Aluredian
8
Richard
Pocock
by
Peter
McKegneyT
hirty-five years ago a
musician, an artist and an
economist arrived at King's to
start their careers. At the first
staff meeting I looked around
to try to identify the artist
among my fellow starters. I was looking for a
dishevelled bohemian, perhaps wearing
sandals. I couldn't see this Richard person
anywhere - and then this 6' 2", 16-stone bear,
with a mop of black hair, chubby hands and a
light-coloured corduroy suit came across and
introduced himself as the new art teacher.
That was Richard Pocock!
However Richard wasn't just the new art
teacher; he was head of art at both King's and
Pyrland Hall (now King's Hall), which makes
him the longest ever serving head of
department! It wasn't long before Richard was
full-time at King's, in fact he was a good deal
more than full-time. He did life drawing in the
evenings, was on hand every Sunday morning
in the art department, ran the senior film club
every Saturday evening, and was a tutor in
Woodard House.
On Monday afternoons he would run the
conservation group, which usually consisted of
the reprobates that the CCF couldn't cope with.
Check this para. So Richard armed these
characters with axes, saws, machetes, picks
and spades, and headed off for Thurlbear
Wood to do conservation work. Amazingly he
returned each week with the same number of
pupils that he set out with.
In the meantime the art department was
flourishing. He introduced photography, screen
printing, and a variety of other media.
Numbers were increasing, and A level and O
level, later GCSE, results were, year on year,
some of the best in the school. As well as
getting great results, Richard inspired countless
pupils to follow art at university, and many of
his former students are now professional artists
or illustrators or graphic designers.
He is of course an established artist in his own
right, and is a printmaker by trade. He does
coloured etchings, and has exhibited widely
and successfully as far afield as London,
Cambridge, and twice in Germany. Most
recently he exhibited at Slimbridge, and is a
key player in the Somerset Arts week. At his
home he has his own studio and printing press,
where he will now be able to spend more of his
time.
Richard was always a great supporter of the
Chapel, and many years ago created a set of
six magnificent banners that lined the Chapel
walls. Their fame spread, and made
appearances at several famous abbeys, not to
mention Wells Cathedral, who commissioned
him to design another set just for them.
Richard has been a very special part of the
King's fabric for the past 35 years. He has
contributed hugely to the cultural life of the
school, and has always put the interests of the
pupils first, and in a most professional way. He
will literally leave a very big hole, and will be
sorely missed.