The obituary notice of Brian Victor Frederick HARRILD

Part 2:
We stood up in lessons when adults entered and waited. Lunchtimes started and ended with Grace, a moment to reflect and be thankful. These weren’t just rules; they were values. I now find myself talking and passing on some of these old values mixed in with new ones thinking about my own upbringing and Mr Harrild being a huge foundation in that.

I remember the garden tea parties and the time taken to write handwritten messages in the books we received at the end of the year. He was proud and welcomed our families into a school that was more than a school. It was a safe, caring, nurturing, funny, cheeky, home-from-home. He led the singing of our school song with such pride, “Cambridge blueeeeee and cherry red”.

Last month, I was sharing a few stories with my students during a careers lesson. (I am teaching in a British International School) I showed them a picture of St Crispin’s. I told them that the reason I am a teacher today is because of the happiness and sense of belonging I felt at that school and how this span generations. I shared photos of Mr Harrild, not knowing he would be passing so soon. They were fascinated by the stories as we spoke about finding a career that brings purpose and passion. Mr Harrild definitely found his.

I used to write to Mr Harrild with some updates and would always receive messages back. It is very sad to hear that he has passed, but his legacy lives on. He taught me so much through his actions. He had a brilliant sense of humour and, while he may have been quietly well-connected, he carried himself with humility.

Mr Harrild, thank you for being my Headmaster.

Jyoti

Part 1:

In life, you meet very few people who truly live up to the words used to describe them. Mr Harrild was one of those people. He was the OG.

I joined St Crispin’s at the end of Year 7 and left after my GCSEs in 2000. My dad and his brothers attended St Crispin’s Prep School on St Mary’s Road in Stoneygate in the 1970s, and he always spoke so fondly of Mr Harrild. It felt pretty special to follow in those footsteps, especially when the school joined with Richmond House and continued for those who didn’t want to leave after their 13+.

When St Crispin’s joined with Richmond House and accepted girls, Mr Harrild made sure we were looked after and had a voice in the school. He trusted female members of staff to ensure we had everything we needed. He led with a big heart and genuine care, and you could feel that through his staff.

He had a presence that was both commanding and kind. He led with heart, and that was reflected in his staff: Mr Barnet, Mr Buckley, Mrs Hanson, Mr Whitmore, Mr Leake, to name just a few. I remember him calling our surname across the playground as the boys played cricket, followed by the inevitable chorus of “Which one?” (my brother also attended the school) I loved that he always called us by our surnames.

I remember being taught Latin in No. 8. He wrote in his infamous turquoise ink when marking our books, and to this day I still have my Parker pen from school. He taught us to do things properly: never to cut corners, to value the basics, to write with a proper pen and real ink. Shoes polished. Jackets worn correctly. Because, as he showed us, it’s the small details people remember. I still remember how strong the house system was with the stars and stripes.

(Pt2 in next box)

A gentleman in every sense, an educator without equal, a truly great man.

Mr Harrild shaped lives, set standards, and leaves a legacy that will endure.

Respected, admired, and never to be forgotten.

May you rest in peace and rise in glory. A kind loving and forgiving soul. God bless you. Love David

Mr Harrild was quite simply a legendary gentleman and Headmaster. As many tributes show, he was kind yet embodied “firm but fair” and "manners maketh man".

Across 4 decades of headship, he inspired countless pupils, directly through teaching History, Latin, Maths and PE, and indirectly by creating an open, familial atmosphere. He knew every pupil by name, and even years after retiring he still remembered us, showing how deeply he cared. Whatever your interests, he encouraged them. My love of Music grew through the excellent teachers he appointed; many others discovered passions for cricket and sport. His tradition of buying two books for every pupil at the annual Book Fair is remembered fondly. The teachers he hired were experts in their fields and left lasting impressions.

He also taught us respect — for each other, our community and the wider world.

Under his leadership, St Crispin’s grew from a small boys’ prep school into a thriving coeducational school from Nursery to GCSE. It became so popular that there was a Year 6A and 6B! He was an astute businessman; his stationery cupboard held the coolest pens and pencils imaginable to a young student; through the infamous Tuck Shop, he encouraged entrepreneurship.

Some memories stand out:
– the School Song featuring his name
– Plusses Treats, motivating pupils to do their best
– Prize Giving on the lawn of No.10
– the Shady Lane Treasure Hunt
– presenting him with a gift at his Retirement Assembly

We picture him with his pipe, in his study, at the lectern in his mortarboard, or supervising break from his deck chair.

If there is one theme, it is care, encouragement and inspiring others to be their best. He lived the school motto Respice Finem — “look to the end” — urging us to consider the long‑term impact of our actions. He set us all on the right path, and the many tributes here are proof of this.

It is difficult to truly put into words the impact Mr Harrild had on my life. My journey began at Richmond House in Leicester from nursery, and when he later bought the school under St Crispin’s, he became a defining figure in my education and life. He was far more than a headmaster. To many of us, he felt like a cool grandad figure, someone you respected deeply yet felt completely at ease around. He taught me values I still live by today like being firm yet kind, to show compassion & empathy, and to believe in myself no matter the odds.

I was not always the easiest student and had my fair share of mischievous moments, yet his patience and forgiveness were unmatched. One memory that still makes me laugh is when Ezra Thomas attempted a “Tombstone” on me in the foyer after school, the banned move made famous by The Undertaker, which resulted in me half hanging out of a smashed window before running off laughing and hiding under the stairs. What stood out most was how Mr Harrild handled it. Ezra was simply billed for the damage, no shouting, no overreaction, just calm authority and understanding.

He had a remarkable way of bringing the school together. Whether it was rewarding effort through his points system, awarding me gymnast of the year for the cleanest rope climb he had seen, or celebrating sporting victories with ice cream, he created an environment that felt like one big extended family. I also remember his stationery cupboard, a simple touch that showed how well he understood his pupils and business. Even learning Latin, which felt pointless at the time, later helped me with Italian.

Now at 38, I appreciate how much he shaped the person I have become. His morals, values, patience and belief in his students left a lasting mark on many lives, including mine. Thank you, Mr Harrild, for your guidance, wisdom and belief in us. Your legacy will live on through all of us. My heartfelt condolences to your family.

Rest in peace, Sir. You will never be forgotten by us.

Respice Finem