Obituary: Roland Holland (QM 1937–44)

Passed away on 4th June 2020

Roland was born in 1926 at Walsall Wood, gaining entry to Queen Mary’s in 1937.

He excelled at languages and music, playing organ and piano. A highlight was his composition of an “Overture to King Lear” played by the School Orchestra at the performance of King Lear by the Dramatic Society in December 1944 by which time Roland was serving in the Army (Intelligence Corps 1944-1947).

His army service included a fast track course in Chinese (Mandarin) at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He was also able to be in Trafalgar Square on VE Day, attended Prom Concerts and the Victory Test Match at Lords!

He was sent to serve in Burma and on leaving the Army he was accepted to Birmingham University to study French. He first taught at Brownhills Secondary Modern School but then in 1957 was appointed as one of three staff to set up the new Grammar-Technical School (Aldridge Grammar School) - being based initially at Pheasey Junior School and then Barr Beacon, before moving to the new buildings at Aldridge in early 1960 where he remained until retirement in 1983.

Whilst French was his main subject, he was very active in musical matters, both in and out of school—being organist and choir master at Walsall Wood, Stonnall and Shenstone. He created a lasting legacy on leaving Aldridge School by launching the Roland Holland Music Prize—an annual event which he was able to attend and present the prize up until 2019. He was also pleased to be able to teach Chinese to general studies students in the last few years of his career.