Nationality British Books An Indian Englishman Died October 1994, India | Role Schoolmaster Name Jack Gibson | |
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Born 3 March 1908 England Occupation Scholar, academic, Schoolmaster, Mountaineer Known for Schoolmaster at The Doon School
Headmaster of Mayo College Alma mater St John's College, Cambridge, University of Cambridge | ||
John Travers Mends Gibson OBE Padma Shri, (more commonly known as Jack Gibson) (3 March 1908 – 23 October 1994), was an English schoolmaster, scholar, academic and a distinguished British Himalayan mountaineer.
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Early life and career
Gibson was the son of a naval officer and was born on 3 March 1908. He was sent to Haileybury and Imperial Service College for schooling and later joined the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge, he earned a half blue in fencing. He almost made it to the British Olympic Team. In 1929, he began his career as a professor in Chillon College, Switzerland, responsible for teaching pupils History and winter sports. While at the college, he became a member of the famed Swiss Alpine Club. When the college suffered due to economic downturn, Gibson went on to teach at Ripon Grammar School. He remained at Ripon from 1932 until 1936. It was at Ripon that he met Malcolm Hailey, 1st Baron Hailey, who encouraged him to apply to The Doon School in India which had newly opened for Indian boys.
He applied to Doon and was offered the post of a housemaster. He joined Doon in January 1937 as the housemaster of Kashmir House. Apart from being a housemaster, he also taught Geography to Doon pupils. He took a brief leave while at Doon to fight in the Second World War for the Royal Indian Naval Reserve. Thereafter, he also served as Principal of the Joint Services Wing, which is now the National Defence Academy. He stayed in Doon till 1953, before he was appointed as Principal of Mayo College, Rajasthan. He is widely credited to have brought Mayo College to national prominence. He remained in Mayo for 15 years till 1969. After retiring, he wrote extensively for the Alpine Journal and the Himalayan Club Journal.
Mountaineering career highlights
Honours and distinctions
Gibson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1960, and in 1965 received Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, from the Government of India for his contributions towards education. It was a rare achievement to have been honoured by both the governments.