16th March 2021
Winchester Weekly
Guest Editor
Looking to the future
I joined the Bursary team a few, short weeks ago to lead on operations for the school. Among the various tasks, one of my roles will be to operationalise the new Sports Centre when it opens next year.
For the last 8 years, I’ve worked for the John Lewis Partnership. It’s proudly a co-owned business, answering to employees rather than traditional shareholders, and is driven by an ambition to make the world a little bit better. It's vitally important to me that the values of the organisation I work at align with my own, and when thinking about where else I’d like to work, my requirements were predictably stringent: a place with a strong culture, defined values and one that cares passionately about its impact, with a clear focus on doing its bit to make the world a better place. It goes without saying that Winchester ticked all these boxes and I was thrilled when I saw a role at the College come up. But on top of the cultural factors, there was another important element I was looking for: I wanted to work somewhere that was forward-looking, focused on building on, not revelling in, past successes. I look forward to playing my part in making that happen.
Mr George Leicester-Thackara, Chief Operating Officer (recent joiner & former Beloeite, 1992-97)
Thank you
Thank you to all families for your patience during last week's staggered testing and return to school. By the end of the week, a total of 520 boys had been tested and safely returned up to house.
The COVID testing team
A message from the Second Master
Sunday sign out
With reference to the information regarding Sundays in last week’s Winchester Weekly, please complete the Sunday Sign out form for Sunday 21st March. We would encourage pupils to stay on campus during this final weekend. However, if you wish to take your son out we ask parents to follow the government guidelines over social distancing so that we minimise the chances of the infection entering the school. I would also respectfully ask that parents do not use the campus to meet for picnics in boarding house gardens, playing fields and the like so that we can minimise our risks.
Parents are asked to observe the eight-hour window or speak with their son’s Housemaster in advance if this is problematic for any reason. We ask that pupils return in time for Preces on Sunday. Pupils must not use public transport.
Parent Information Evenings
Invitations to the Parent Information Evenings to discuss Winchester College in the 21st Century have now been sent to all current parents and will take place during the course of next week. For those parents with sons joining in 2021 who also receive Winchester Weekly, the date will be communicated separately and will take place after the Easter holiday.
With best wishes,
Mr Nicholas Wilks
A message from the Undermaster
Dear Parents,
For those pupils who will be returning from abroad in April, here is the latest information. The document includes more about Test to Release, Red List arrivals and other quarantine requirements.
For a reminder about Lateral Flow Testing, please click here.
Best wishes,
Dr John Cullerne
Weekend activities
There was a typically diverse range of activities for boys to take part in this weekend.
Opportunities included; a forest school firelighting session, pottery, rowing, fencing, chamber music, ¡Star Trek en español!, Game Society, Astro Society, and a fascinating talk by Mr James Livingstone (French don) based on his master's thesis, 'Is Russia now a mafia state?'.
32 Kennyites ran 5km together on Sunday morning to raise money for Médecins Sans Frontières, a charity working to tackle the pandemic across the globe but also in Samos, a refugee camp in Greece. The challenge (to accumulate 3,666km - the distance by road from Kenny's to Samos) began earlier in the term during the lockdown and is now in the finishing stretch, approaching 3,000km. For more on the team's fundraising efforts, click here.
The Kenneth Clarke Prize 2021
A reminder that the final of the Kenneth Clark Prize will take place on 19th March at 1900.
To register to listen via video link please contact us.
Sport at Winchester
Winkies
We are looking forward to OTH v Commoner XVs which will take place on the afternoon of Friday 26th March. While attendance will be limited to members of VI Book 1 in house groupings, the game will be streamed via YouTube and will be accompanied by commentary from our sports department. Timings and the link will be shared in next week's newsletter.
House from Home
College
When the College-men staged their house play, Drop Dead!, in November of last year, it was possibly the country's only live theatre staged at that time. In this video featuring the cast and crew, boys share their favourite memories from rehearsals and performances of this farcical production.
House from Home
Kenny's
In this heart-warming piece, the Kennyites share what they most enjoy about living in the house, along with insights from some of the first years into how they have settled in.
Heritage at Winchester
Increasing access and opportunity
Following the announcement of Winchester College in the 21st Century, Douglas Page (MP, College) undertook a project with the College archivist to look at other moments in Winchester College's long history where the school has sought to increase access and opportunity.
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