Originally from Broadwater near Taunton in Somerset, Mr Maltravers moved to London and had his first teaching experience at St Barnabus School in Pimlico. He later trained and passed as a qualified teacher at Peterborough Teacher Training College and then became assistant master at Clewer St Stephen near Eton. After a short time there he became headmaster at Egerton village school near Ashford in Kent where he stayed for three years before being appointed headmaster at Holywell School in Upchurch where he succeeded Mr Sharpe in 1904. His wife Ethel who he had married in 1900 accompanied him to the school where she also worked as a teacher. They lived in the house adjoining the school as previous teachers had also done. Mr Maltravers soon made his mark by immediately establishing a school roll of honour with a merit mark list then over the following 26 years he ran a flourishing school. The HMI report of 1926 reported:
The school is carefully conducted by earnest and industrious teachers who seem interested in their work. The children acquire habits of application and diligence and in oral lessons are responsive and keen to answer questions while a number of them are self-reliant and show intelligence.
Like many great organisers Mr Maltravers had a talent for doing things with great enthusiasm. He also had a great interest in his pupils for whom he always did his best. He was a man of high character and a practicing Christian. According to former pupils he always looked on the bright side of life with a sense of humour and a hearty laugh. He was also fair but firm with his pupils and maintained good order in the school. According to former Holywell pupil Win Wraight if any miscreants failed to show up for a detention Mr Maltravers would ring a bell and all pupils on their way home had to stand still until the offending pupil returned. After a pupil had once destroyed his set of canes he promptly went outside and cut himself a new one from the hedge and used it to punish the offender.
A skilled musician, Mr Maltravers put this to good use in the school and also served as the church organist for 14 years and choirmaster for 20 years. He became a licensed lay reader and regularly took part in church services. He also played a big part in the founding of the Otterham Quay Mission and took services there and at Twydall church.
Mr Maltravers held many official positions in the village. For example, from 1905 he became clerk to the parish council, a position he held until his death. He also became secretary to the parochial church council and Upchurch correspondent for the East Kent Gazette newspaper.
Outside church affairs Mr Maltravers became a founder of the village recreation club on the site of the ‘Old Chapel’ in Horsham Lane in 1920. This became a social club for men and boys of the village who had access to card games, bagatelle, whist drives and other social activities. The club became an immediate success and Mr Maltravers was made secretary. He also founded the village football club in 1907, became secretary and enrolled the two teams in the Sittingbourne & District League and regularly supported the club until the end of his life. He also organised the May Queen festival on Empire Day and ran bazaars and annual sales of work at Holywell School.
Mr Maltravers proved to be a very good cricketer and captained the village team for ten years. In 1905 he became the first recorded Upchurch cricketer to score a half century with his 70 not out against Lower Halstow. He also served as chairman and secretary of the club and regularly performed as the club’s leading batsman.
Because of his ability to speak well in public and play the piano Mr Maltravers often acted as MC at various village events and appeared at some of these in fancy dress. For example, on March 11th 1920 he dressed as a Dutch boy in the fancy dress dance at the Infant’s School.
In 1911 Mr Maltravers established a minstrel troupe in the village which became known as the ‘Upchurch Nuggets’ made up of 15 men and 6 women. They performed songs, dances and short comical sketches. Members of the troupe blackened their faces, wore colourful costumes and entertained local audiences both in and outside the village. Mr Maltravers idea behind the troupe was to give entertainment in support of any parochial fund or charity in Upchurch and the surrounding locality. The troupe performed at events like the Upchurch Armistice Day celebrations of 1919 at Bobbing to raise money for the Bobbing Vicarage Fund and the Lower Halstow Branch of the St Bart’s Hospital Linen League.
Early in 1930 Mr Maltravers suffered from jaundice and went to the Middlesex Hospital in London where he had an operation. He began recovering well when he unexpectedly had a heart attack and died aged 56. This came as a great shock to the people of Upchurch. Upon the announcement of his sudden death the flags at Holywell and the Infant’s Schools were flown at half-mast. His coffin was brought back to Upchurch and he was buried in the churchyard. On the day of his funeral pupils from Holywell School lined the road and led the cortege to the church where large numbers of village residents attended the funeral.
A highly talented and born organiser Mr Maltravers premature death prevented him from achieving more in Upchurch. Recognition for his many achievements was shown when money was raised for a stained glass window that was placed in the church in his memory. This reflected the great respect held for him amongst people in Upchurch. His wife Ethel took over as headmistress at Holywell School where she served until August 25th 1936.
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
David Wood
