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Hymers College opened in 1893, originally as a school for boys. It was its founder, John Hymers' wish that the school would provide an education "for the training of intelligence in whatever social rank of life it may be found".
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1803: Birth of John Hymers
John Hymers was born on 20 July 1803 in Ormesby, Yorkshire. He was the third of five children to Thomas and Ester Hymers.
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1807: Birth of Robert Hymers
Robert Hymers, the younger brother and the ultimate beneficiary of John Hymers' estate, was born. Less academic than his brother, Robert worked as a farmer. He married Mary in 1863 and lived a long life of 87 years. He died on 1 January 1894.
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1822: Cambridge Life
John started his education at the age of five years old at Witton-le-Wear Grammar School before attending secondary school at Sedbergh School. He continued on to St John's College, Cambridge where he became a prominent Mathematician.
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1852: Reverend John Hymers
St John's College elected John to the Rectory of Brandsburton in Holderness and there, he spent the remainder of his days. When he took the living he had no experience of parochial work.
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1887: Death of John Hymers
John Hymers passed away in 1887, aged 83 years old. He left a homemade will, to leave his fortune to 'found and endow' a school, that would enable boys in Hull to have the same opportunities that had come his way in life. Unfortunately, it should have said ‘found or endow’, rather than 'found and endow', resulting in his surviving younger brother, Robert Hymers, inheriting the fortune. However, Robert spontaneously offered the Corporation of Hull a sum of £50,000 for the purpose of carrying out John's wishes.
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1893 - 1927: Headmaster Charles Gore
Charles Henry Gore was appointed as the first Headmaster of Hymers College on May 1st 1893. He remained with the school for 34 years, making him the longest serving Headmaster, until he retired in August 1927.
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1893: Opening of Hymers College
Hymers College was officially opened on 30 October 1893 as a school for boys, on the site of the old Botanic Gardens of Hull. It was originally built to accommodate 500 students, with the liberty to take on boarders, although this side of the school never developed beyond a handful of boarders at a time.
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1896: Creation of School Companies
It was decided to organise the school into four Companies, each with two masters, two prefects and an equal share of the best footballers in the school. They were to be known as The Blues (Mr Gore’s Company), The Reds (Mr Clarke’s Company), The Buffs (Mr Sharwood Smith’s Company) and The Whites (Mr Coxhead’s Company).
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1916: The Zeppelin Bomb
Hymers College's future could have been very different in 1916, when a Zeppelin bomb was dropped in the grounds of the school on 6 March 1916. Luckily, it narrowly missed the main school building, landing on the school's running track instead.
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1920: Creation of the OHA
Charles Gore formed and became the first President of the Old Hymerians Association (OHA). He held the position for the first two years. The first meeting was held on 25 June 1920.
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1926: HRH Prince of Wales Visit
On 14 October 1926, the Prince of Wales (later King George V) attended a rally of Hull's secondary schools and over 2,000 children filled the Hall, the Memorial Hall and the Gymnasium. Mr. Gore met the Prince and conducted him to his inspection of the guards of honour, before the Prince gave a short address in the Main Hall.
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1927: Paragon Railway Accident
On 14 February 1927, a horrific train accident cost the life of Hymers College student, Tom Potts (OH 1926-27) at the age of just 12 years old. Geography and Maths teacher, Mr. John Monkhouse 'Dandy' Orwin, OH Staff 1914-33) was also injured in the accident, along with a number of other students.
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1927 - 1951: Headmaster William Cavill
William Victor Cavill became the school's second Headmaster, until his retirement 24 years later in 1951.
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1930: School House System
After 34 years of the School Companies, it was felt a change was needed, in the form of a six-house system, to create greater unity within, as the members would be able to become more familiar with each other. The new Houses were Bolton, Brandesburton, Gore, Holderness, Lambert and Trinity.
In 1951, it was felt that the number of Houses was too many, and Bolton and Lambert were removed.
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1939: Evacuation to Pocklington
At the start of World War II, the decision was made to evacuate the senior students of Hymers College to Pocklington School, and the Junior School students to Market Weighton.
In December 1939, it was decided to part open Hymers College once air raid shelters had been provided. Headmaster, Mr Cavill moved back to Hull, where he taught in the morning before taking the train daily to Pocklington for afternoon school. This continued until January 1943 when it was agreed the students and staff should return from Pocklington, in time for the school's golden jubilee.
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1951 - 1971: Headmaster Harry Roach
Harry R. Roach was the third Headmaster at Hymers College. He stayed at the school for 20 years, before retiring in 1971.
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1970: Independent School
Hymers College made headlines with a choice to go independent and lose its grants, go comprehensive or close down. Choosing to go independent, thankfully it didn't close and due to the bursary fundraising, the school is still able to accept pupils who wouldn't have been able to afford a place.
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1971 - 1983: Headmaster John Ashurst
John Ashurst became the fourth Headmaster at Hymers College in 1971, teaching at the school for 12 years before his retirement in 1983.
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1971: First Sixth Form Girl
Under the leadership of a new headmaster, Hymers College enrolled its first girl into the Sixth Form. Hilary Atkinson, a former Beverley High School pupil, entered the 3rd year Sixth Form Oxbridge set, to prepare for the 7th term Oxbridge examinations. Her presence in the School caused quite a stir and it was not uncommon to see her being followed round the school by young admirers.
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1983 - 1990: Headmaster Bryan Bass
Bryan Bass was the fifth Headmaster at Hymers College. From the start of his tenure, he championed the school to become co-educational. After initial opposition, he eventually convinced the Board of Governors to support the proposal and Hymers College admitted girls from the Junior School upwards in 1989. In 1990, he left Hymers College to become Headmaster at City of London School.
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1989: Co-education
On 6 September 1989, Hymers College opened its doors to welcome girls, which until that point, had only a handful of girls study in the Sixth Form during the 1970s and 1980s.
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1990 - 2006: Headmaster John Morris
John Morris became the sixth Headmaster to look after the school, until his retirement in 2006. He came to Hymers College as Head of History in 1980, and became Deputy Head in 1986. During his sixteen years at the school, the school expanded, with the building of the Judi Dench Theatre, an extension of the science block, a new Junior school and a new sports centre with swimming pool.
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1993: Centenary Celebrations
Hymers College centenary celebrations included a concert at the City Hall, Dinner and Ball, School Disco and a Centenary Lecture at Holy Trinity Church. For the students, the largest school trip was organised, with hundreds of students and teachers visiting Paris, including a trip to Disneyland Paris.
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1995: Dame Judi Dench Theatre
On 4 July 1995, Hymers College welcomed Dame Judi Dench to the school to open the 'new' school theatre, which was to be named after herself.
Headmaster at the time, John Morris showed her around the new theatre and she was introduced to students of the school, who were to take part in the first production, "Albert's Bridge" by Tom Stoppard.
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2006 - 2019: Headmaster David Elstone
Seventh Headmaster, David Elstone joined the school in 2006, moving to the area from Scotland. During his time at the school, he invested in a new Music Centre and Learning Resource Centre.
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2019: Headmaster Justin Stanley
Current Headmaster, Justin Stanley joined the school in 2019, shortly before the Covid Pandemic. Since then he has re-introduced the House System to the Senior School and overseen the purchase of Hessle Mount, resulting in Hymers College offering an all-through education for pupils aged 3 - 18 years old for the first time.
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2023: HRH Princess of Wales Visit
On 5 October 2023, Kate Middleton made a flying visit to the school after an appointment in the city. Before flying off via helicopter, she stopped to greet the students.
