Major Colin Gillespie MBE (43 Hl)
10 January 2024Major Colin Gillespie, who has died aged 98, was a sapper officer who saw active service in the Second World War and with the SAS in Malaya; after retiring from the Army, he became one of the West Country’s leading wine growers. Colin Leonard Beauchamp Gillespie MBE, the son of an officer in the Royal […]
Bryn S. Parry OBE (Hg 75)
10 January 2024During his time in charge of Help for Heroes, the charity Bryn Parry OBE (Hg 75) co-founded with his wife Emma, he raised £260 million and helped more than 50,000 people to recover from the trauma of combat stress and injury while fighting for their country, whether in the army, navy or air force. Bryn […]
Peter Waghorn (O 50, CR)
13 December 2023OWs will be sad to learn of the passing of Peter Waghorn (O 50, CR) in November 2023, aged 91. PDW was at the heart of Wellington life throughout a distinguished teaching career. This tribute comes from the Yearbook of 1992: “Wellington has been the framework as well as the scene of almost the whole […]
Potts’ Grand Tour 2023
13 December 2023In November 2023, Chris Potter (C 65, OW Liaison) embarked on a Grand Tour to Australia via Singapore: 13 hrs to Singapore, then a night’s long sleep was preparation for the walking tour that followed as my nephew, with whom we stayed, set a cracking pace in high humidity. Will Jelf (Hg 96) had organised […]
‘Bright the Vision’: Wellington College and Public School Missions
03 November 2023In 1885, the Wellington College Mission was founded in Walworth, South London. It was one of a number of public school ‘missions’ established in the later 19th century, as a response to the poverty and poor social conditions in England’s inner cities. Wellington’s mission, supported by both pupils and Old Wellingtonians, aimed to provide both […]
‘Tears of a Shadow’, Oliver Silver’s (Bd 08) Debut Novel
05 October 2023Largely inspired by his own life, Oliver Silver’s debut psychological thriller Tears of a Shadow asks how far you would go to get your life back on track. Born in the Middle East, Oliver attended Wellington from 2003-08, and then pursued a career as an actor. Oliver explains: “this book is directly inspired by my […]
John Mountford (A 47)
27 September 2023John Mountford, who died in June 2022 aged 93, did not enjoy the best of starts at Wellington College in 1942. First, illness then extensive damage done by German bombing around Exeter caused prolonged transport havoc, delaying our father’s arrival for his first term. Despite this beginning, he was, in later life, able to reflect […]
Macmillan Coffee Morning: Friday 29 September 2023
18 September 2023Join us for our annual Macmillan Coffee Morning, held in Waterloo hall on Friday 29th September. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported our previous ‘Coffee Mornings’; the money we have raised over the years has made an incredible difference, and we can’t thank you enough for helping us support those living with […]
Explore the College Archives!
30 August 2023Last week on OW social media, we ventured into the College’s archives to explore some fascinating pieces from our collection, chosen by our College Archivist, Caroline. From our first College photo album to Queen Victoria’s signature, we wanted to give an insight to College life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Student Diaries The […]
Ophelia Vesely (C 22)
29 August 2023Ophelia is a recent Old Wellingtonian (C 22) and 2022 Muir Scholarship recipient, which aims to support an OW to carry out independent research addressing a contemporary global issue. Having learnt about the horrific events that are occurring in Ukraine from the relative comfort of the UK, Ophelia wanted to try and help victims of […]
Freddie Coughlin (T 22)
29 August 2023“It has just been the most incredible opportunity and I couldn’t recommend it to future OWs enough.” Freddie is a very recent Old Wellingtonian (Head of College, 2022) and 2022 Bevir recipient. After leaving College, he decided to take a gap year to gain experience and hands-on insight into different aspects of politics and international […]
Julian Dawson (M 58)
24 August 2023It is with great sadness that we announce the death, at the age of 82, of Julian Dawson, our much loved former colleague and partner. Julian was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and in 1959, after a brief spell teaching French, he joined J.R. Thornton & Co., the Lewes cattle market auctioneers, in Garden Street, […]
Brig. David Creswell (L 60)
24 August 2023David had a lifelong connection with Wellington College. He arrived at the Lynedoch via Upcott from Old Ballard in 1955, and over 65 years later was still greatly involved with College. David was invited by Antony Bruce onto the General Committee. He served for many years, on the Executive and Finance Committee and was elected […]
Andrew “Wilki” Wilkinson, Teacher and HM
24 August 2023Wilki’s impact at Wellington College was immense. Having served in the parachute regiment before coming to teaching, he taught languages brilliantly, was an inspirational HM of the Raglan, gave so much to the CCF and the Marine Section in particular, as well as being a leading figure within the College’s Christian community, via Open Door […]
Allan Tarver (M 54)
24 August 2023Commander Allan Tarver GM, naval pilot, was born on June 29, 1938. He died of complications from Parkinson’s disease on March 23, 2023, aged 84. One morning in May 1966, Lieutenant Allan Tarver from 890 Naval Air Squadron was flying his Sea Vixen from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. They were 100 miles off the coast […]
Jonty Driver, 11th Master
15 August 2023Few Masters have had such an impact on Wellington College as Jonty Driver. Appointed in 1989 as the Eleventh Master of Wellington, he served the College with distinction until 2000, his Mastership defined by clear and brave decision-making and an unshakable belief in the potential of the school. Many would claim that it was Jonty […]
Cure DHDDS Charity Walk – Charles Dixon (A 96)
25 July 2023At the start of July, over 60 people joined OW Charles Dixon (A 96) and his family for a 50km river walk from Windsor to Mortlake to raise money for their charity, Cure DHDDS. The Dixon family set up the charity in March of this year after discovering that two of their children had the […]
Waterloo Day 2023 – OW Reunions around the World!
20 July 2023Over the past few weeks, OWs all over the world have been gathering to celebrate Waterloo Day! Waterloo Day is celebrated by some regiments of the British Army (and OWs!) on and around the 18th June to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo. OW Western Australia Gathering in Cottesloe, WA, on 18th June Our happy band […]
The Kingsleys
23 March 2023Later today, members of the College community, from students to teachers and support staff, will be taking part in the annual Kingsleys run. The Kingsleys is Wellington’s oldest sporting event and was first introduced in 1860, just a year after the College opened. It got its name from the Rector of Eversley, Rev Charles Kingsley, […]
‘How We Might Live’ by Suzanne Cooper (Ap 88)
06 January 2023In Dr Suzanne Fagence Cooper’s (Ap 88) latest biography, How We Might Live: At Home with Jane and William Morris, she explores the lives and legacies of Jane and William Morris, taking us inside two lives of unparalleled creative artistry. William Morris wrote ‘The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in […]
Introducing the Wellington College Heritage Website!
07 December 2022Edwardian Speech Day at Wellington College Today we celebrate the launch of the Wellington College Heritage Website! Wellington College was opened in 1859 as the living memorial to the first Duke of Wellington. Since then, Wellington has expanded into one of Britain’s leading independent schools, developing its own rich traditions and distinctive character. Our […]
OW November Must Read: Driven to Crime by Crispian Besley (Bn 77)
16 November 2022Driven to Crime: True Stories of Wrongdoing in Motor Racing is the debut novel by Crispian Besley (Bn 77), inspired by his life-long interest in cars and passion for motor racing. In his novel, Besley investigates misdemeanours at all levels, from drivers, designers and mechanics to team owners, entrants and sponsors. People lie, cheat, steal […]
The Corps of Drums at Wellington College
11 November 2022For hundreds of years, drums were used on the battlefield to signal commands and orders, and drummers have been part of Wellington College CCF for over a century. During the 1950s there was an active Corps of Drums, but in 1960 this was subsumed into the general CCF Band, which itself disbanded in 1980, the […]
Fair Shot: the Cafe with a Conscience!
26 October 2022Fair Shot Cafe, London, was set up to provide young adults with learning disabilities, such as autism and Down’s syndrome, the opportunity to train as baristas and cafe assistants before helping them to find jobs in the mainstream hospitality sector. The rate of unemployment among young adults with learning disabilities is very high, and so […]
100 Year Anniversary of the Wellington College War Memorial
21 October 2022It’s 100 years since the unveiling of the Wellington College War Memorial on 24th October 1922. Made from black, white and green marble and designed by Edwin Lutyens, the architect of the cenotaph in Whitehall, the memorial features a figure of St George, and a Union flag of painted marble so convincing as to be […]