Frederic Chapple (12 October 1845 – 29 February 1924) was the influential headmaster of Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, South Australia, from 1876 to 1914.
Frederic was born in London. His parents were John Chapple, a mason from Devonshire, and his wife Louisa, née Brewin. Though Presbyterians, they sent their son to a Wesleyan Methodist day school because of its good reputation. As well as reaching high academic standards he entered whole-heartedly into the religious life of the school and church, and at age 18 was assessed first among applicants for a scholarship to Westminster Training College. He sailed through the course, consistently coming top of his class, while maintaining his church activities – holding simultaneously the positions of poor steward, church steward, circuit steward, and Sunday school teacher and superintendent.[1]
At the end of his course he was appointed locum tenens head of the teaching schools run by the college, and in the evening studied for the London University BA at King's College and University College, Cambridge. In 1870 he was appointed to a permanent position with Westminster Wesleyan Methodist College, teaching science and mathematics. He completed a course at the South Kensington Science School, and was awarded a BSc by the London University. He was convinced of the need for biblical teaching in secular as well as church schools; he was a founding member of the National Union of Elementary Teachers, which he represented in 1870 at a congress on the desirability of religious teaching in government schools.
The principal of Prince Alfred College, John Anderson Hartley, BA, BSc (1844–1896), resigned late in 1875 after only five years as head, to take a position as Inspector-General of State Schools. Rev. Drs. Alfred Rigg (1832–1891) and James Egan Moulton (c. 1841–1909) were commissioned by the Prince Alfred College Committee to find his replacement, and after some hesitation Chapple accepted their invitation, and arrived with his family in Adelaide on 8 April 1876. He joined the Kent Town Church the next day, and occupied the same pew for the next 32 years.[2]
He reduced the high importance the school had previously placed on Classical languages – Latin and Greek – and greatly increased the stress on English, mathematics and sciences, but maintained the close linkage of the school with the Methodist Church. He was an attractive and forceful speaker, and impressed on his students the value of thorough preparation before mounting the platform, and clear English and careful diction when delivering a speech.
Chapple placed equal importance on a healthy body – he brought to the school a new emphasis on physical fitness, and ensured the school's gymnastic and sporting equipment was kept up-to-date, and encouraged a sense of pride in the school's sporting achievements, notably in competition with St. Peter's College ("Reds" v. "Blues"). He was a strict disciplinarian but cheerful with it, and an inspiration to his students, who universally remembered their old head, nicknamed "Jingles" or "Conk", fondly. He was a keen cricketer and in the early days played for the school team.[3]
He was highly effective in raising the public profile and status of the school, and consequently its ability to raise building funds from parents as fees, and from past students as bequests.
He retired in November 1914 and was of course obliged to vacate the headmaster's residence. He purchased a house on The Parade, Norwood, South Australia, which he and his wife shared with their unmarried daughter, Dr. Phoebe Chapple.[3] He maintained an interest in a variety of spheres until he was severely injured by falling down stairs at the Adelaide YMCA, which forced him to relinquish most of his activities.[4] He died at Norwood, and was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
He did not often travel outside Australia: only in 1901,[5] when he was a delegate to the Methodist Ecumenical Conference and 1920,[6] when he took holidays in conjunction with a commission to represent the Council of Churches,[1] both in Britain. He had intended another trip to visit his son Harold, an obstetric and gynaecological surgeon at Guy's Hospital, in February 1915, but World War I intervened.[3]
Frederic Chapple (1845–1924) married schoolmistress Elizabeth Sarah Hunter (c. 1845 – 19 October 1930) in Bethnal Green, England on 16 April 1870.[7] Their children included:
Six of the eight were awarded degrees at the University of Adelaide and several earned higher degrees at Cambridge or the University of London (not shown in the above list). Daughter Phoebe was one of the first women doctors to serve at the front during WWI; she was awarded the Military Medal in December 1918.
Our Dear Head Master— In making this presentation, the boys of Prince Alfred College wish to show their deep appreciation of the great and noble work you have accomplished during your long term of 39 years as head master. To you the many boys who have passed through this college owe a debt which they can never repay, but for which they hold you. in love, honour, and highest esteem. Under your able direction and guidance the school has attained its present position, and it is the ambition of every boy, past and present, to do his best to keep up the honour of the old school, for which you have laboured so long. It is our earnest prayer that both you and Mrs. Chapple may long be spared to enjoy your well-earned rest.[1]