Also in 1937 , he went to work for the civil service in Palestine , as assistant district officer of Ramallah , in Judea . He also worked in Hebron and Safad . His three elder sons , Nick , Colin and John were born in Palestine . He was working at the King David Hotel at the time of the King David Hotel bombing . He was curious when he heard a small explosive blast in the street outside the hotel , which had been set off by terrorists to keep passers-by away from the area . He went outside to investigate , and while he was outside a bomb inside the hotel was detonated , killing everyone on his floor . Cornes left Palestine in 1947 . Returning home , he worked for the Colonial Office and taught colonial service students at Oxford until 1953 . His youngest son , Andrew , was born during this period . In 1953 , he came into an inheritance and bought West Downs School , Winchester , where he taught History , Religious Studies and Latin , as well as being headmaster . He retired in 1988 and the school was closed down
King David Hotel bombing
King David Hotel bombing
Jerry Cornes