirement of Mr. Jonny Jones, Mr. F.C. Thomas became Acting Headmaster and I was appointed Acting Deputy Headmaster. In March 1968, Mr. A.K. Tiberondwa been appointed Headmaster and Mr. F.C. Thomas having returned to the U.K., I was appointed substantive Deputy Headmaster. From Sept. to Dec. 1969 I was Acting Headmaster while Mr. Tiberondwa was in the U.S.A. on study leave. One of the outstanding events of Mr. Tiberondwa’s headship was a visit to the College by President Milton Obote. Mr. Tiberondwa was closely associated with Dr. Obote and, I believe, a personal friend. Jan. 1971. Shortly after Idi Amin’s coup d’état, Mr. Tiberondwa left for Nairobi. This was not unusual, as he was a member of the Board of East African Airways and had to attend meetings there from time to time. However, I very soon had a telephone call, followed by a letter, from the Permanent-Secretary, Ministry of Education, telling me that Mr. Tiberondwa had been suspended from duty and that I was to take over as Acting Headmaster until further notice. Aug. 1971. M. Tiberondwa returned, having been reinstated in the teaching profession, but at the end of the month was appointed Director of the National Teachers’ College, Kyambogo. I was again confirmed as Acting Headmaster and remained so until Jan. 1972, when I was appointed substantive headmaster of Moyo Secondary School.

The other questions I find more difficult to answer after 40 years! I always found the overwhelming majority of Teso College students to be polite, friendly, and well-motivated. Their essential loyalty to the leadership of the College was shown when certain “Confusing agents” (as one reports-termed then) attempted to stir up a major riot in November. 1971 by introducing frogs’ legs etc. into the students’ food! No doubt to the disappointment of the instigators, after the initial disturbance most students refused to get involved.

I have been re-reading an article I wrote during my time as Acting Headmaster of Teso College, extracts from which sum up what- I still believe should be the aims of the College. They are two-fold: – 1. To train boys of ability in academic disciplines, to encourage them to reach the highest standards of academic excellence, and to enable them to obtain academic qualification with which they will be equipped to play an active role in the future development of their country.

2. To produce men of honesty, integrity, and sound judgment: not men of uniform, stereotyped views, but of confident mind, capable of weighing the evidence on any question, and of acting with tolerance toward those of differing outlook; men who will be prudent, balanced, humane leaders in their society.