OLD AZURIANS
ASSOCIATION
ERNEST HENRY FOINETTE 1909-1984
Subject: Biology
Ernest Henry Foinette was born on 20 May 1909 in Lucknow, India where his soldier father Claude James Foinette was stationed. Ernest, called Harry by his contempories and “Frosty” by the boys of WHSB, was educated in England at Adam Grammar School, Newport, Shropshire. His sporting prowess was in evidence there as he was captain of all games for two years and was awarded the Victor Ludorum trophy by the school for four consecutive years 1925-28. He represented Shropshire in athletics (100yds) in 1925.
He won a Kitchener Scholarship to St Catherine’s College Cambridge to read Natural Sciences. Still active in sport he ran in the freshers 100yds final 1928 and represented his college in Association Football and athletics..
After University he taught at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Tamworth, Shropshire, again taking part in sports, this time mostly cricket where he played variously for the school, the school old boys, and Tamworth, and proved himself to be a useful all-rounder.
In 1934 he was successful in gaining an appointment as a Chemistry master at Worthing High School for Boys. The local Tamworth press published a piece marking his departure as follows:-
From a selfish consideration for the welfare of the school, we announce with regret that Mr. E. H. Foinette is leaving at the end of the term, but we congratulate him on his success in being apponted to a more important post in a large school, at Worthing. He is a very able teacher, and half of the success in gaining the County Major Scholarship this year is due to him.
A first class athlete, he took a great interest in all games and will be remembered for a long time as the man who lost a couple of cricket balls by hitting “sixes” into the river when playing against the Town on the Castle ground.
Mr Foinette was very proud of the school, and was always anxious to take up any extra work or duties which would increase its welfare. He was extremely and deservedly popular with both staff and boys, and will take with him every good wish for success and happiness in his new work.
Amongst his extra curricular activities was acting as a F/O in charge of a local grammar school A.T.C. squadron.
After ten years at Worthing he left to teach at Netherthorpe Grammar School in Staveley, Derbyshire for two years before returning to WHSB as senior Biology master. Whilst at Worthing High School, he collaborated with Cecil Jenkins in writing “Chemistry for Schools”, which Heineman published in two parts, in 1942 and 1955. Copies of these books can still be obtained over the internet.
Needless to say, cricket still played an important role in Harry’s life. He was in charge of cricket at the school and regularly turned out for the staff in the annual match against the school. His was a prize wicket to be taken.
He also played for the Worthing Old Grammarians, a club he joined in 1935 at the same time as Len Punter, an Old Azurian. Between them these two players amassed 8000 runs and took 600 wickets before they left in the 1950s. During a 1938 quarter final of a knockout cup tournament, Foinette passed the fifty mark before his partner Punter had reached double figures, and he went on to make 102 in 62 minutes - a fastest 100 record for the club that stood for over 70 years. In the same year Foinette also topped the club bowling averages, his performance including 8 wickets for 21 and 7 wickets for 5. He took 100 wickets for the club in the same year.
In 1954 Harry resigned as captain of the WOG and moved to the Worthing club which he served as a player and behind the scenes for 20 years. In his 40's he was chairman of the cricket sub-committee of the West Sussex Schools Sports Association, a member of the Sussex Youth Cricket Council Committee and the West Sussex representative on the West Sussex Young Amateurs Committee. A local paper published an article that year detailing his career and sporting achievements.
He also played football for Worthing Old Grammarians and won the occasional golf tournament, just to rub home what an all-rounder he was.
Those of us who remember “Frosty” generally found him formal, not revealing his inner personality (as was the norm in those days), but in his more relaxed moments his sense of humour shone through. He is remembered as a first-rate teacher who paid much attention to the writing of essays and the acquisition of practical skills in 6th form work.
He retired in 1972 at the same time as two other stalwart members of staff R P McCrae (Head of Mathematics) and A H Wurr (History) the trio having between them contributed over 100 years of dedicated teaching to the school.
Photos of Mr Foinette with school cricket teams have been placed on another page - CLICK BELOW
I wish to record my thanks to Clare and Richard Foinette who have generously helped me to compile this tribute.