Abingdon School
Encyclopedia
Abingdon School is a British
day and boarding independent school
for boys situated in Abingdon
, Oxfordshire
(formerly in Berkshire
), previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford. Since September 2007 Josca's has been known as Abingdon Preparatory School
with both schools becoming part of the Abingdon Foundation
. There are strong connections with the nearby School of St Helen and St Katharine
in Abingdon. It is at least the twentieth oldest independent British school
(possibly the sixth) and celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006. Its fees were, in 2009/2010, £9,505 (full boarding), £8,195 (weekly boarding) and £4,635 (day) per term.
The Good Schools Guide called it 'An impressive school which does what it sets out to do well,' also noting that it was 'Likely to increase in popularity because of its location and increasingly sparkly achievements', while The Times
described it as 'an elite boys’ boarding school'.
monks of Abingdon Abbey
, with a legal document of 1100 listing Richard the Pedagogue as the first headmaster. From its early years, the school used a room in St Nicholas' Church, which itself was built between 1121 and 1184.
The school now takes its anniversary from the earliest surviving reference to the school - 1256 - a charter of Abingdon Abbey recording an endowment by Abbot John de Blosneville for the support of thirteen poor scholars. In the past though, the school considered itself as having been founded by John Roysse
in 1563. This led to the unusual circumstance whereby the school celebrated its 400th anniversary in 1963 (at which HRH Princess Margaret was guest of honour), and then its 750th in 2006. The focus on 1256 facilitated extensive anniversarial fundraising in 2006.
By the time of de Blosneville's endowment in 1256, the school had moved to a couple of rooms in Stert Street with a house for boarders at 3 Stert Street under the charge of a Dionysia Mundy. With John Roysse's re-endowment of 1563, the school moved to a site south of the Abbey gateway. Roysse was a prosperous mercer in the City of London, and through this association the school has received substantial benefactions from the Worshipful Company of Mercers
. The name Roysse's School was used until the 1960s and many older Abingdon residents still use the term.
After the dissolution of Abingdon Abbey in 1538, the school passed through a difficult phase: the sixteenth century endowments by Old Abingdonians attempted to overcome the loss of monastic support. Thomas Tesdale
, who had been a pupil in 1563, made provision for an Usher to teach six poor scholars from the Borough of Abingdon and offered support for thirteen Abingdon students to study at Oxford. This benefaction eventually developed into Pembroke College
in 1624 by the re-foundation of Broadgates Hall.
The six poor scholars, known as Bennett Boys, or colloquially as the Gown Boys due to their dress, were financed by another Old Abingdonian, William Bennett. Between 1609 and 1870 the school maintained a dual management: the Headmaster, appointed by the Mayor and Corporation, and the Tesdale Usher and Bennett Scholars appointed by the Master and Governors of Christ's Hospital, Abingdon. Despite being penalised during and after the English Civil War
for its royalist and Anglican tendencies the school survived and achieved somewhat of a revival under headmaster Robert Jennings (1657–1683). 1671 saw the expulsion of ten boys after they refused to attend Anglican services at St Helen's church.
The school experienced a period of success during the 18th century under headmaster Thomas Woods (1716–1753), known as 'Flogging Tom'. The school became popular amongst the local aristocracy and many OAs went onto to successful careers in various areas. In 1743 The Old Abingdonian Club was inaugurated, it is consequently one of the oldest such organisations in the country.
At the turn of the century the school went into decline under the leadership of the 'incompetent' headmaster Dr. John Lempriere. As a consequence Pembroke College, Oxford
used the University Reform Act of 1854 as an excuse to cut its links with the school.
The current school site in the Victorian quarter of Abingdon, adjacent to Albert Park, was designed by Edwin Dolby
and was developed from 1870. Extensions to the 1870 buildings were added in 1880. In 1901, a chapel and gymnasium were built. The adjacent Waste Court property was acquired in 1928. The Science School came in 1952. In 1963, to mark the Quartercentenary of the school's re-foundation, the big schoolroom was re-ordered as the Grundy Library (opened by HRH Princess Margaret), together with erection of further buildings east of the Science Wing, the whole becoming known as Big School. In 1980, the Amey Theatre and Arts' Centre was opened and the Sports Centre opened in 1984. Mercers Court was opened in 1994 by the Chancellor of Oxford University and
Visitor of Pembroke College
, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead. In 2003, the new Arts Department was opened (adjacent to the Amey Theatre).
On 4 October 2008, the newly completed Sports Centre was opened by MP Kate Hoey
, with assistance from footballer Martin Keown
, swimmer Robin Brew
and pentathlete Kate Allenby
. This multi-million pound project took 5 years to complete and has increased the floorspace of the school by 40% Plans for the complex were formally launched by HRH Princess Anne in 2006.
In September 2010 Felicity Lusk, formly headmistress of Oxford High School for Girls, a GDST school, replaced Mark Turner as head of Abingdon. She has become the first female head of, not only Abingdon, but any boys' boarding public school. David Lillycrop, Abingdon's chair of governors, said the move would 'help the boys to think in new ways but without losing the things that have given the school such an attractive character in the past', while Felicity Lusk herself remarked that 'There aren’t many women doing what I’m going to be doing, I think they [Abingdon] have been quite brave ... [a] last bastion of education has been broken through'. One of Felicity Lusk's first actions as head was to abolish Saturday morning school and restructure Abingdon's school day around 55, instead of 35, minute lessons.
, 3 of which are for boarders and dayboys
, 6 for day boys only. These are:
Day boys from 11-13 belong to the Lower School which has 118 boys.
The day houses (with the exception of Lower School, School House, and Crescent House) take their names from their current Housemasters and are thus prone to change.
In the 20th century, the school owned another upper school boarding house, Larkhill, to the north of the Faringdon Road. Various smaller buildings have also been used for boarders at various times, with the pupils being part of one of the larger houses. The Bath Street house, Lacies Court (rare) and Glyndowr come into this category, see school map.
There are many Inter-House competitions at Abingdon, both sporting and academic. These include Cricket
, Singing
and Public Speaking
. The competitions themselves are held every year, and each house has its traditional strengths. O'Doherty's (which holds the record of most 'tag-rugby' titles held at once, 4 of 5), School House and Crescent House, for example, are known to be particularly strong in the sports competitions, while Phelps' (now Davies') (which holds the record of the most public speaking titles held at one time, 3 of 5), Boyd's and Franklin's are better known for debating. There is also an annual inter-house singing competition, usually judged by a music department head from another school and by the Headmaster of Abingdon School.
Abingdon is notable in the region for its dedication to extracurricular activities, dubbed the "Other Half" (of the syllabus). As is the tradition at English public schools Wednesday afternoon is given over to extracurricular activities.
, rugby and cricket. Sports currently offered include: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Cross-Country, Fencing, Golf, Hockey, Karate, Kayaking, Real Tennis, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Water Polo. In recent years the school has reached the later stages of the Daily Mail U18 rugby cup whilst also gaining places in the last four of the HMC national 20/20 cricket competition. Sport is compulsory at Abingdon School and each student must do at least two sessions per week.
Rowing at Abingdon is particularly strong. The boat club has a long and prestigious history with documentary evidence indicating rowing was a school activity in 1830. Roysse's School Rowing Club (1840) became Abingdon School Boat Club. The 1st VIII won the "triple" in 2002: the Schools' Head of the River, the Queen Mother's Cup at the National School's Regatta and the Princess Elizabeth Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
. This was masterminded by Mike Martin, the Head of Rowing until 2008. 2006's J14's A and B squads, coached by Mr. Athol Hundermark (now senior coach), both became National School Champions. Athol also coached the 2007 J16's to victory in the junior Inter-Regionals, and took a J16 4+ crew to the GB 8 in the GB-France race. In 2009 the 1st VIII reached the final of the Henley Royal Regatta
unfortunately losing out to a "triple" winning Eton College crew. In 2011 the 1st VIII achieved victory again at the Schools Head of the River. They backed this up by winning the Princess Elizabeth Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
, on the way setting a new record of 6.19 for the course in the semi final against Radley College
, beating the long standing record set by Pangbourne College
in 1992 of 6.22.
competition. The society also holds black-tie dinner debates with girls' schools, including the School of St Helen and St Katharine
, Wycombe Abbey and Westonbirt School
. David Mitchell
and Colin Greenwood
were chairmen of the society while at Abingdon.
The School's Edmund and Roysse Societies hold talks for boys several times a term, inviting eminent speakers to lecture on a wide variety of subjects. Notable speakers include former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd
.
Community and charity service has a strong tradition at Abingdon, with many boys choosing to visit the elderly or help in Primary Schools. Once a term the school holds a tea party for the elderly, with entertainment being provided by school musicians and other boys.
Abingdon's Combined Cadet Force
, which consists of RAF and Army sections, is nationally acclaimed. Although membership of the CCF is voluntary at Abingdon it remains a large and popular activity. Cadets are expected to parade weekly in uniform. The CCF has achieved several successes with cadets in the contingent's Royal Air Force
section winning the 2002 Ground Training Competition
(South East
) at RAF Uxbridge
, Middlesex
. The team consisted of 15 cadets of all ranks and became the overall winner by coming first in trim-trail, shooting and Aircraft Recognition. The shooting team went on to become the top team at the National final that same year.
The 'Other Half' also has bridge, chess, classics, cookery, modern languages, history film and literary clubs.
and Oxford
. In 2010 Abingdon achieved a 99.7% pass rate at GCSE level and 100% pass rate at A level, with 70.4% gaining A or A* grades.
Subjects taught to GCSE and A-Level include English
, History
, Design Technology
, Geography
, French
, German
, Religious Education
and Religious Studies
, Mathematics
, Biology
, Chemistry
and Physics
, Drama
, Music
, Art and Design
, Latin, Greek
and Classical Civilisation
or Ancient History
.
Subjects taught to GCSE only are Italian
, Chinese and Cooking.
Subjects taught for A-Level only are Russian, Government and Politics
, Economics
, Business Studies
and Art History
, often taught in conjunction with the neighbouring girls' school, The School of St Helen and St Katharine
.
Abingdon's Russian
classroom is notably strong and was determined the best in the country by a leading national newspaper.
Prominent Conservative politician, member of parliament for Horsham, former Chairman of the Conservative Party
and current Paymaster General Francis Maude
attended the school in the 1960s.
The members of Radiohead
attended Abingdon in the 1980s. Their song 'Bishop's Robes' reputedly refers to a former headmaster of Abingdon, Michael St John Parker, who was known for wearing academic gowns.
David Mitchell
, most famously known for being one half of the double comedy act 'Mitchell and Webb', attended Abingdon School from 1987-1992. In his final year he was chairman of the school's debating society. On his appearance on Desert Island Discs
he chose "Creep" by Radiohead
and suggested that it should be the Abingdon anthem
.
Musician Thomas Dolby
(then known as Thomas Robertson) was at Abingdon in 1975-76, completing his A levels while in attendance.
Robin Bourne-Taylor
, a two-time Olympic rower, three-time Boat Race winner (2002, 2003 and 2005) and the president of the Oxford University Boat Club
(2004 to 2005), went to Abingdon School.
Another notable Old Abingdonian was the Oxford cox, Nicholas Brodie, who went on to cox both the Isis boat and the Blues, leading Oxford to victory as the OUBC President in the 2008 Boat Race. This was the first time since the 1970s that a cox had been President of either club.
Actors Toby Jones
, best known for his award-winning role in Infamous
, and Tom Hollander
, of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End fame, were in the same year at Abingdon in the early 1980s.
Two members of the band Foals were at Abingdon School.
Musician Nigel Powell
who plays drums for Frank Turner
attended the school from 1985 to 1989.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
day and boarding independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
for boys situated in Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
(formerly in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
), previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford. Since September 2007 Josca's has been known as Abingdon Preparatory School
Abingdon Preparatory School
Abingdon Preparatory School Abingdon Preparatory School Abingdon Preparatory School (formerly known as Josca's until 2007, and informally known as Abingdon Prep, is an independent preparatory school in the rural setting of Frilford, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. It is part of the Abingdon...
with both schools becoming part of the Abingdon Foundation
Abingdon Foundation
Abingdon Foundation is a collective name for two independent schools based in and near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It consists of Abingdon Preparatory School and Abingdon School. Collectively they offer education from age 4 to 18....
. There are strong connections with the nearby School of St Helen and St Katharine
School of St Helen and St Katharine
The School of St Helen & St Katharine is an English independent girls' school, located in Abingdon.- History :The School of St Helen & St Katharine was originally two separate girls' schools, St Helen's School and St Katharine's School, founded in the early years of the twentieth century...
in Abingdon. It is at least the twentieth oldest independent British school
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
(possibly the sixth) and celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006. Its fees were, in 2009/2010, £9,505 (full boarding), £8,195 (weekly boarding) and £4,635 (day) per term.
The Good Schools Guide called it 'An impressive school which does what it sets out to do well,' also noting that it was 'Likely to increase in popularity because of its location and increasingly sparkly achievements', while The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
described it as 'an elite boys’ boarding school'.
History
The precise date of Abingdon's foundation is unclear. Some believe the school to have been founded prior to 12th century by the BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monks of Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
, with a legal document of 1100 listing Richard the Pedagogue as the first headmaster. From its early years, the school used a room in St Nicholas' Church, which itself was built between 1121 and 1184.
The school now takes its anniversary from the earliest surviving reference to the school - 1256 - a charter of Abingdon Abbey recording an endowment by Abbot John de Blosneville for the support of thirteen poor scholars. In the past though, the school considered itself as having been founded by John Roysse
John Roysse
John Roysse was a Mercer, , who was born in 1500 or 1501 and raised in Abingdon, Berkshire . He is best known as being the benefactor of Abingdon School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.- Biography :...
in 1563. This led to the unusual circumstance whereby the school celebrated its 400th anniversary in 1963 (at which HRH Princess Margaret was guest of honour), and then its 750th in 2006. The focus on 1256 facilitated extensive anniversarial fundraising in 2006.
By the time of de Blosneville's endowment in 1256, the school had moved to a couple of rooms in Stert Street with a house for boarders at 3 Stert Street under the charge of a Dionysia Mundy. With John Roysse's re-endowment of 1563, the school moved to a site south of the Abbey gateway. Roysse was a prosperous mercer in the City of London, and through this association the school has received substantial benefactions from the Worshipful Company of Mercers
Worshipful Company of Mercers
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in order of precedence. It is the first of the so-called "Great Twelve City Livery Companies". It was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1394...
. The name Roysse's School was used until the 1960s and many older Abingdon residents still use the term.
After the dissolution of Abingdon Abbey in 1538, the school passed through a difficult phase: the sixteenth century endowments by Old Abingdonians attempted to overcome the loss of monastic support. Thomas Tesdale
Thomas Tesdale
Thomas Tesdale was an English maltster, benefactor of the town of Abingdon in the English county of Berkshire and the primary founding benefactor of Pembroke College, Oxford.-Life and career:...
, who had been a pupil in 1563, made provision for an Usher to teach six poor scholars from the Borough of Abingdon and offered support for thirteen Abingdon students to study at Oxford. This benefaction eventually developed into Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
in 1624 by the re-foundation of Broadgates Hall.
The six poor scholars, known as Bennett Boys, or colloquially as the Gown Boys due to their dress, were financed by another Old Abingdonian, William Bennett. Between 1609 and 1870 the school maintained a dual management: the Headmaster, appointed by the Mayor and Corporation, and the Tesdale Usher and Bennett Scholars appointed by the Master and Governors of Christ's Hospital, Abingdon. Despite being penalised during and after the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
for its royalist and Anglican tendencies the school survived and achieved somewhat of a revival under headmaster Robert Jennings (1657–1683). 1671 saw the expulsion of ten boys after they refused to attend Anglican services at St Helen's church.
The school experienced a period of success during the 18th century under headmaster Thomas Woods (1716–1753), known as 'Flogging Tom'. The school became popular amongst the local aristocracy and many OAs went onto to successful careers in various areas. In 1743 The Old Abingdonian Club was inaugurated, it is consequently one of the oldest such organisations in the country.
At the turn of the century the school went into decline under the leadership of the 'incompetent' headmaster Dr. John Lempriere. As a consequence Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
used the University Reform Act of 1854 as an excuse to cut its links with the school.
The current school site in the Victorian quarter of Abingdon, adjacent to Albert Park, was designed by Edwin Dolby
Edwin Dolby
Edwin Dolby was a Victorian architect who practised in Abingdon, England.-Career:Dolby's works span the period 1863–1888. He altered, rebuilt or restored a number of Church of England parish churches, most of them in the Vale of White Horse and Oxfordshire. In 1869–70, he built Abingdon Grammar...
and was developed from 1870. Extensions to the 1870 buildings were added in 1880. In 1901, a chapel and gymnasium were built. The adjacent Waste Court property was acquired in 1928. The Science School came in 1952. In 1963, to mark the Quartercentenary of the school's re-foundation, the big schoolroom was re-ordered as the Grundy Library (opened by HRH Princess Margaret), together with erection of further buildings east of the Science Wing, the whole becoming known as Big School. In 1980, the Amey Theatre and Arts' Centre was opened and the Sports Centre opened in 1984. Mercers Court was opened in 1994 by the Chancellor of Oxford University and
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead. In 2003, the new Arts Department was opened (adjacent to the Amey Theatre).
On 4 October 2008, the newly completed Sports Centre was opened by MP Kate Hoey
Kate Hoey
Catharine Letitia Hoey is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Vauxhall since 1989. She served in the Blair Government as Minister for Sport from 1999 to 2001.-Background:...
, with assistance from footballer Martin Keown
Martin Keown
Martin Raymond Keown is a former English footballer. Widely regarded as one of the best man-markers of his generation, Keown played for six different football clubs during his career but it was with Arsenal that he will be best remembered. Keown made over three hundred appearances for Arsenal...
, swimmer Robin Brew
Robin Brew
Robin Brew, born 28 June 1962, is a British swimmer. He swam in the men's 200 metres individual medley at the 1984 Summer Olympics where he came fourth.-Approach:...
and pentathlete Kate Allenby
Kate Allenby
Kate Allenby is a British modern pentathlete who competed in two Summer Olympics .She was born in London.Allenby won a bronze medal in 2000 at Sydney...
. This multi-million pound project took 5 years to complete and has increased the floorspace of the school by 40% Plans for the complex were formally launched by HRH Princess Anne in 2006.
In September 2010 Felicity Lusk, formly headmistress of Oxford High School for Girls, a GDST school, replaced Mark Turner as head of Abingdon. She has become the first female head of, not only Abingdon, but any boys' boarding public school. David Lillycrop, Abingdon's chair of governors, said the move would 'help the boys to think in new ways but without losing the things that have given the school such an attractive character in the past', while Felicity Lusk herself remarked that 'There aren’t many women doing what I’m going to be doing, I think they [Abingdon] have been quite brave ... [a] last bastion of education has been broken through'. One of Felicity Lusk's first actions as head was to abolish Saturday morning school and restructure Abingdon's school day around 55, instead of 35, minute lessons.
Students and Houses
The school currently has 860 pupils aged 11–18, of whom 111 are boarders. The school is split into 9 housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
, 3 of which are for boarders and dayboys
Day pupil
Day pupils are students who attend boarding school but who are not boarders and who travel between home and school every day...
, 6 for day boys only. These are:
- School - 76 boys (36 dayboys, 41 boarders)
- Crescent - 81 boys (35 dayboys, 46 boarders)
- These two houses have all the middle school boarders (aged 13–16) and the majority of the sixth form boarders (aged 16–18).
- Boyd's - 82 boys
- O'Doherty's - 83 dayboys
- Franklin's - 81 dayboys
- Christodoulou's - 83 dayboys
- Southwell-Sander's - 84 dayboys
- Davies' (Situated on the same site as Waste Court) - 101 boys (77 dayboys, 25 boarders)
- This house has the remainder of the sixth form boarders.
- Webb's - 83 dayboys
Day boys from 11-13 belong to the Lower School which has 118 boys.
The day houses (with the exception of Lower School, School House, and Crescent House) take their names from their current Housemasters and are thus prone to change.
In the 20th century, the school owned another upper school boarding house, Larkhill, to the north of the Faringdon Road. Various smaller buildings have also been used for boarders at various times, with the pupils being part of one of the larger houses. The Bath Street house, Lacies Court (rare) and Glyndowr come into this category, see school map.
There are many Inter-House competitions at Abingdon, both sporting and academic. These include Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, Singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and Public Speaking
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
. The competitions themselves are held every year, and each house has its traditional strengths. O'Doherty's (which holds the record of most 'tag-rugby' titles held at once, 4 of 5), School House and Crescent House, for example, are known to be particularly strong in the sports competitions, while Phelps' (now Davies') (which holds the record of the most public speaking titles held at one time, 3 of 5), Boyd's and Franklin's are better known for debating. There is also an annual inter-house singing competition, usually judged by a music department head from another school and by the Headmaster of Abingdon School.
Extracurricular activities
Sport
Abingdon has a strong sporting tradition, especially in rowingRowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, rugby and cricket. Sports currently offered include: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Cross-Country, Fencing, Golf, Hockey, Karate, Kayaking, Real Tennis, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Water Polo. In recent years the school has reached the later stages of the Daily Mail U18 rugby cup whilst also gaining places in the last four of the HMC national 20/20 cricket competition. Sport is compulsory at Abingdon School and each student must do at least two sessions per week.
Rowing at Abingdon is particularly strong. The boat club has a long and prestigious history with documentary evidence indicating rowing was a school activity in 1830. Roysse's School Rowing Club (1840) became Abingdon School Boat Club. The 1st VIII won the "triple" in 2002: the Schools' Head of the River, the Queen Mother's Cup at the National School's Regatta and the Princess Elizabeth Cup
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs.-History:The event was instituted in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. This was masterminded by Mike Martin, the Head of Rowing until 2008. 2006's J14's A and B squads, coached by Mr. Athol Hundermark (now senior coach), both became National School Champions. Athol also coached the 2007 J16's to victory in the junior Inter-Regionals, and took a J16 4+ crew to the GB 8 in the GB-France race. In 2009 the 1st VIII reached the final of the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
unfortunately losing out to a "triple" winning Eton College crew. In 2011 the 1st VIII achieved victory again at the Schools Head of the River. They backed this up by winning the Princess Elizabeth Cup
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs.-History:The event was instituted in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
, on the way setting a new record of 6.19 for the course in the semi final against Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, beating the long standing record set by Pangbourne College
Pangbourne College
Pangbourne College is a coeducational independent school located in the civil parish of Pangbourne, just South West of the village, in the English County of Berkshire....
in 1992 of 6.22.
Non-Sporting Activities
The Debating Society is the school's oldest non-sporting society, founded in 1904. It debates a variety of motions in its weekly meetings, from the humorous to the serious, with many being political in nature. Upon the arrival of new head, Felicity Lusk, the society debated the motion 'This House believes women make better leaders than men', with the results being 9 In Favour, 16 Against and 25 Abstentions. Abingdon takes part in a variety of national debating, public speaking and model United Nations competitions, often achieving notable success, as in 2009 when a group of Abingdon boys were national champions of the 2009 European Youth ParliamentEuropean Youth Parliament
The European Youth Parliament is a politically and religiously unbound non-profit organisation, which encourages European youth to actively engage in citizenship and cultural understanding....
competition. The society also holds black-tie dinner debates with girls' schools, including the School of St Helen and St Katharine
School of St Helen and St Katharine
The School of St Helen & St Katharine is an English independent girls' school, located in Abingdon.- History :The School of St Helen & St Katharine was originally two separate girls' schools, St Helen's School and St Katharine's School, founded in the early years of the twentieth century...
, Wycombe Abbey and Westonbirt School
Westonbirt School
Westonbirt School is an independent day and boarding school for girls located in Gloucestershire in South West England. Founded in 1928, it is a member of the Allied Schools organisation...
. David Mitchell
David Mitchell (actor)
David James Stuart Mitchell is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is half of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb, alongside Robert Webb, whom he met at Cambridge University. There they were both part of the Cambridge Footlights, of which Mitchell became President. Together the duo star in the...
and Colin Greenwood
Colin Greenwood
Colin Charles Greenwood , is an English musician and composer, best known as the bassist of the rock band Radiohead. Apart from bass, Colin plays keyboards, synthesizers and works on sampling on the electronic side of Radiohead...
were chairmen of the society while at Abingdon.
The School's Edmund and Roysse Societies hold talks for boys several times a term, inviting eminent speakers to lecture on a wide variety of subjects. Notable speakers include former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd
Douglas Hurd
Douglas Richard Hurd, Baron Hurd of Westwell, CH, CBE, PC , is a British Conservative politician and novelist, who served in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major between 1979 and his retirement in 1995....
.
Community and charity service has a strong tradition at Abingdon, with many boys choosing to visit the elderly or help in Primary Schools. Once a term the school holds a tea party for the elderly, with entertainment being provided by school musicians and other boys.
Abingdon's Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
, which consists of RAF and Army sections, is nationally acclaimed. Although membership of the CCF is voluntary at Abingdon it remains a large and popular activity. Cadets are expected to parade weekly in uniform. The CCF has achieved several successes with cadets in the contingent's Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
section winning the 2002 Ground Training Competition
Ground Training Competition
The Ground Training Competition, or The Air Squadron Trophy Competition as it is has recently been renamed, was created in 1998 as a way for CCF sections to contest the Air Squadron Trophy.-The Regional & National Stages:...
(South East
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
) at RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered originally belonging to the Hillingdon House estate, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. The team consisted of 15 cadets of all ranks and became the overall winner by coming first in trim-trail, shooting and Aircraft Recognition. The shooting team went on to become the top team at the National final that same year.
The 'Other Half' also has bridge, chess, classics, cookery, modern languages, history film and literary clubs.
Academic
Abingdon is academically a strong school: the students regularly achieve good results and a significant number progress to the most prestigious universities, including a yearly average of more than 25 to CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. In 2010 Abingdon achieved a 99.7% pass rate at GCSE level and 100% pass rate at A level, with 70.4% gaining A or A* grades.
Subjects taught to GCSE and A-Level include English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, Design Technology
Design Technology
Design and Technology is a school subject offered at all levels of primary and secondary school. In some countries such as England it is a part of the National Curriculum. It is offered in many countries around the world such as Brunei, Bermuda, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Jordan...
, Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a...
and Religious Studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
, Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, Drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, Art and Design
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, Latin, Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
and Classical Civilisation
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
or Ancient History
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
.
Subjects taught to GCSE only are Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, Chinese and Cooking.
Subjects taught for A-Level only are Russian, Government and Politics
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, Business Studies
Business studies
Business studies is an academic subject taught at higher level in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, as well as at university level in many countries...
and Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
, often taught in conjunction with the neighbouring girls' school, The School of St Helen and St Katharine
School of St Helen and St Katharine
The School of St Helen & St Katharine is an English independent girls' school, located in Abingdon.- History :The School of St Helen & St Katharine was originally two separate girls' schools, St Helen's School and St Katharine's School, founded in the early years of the twentieth century...
.
Abingdon's Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
classroom is notably strong and was determined the best in the country by a leading national newspaper.
Celebrations
The school holds a number of events, dinners and balls throughout the year. The 'Foundation Dinner', to honour the school's founders and benefactors, is held once a year towards the end of Lent term. It is normally attended by Abingdon Town Councilors, supporters of the school, governors, famous OAs, School prefects and upper sixth scholars. Perhaps the most notable school event is the 'Griffin Ball' held at the end of the school year. It is often attended by members of the upper sixth who are leaving the school as well as other students and many parents and teachers. The ball itself is often preceded earlier in the day by the school's annual prize giving ceremony.Heads
The list is as published on a display in the school's main entrance hall.- Richard the Pedagogue, 1100 (unverified)
- Chaplain of St. Nicholas, 1184
- Benjamin, 1230
- Walter de Mortimer, 1261
- William de Coleshill, 1310–1316
- John Brules, 1381–1384
- Thomas Weston, 1387–1415
- Hacker, 1420–1421
- John Maltby, 1440–1441
- John Tesdale (Clyffe), 1504–1540
- Richard Croose, 1557
- John Argall, 1568-c.1571
- Thomas Orpwood, 1571–1573
- Anthony Lancaster, 1573–1574
- John Chamberlen, 1574–1577
- Richard Williams, 1577–1578
- Lewes, 1578–1583
- Cerey, 1584-?
- Richard Humfrey ?-1597
- Anthony Appletree, 1597–1599
- John Birde, 1600–1605
- Degorie Wheare, 1605-1606.
- Edward Groome, 1606–1608
- Thomas Godwyn, DD, 1608–1625
- Anthony Huish, 1625–1654
- Nicholas Howe, 1654
- Robert Payne, 1654-1655. Tesdale Usher-in-Charge
- John Kerridge, 1655–57
- Robert Jennings, 1657–1683
- Richard Playdell, 1684-1716. Formerly Tesdale Usher (1676–1684)
- Thomas Woods, 1716-1753. Formerly Tesdale Usher (1711–1716)
- John Abbot, 1753–1758
- Henry BrightHenry BrightHenry Bright was a scholar, teacher, and school chaplainBright was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow and chaplain. He was the headmaster of Abingdon School from 1758 to 1774, and of New College School, Oxford, from 1774 to 1790)...
, 1758-1774. Afterwards headmaster of New College SchoolNew College SchoolNew College School is an independent preparatory school for boys in Oxford. It was founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham to provide for the education of 16 choristers for the chapel of New College, Oxford....
, Oxford - Andrew Portal, 1774–1775
- William Kennedy, 1775–1792
- John LemprièreJohn LemprièreJohn Lemprière , English classical scholar, lexicographer, theologian, teacher and headmaster...
, 1792-1809. Afterwards headmaster of Exeter SchoolExeter SchoolExeter School is a selective independent co-educational day school for pupils between the ages of 7 and 18 located in Exeter, Devon, England. In 2010 there were around 180 pupils in the Junior School and 670 in the Senior School... - Edward Nicholson, 1810–1827
- Joseph Thomas James Hewlett, 1827–39
- William Alder Strange, DDWilliam Alder Strange, DDWilliam Alder Strange was a headmaster and author.-Background and education:The son of William Strange of Jersey and Abingdon, a wine merchant, William Alder Strange was educated at Christ's Hospital, London, where he was Senior Grecian, Abingdon School, and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he held...
, 1840–1868 - Edmund Tristram Horatio Harper, 1868-70. Formerly Tesdale Usher (1855–68)
- Edgar Summers, 1870–1883
- (b. 1834, d. 1907) Formerly second master at King's School, Ely and King Edward's Grammar School, Bury St Edmund's, and a master at Brighton CollegeBrighton CollegeBrighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
. After retirement from teaching, Summers became vicar of Brading, Isle of Wight, (1884–1906) and rural dean of East Wight. He died at Radley House, Winchester. There is a memorial window to him at BradingBradingThe ancient 'Kynges Towne' of Brading is the main town of the civil parish of the same name. The ecclesiastical parish of Brading used to cover about a tenth of the Isle of Wight. The current civil parish now includes the town itself and Adgestone, Morton, Nunwell and other outlying areas between...
church.
- (b. 1834, d. 1907) Formerly second master at King's School, Ely and King Edward's Grammar School, Bury St Edmund's, and a master at Brighton College
- William Herbert CamWilliam Herbert CamWilliam Herbert Cam was the son of William Cam of Durlsey, Gloucestershire, William Herbert Cam was at Bedford School and a scholar of New College, Oxford. He was a master at Wellington College, headmaster of Dudley Grammar School and Abingdon School...
, 1883–1893 - Thomas LayngThomas Layng-Biography:The son of the Revd Henry Layng of Foulden, Norfolk, Thomas Layng was at St John's School, Leatherhead, Oundle School and scholar of Jesus College, University of Cambridge. He was the last clerical headmaster of Abingdon School and had previously been a master at Shrewsbury School and...
, 1893–1913 - William Mitchell GrundyWilliam Mitchell GrundyWilliam Mitchell Grundy was an English headmaster.The son of William Grundy, dean and fellow of Worcester College, Oxford, and headmaster of Malvern College, William Mitchell Grundy was educated at Malvern College and was elected Bible clerk at All Souls College, Oxford...
, 1913–1947 - Sir James Cobban, CBEJames CobbanSir James Macdonald Cobban, CBE, DL was an English educator and headmaster, as well as a prominent lay leader in the Church of England...
, 1947–1970 - Sir (William) Eric (Kinloch) AndersonWilliam Eric Kinloch AndersonSir William "Eric" Kinloch Anderson, , was Provost of Eton College from September 2000 – 30 January 2009.Anderson was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh and gained a MA degree in English at the University of St. Andrews...
, KT, 1970-1975. Afterwards headmaster of Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
, Eton CollegeEton CollegeEton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Rector of Lincoln College, OxfordLincoln College, OxfordLincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
and Provost of Eton - Michael St. John Parker, 1975–2001
- Mark Turner, 2002–2010. Afterwards headmaster of Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
- Felicity Lusk, 2010-
Tesdale Ushers
- Nicholas Giles, 1610-?
- Christopher Capper, 1619–20
- John Stone, 1628–1643
- Robert Payne, 1645–76
- Richard Playdell, 1676-1684. Afterwards headmaster
- James Barefoote, 1686–1692
- Walter HarteWalter HarteWalter Harte was a British poet and historian. He was a friend of Alexander Pope, Oxford don, canon of Windsor, and vice-principal of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford....
, 1692–1709 - William Templer, 1709
- John Rock, 1709–1710
- Thomas Woods, 1711-1716. Afterwards headmaster
- Daniell Darrell, 1716–1718
- John Ingles, 1718–20
- Josiah Bennett, 1720–1750
- Joseph Bennett, 1750–1751
- Andrew Portal, 1751-1758. Later headmaster
- James Smith, 1758–59
- Thomas Till, 1759–62
- Dylan Clive, 1762
- John Stevenson, 1762–83
- Matthew Armstrong, 1783-92. Deputy Usher, George Anderson, 1784–85
- William Smith, 1793–1844
- Thomas Pantin, 1845
- Henry Jackson Rhodes, 1846-1851. Afterwards, editorial secretary, SPCK.
- Henry Day, 1851-1855. Afterwards headmaster, Burton-on-Trent Grammar School
- Edmund Tristram Horatio Harper, 1855-1871. Afterwards, vicar, Luddington, Lincolnshire (1871–1923)
- John Whitmore Black (second master 1868-70). Afterwards, vicar, Launcells, Cornwall (1873–1914)
Notable Old Abingdonians including former Masters
Chairman of the Conservative Party
In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. When the Conservatives are in power, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet being given a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio...
and current Paymaster General Francis Maude
Francis Maude
Francis Anthony Aylmer Maude is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he currently serves as the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, and as a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Horsham...
attended the school in the 1960s.
The members of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
attended Abingdon in the 1980s. Their song 'Bishop's Robes' reputedly refers to a former headmaster of Abingdon, Michael St John Parker, who was known for wearing academic gowns.
David Mitchell
David Mitchell (actor)
David James Stuart Mitchell is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is half of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb, alongside Robert Webb, whom he met at Cambridge University. There they were both part of the Cambridge Footlights, of which Mitchell became President. Together the duo star in the...
, most famously known for being one half of the double comedy act 'Mitchell and Webb', attended Abingdon School from 1987-1992. In his final year he was chairman of the school's debating society. On his appearance on Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
he chose "Creep" by Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
and suggested that it should be the Abingdon anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
.
Musician Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
(then known as Thomas Robertson) was at Abingdon in 1975-76, completing his A levels while in attendance.
Robin Bourne-Taylor
Robin Bourne-Taylor
Robin Edwin Geoffrey Bourne-Taylor, CGC was a British officer and sportsman. He is a three times Boat Race winner, and for his service in Afghanistan he was awarded the second-highest British gallantry medal.-Education:Bourne-Taylor was educated at Abingdon School and Christ Church, Oxford where...
, a two-time Olympic rower, three-time Boat Race winner (2002, 2003 and 2005) and the president of the Oxford University Boat Club
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
(2004 to 2005), went to Abingdon School.
Another notable Old Abingdonian was the Oxford cox, Nicholas Brodie, who went on to cox both the Isis boat and the Blues, leading Oxford to victory as the OUBC President in the 2008 Boat Race. This was the first time since the 1970s that a cox had been President of either club.
Actors Toby Jones
Toby Jones
Toby Edward Heslewood Jones is an English actor.-Early life:Jones was born in Hammersmith, London, the son of actors Jennifer and Freddie Jones...
, best known for his award-winning role in Infamous
Infamous (film)
Infamous is a 2006 American drama film, based on the 1997 book by George Plimpton, Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career....
, and Tom Hollander
Tom Hollander
Thomas Anthony "Tom" Hollander is a British actor who has appeared in productions such as Enigma, Gosford Park, Cambridge Spies, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean, In the Loop, Valkyrie and Hanna.-Early life:Tom Hollander was born in Bristol and raised in Oxford, Oxfordshire, the son...
, of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End fame, were in the same year at Abingdon in the early 1980s.
Two members of the band Foals were at Abingdon School.
Musician Nigel Powell
Nigel Powell
Nigel Powell is a multi-instrumental musician from Abingdon, England. He currently works as Frank Turner's live and studio drummer and is a member of the Oxford based alternative rock band Dive Dive. He was formerly a member of Unbelievable Truth...
who plays drums for Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
attended the school from 1985 to 1989.
Further reading
- Former Second Master and Housemaster Donald Willis published several books of autobiography. His first 'Eggshells and Tea Leaves' (Robert Dugdale, 1981) recounted the story of his early life in Oxford in the 1920s and 30's before going on to recall his wartime experiences as an officer in the Royal Artillery serving in many theatres of the war, including the Italian campaign, in which he was mentioned in dispatches. This together with his other books, 'Early Days in Oxford' outlining in more detail life in Oxford from 1916 to 1940, 'A Song On A Bugle Blown' describing life at Abingdon School after the second world war, and an historical novel 'Storm Clouds Over Ireland' were all written following a series of severe strokes which forced his early retirement from Abingdon School.
- Waste Court House and Lacies Court Abingdon School Misc. Finds 1997-1998 and Waste Court House Abingdon School Final Report (Evans, R.T.J and Excell, P.P.), concerning archaeological investigations at the school.
Footnotes and references
- St Nicholas Abingdon and Other Papers, Arthur E Preston (1929 and 1971)
- Abingdon School 1870-1970 (1970)
- A History of Rowing at Abingdon School 1840-1990, R G Mortimer (1990)
- The Martlet and the Griffen, Thomas Hinde and Michael St John Parker (1997)
- A Record of Tesdale Ushers & Bennett Scholars 1609-1870, Nigel Hammond (2004)