Subject:
Jefferson Cup
VICTORIA SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOL
ULVERSTON
Dear Captain Eastwood,
Please accept my apologies for the delay in answering
your enquiry; this has
been partly due to difficulties in obtaining reasonable photographs
of the
item in question. Your email was passed to me as I am the teacher
responsible for our Remembrance activities.
Firstly, I can confirm that UVHS used to be known
as Victoria Secondary
School in the 1940's. UVHS was formed from the amalgamation of that
school
and Ulverston Grammar School in 1969. The Jefferson Cup was indeed awarded
to the Senior Boys Victor Ludorum until amalgamation in 1969. Following
amalgamation, the Grammar School Victor Ludorum Shield was used for
this
purpose and the Jefferson Cup was awarded to Senior Boys for victory
in
individual events. Over the last 30 years it has been in constant use,
its
precise role adapting to the changing needs of the Games curriculum
in the
school. One such re-assessment is taking place at the moment.
Our Headteacher, Mr Fay, offered the suggestion that
The Jefferson Cup could
be awarded to a student who has shown particular courage, not necessarily
in
the sporting field, as this would be very much in the spirit of the
actions
of Frank Jefferson. We would be interested in your views.
As you can see from the photographs, the cup reflects
its constant use in
that the silver-plating has been worn away in places! The cup, and
particularly the man and actions it commemorates, have a significant
place
in the life of the school to this day. This school takes seriously its
role
in Remembrance; in particular we are proud of the way in which our students
respect the sacrifices of others. We hold a Remembrance service each
year
and observe the 2 minute silence (choosing the nearest school day in
the
event of the 11th falling on a weekend). I find it particularly interesting
that the respect of young people for these acts of Remembrance is increasing
as the years pass. Certainly they take them more seriously than students
did
when I was at school in the 70's. We include in our thoughts not only
those
who made the ultimate sacrifice, but those who suffered for others in
all
aspects of conflict. Frank Jefferson and his actions formed part of
the
lecture (which we include in our service) in 2005 and 2006. These services
considered particularly World War 2 and our two VC winners (the other
being
Basil Weston, The Green Howards). Jefferson's actions in winning the
VC were
quite spectacular and always impress students when they discuss them.
Frank
Jefferson's framed photograph hangs in the foyer of our library, together
with our other Remembrance material.
Unfortunately we do not hold any more detailed information
than that which
appears on your web-site. If you are aware of any I would be very interested
to pursue it. It is ironic that we have far more material about our
First
World War students (photo-gallery, letters to the school magazine,
postcards from the front etc) than we do for those from the Second World
War. I also think that it is ironic that, because Frank Jefferson survived
the war, he seems to have been less remembered.
I attach an image of the cup. I'll send more photos
in a second email, in
case size causes a problem. It is difficult to photograph so that you
can
read the lettering, so I offer the transcription below:
JEFFERSON CUP
PRESENTED BY XX THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS TO COMMEMORATE THE WINNING
OF THE
VICTORIA CROSS
BY F. JEFFERSON 2ND BN XX THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS
ITALY 16TH MAY 1944
A FORMER-PUPIL OF THE VICTORIA SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOL
ULVERSTON
Hope this is of help. I look forward to hearing from
you.
Alastair Greenway
(English teacher; also in charge of Remembrance).
THE JEFFERSON CUP
Click on any of the photos to enlarge
them
Joe,
Geoff, Dennis, and members of the Jefferson Family went
to the school
on Wed 11th March 2009
to re-present the cup after the Jefferson family and
Web Site paid for its refurbished (re-silvering)
see the photo's below
|
Presentation of
the Jefferson Cup
11th March, 2009
UVHS
JEFFERSON CUP
PRESENTED BY XX THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS TO COMMEMORATE
THE WINNING OF THE
VICTORIA CROSS
BY F. JEFFERSON 2ND BN XX THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS
ITALY 16TH MAY 1944
A FORMER-PUPIL OF THE VICTORIA SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOL
ULVERSTON
Presented to
Simon Collins Year 11
1. Mr Greenway: Welcome; an introduction, covering the
School's use of the Jefferson Cup in the years since
1948 and the recent re-evaluation of role coinciding
with Capt. Eastwood's first contact with us; the new
criteria for the award of the Cup; concluding with Lancashire
Fusiliers/Jefferson Family's very generous funding of
the re-silvering of the Cup.
2. Captain Eastwood: Talk, covering The Lancashire Fusiliers
and particularly Jefferson's actions which led to the
award of the VC.
3. Mr Fay: A talk by the Head referring to the new criteria*
and explaining why the recipient is worthy of the award
of The Jefferson Cup.
4. The handing over of the Cup by a member of the Jefferson
family.
5. Mr Greenway: Concluding remarks. Invitation to peruse
the School's archive material relating to the two World
Wars. Invitation to Lunch.
*The Jefferson Cup is awarded to
a student of the school who has shown particular courage,
not necessarily in the sporting field, and who, through
their attitude and actions, is considered worthy of
holding the trophy named in honour of Francis Jefferson
VC.
|
In 1948 a group of Lancashire Fusilier Officers
and Francis ( Frank )Jefferson VC went to Jefferson's
old school in Ulverston Cumbria and presented a silver
cup suitably engraved with his details,etc.
I contacted the school , now known as the UVHS and
discovered that although the cup was still presented
annually, it was badly in need of refurbishment.
A fund raising appeal was launched and due to the
generosity of the LF web site supporters and members
of the extended Jefferson family, the target was quickly
reached.
The cup was refurbished and on the 11th of March 2009,
Joe Eastwood, Dennis Laverick and Geoff Pycroft ,
together with a large number of the Jefferson family
attended the presentation of The Jefferson VC trophy
to this years winner, a fine young man named Simon
Collins.
Esther Mary Park (nee Adams) cousin
of Frank Jefferson who used to baby sit him recalled
how one day she tipped him out of his pram by accident
into the local canal, so we almost did not have our
only WW2 VC winner !
As a bonus to the special day,the school had been
given a pic of the very first presentation in 1948,
(see pic 5A below) which clearly showed that the cup
once had a lid.
The school initiated a search in the archives and
found it !
On photos row number 7 Freda Eldon, one of
the 1948 winners is helping a senior member's of the
Jefferson Family to present the trophy.
Photo number 5A is of the original 1948 photo, Freda
is the girl on the right.
Alastair Greenway, one of the masters, has expressed
an interest in continuing the link between the LF
web site and the school, which can only be good for
the Regiment.
Joe Eastwood.
Omnia Audax XXth.
|
To
see enlarged photos place mouse arrow over any photo
then when it changes to a hand press the left hand button on
your mouse
then use the arrows to go to next photo
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
1 |

Joe, Roger
Rushton, (former teacher) and Geoff |

PICT0386.jpg |

Geoff Pycroft |

Frank's Photo |
2 |

PICT0389.jpg |

PICT0390.jpg |

PICT0391.jpg |

PICT0392.jpg |
3 |

PICT0393.jpg |

PICT0394.jpg |

Joe and in background Alastair Greenway |

Alastair Greenway |
4 |

Dennis |

PICT0398.jpg |

PICT0399.jpg |

PICT0400.jpg |
5 |

The photo of the first winner of the Jefferson cup in
the centre and on the right
Freda Eldon (nee Benjamin)
|

PICT0402.jpg |

Joe |

Head Teacher
Mr Fay |
6 |

Mr Fry |

Mr Fry |

Alastair Greenway |

Bill Jefferson the Lady in red is Esther Mary Park (nee
Adams) Franks cousin and used to Baby sit Frank |
7 |

PICT0410.jpg |

PICT0411.jpg |

Freda Eldon (nee Benjamin) handing over the Cup to Simon
Collins
|

PICT0413.jpg |
8 |

Simon Collins this years winner |

Simon Collins this years winner |

Alastair Greenway |

Joe and Dennis |
9 |

Simon Collins and his Friends |

PICT0420.jpg |

The Jefferson Family holding the cup Esther Mary Park
(nee Adams) |

The Jefferson Family and the winner of the Cup Simon Collins |
From: Roger
Rushton
To: the-editor@lancs-fusiliers.co.uk
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 9:13 AM
Subject: Ulverston Victoria High School - the Jefferson
Cup
Dear Captain Eastwood,
I am the retired teacher who was talking to you yesterday
about the school war memorials and the photograph of
Frank Jefferson.
I thought the occasion of the first presentation of
the revived Jefferson Cup was an enormous credit both
to the regiment and the school, and I hope it signals
the start of a relationship between the two institutions
that will continue in succeeding years. For example
I hope I may see news of winners of the trophy annually
on your outstanding website?
The speech that you gave was a masterpiece of clarity
and sensitivity, and I thought both you and the Head
linked the original award of the VC with the present
award of the Jefferson Cup in a most meaningful way.
The presence of so many members of both families, and
the little unexpected stories that emerged about Frank
and the history of the trophy made it a very meaningful
occasion.
It was very pleasant to meet you and your regimental
colleagues, and I have since learned from Alastair that
not only did the three of you travel all the way from
Bury, but you had previously had to come from Cambridge.
Please convey my grateful thanks to Geoff and Dennis
for their attendance. It made a great difference to
the staff and families that you were there, and without
you and the regiment's standard the power of the event
would have been much diminished.
I am amazed to see that photos of the presentation are
already on your website! I will make sure that the school's
photograph of Jefferson is copied and sent to you, and
I will also look out for the photo and story in the
local paper and send you that when it appears.
Finally, may I say that I read with interest the stated
aim of your website, and it seemed to describe exactly
the job done by you and your colleagues yesterday in
relation to the people of Ulverston. Thank you very
much for your contribution.
With best wishes,
Roger
Roger Rushton
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
This one is from Alastair Greenway
(Teacher)
Subject: Ulverston Victoria
High School - the Jefferson Cup
"Joe,
Thank you for your kind remarks concerning yesterday's
Jefferson Cup ceremony and your positive comments upon
the atmosphere of the school and the attitude of our
pupils. I will certainly pass them on to our Head, Mr
Fay.
I would especially like to express our gratitude for
all the support you, Geoff and Dennis gave on the day.
In particular I would like to thank you, Joe, for the
magnificent talk on the actions Frank Jefferson undertook
in order to win the VC. You judged the balance of technical
detail and human interest superbly, in particular for
the students present. One of my colleagues told me afterwards
that she overheard a pupil say "That was really
moving. It really brought it home to me."
It goes without saying that the success of the whole
day rests to a very great degree upon all the work you
and the Lancashire Fusiliers web-site have done. In
addition to all the research over the years on Frank
himself, your contacts with the Jefferson family made
the rich diversity of our audience possible.
I am very pleased that Geoff has agreed to be the Liaison
Officer between the LF website and UVHS. I am sure that
this will prove highly beneficial for the school. I
will email him shortly.
Rest assured that I will forward the various photographs,
names, press cuttings etc you requested over the weekend.
We will also add an article on the school website about
the day, but I am afraid we cannot match you for speed!
It will take us a few days to organise. We will, of
course, include a link to your site.
Many thanks once again for your contribution to what
everyone I have spoken to found an inspiring, enjoyable
and very moving day.
Alastair Greenway
|
Photos taken by the school
|
|
|
|
|
The newspaper cutting of the first presentation of
the Jefferson cup 1948
|
|
|
The News Paper coverage of the event
Article reproduced courtesy of The Westmorland Gazette
|
Article reproduced courtesy of Evening Mail
|
Thanks to both Newspapers,
|
|