King Edward VI School Stratford-upon-Avon
Encyclopedia
King Edward VI School is a voluntary aided boys grammar school
in Stratford-upon-Avon
, Warwickshire
, England. It is generally believed that William Shakespeare
attended this school, leading to the label of "Shakespeare's School".
as a borough in June, 1553. The school was re-founded as one of King Edward's schools nine days before the young king died of tuberculosis
and is believed to be the last of the King Edward VI Schools. A history of the early years of the school has been published by the former chairman of the governors Levi Fox
The playwright and poet William Shakespeare attended the school between the ages of seven to fourteen. His father, John Shakespeare, a glover and wool dealer in the town, held the office of bailiff of the borough in 1568. As a child, William would have been entitled to a free place at the school. Classmates may have included William Smith, Richard Field
, John Sadler, Arthur Cawdrey, John Lane, Robert Dibdale
and Thomas Green.
Following a tradition established in 1893 each year pupils and masters lead a procession through the town from the school in Church Street to Holy Trinity Church
, where they lay flowers at Shakespeare's grave. In 1982 the five-hundredth anniversary of the endowment of the school by the priest Thomas Jolyffe was celebrated and in 2003 celebrations were held for the 450th anniversary of the school's re-foundation.
FRGS, and the Head of Governors, Prof. Ronnie Mulryne MA
PhD
. The Head Boy is elected by the boys of the Lower Sixth and teachers. It is a voluntary aided school and funds certain aspects of the school from its own resources (Registered charity 528769, Limited Company
registration 7696173).
, which is taken in Year 6 (ages 10 and 11) across Warwickshire
. KES is a brother school to Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls
and in some subjects in the Sixth Form students can attend classes at either school.
, a benefactor of the school in the 1890s), Warneford, and De La Warr (Earl Delawarr was High Steward of Stratford in the 1850s). The house system was altered in 1973 and just two houses established – King’s (blue) and Guild (gold) – in recognition of the historic benefactors of the school.
In 2000 the number of boys at the school meant that more houses were needed to make true competition possible, and so four houses were re-introduced. These were named after men associated with the twentieth-century school who had made significant contributions in their respective fields. The houses are: Dyson (Red colours), Quinn (Blue), Spender (Purple) and Warneford (Green). Denis Dyson was physics and astronomy master who came to the school in 1926, initially for six-months, and stayed until his retirement at the age of 71 in 1975. He continued to assist the school well into his nineties. Andrew Charles Quinn FRCA
was a pupil of the school who left in 1990 and has become a successful and respected clinician in the North of England. Richard Spender was an old boy and poet who was killed assaulting German machine-gun positions in 1943 . Reginald Warneford was an old boy who was the first naval airman to receive the Victoria Cross
. He was killed in a flying accident in 1915. The houses are headed by four teachers and take part in a competition each year to win the house trophy. This trophy is hotly contested and had been won by Fitzmaurice for the six consecutive years but in 2010 and 2011 the last two years it has gone to Dyson..
status, emphasizing on English, Drama and Classics.
and now owned by the Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust. Today it is used by the school for morning service and various other school events, such as the annual carol service.
The other school buildings predominately date from the 1930s, for example, the SH block (Shakespeare Block). Many have been extended during the 1950s, 60s and 70s and he most recent part part of the school, built in 2008, is the Denis Dyson Building, a science block which has two chemistry, two biology and three information technology (ICT) rooms. The Levi Fox
Hall, also built recently and named after a Chairman of the Governors, is primarily used for sport, assemblies, school plays, concerts and examinations. The Royal Shakespeare Company
has used the space for a production of Julius Caesar
.
, Bank of England
Target Two Point Zero
Challenge, as well as other debating and public speaking competitions.
(Winners 1991, Semi Finalists in 1996, Quarter Finalists on two occasions and in 2008/09 Vase Semi Finalists) and also goes on annual international tours, most recently to Argentina in 2008 . Students also take part in fencing
, athletics, rowing
, hockey
, basketball
, badminton
, table tennis
and volleyball
. Fencing has recently re-emerged as a popular sport at the school, with wins from pupils at several major fencing tournaments, and at least six current members of the school having experienced international fencing competitions for Great Britain.
, in 2006 Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale
, in 2007 an adaption of Simon Armitage's The Odyssey, and in 2008 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
. Since 2008, Edward's Boys have very successfully presented productions of early 16th century plays, written specifically for boy actors, and not performed for four hundred years. These have been performed in London, Oxford, Warwick and in Strafford.
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, England. It is generally believed that William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
attended this school, leading to the label of "Shakespeare's School".
History
There has been an educational facility at the current site of the school since at least the early thirteenth century. A schoolroom, schoolhouse and payment of £20 per annum for a master was one of the provisions of King Edward VI's charter which established Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
as a borough in June, 1553. The school was re-founded as one of King Edward's schools nine days before the young king died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and is believed to be the last of the King Edward VI Schools. A history of the early years of the school has been published by the former chairman of the governors Levi Fox
Levi Fox
Dr. Levi Fox OBE, DL, MA, FSA, FRHistS, FRSL , was the son of a Leicestershire smallholder. He became Archivist for the city of Coventry and then Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and was a conservationist, local historian, and author.-Early life:After attending Ashby-de-la-Zouch...
The playwright and poet William Shakespeare attended the school between the ages of seven to fourteen. His father, John Shakespeare, a glover and wool dealer in the town, held the office of bailiff of the borough in 1568. As a child, William would have been entitled to a free place at the school. Classmates may have included William Smith, Richard Field
Richard Field (printer)
Richard Field was a printer and publisher in Elizabethan London, best known for his close association with the poems of William Shakespeare, with whom he grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon.-Life and career:...
, John Sadler, Arthur Cawdrey, John Lane, Robert Dibdale
Robert Dibdale
Robert Dibdale, or Debdale, was a Catholic priest and martyr.He was born the son of John Dibdale of Shottery, in the parish of Stratford-upon-Avon and the birthplace of William Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway at a date unknown. He had a brother Richard and sisters Joan and Agnes. It would seem...
and Thomas Green.
Following a tradition established in 1893 each year pupils and masters lead a procession through the town from the school in Church Street to Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon
The Collegiate Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon is a Grade I listed parish church of the Church of England in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.-Background:...
, where they lay flowers at Shakespeare's grave. In 1982 the five-hundredth anniversary of the endowment of the school by the priest Thomas Jolyffe was celebrated and in 2003 celebrations were held for the 450th anniversary of the school's re-foundation.
Administration
The school is currently led by the Headmaster, Mr. Bennet Carr MAMaster of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
FRGS, and the Head of Governors, Prof. Ronnie Mulryne MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
. The Head Boy is elected by the boys of the Lower Sixth and teachers. It is a voluntary aided school and funds certain aspects of the school from its own resources (Registered charity 528769, Limited Company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
registration 7696173).
Admissions
KES is a completely selective school: to enter the school, all students must pass a selective exam, primarily the eleven plusEleven plus
In the United Kingdom, the 11-plus or Eleven plus is an examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education, governing admission to various types of secondary school. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years...
, which is taken in Year 6 (ages 10 and 11) across Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. KES is a brother school to Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls
Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls
Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls is a fully selective girls' grammar school in England situated close to Stratford-upon-Avon.-Admissions:...
and in some subjects in the Sixth Form students can attend classes at either school.
Houses
In 1921, the headmaster, the Revd. A. Cecil Knight, established six houses to promote healthy competition amongst the boys. This number was reduced to four houses in 1924: Shakespeare, Flower (after Charles FlowerCharles Edward Flower
Charles Edward Flower was an English brewer.He was the eldest son of Edward Fordham Flower and brother of William Henry Flower.It was through his efforts, that, in 1864, to celebrate Shakespeare's 300th birthday, the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre was built. Unfortunately, the theatre was destroyed...
, a benefactor of the school in the 1890s), Warneford, and De La Warr (Earl Delawarr was High Steward of Stratford in the 1850s). The house system was altered in 1973 and just two houses established – King’s (blue) and Guild (gold) – in recognition of the historic benefactors of the school.
In 2000 the number of boys at the school meant that more houses were needed to make true competition possible, and so four houses were re-introduced. These were named after men associated with the twentieth-century school who had made significant contributions in their respective fields. The houses are: Dyson (Red colours), Quinn (Blue), Spender (Purple) and Warneford (Green). Denis Dyson was physics and astronomy master who came to the school in 1926, initially for six-months, and stayed until his retirement at the age of 71 in 1975. He continued to assist the school well into his nineties. Andrew Charles Quinn FRCA
Royal College of Anaesthetists
The Royal College of Anaesthetists is "the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the United Kingdom". It sets standards in anaesthesia, critical care, pain management, and for the training of anaesthetists, physician assistants - and practising critical care...
was a pupil of the school who left in 1990 and has become a successful and respected clinician in the North of England. Richard Spender was an old boy and poet who was killed assaulting German machine-gun positions in 1943 . Reginald Warneford was an old boy who was the first naval airman to receive the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. He was killed in a flying accident in 1915. The houses are headed by four teachers and take part in a competition each year to win the house trophy. This trophy is hotly contested and had been won by Fitzmaurice for the six consecutive years but in 2010 and 2011 the last two years it has gone to Dyson..
School Council
There is a School Council, consisting of elected members from each year group, and a Sixth Form Committee. These provide a voice for the students in many different aspects of the school. There is also an ICT Steering Group to develop ICT use at the school.Specialist status
In March 2006 the school was granted a specialist humanities collegeSpecialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
status, emphasizing on English, Drama and Classics.
Buildings
Given the age of the school it is not surprising to find a wide variety of architectural styles on the site ranging from the fifteenth-century Guildhall to the Denis Dyson science building opened in 2008 . The historic part of the school is still used. The ground-floor of the Guildhall, where the town council of Shakespeare's time met and where travelling players performed - the holes for the rods to hold the temporary stage are still visible - is currently used as a library. On the first floor the old Council Chamber, known since Victorian times as "Big School", is the room in which William Shakespeare is believed to have been taught and is still used for teaching. The building known as Pedagogue's House across the courtyard currently houses the school office, the offices of the Headmaster, the two deputy headmasters and the School Archive. Pedagogue's House, first built in 1427 and believed to be the oldest half-timbered schoolroom in England , is attached to the Old Vicarage where the Headmaster lives. Adjacent to the school site is the Guild Chapel, founded by the medieval Guild of the Holy CrossGuild of the Holy Cross
The Guild or Gild of the Holy Cross was a medieval religious guild in Birmingham, England. It was founded in 1392 by three burgesses of the town - John Coleshill, John Goldsmith and William atte Slowe - in place of an attempt to found a chantry in the parish church of St Martin in the Bull Ring,...
and now owned by the Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust. Today it is used by the school for morning service and various other school events, such as the annual carol service.
The other school buildings predominately date from the 1930s, for example, the SH block (Shakespeare Block). Many have been extended during the 1950s, 60s and 70s and he most recent part part of the school, built in 2008, is the Denis Dyson Building, a science block which has two chemistry, two biology and three information technology (ICT) rooms. The Levi Fox
Levi Fox
Dr. Levi Fox OBE, DL, MA, FSA, FRHistS, FRSL , was the son of a Leicestershire smallholder. He became Archivist for the city of Coventry and then Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and was a conservationist, local historian, and author.-Early life:After attending Ashby-de-la-Zouch...
Hall, also built recently and named after a Chairman of the Governors, is primarily used for sport, assemblies, school plays, concerts and examinations. The Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
has used the space for a production of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
.
Student life
Students take part in a variety of sporting and other competitions and events. The school has flourishing sporting, music and drama departments in addition to diverse interests such as the Warwickshire Mock Magistrates and Mock Bar court trials, Young EnterpriseYoung Enterprise
Young Enterprise is a not-for-profit business and enterprise education charity in the United Kingdom. It is made up of 12 regional organisations, each operating individually under a license agreement...
, Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
Target Two Point Zero
Target Two Point Zero
Target Two Point Zero is an interest rate challenge in the UK set by the Bank of England and The Times.- The challenge :Target Two invites students aged 16 to 18 to take on the role of the Monetary Policy Committee to analyse current economic conditions in the UK and the outlook for inflation...
Challenge, as well as other debating and public speaking competitions.
Sport
The school's rugby team is very successful and has had success in the Daily Mail CupDaily Mail Cup
The Daily Mail RBS Cup is the annual English schools' rugby union cup competition. The semi-finals are now held at Broadstreet Rugby Club. The final is held at Twickenham Stadium. Competitions are held at the U18 and U15 age group levels...
(Winners 1991, Semi Finalists in 1996, Quarter Finalists on two occasions and in 2008/09 Vase Semi Finalists) and also goes on annual international tours, most recently to Argentina in 2008 . Students also take part in fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, athletics, rowing
Rowing
-Boats:* Watercraft rowing, a form of propulsion* Rowing , competitive rowing** Coastal and ocean rowing, rowing performed on the sea** Ocean rowing, the sport of rowing across oceans-Exercise:...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
. Fencing has recently re-emerged as a popular sport at the school, with wins from pupils at several major fencing tournaments, and at least six current members of the school having experienced international fencing competitions for Great Britain.
Music
The music department holds termly concerts and the King Eddie's Revival Big Band are frequently featured. The band has played at the prestigious 100 Club, Oxford Street, London. The school also puts on an annual play for example in 2005 the production was Unman, Wittering and ZigoUnman, Wittering and Zigo
Unman, Wittering and Zigo is a 1958 radio play by the Anglo-Irish playwright Giles Cooper.-Plot:The play is a thriller set in a traditional boys boarding school where a senior form master has just been killed in a tragic accident. The main character is John Ebony, a teacher in his first job,...
, in 2006 Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
, in 2007 an adaption of Simon Armitage's The Odyssey, and in 2008 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui is a play by the German dramatist Bertolt Brecht, originally written in 1941...
. Since 2008, Edward's Boys have very successfully presented productions of early 16th century plays, written specifically for boy actors, and not performed for four hundred years. These have been performed in London, Oxford, Warwick and in Strafford.
Notable former pupils
- John de StratfordJohn de StratfordJohn de Stratford was Archbishop of Canterbury and Treasurer and Chancellor of England.-Life:John was born at Stratford-on-Avon and educated at Merton College, Oxford, afterwards entering the service of Edward II....
(died 1348) was Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
and Treasurer and Chancellor of England. Brother of Robert. - Robert de StratfordRobert de StratfordRobert de Stratford was an English bishop, and was one of Edward III of England's principal ministers.Stratford served for a time as deputy to his brother, John de Stratford, and in 1337 became chancellor and bishop of Chichester. He was elected bishop about 24 August 1337, and was consecrated...
(died 9 April 1362) was an English bishop, and was one of Edward III of EnglandEdward III of EnglandEdward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
's principal ministers. Brother of John. - Richard FieldRichard Field (printer)Richard Field was a printer and publisher in Elizabethan London, best known for his close association with the poems of William Shakespeare, with whom he grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon.-Life and career:...
(or Feild) (1561–1624) was a printer and publisher in Elizabethan London, known for his close association with the poems of William Shakespeare. - William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
(1564–1616) - Reginald Alexander John WarnefordReginald Alexander John WarnefordReginald Alexander John Warneford, VC was a Royal Naval Air Service officer who received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Background:Warneford was born in Darjeeling, India,...
(1891–1915). "Rex" Warnford was awarded the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a Flight Sub-LieutenantFlight LieutenantFlight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in the Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's 1 Squadron, RNASNo. 201 Squadron RAFNo. 201 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, until March 2010, operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray. It is the only squadron affiliated with Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. This affiliation started in 1935 and is commemorated in the museum on Castle Cornet. Its history goes even...
for an action on 7 June 1915 at GhentGhentGhent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Fleet Air Arm MuseumFleet Air Arm MuseumThe Fleet Air Arm Museum is located north of Yeovil, and south of Bristol. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, as well as models of Royal Navy ships, especially aircraft carriers. Some of the museum has interactive displays...
. - Richard Nelson GaleRichard Nelson GaleGeneral Sir Richard Nelson "Windy" Gale GCB, KBE, DSO, MC was a soldier in the British Army who served in both world wars. In World War I he was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 whilst serving as a junior officer in the Machine Gun Corps...
. General Sir Richard Nelson "Windy" GaleRichard Nelson GaleGeneral Sir Richard Nelson "Windy" Gale GCB, KBE, DSO, MC was a soldier in the British Army who served in both world wars. In World War I he was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 whilst serving as a junior officer in the Machine Gun Corps...
GCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KBE, DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1896–1982) was a soldier in the British Army who served in both world wars. In World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was awarded the Military CrossMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1918. In World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he commanded the 6th Airborne Division during the invasion of Normandy and Operation TongaOperation TongaOperation Tonga was the codename given to the airborne operation undertaken by the British 6th Airborne Division between 5 June and 7 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord and the Normandy Landings during the Second World War....
in 1944. http://www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/frames.htm He was the great grandfather of Ben and James Gale, pupils who left the school in 1990 and 1992 respectively. - Richard TraceyRichard TraceyRichard Patrick Tracey JP is a leading British Conservative politician from London. He is a Member of the Greater London Assembly representing Merton & Wandsworth,and is Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, Vice-Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, and previously...
JPJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
AM, represents Merton and WandsworthMerton and Wandsworth (London Assembly constituency)Merton and Wandsworth is a constituency in the London Assembly. Since the 2008 elections, it has been represented by Conservative Richard Tracey.It consists of the combined area of the London Borough of Merton and the London Borough of Wandsworth....
on the London AssemblyLondon AssemblyThe London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
since 2008, and former ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for SurbitonSurbiton (UK Parliament constituency)Surbiton was a borough constituency in south-west London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system of election....
from 1983–97 and Environment Minister. - George TremlettGeorge TremlettGeorge William Tremlett is a British author, bookshop owner, and former politician.-Writing:According to his own mini-biography, after leaving King Edward VI School Stratford-upon-Avon Tremlett worked for the Coventry Evening Telegraph from 1957 as a TV columnist and pop music reviewer...
, former politician and biographer, left in 1957. - Tim Pigott-SmithTim Pigott-SmithTim Pigott-Smith is an English film and television actor.-Early life:Pigott-Smith was born in Rugby, Warwickshire, the son of Margaret Muriel and Harry Thomas Pigott-Smith, who was a journalist. He was educated at Wyggeston Boys' School, Leicester, King Edward VI School Stratford-upon-Avon, and...
. Actor. He acts regularly in performances of Shakespearian and Greek plays. He has also made many appearances on radio, television and in film, including the films Clash of the TitiansClash of the Titans (1981 film)Clash of the Titans is an American 1981 fantasy–adventure film involving the Greek hero Perseus. It was released on June 12, 1981 and earned a gross profit of $41 million domestically, on a $15 million budget , by which it was the 11th highest grossing film of the year. A novelization of the film...
, Johnny EnglishJohnny EnglishJohnny English is a 2003 British action comedy film parodying the James Bond secret agent genre. The film stars Rowan Atkinson as the incompetent titular English spy, with John Malkovich, Natalie Imbruglia, Tim Pigott-Smith and Ben Miller in supporting roles...
and the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. - William WyseWilliam WyseWilliam Wyse was a classical scholar, noted for his work on the Attic orator Isaeus, and a benefactor of the University of Cambridge.-Life:...
, classical scholar. - James Hayter, Rugby Player - Harlequins, Llanelli ScarletsLlanelli ScarletsThe Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
, CoventryCoventry R.F.C.Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries....
and EsherEsher RFCEsher Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Surrey, England. Esher RFC are currently playing in the second division of the English league system, The Championship. The club was formed in 1923 when four rugby enthusiasts agreed to start a club....
. - Robert DibdaleRobert DibdaleRobert Dibdale, or Debdale, was a Catholic priest and martyr.He was born the son of John Dibdale of Shottery, in the parish of Stratford-upon-Avon and the birthplace of William Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway at a date unknown. He had a brother Richard and sisters Joan and Agnes. It would seem...
, possibly a pupil at the same time as William Shakespeare. Catholic Priest and martyrMartyrA martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
, martytred at TyburnTyburnTyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
on October 8, 1586. Was declared BlessedBeatificationBeatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by John Paul II on November 22, 1987. - Neil CodlingNeil CodlingNeil John Codling is an English musician. He is best known as the keyboardist for the alternative rock band Suede.-Early life:...
, Musician - Keyboard Player in SuedeSuede (band)Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
.
See also
- List of Victoria Crosses by school
- Stratford SchoolStratford School-Admissions:It has no sixth form. It is situated on Upton Lane . Nearby to the west is the Newham College of Further Education, and a bit further west is the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics...
, in the London Borough of NewhamLondon Borough of NewhamThe London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
, also previously known as Stratford Grammar School
External links
- King Edward VI School - Stratford-upon-Avon
- Shakespeare's School - Stratford-upon-Avon The School's Historical Association.
- EduBase
- http://www.kesoba.org.uk/ The School's Old Boys Assocation