Paul Pollak (1926-2023)

Paul Pollak died peacefully at home on Sunday 14 May, just a fortnight before his 97th birthday. We will let you know in due course how we will commemorate Paul's life.

Paul Pollak was born to a Jewish family in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia in 1926. He came to Cornwall thanks to the Kindertransport and his guarantor was the Revd William Henry Simmons, parish priest of The Vicarage, Baldhu, Truro. Hence Paul went to Truro Cathedral School before coming to King’s in September 1941. He was in Meister Omers, a Senior Scholar, Head of House and Vice-Captain of School. He left in 1944 and was thus one of those boys whose entire King’s School career was spent in Cornwall. Three years on a demyship at Magdalen College, Oxford (1944-47) reading mathematics were followed by national service with GHQ Middle East Land Forces.

Paul joined the King’s School staff in September 1950 and was variously Head of Mathematics, Housemaster of Marlowe (1959-76) and Second Master (1976-88). He retired in 1988. He was a shrewd and sympathetic housemaster and his wisdom was valued by Headmasters and colleagues, as well as pupils. Paul steered clear of games and indeed exercise but did help with swimming, especially ‘general bathes’, yet ‘Paul Pollak’s try’ in the rugby match against the 3rd XV had legendary status.

He was the first School Archivist, a post established in 1972, and continued in this role until 2006 and as assistant archivist thereafter.  He put his knowledge to good use as effectively the co-author of Thomas Hinde’s Imps of Promise, the history of the School published in 1990.

He was an expert and discriminating magpie in his acquisition of pictures, buddhas, carpets, books and anything that took his fancy as he scoured auction houses, antique shops and car boot sales. His own collection was eclectic, though as visitors to Blackfriars Street could testify the emphasis was on accumulation rather than on accessible display. The School and the Common Room have good cause to be grateful for his insistence that things should be stylish.

He was a man of wide-ranging interests. In retirement he co-authored scholarly articles with Roger Mallion on mathematics and mathematical chemistry. He also communicated with kindred spirit Patrick Leigh Fermor on such recondite matters as Paddy’s version of ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ in Hindi. It is somehow appropriate that the final letter in More Dashing, the second volume of Leigh Fermor’s correspondence, is to Paul.

He was a very remarkable man who lived a richly satisfying life.