Thought For The Day

Today, we remember Mr. Mike Franklin, who passed away three years ago on this date.

Mr. Franklin was a Caretaker of T.B.S.H.S.  Mr. Franklin was a wise, good-humoured  and passionate “citizen of the world”, linguist, reader and supporter of Arsenal Football Club. 

Mr. Franklin devoted many hours to the School, through the week and at weekends,  over his near twenty-three years of service.  He helped and supported all.  Mr. Franklin is pictured below.

Mr. Franklin enriched our previous London Road site through, for example,  gardening and horticulture. At this time of year, a season of “Flower Shows” of course, flowers he planted, and nurtured,  would bloom.  A picture of one of his arrangements, from June 2022,  is above.  

The seeds of the past grow, and blossom, in the present and future.  With care.

Mr. Franklin was also a devoted ornithologist. A lover of nature, he considered and greatly respected “the birds of the air”, as well as “the lilies of the field”, to quote the Gospels in the Bible.  He was deeply interested in, and respectful of, the intricate and beautiful world around him.

There is great wisdom in birdsong in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.

No doubt Sir would have been, and is from above,  very engaged with, and enthusiastic about,  the way our new site on Beaumont Avenue is beautifully flourishing.

It takes time.  It takes nurture. It takes care.  It takes love.

Those that care, and have cared, are always remembered. In our lives.  In our communities. At T.B.S.H.S.

“The Green Team” at T.B.S.H.S. continue, and further enhance,  this “Black, Gold and Green” environmental legacy as, of course, do the Caretaking Team.

For Caretakers take care of the School (a phrase Mr. Franklin often used).   Including when everyone else is on holiday.   The Caretakers at T.B.S.H.S. have been wonderful in, and with, our new School facilities.

This is also a very good opportunity to thank the rest of the Support Staff at T.B.S.H.S. These great citizens are “the team behind the team behind the team”.  For any club needs people to keep the club going.  Without them, quite simply, there is no organization.

From:  caretaking; catering; cleaning; reception and registration staff at the beginning of, and throughout, the day, to: inclusion and pastoral; first aid; timetable; operations; administration; calendar; communication; publications; reprographics;  examinations; careers, employment and life opportunities; admissions;  room bookings;  hospitality; experiments and technician; computer network; library leadership; finance; learning and extra-curricular support; and visits, staff during the day; to: parents’ evenings (we look forward to welcoming Year 10 carers, parents and students this evening); cleaning; and caretaking; staff at the end of the day; to grounds staff at Jobbers Wood.   

And we must also take care in, and throughout, our lives.  Self and social care.

A vital part of this is staying safe in and out of T.B.S.H.S., and in the holidays,  sharing any concerns and worries, both in person and on-line, looking out for our neighbours.

Today we will be  planned “alarm and alert testing” at 11:50 a.m.  This is a long-standing check in our new facilities.  Please check the “Daily Notices”, diligently and faithfully produced each school day by T.B.S.H.S.’ Reception Team,  Mrs. Hunter and Mrs. Radford,   for details.  Thank you, as always, to Mr. Barnes, Mr. Parish, Mr. Kuan and Mr. O’Sullivan for all their network and technical support.

Take care of others and yourselves.  This is “The Black and Gold Spirit”. 

Thank you to Mr. Franklin and all the vital support staff,  “the team behind the team behind the team” at T.B.S.H.S.