Following the death of a much respected master, Edward William Gillard MBE (1893-1965), who had been a master at Derby School from 1922 to 1965, the Old Derbeian Society arranged for a painting to be made of E.W. Gillard MBE by a Nottingham artist, John R. Townsend, and this was presented to Derby School. When the school was closed down it was re-presented to the new Derby Grammar School and it hangs in the Library. At the same time the OD Society decided to arrange for a copse of six maple trees to be planted to the left of the entrance to the then new school main entrance. The name agreed was The Gillard Copse, which was first planted with new trees in early 1968 and in July 1968 was formally officially named by the then Bishop of Derby.