8th June 2021
Winchester Weekly
Guest editor
Retiring after 50 years at the College
I little thought when I stepped into the Bursary towards the end of 1972 for my interview for the post of office junior, that just short of 50 years later I would still be here. However, I very quickly realised that the wonderful buildings, the grounds with their fabulous views of the water meadows and St Catherine’s Hill, and the marvellous things on offer here were tailor-made for me. I even had access to riding as the Bursar asked me if I could take care of his horse which lived on St Elizabeth’s Meads for part of the year!
When email first put in an appearance I recall thinking this 'new-fangled' development would never take off and the current photocopiers bear no resemblance to the one in the Bursary in 1972 which fell to me to take care of.
The pride in the College that I feel as I walk through Outer Gate has never left me, and it has been an honour and a privilege to have spent such a huge part of my life within its walls.
Miss Jane Boyles, Estates Consultant's Secretary & Collections Records Manager
Message from the Second Master
Sunday Sign-out (Sunday 13 June) & VI Book 1 Prefects’ Weekend (Saturday 12 June & Sunday 13 June)
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to all boys. I hope everyone had a restful Leave-out.
If you would like to see your son this coming Sunday 13 June or your son is in VI Book 1 and will be taking a Prefects’ Weekend (overnight stay on Saturday 12 June after completing any sporting fixtures), please complete the Sunday Sign-out form that you will receive separately by email. We kindly request that this form is completed by 11pm on Thursday 10 June. If your son is in VI Book 1 and is taking part in the It’s a Knockout event, this will run from 1600-1800 on Sunday 13 June.
The important points regarding weekend visits home are listed below for your reference:
Boys should not have contact with you if anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or if anyone in your household has been displaying symptoms, however mild, of COVID-19. These symptoms include a temperature in excess of 37.8oC, a continuous cough or a loss of the sense of taste and/or smell. If after the weekend anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, or if anyone in your household develops symptoms, however mild, of COVID-19, then please would you inform us immediately. Boys should not use public transport to travel between home and school. The Government’s Road Map rules must be adhered to, especially rules on numbers in gatherings and mixing of households at weekends.
Thank you once again for being so careful in applying these precautions.
Best wishes,
Mr Nicholas Wilks
Celebrating achievements
The Queen's Gold Medal for English Prose
Mohan Li (MP, Trant's) has won this year's Queen's Gold Medal for English Prose. This annual English competition invites anonymous entries from boys, who can enter as many times as they wish, with prose of any form and any length. Also recognised were Anders Hei (MP, Beloe's) and Tom Elliott (VI Book 1, College).
Mrs Lucia Quinault, English don, writes of Mohan's winning entry: 'The Other Side of the World is an ambitious enterprise: a story of 24 pages which imagines both a future world and the humanity that has been betrayed by its mores, above all the quest for pleasure. Its plot and imagery owe something to Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, but the writer has created a complex and sympathetic narrator, the conversations are taut and convincing, and the story moves forward through confident jump-cuts. This is a bold and fully-realised piece of writing.'
The boys will be presented with their own unique gold medals, each engraved with their name.
Guest speakers
Neil Constable, CEO of Shakespeare’s Globe
Neil Constable, the CEO of Shakespeare's Globe, will join the boys on Wednesday evening to give a virtual talk on what it's like to run arguably the most famous theatre in the world, and the challenges of stewarding such a cultural institution through COVID, amongst other things.
Parents are very welcome to join the Microsoft Teams call and hear from one of the most influential people working in culture today.
Life after Winchester
WinColl Futures
Over the course of the last nine months the school's Futures department has hosted nine online panel discussions for an audience of Wykehamists and other students invited from local schools. The panels have offered insights into a range of career disciplines and our thanks go to the 31 members of Winchester College Society and others who have given their time to take part.
This years’ discussions have covered: Filmmaking; Architecture and Design; Finance; Entrepreneurship; Engineering; Consultancy; Law; Fintech; and Environmental careers.
More talks are planned for the coming academic year, including Journalism; Writing and publishing; Charities and the third sector; Marketing and advertising; IT; and the Civil Service.
If you are interested in contributing to a Futures panel discussion or can offer careers advice in other ways, please contact Christopher Normand, the Director of Winchester College Society.
Collections at Winchester
Treasury: New 3D Tour and Re-opening to parents and the public
The school's museum, Treasury, will re-open its doors to parents and the public on Monday 21 June, after a long period in lockdown. The museum will be open every day from 2pm to 4pm. Public entry is free of charge and there is no need to book but social distancing measures will be in place.
While the museum has been closed to visitors, the team has been working to enhance its online offering, which now includes an advanced 3D tour of its galleries. For the first time, visitors can navigate through the museum online, getting up close to artefacts and reading about their history.
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