Krishnamurti made the decision to start a school in Europe just over
forty years ago and, after a wide-ranging search for a suitable
location, he and the Foundation’s Trustees decided to establish this at
Brockwood Park. For those of us who were involved from
Brockwood’s beginnings it is a special joy to see how—forty years
on—the School is still growing and truly flourishing.
Krishnaji worked very closely with Dorothy Simmonds, the first
Principal, and all the Brockwood staff, to create the open, caring and
really international atmosphere which, ever since, has remained central
to the work of the School. His presence there for several
months in each year was, of course, immensely helpful—but also
immensely challenging. The School could never rest on its
laurels! For Krishnaji there were no half-measures: he
demanded excellence at every level from all who worked at Brockwood.
The School has weathered storms and vicissitudes from which it seems to
have acquired new strengths and creativity. It has grown, and
moved closely towards what Krishnaji wanted it to be from the
beginning, “something much more than a school”. It is a place
of enquiry, where staff and students live and learn together, without
fear or prejudices, and where people interested in the teachings can
visit and share their own discoveries with the Brockwood
community. It is appropriate that Brockwood Park is now also
the home of the Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, the Krishnamurti Centre
and the junior school, Inwoods.
Over the years, of course, Brockwood has had to respond to many
challenges, and I would like to mention just two of these here. One was
of a physical nature, but it seemed symbolic of Brockwood’s healing and
restorative powers.
In 1990, many wonderful trees in the as if Brockwood’s grounds had lost
forever a great deal of their loveliness and serenity—but with
financial help from its friends and dedicated work on the part of the
staff, careful clearing and replanting restored the grounds to their
characteristic beauty.
Another, and an even greater challenge, came with Krishnamurti’s death
in 1986. For over twenty years now, the School has had to
function without his direct and personal input.
In this connection, I remember what happened when I visited Brockwood
almost immediately after Krishnaji’s passing. I had been with
him in California, and felt the need to visit the School to convey
something of the mood of the momentous last days of his life.
I had, unconsciously perhaps, always regarded Krishnaji as the Father
of the Foundation and particularly, of the School. When I
arrived at Brockwood, something remarkable seemed to have happened
there. There was an almost palpable atmosphere of calm,
dedication, responsibility and true creativity: it was as if, with the
death of the father, everyone in the School had suddenly “grown
up”. A new strength was there—which, I feel, still
continues. I can honestly say, as someone closely associated
with Brockwood but not one of the staff, that almost every time I go
there I am struck by its openness, sensitivity and vitality.
I hope and trust that this will continue over the next forty
years.
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