Alec Hunter Humanities College

Alec Hunter Humanities College, formerly Alec Hunter School and Alec Hunter High School, is situated in Braintree, Essex. It is a comprehensive school for 11–16 year olds, and has Humanities specialist status.

  

History

Alec Hunter Humanities College, formerly Alec Hunter High School, was named after Alec B. Hunter, a leading textile designer in the town during the 1930s. Alec Hunter was born in Haslemere, Surrey, and, after serving in the army during the First World War, he joined his father’s weaving firm in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. His father was a textile designer with a tradition of silk weaving.

In 1927, Alec Hunter's family moved to Edinburgh, where he worked producing contemporary fabrics. In 1932 he joined Warner & Sons, a leading textile manufacturer and became the managing director of their Braintree factory. He was responsible for producing traditional silks and brocades woven for the coronation ceremonies of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. The Queensway Coronation Silk, woven under the direction of Alec Hunter, hung from the balconies of Westminster Abbey when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on 2 June 1953.

Alec Hunter was honoured by many associations and societies. Not only was Alec Hunter High School named after him, many roads in the town are named after his fabric designs: Deerleap, Linfold, Harwell, Bridport and Broadoaks.. The school also had three school sports houses with names referencing local industrial connections: Courtauld, Critall and Warner.

The school was built in October 1961 and in September 2005 was awarded specialist status as a Humanities College, providing extra opportunities in English, History and Citizenship in the school and local community.

Alec Hunter is a partner school in the Braintree Sixth Form which opened next to Notley High School in September 2009. Mr Hutchinson has now left Alec hunter as he suffers from a brain tumor.

The school has hosted all four of the events staged by professional wrestling promotion British Wrestling Evoluition so far.