Head's Blog: Creativity

Dear Parents,

I received an email this week from Gerald Heath (ex Head of Design at Handcross Park) and he informed me about our link with the recently deceased inventor Trevor Baylis.

Trevor Baylis will be remembered for inventing the wind-up radio. It was whilst he was watching a programme about Africa that he realised that the only way to get information to people, with no access to electricity, would be by radio – batteries were too expensive so he invented a wind-up radio. At first, no one was interested in his invention; even the Design Council sent him a rather ‘dismissive rejection letter’. The radio was then shown on the television show Tomorrow’s World and suddenly his invention became a reality and many people in Africa suddenly had access to news. The invention was named by the Radio Times as one of the top 50 greatest inventions of all time!

What is his link with Handcross Park? Ten years ago, Trevor Baylis was invited to Handcross Park to award the Design Technology Prize - The Baylis Cup. His generosity and good nature was also remembered because he ‘drove his sports car all the way down from Eel Pie Island and refused to charge for expenses.’

I feel that the importance of ‘creativity’ looms large at Handcross Park, with so many of our children enjoying the new Art and Design Centre. We have also had four Art (Design) scholarships this year – exciting times. I hope that our pupils will continue to think up future inventions that may make a difference in the world?