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IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to pay adequate tribute to the full and varied life of Martyn Devenport. In any event, I can only claim to have known him as headmaster, colleague and friend.
I served as his Vice-Principal for twenty years and I cannot remember a cross word being exchanged between us during that time. We did not always agree, but we resolved our differences amicably, ever anxious to place the interests of Victoria College first and foremost in our decisions. He valued, as I did, the close relationship which we enjoyed, and it was indeed a privilege and honour to be invited to give the address at his Funeral Service, aptly entitled a Service of Thanksgiving and Commendation, on 15th May 1991 at St Helier's Parish Church.
Martyn had died the previous week on 9th May, coincidentally Liberation Day and Ascension Day. For seven months he had gallantly fought against the debilitating illness which painfully diminished him physically but happily left him alert until the very end He struggled through the Spring Term with typical resolution and even came into College for the bi-annual School photograph the week before his death He was still speaking optimistically about his return to College and had already pencilled himself in to teach A-level Physics next September.
Much of what I want to write about now was said at his Thanksgiving Service. I therefore reproduce the main part of that address.
"A Cambridge graduate, he spent the first ten years of his teaching career as an Assistant Master at Eton. On l1th January 1967, his 36th birthday, he was offered the Headship of Victoria College and succeeded Ronnie Postill in the Autumn term of that year. There were few members of staff younger than him; the white bow tie, part of the academic dress of Eton, however, set him apart and was to be the distinctive feature of his dress for his twenty-four years of Headship.
During that time over 2,000 boys came and went and he saw the College grow from 380 to 638 some years ago. Numbers grew because Martyn believed in academic achievement and excellence and parents recognised the steadily increasing success of the College. O-level, now GCSE, and A-level results continued to improve and each year more and more went on to further education, to universities and polytechnics. This was part of his vision for Victoria College and he knew this would only be achieved with the provision of new buildings and much improved facilities. With quiet and steady determination he persuaded the Education Committee to provide the necessary accommodation and he took great pride in the Music School, the refurbished Howard Davis Theatre, the Sixth Form study area and the Princess Anne Laboratories.
Over the years he built up under him a united team, a professional family of dedicated teachers and ancillary staff: he was the first to appreciate the invaluable contribution of each one to the boys' education. Those who served under him soon discovered the qualities and interests of their gentle leader. He was a kind and sensitive man; a man of infinite patience and tolerance. Here was the traditionalist and conservative who only welcomed change when he was convinced that it would be beneficial. Here was the analytical thinker, the cautious planner; here was the quick-witted man with an incisive brain; here was the man of scholarship who read widely. Here was the lover of good music, singer, clarinettist himself; the lover of the sea - sailing was a favourite relaxation; here was fit and energetic squash and tennis player.
Wherever he was, with whomsoever he mixed, Martyn remained the perfect gentleman. He never forgot his humble background and had no time for pretence. His calmness and unflappability were exemplary: even on Royal occasions he remained so unruffled that one might have supposed that meeting Her Majesty the Queen was an everyday occurrence. And I shall never forget his delightful sense of humour and gifted turn of phrase. How often we failed to appreciate the lovely humour in his speeches, and even in the last few weeks, -when illness was slowly crushing him, he never lost courage and hope and humour. I attended a management course at the end of April. Martyn would normally have been with me, though he was not very enthusiastic about its value. I spoke to him about the course some days later, he looked in his diary to see if he had entered it and with a lively twinkle in his eye said 'Yes, but oh dear, I wrote down management curse'.
Others recognised this talented man and he was called upon to serve on many committees. At one time he was President of the Jersey Association of Head Teachers and at the time of his death was President of the Jersey Festival Choir. There are many who will miss his wise counsels and advice.
Martyn was a friend to many and I am one who mourns his death for I have lost someone who was dear to me. Martyn was a husband and father too, and Mary and his family were very precious to him. His was a happy home and he knew in full measure the support and encouragement of a devoted wife, three sons and a daughter. He delighted in them, in their achievements and successes, and our love and thoughts reach out to them in their loss.
Martyn was perforce a public figure, but also a private man and he rarely spoke of his Christian faith. However, tucked away in the back of his diary was a prayer of trust and dependence which he often used. St Paul in his letter to the Romans, part of which was read at the service, reminds us of the glorious victory which is ours when we accept Christ Jesus as our Saviour. He concludes the section with the triumphant words "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord'. It is right that we thank. God, the God of all creation, the Giver of all good gifts, for the life and many gifts of Martyn Devenport. May we discover the riches of the love of Jesus here on earth so that we shall enjoy Him continuously in eternity. "
The many letters which have been received confirm the high esteem in which Martyn was held, and it is clear that his loss will be keenly felt in many circles. We at College shall miss him and are sad that he will not see the completion of the building projects for which he laboured so tirelessly. I hope one of these developments will bear his name and that it will be a fitting memorial to College's longest serving Headmaster.
Brian Vibert