David Acfield Emms

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(16 February 1925 – 21 December 2015) was an English

schoolmaster A schoolmaster, or simply master, is a male school teacher. The usage first occurred in England in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period. At that time, most schools were one-room or two-room schools and had only one or two such teacher ...

, educationalist and

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

player.

Early life

David Acfield Emms was born on 16 February 1925, the son of Archibald George Emms and Winifred Gladys Emms (née Richards). He was educated at

Tonbridge School Tonbridge School is a public school (English fee-charging boarding and day school for boys aged 13–18) in Tonbridge, Kent, England, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde (sometimes spelt Judd). It is a member of the Eton Group and has clo ...

and then served during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

from 1943 until 1947. In 1947 he went on to

Brasenose College, Oxford Brasenose College (BNC) is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It began as Brasenose Hall in the 13th century, before being founded as a college in 1509. The l ...

to study Modern Languages and received a BA Hons in 1950. In that year he also married Pamela Baker Speed with whom he had three sons and a daughter.''Who’s Who 2004'', page 675, (A&C Black: London) As a

Rugby Union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

player, Emms played for

Oxford University RFC The Oxford University Rugby Football Club (Oxford University RFC or OURFC) is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham. History Men's team ...

in 1949 and 1950 in the

Varsity Match A varsity match in Britain and Ireland is a fixture, especially of a sporting event or team, between university teams, usually the highest-level team, or varsity team, in that sport. The University Match in cricket between Oxford University an ...

. He went on to play for

Northampton Northampton ( ) is a town and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is the county town of Northamptonshire and the administrative centre of the Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority of West Northamptonshire. The town is sit ...

from 1951 to 1956, and the Eastern Counties from 1951 to 1957, captaining them in 1957. He once played for the

Barbarians A barbarian is a person or tribe of people that is perceived to be primitive, savage and warlike. Many cultures have referred to other cultures as barbarians, sometimes out of misunderstanding and sometimes out of prejudice. A "barbarian" may ...

in 1952.

Career

Having received a Diploma in Education in 1951, Emms became an Assistant Master at

Uppingham School Uppingham School is a public school (English fee-charging boarding and day school for pupils 13–18) in Uppingham, Rutland, England, founded in 1584 by Robert Johnson, the Archdeacon of Leicester, who also established Oakham School. ...

. While there, he became Head of Modern Languages and also the Commanding Officer of the school's

Combined Cadet Force The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which operates in schools, sub divided into Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force sections. Its aim is to ...

. In 1960, he took up the post of Headmaster of

Cranleigh School Cranleigh School is a Private school (English fee-charging boarding and day school) in the village of Cranleigh, Surrey. History It was opened on 29 September 1865 as a boys' school 'to provide a sound and plain education, on the principle ...

where he remained until 1970. From 1970 to 1974 he was Headmaster of

Sherborne School Sherborne School is a full-boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18 located beside Sherborne Abbey in the Dorset town of Sherborne. The school has been in continuous operation on the same site for over 1,300 years. It was founded in 705 AD by Ald ...

, and in 1975 he took up the position of Master at

Dulwich College Dulwich College is a 2-18 private, day and boarding school for boys in Dulwich, London, England. As a public school, it began as the College of God's Gift, founded in 1619 by Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn, with the original purpose of ...

. Whilst at Dulwich College he was Chairman of the

Headmasters' Conference The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), formerly known as the Headmasters' Conference and now branded HMC (The Heads' Conference), is an association of the head teachers of 351 private fee-charging schools (both boarding schools an ...

in 1984, President of the Alleyn Club in 1985, and Deputy Chairman of the

English-Speaking Union The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international educational membership organisation headquartered in London, England. Founded by the journalist Sir Evelyn Wrench in 1918, it aims to bring together and empower people of different languages ...

from 1984 until 1989. He retired from the Mastership of Dulwich College in 1986. After his retirement from Dulwich College, Emms became Director of the London Goodenough Trust for Overseas Graduates (1987 to 1995). He became Chairman of the

Joint Educational Trust A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...

in 1987 (until 1990) as well as president of the Brasenose Society, President of

ISCO Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez (; born 21 April 1992), commonly known as Isco (), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for La Liga club Real Betis, which he captains and the Spain nationa ...

in 2001, a member of the Committee of the GBA from 1989 to 1992 and Vice Chairman of the Council and Deputy Pro-Chancellor of City University from 1989 to 1991. He also was a member of the council of the

Fairbridge Society Fairbridge may refer to: ;Charities * Fairbridge, a UK-based charitable organisation supporting disadvantaged children *Fairbridge Western Australia Inc., an Australian youth charity that operates Fairbridge Village in Western Australia ;People * ...

from 1984 to 1996, was admitted as a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...

in 1988, a

Freeman Freeman, free men, Freeman's or Freemans may refer to: Places United States * Freeman, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Freeman, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Freeman, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Freeman, South Dako ...

of the

City of London The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...

and Master,

Skinners' Company The Worshipful Company of Skinners (also known as the Skinners' Company) is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. Originally formed as an association of those engaged in the trade of skins and furs, the Company was g ...

in 1987 (until 1988). From 1988 to 1991 he was also Honorary Colonel of the 39th (City of London) Signal Regiment (Special Communications) (Volunteers). In 1998 he was Chairman of the

RNLI The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. Founded in 1824 ...

Chichester Chichester ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in the Chichester District, Chichester district of West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher ...

. In 2013, Emms came to the defence of Nigel Farage, when he was accused of being a racist, fascist and Nazi sympathiser during his time at Dulwich College. He commented that the problems with Farage had been naughtiness and cheekiness, rather than racism. Emms was also a governor of a number of schools during his career including

Bickley Park Bickley is a district and a local government electoral ward in South East London, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is located 10.4 miles (16.7 km) south east of Charing Cross, bordering Elmstead to the north, Chislehurst to the n ...

, Feltonfleet ( Cobham), Brambletye (

East Grinstead East Grinstead () is a town in West Sussex, England, near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders, south of London, northeast of Brighton, and northeast of the county town of Chichester. Situated in the northeast corner of the county, bord ...

), St Felix School (

Southwold Southwold is a seaside town and civil parish on the North Sea, in the East Suffolk District, East Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England. It lies at the mouth of the River Blyth, Suffolk, River Blyth in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths ...

The Portsmouth Grammar School The Portsmouth Grammar School (PGS) is a co-educational private day school in Portsmouth, England, located in the historic part of Portsmouth. It was founded in 1732 as a boys' school, and is located on Portsmouth High Street. History In 1732 ...

St George's School St George's School or Saint George's School may refer to: Brunei * St. George's School, Brunei Chile * Saint George's College, Santiago Canada * St. George's School of Montreal, Quebec * St. George's School (Vancouver), British Columbia Ge ...

(

Montreux Montreux (, ; ; ) is a Municipalities of Switzerland, Swiss municipality and List of towns in Switzerland, town on the shoreline of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Swiss Alps, Alps. It belongs to the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut (district), Riviera-Pays ...

St Dunstan's College St Dunstan's College is a coeducation, co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, private day school in Catford, south-east London, England. It is a registered charity, and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference ...

, and until 2000, his old school

. He is also a member of a number of clubs including the East India Devonshire Sports and Public Schools Club, as well as Vincent's Club, Oxford, a

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

gentlemen's club.

Honours

Emms became an Officer of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE) in 1995.

Publications

*''HMC Schools and British Industry'', 1981

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emms, David Acfield 1925 births 2015 deaths Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford Officers of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Tonbridge School English educational theorists Masters of Dulwich College Barbarian F.C. players British Army personnel of World War II Royal Artillery soldiers Oxford University RFC players Northampton Saints players Eastern Counties RU players English rugby union players 20th-century English sportsmen