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Authority record
Staff
Tresilian, Cecil Stuart (1891-1974), alumnus and illustrator
Tresilian, Cecil Stuart (1891-1974), alumnus and illustrator
Person · 12 Jul 1891-1974

Joined the Quintin School in 1903 and then the Art School in 1906, first as a student, then as a pupil teacher and then Assistant Master. In 1913 he gained a Scholarship to the Royal College of Art.

From 1914 he served with the Poly A Company of the Rangers, rising from Rifleman to Q.M. Sergeant, before being commissioned into the 7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. In March 1918 he was wounded and taken prisoner. His drawings from the POW camp are in the collection of the Imperial War Museum.

In 1915 he married Sybil Mayer, a fellow Poly Art School student.

After the war he re-joined the Art School as Assistant Master, at the invitation of the School Head, Mr Percival Gaskell, and taught continuously until his retirement in 1956. On his retirement he announced that he was returning to the Art school as a part-time student to study Lithography and Wood Carving!

Outside of his teaching work, Tresilian had a very successful career as a children’s book illustrator, including Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book and numerous Enid Blyton books.
Brownsword, Harold (1886-1961), Head of School of Art
Person · 1886-1961

First came to the Regent Street Polytechnic in 1914 as the Art School's Modelling Master. Under his expert guidance the Sculpture Section of the Art School flourished and many successes in scholarships and exhibitions were gained by his students. In 1938 he was appointed Head of the Art
School. [Polytechnic Magazine 1950]

Supervised the making of the figures of Gog and Magog for the Lord Mayor's Parade.

See also https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1206489037
Hartley, Dorothy Rosaman (1893-1985), alumnus, artist and historian
Person · 4 Oct 1893-22 Oct 1985
Born and grew up in Yorkshire.
Studied at the Polytechnic School of Art, 1920 - assumed to have taken Evening Life Classes (Drawing of Modelling)
Taught at the Polytechnic School of Art, fl.1920-1928
Designed costumes for the Polytechnic's displays at the Lord Mayor's Parade, 1928
Wrote books including Food In England (1954)
Harris, Leonard (d.1942), Secretary and Clerk to the Governors
Harris, Leonard (d.1942), Secretary and Clerk to the Governors
Person · [1859]-25 Mar 1942

Len Harris, as he was known, joined the Institute in Long Acre days and came to the Poly with Robert Mitchell and many others when Mr. Quintin Hogg transferred the Institute to Regent Street. At this time, Len Harris became Mr. Hogg's Private Secretary, and remained so until on the departure of Sydney Axford the office of Secretary and Clerk to the Governors fell vacant and Mr. Hogg sacrificed his own personal comfort for the benefit of the Institute, and Len was appointed to that position. He devoted all his energies, heart and soul, to the interests of the Poly, took part in its games, and distinguished himself at Football, Rowing, and in the Gymnasium. This continued until the time for superannuation arrived in 1929. In the July number of the Magazine for that year is a
report of Len Harris's achievements, and in the December number an account of the Presentation made to him.

Vice President of the OMA (Old Members Association)
Birkinger, Willyboldt (fl.1908-1952), Chief Instructor in Engineering
Person · fl.1908-1952

In November 1952 the Polytechnic Magazine reported the Retirement of Mr Birkinger at the end of the 1951-1952 session, as follows:

Mr. Birkinger joined the staff of the School of Engineering forty years ago, and for the last seven years has been Chief Instructor in the Engineering Workshop. Besides his duties in this post he has been responsible for the maintenance of the heating plant in the main building. He joined the Polytechnic at a time when the School of Engineering included an Aeronautics Department and he took a great interest in one of the early gliding dubs, though of recent years he has transferred his attention to television.

One of Mr. Birkinger's last duties was to supervise the re-equipment of the workshop with new machines. This work, mainly done during the previous summer, was finished during last session, and the Polytechnic now has one of the most modernly equipped workshops to be found in any college in the country. The old arrangement of overhead shafting has been completely dispensed with as the new machines have individual drives.

The hope was expressed that Mr. and Mrs. Birkinger would enjoy a long and happy retirement. Mr. Frampton becomes Chief Instructor in Mr. Birkinger's place.
Abbott, Percy (d.1954), Headmaster of Polytechnic Secondary School
Abbott, Percy (d.1954), Headmaster of Polytechnic Secondary School
Person · d.Mar 1954

(Headmaster of the Polytechnic Secondary School for Boys 1920-1934)
Mr. P. Abbott was the first Headmaster of the Polytechnic Secondary School for Boys when it was reorganized in 1920,
amalgamating the Technical and Commercial Schools. The School quickly forged ahead both in numbers and reputation. By 1930 the School held some 700 boys and a steady stream of successes in the examinations for the School Certificate, Higher School Certificate and various University Scholarships testified to the value of the academic work of the School. Mr. Abbott realized the value of out-door activities to boys living in Central London and he encouraged a wide variety of sports throughout the year. Here again the School's record and reputation were very enviable. Throughout these years Mr. Abbott faced considerable difficulties in the situation of the School, accommodation inside the premises and the lack of outdoor space. His careful and elaborate organisation made the School into an efficient machine in circumstances which might well have daunted anyone less industrious and devoted to the welfare of the
School.

Mr. Abbott also found time to take a wide interest in the affairs of the whole Institute, and he will be remembered gratefully by many members of the Poly as well as by the boys and staff of the Secondary School.
[obituary in the Polytechnic Magazine, March 1954]

The Percy Abbott Prize was set up in his memory.
Mitchell, George Arthur (1868-1952), Head of the School of Architecture
Mitchell, George Arthur (1868-1952), Head of the School of Architecture
Person · 1868-1952
Architect. Joined Regent Street Polytechnic architecture staff in 1890, and took over Head of School of Architecture 1916-1933 on his brother Charles' death. He retired in 1933. He was the architect of the Polytechnic rebuild, the Boat House and the Ladies Pavilion. He was also involved in PTA tours to Scotland.