1803

John Hymers was born on 20 July 1803 in Ormesby, Yorkshire. He was the third of five children to Thomas and Ester Hymers.

Remembering the Birth of Rev. John Hymers

1807

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.

1822

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.

The Life of John Hymers

1852

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.

The Later Life of John Hymers

1887

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.

1893 - 1927

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.

1893

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.

The Opening of Hymers College

1916

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.

Remembrance Memories: The Zeppelin Bomb

1920

Charles Gore formed and became the first President of the Old Hymerians Association. He held the position for the first two years. The first meeting was held on 25 June 1920.

1927 - 1951

William Victor Cavill became the school's second Headmaster, until his retirement 24 years later in 1951.

1951 - 1971

Harry R. Roach was the third Headmaster at Hymers College. He stayed at the school for 20 years, before retiring in 1971.

1971 - 1983

John Ashurst became the fourth Headmaster at Hymers College in 1971, teaching at the school for 12 years before his retirement in 1983.

1971

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.

1983 - 1990

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.

1989

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.

History of Females at Hymers College

1990 - 2006

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.

2006 - 2019

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.

2019

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.