Goodbye, Mr Smith
It is always sad to say goodbye and this year alongside the Yr 6 leavers, we also bid a fond adieu to Mr Richard Smith.
Mr Smith has been a stalwart of West House School since he joined the teaching team as a TA back in 2012. Whilst working full-time he qualified as a teacher and has been a much-loved and vital member of the West House teaching team ever since.
It was during lock-down that Mr Smith really demonstrated his passion and commitment to the school community as he and his colleagues ensured that the boys continued to engage with his lessons, even whilst at home. All those children and parents that participated in the now legendary online sessions of Mr Boulton and Mr Smith benefitted from his dedication, humour and creativity.
Most readers will be aware that Richard is an old boy of the school, as the attached pictures confirm. Mr Lyttle revealed in a special surprise assembly that Richard’s mum was often in and out of Mr Lyttle’s office where they fretted over what to do about the slightly ‘mischievous’ Mr Smith.
Mr Lyttle thinks it worked out in the end though, commenting that: – “I have seen many young and talented teachers during the course of my career and Mr Smith is right up there with the best. I suspect that his career will not be confined to the classroom alone.”
Mr Smith says:-
“Where to begin…
As I draw a close to my 17-year West House career – 7 as a boy and 10 as a member of staff – I have looked back at my time at number 24 St James Rd with immense fondness.
West House is a special place that quite possibly cannot be fully appreciated until one leaves for the last time through the iconic red doors. I tried in 2004 in Year 6, enjoyed 7 years at Solihull School, and then found myself welcomed back by Mr Lyttle as a member of staff.
If there is ‘The West House Boy’, there certainly must be such thing as ‘The West House Teacher’: a hard-working, adaptable person, ready to open pupils’ eyes to the future. A humourous educator, whose constant priority is ‘The Good of The Boys’. How lucky our boys are to find themselves surrounded by such wonderful teachers.
The friendships I made have stood the test of time: two of my Groomsmen on my wedding day were West House boys; my daughter’s Godfather is a West House boy. This is all testament to the wonderful ethos revered as ‘The West House Family’.
At the other end of my West House Journey, I have valued my colleagues friendships immeasurably. How can I replace Mr Boulton or Miss Heffernan’s friendship? Mr Denham’s enthusiasm? Mrs Edgington’s and Miss Channer’s cheeriness? Mr Lyttle’s incredibly loud voice…
I leave for Paris to carry on my family journey, but will always have a piece of West House deep in my heart. The school. The ethos. The teachers. The boys.”
