Francis Robert "Froggy" Howse
(BGS Staff 1919-1949)

'Froggy' Howse was educated at St Paul's School, then entered medical school at St Mary's Hospital, London. He passed his first medical examination in 1901 and intended to follow a medical career. Later, however, he gained his BA at London and taught at the Rio de Janeiro School of Languages. At one time he worked on the Ashanti goldfields. In the First World War he was a captain in the Green Howards and arrived newly demobilised at Boston Grammar School in 1919. He instituted school holiday visits to the continent. His twin sons, MJ and PF Howse, entered BGS in 1929; Michael John, unfortunately was killed in action during the Second World War.

Like Mr Chips, 'Froggy' Howse had been ready to retire when the war started but he was persuaded to stay on as the senior French master. His nasal tone was perfect for sounding the different French accents and he brought his own style of comic relief to the classroom. He could always see the funny side of anything. For example one day my brother's class were translating a passage from a French book into English. It was something to do with the seasons and their effect on trees. Each boy in turn translated a few lines and just as 'Tubby' Ellis stood up to ask to leave the room, the boy translating said "In the spring the sap rises". 'Froggy' laughed to himself and commented "Yes indeed, the sap rises."

On another occasion the comedy was unintended, Ken Woodthorpe had easten unwisely or too well for his lunch and during an afternoon French period found himself suffering from a surfeit of wind. He prayed for the period to end or at least for someone to drop a book or for any noise, which would give him the opportunity to ease his flatulence. No help, however was forthcoming, so he decided to press down as hard as he could on his desk seat and hope for the best. The result was a long, high-pitched shriek, like the wail of a banshee. 'Froggy' said "Was that the bell?" and gathered his books together to leave the room.

Paul Mould

From Centennial Anthology by Paul Mould