Worksop College
Encyclopedia
Worksop College is a co-educational day and boarding school
for boys and girls aged 13 to 18 in England
. Worksop is split into eight houses - Talbot, Mason, Portland, Pelham and Shirley for boys and Gibbs, Derry and School House for girls.
himself, on September 5, 1895. The land on which the school was built and the tree-lined drive were donated by the Duke of Portland. In the beginning space was scarce, with only the Great Hall and East Wing complete - a temporary chapel was also erected. St Cuthberts chapel which stands today was opened in 1906 after Lord Mountgarret made funds available. Mountgarret did not live to see the finished building; the new building was opened by Lady Mountgarret in 1906. Legend has it that a ghost haunts the grounds of Worksop College, thought to be that of Nathaniel Woodard himself.
Boys' houses:
Girls' houses:
Closed house:
Talbot remains the only boys house to have been located away from the main buildings (it was located in the current location of School House from the mid 1960s until the mid 1980s). Talbot is currently housed in the former Scholae quarters where it moved when Scholae was closed in the mid 1980s.
Talbot was home to Jack Buckner
and Tom Buckner
in the 1970s and early 1980s, both went on to become international athletes. Another athletics international from Talbot was P.R. Brunyee (1952–1956) who competed in Cardiff's Empire Games of 1958 (Brunyee's 14.9 for the high hurdles is the oldest College record on the books). More recently Talbot was the home of Samit Patel
(1998–2003) who represented England at various agegroups at cricket and is now a full time Nottinghamshire professional.
The McKay brothers, Andy and Mike who were pupils in Talbot in the 1980s are probably the best known non-sporting alumni. The brothers are the owners of Manumission
, Ibiza, the largest nightclub in the world. They also played a large part in the first series of Ibiza Uncovered. Sam Farmer, who was a pupil in Talbot at the same time as the McKay's, is currently married to TV's Caroline Quentin
and has been featured widely in the press.
In the late 90's and early 00's Talbot House saw a group of housemates build an undying and relentless spirit of camaraderie, during the period the house adopted a new unofficial mascot, a Beaver, there are many rumors as to the origin of the name. However, all that can be independently confirmed is that the name does not derive from any of the obvious beaver connotations. The Talbot Beavers' crowning achievement was in 2003 when they became the only house for several years to hold all three major boys house trophies - Rugby, Hockey and Cricket
The current housemaster of Pelham is T.P. Larkman
who captained the England under 19 hockey team in 2003. Others include Simon Heggie who was an international 400m runner, Henry Straw who represented England at under 15 level at cricket in 1996 and Joe Root
who scored a century for England under 15s in 2006. The current housemaster is Mr T J Franse.
"If it's not purple, it's not good enough!" (quote: a former deputy house captain)
Gibbs House has recently been refurbished and now occupies a purpose build facility on the former site of the 1st XV rugby pitch. The new facility cost in excess of £2 million and boasts its own computer suite and laundry.
, as Mountgarret was a house rather than a music school.
Jack Buckner would have been the only pupil to have won the Dorm Run four years in succession had it not been for the cancellation of the race in 1978 due to snow and flu epidemic, thus he become one of the 3 time winners of the race (others being Simon Lewis (Shirley) 1991, 1992 & 1993 and Marcus Smith (Pelham) 1995, 1996 & 1997). Buckner holds the course record of 18:35, Tom Buckner is second on the list with 19:58 (1981) and Simon Lewis is third and fourth with 19:59 (in 1992) and 20:00 (1993). On the pre 1968 course (using Windmill Lane rather than the Golf Course route) David Griffiths held the record of 19:20 in 1959. A year later Griffiths finished 5th at the England School's Cross Country Championships and recorded 19:48 in snowy conditions.
The Dorm Run course was temporarily changed in 2004 due to logging on Fred's Hill. The course has now been restored to its original length.
The finest seasons of rugby were enjoyed in the late 1930s and early 1940s where the college remained unbeaten for a number of years. In 1941 the XV notched up some impressive victories en route to their first unbeaten season: Ampleforth College
6-3, Denstone College
16-3, St Peters School, York 28-0 and Sedbergh School
30-0. N.M Hall who captained the 1943 XV (which was also unbeaten) captained the North of Thames XV in the same year and would later captain England a record 19 times. Anderson, Millar, Carmichael, Ewart and Jennison were all capped by the North of Thames Public Schools during this season.
The appointment of England and British Lion Jeff Butterfield
in 1954 as a master at the College quickly led to a surge in success. In 1960 the College rugby sevens team captained by D.E. Tarbatt and coached by Butterfield reached the final of the Roslyn Park competition, narrowly losing out to Edinburgh Academy in the final.
In 2007 the 1st XV recorded their first unbeaten season since 1943 with victories over The Manor School, Trent College
, Ratcliffe College
, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
, Nottingham High School
, Pocklington School
, Loughborough Grammar School
, Ashville College
, Denstone College
, Lady Manners School
, Bryanstone School (on tour South African tourists) and Silcoates School
amongst others. The team scored 477 points and conceded only 47, which gives them the best points difference in the UK for their age group.
2009 was another highly successful season for Worksop College rugby. Had it not been for an outbreak of Swine Flu mid-way through the season it is likely that the two 1st XV games lost would have been reversed. Of particular frustration was the third round Under-18 Daily Mail Cup loss to Oakham School
. However this loss did mean that Worksop were entered into the Daily Mail Vase, where they have progressed with relative ease to the latter stages and must be amongst the favorites to take the title. The one other loss (to old rivals Denstone College
) was also a blow as Denstone went on to record an unbeaten season, albeit with a slightly less intense fixture schedule. Over the course of the season the 2nd XV were unbeaten and the 3rd and under 14 XV's recorded only one loss each. George Barnes and Jack Bradford were called up to the Scotland under 17 team, the latter has also progressed to the Midlands Under 18 team.
, QEGS Wakefield, Solihull School
, Uppingham School
and Trent College
. In 2005 the College XI reached the semi-finals of the National Schools Competition having beaten Repton School
and Trent College
en route. In 2008 Worksop have once again reached the last four, losing 1-0 to Kingston Grammar School in the semi-final. Kingston went on to beat Millfield School in the final.
During the 2007/2008 season the College played 18 matches winning 17. During the course of the season the team scored 110 goals with only 18 scored in reply. Some notable results included two 6-1 wins over Repton School
, a 6-0 win over Oundle School
, Trent College
were beaten twice (3-1 and 3-2) and QEGS Wakefield were beaten twice 5-0 and 8-0.
Over the course of the 2008/2009 Worksop College played 29 matches against other schools and clubs, winning 28. The one loss came in the final of the National School's Championships to Dean Close School
(Gloucestershire). En route to the final, the College had beaten Queen Mary's Grammar School
, Solihull School
, Loughborough Grammar School
, Egglescliffe School and Tonbridge School
.
Worksop has produced many international hockey players over the years, the earliest coming in the form of F.T. Hopkinson (Mason 1929-1934) who went on to be capped by England in 1939. In 2003 Stephen Lawrence (Portland 1998-2003) captained the England under-18 team and in 2005 Adam Dixon (Shirley 2003-2005) achieved the same feat. Dixon is now a current member of the Great Britain hockey team. Other international hockey players in recent times have included: John Grice (Pelham 1994-1999) who played for Great Britain at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Graham Anderson (Pelham 1996-2001), Sam Dixon (Shirley 2004-2009), Dave Jones (Mason 2006-2008) Matt Parker (Pelham - current), Rob Trem (Shirley - current), Joe Morrison (Mason - current) and David Overton (Pelham - current). The only female international produced thus far has been Holly Brown (Gibbs - current) who has played for England at under 16 and under 18 levels.
, Squash courts, Eton Fives
courts (replaced in the 1960s by the chemistry department), staff houses, Old Theatre, Art School, West Wing and the top proportion of the North Wing were all completed, as was a state-of-the-art latrine block. Shirley's plan was to turn Worksop into the Eton
of the Midlands. School numbers had risen to 500 and the school had created a brilliant reputation amongst English Public Schools with many sixth-formers achieving scholarship
s to Oxbridge
and when Shirley left he took with him many staff and prefects, something that was frowned upon at the time and prompted Shirley to be struck off the HMC
register.
led a Worksop College XV to victory against Worksop RFC in the opening match.
was appointed head in the early 1990s and the school's reputation fell. This all changed however when the current headmaster Roy Collard took over, and began his impressive working partnership with Carl Bilson. One promise made when he took up the role was to bring back the name 'Mountgarret' to Worksop (Old Boys from Mountgarret apparently donate most to the school). Not long after Collard took over as head, Worksop celebrated its centenary and HRH The Princess Royal
opened the new school ICT centre. Collard did indeed bring back the Mountgarret name to Worksop by renovating the latrine block of the 1930s into a new music school. Other recent developments include the increased provision of ICT facilities, refurbishment of dated boarding accommodation, new teaching facilities and the new Sports Hall (opened 2003). The new Gibbs Boarding house was opened in early 2007.
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for boys and girls aged 13 to 18 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Worksop is split into eight houses - Talbot, Mason, Portland, Pelham and Shirley for boys and Gibbs, Derry and School House for girls.
Origins
Construction began in 1890 on St Cuthbert's College (changed to Worksop College in the 1930s) and was the last school to be personally opened by WoodardNathaniel Woodard
Nathaniel Woodard was a priest in the Church of England. He founded 11 schools for the middle classes in England whose aim was to provide education based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith...
himself, on September 5, 1895. The land on which the school was built and the tree-lined drive were donated by the Duke of Portland. In the beginning space was scarce, with only the Great Hall and East Wing complete - a temporary chapel was also erected. St Cuthberts chapel which stands today was opened in 1906 after Lord Mountgarret made funds available. Mountgarret did not live to see the finished building; the new building was opened by Lady Mountgarret in 1906. Legend has it that a ghost haunts the grounds of Worksop College, thought to be that of Nathaniel Woodard himself.
The House system
As with many schools Worksop is split into houses.Boys' houses:
- Mason House (formerly Cross, opened in 1895)
- Pelham House (formerly Fleur de Leys, opened in 1895)
- Talbot House (formerly Crown, opened in 1895)
- Portland House (opened in 1948 when Prep moved to Ranby)
- Shirley House (opened in 1934)
Girls' houses:
- Derry House (opened in 1978)
- Gibbs House (opened in 1986)
- School House (opened in 1930, closed in 1986, re-opened in 2007)
Closed house:
- Mountgarret (formerly Lion, opened 1895, closed 1993)
Talbot House
Talbot is one of the original houses of Worksop and was known as Crown until the 1930s when all house names were changed by the then headmaster Reverend Shirley (Crown is still the house crest). Current housemaster is Peter Richardson who took over from Colin Paton who had been at the helm since 1994 when he took over from A.J.A. Beal. Other Talbot housemasters have included: N.M Simmonds, E.E. Peters, J.S.B George, J. Dronfield, H.A. Cartledge, R. Sowerbutts, F.C.M. Richards, E.T. Weddell and R. Browning.Talbot remains the only boys house to have been located away from the main buildings (it was located in the current location of School House from the mid 1960s until the mid 1980s). Talbot is currently housed in the former Scholae quarters where it moved when Scholae was closed in the mid 1980s.
Talbot was home to Jack Buckner
Jack Buckner
Jack Richard Buckner was one of the many British athletes of the mid 1980s who dominated track and field. Educated at St. Petroc's preparatory school in Cornwall and Worksop College in Nottinghamshire it was clear from a young age that Buckner was highly talented...
and Tom Buckner
Tom Buckner
Thomas Christopher Buckner is an English long distance runner who finished 5th at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, as well as winning the Amateur Athletic Association steeplechase on two occasions. He is the younger brother of Jack Buckner who was also an international athlete...
in the 1970s and early 1980s, both went on to become international athletes. Another athletics international from Talbot was P.R. Brunyee (1952–1956) who competed in Cardiff's Empire Games of 1958 (Brunyee's 14.9 for the high hurdles is the oldest College record on the books). More recently Talbot was the home of Samit Patel
Samit Patel
Samit Rohit Patel is an English cricketer of Indian descent. He plays first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. He made his One Day International debut for England in August 2008, and three years later played his first Twenty20 International in 2011.-Early and personal...
(1998–2003) who represented England at various agegroups at cricket and is now a full time Nottinghamshire professional.
The McKay brothers, Andy and Mike who were pupils in Talbot in the 1980s are probably the best known non-sporting alumni. The brothers are the owners of Manumission
Manumission
Manumission is the act of a slave owner freeing his or her slaves. In the United States before the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished most slavery, this often happened upon the death of the owner, under conditions in his will.-Motivations:The...
, Ibiza, the largest nightclub in the world. They also played a large part in the first series of Ibiza Uncovered. Sam Farmer, who was a pupil in Talbot at the same time as the McKay's, is currently married to TV's Caroline Quentin
Caroline Quentin
Caroline Jones known by her stage name Caroline Quentin, is an English actress. Quentin became known for her television appearances in Men Behaving Badly, playing Dorothy, and playing Maddy Magellan in Jonathan Creek for three years.-Early life:...
and has been featured widely in the press.
In the late 90's and early 00's Talbot House saw a group of housemates build an undying and relentless spirit of camaraderie, during the period the house adopted a new unofficial mascot, a Beaver, there are many rumors as to the origin of the name. However, all that can be independently confirmed is that the name does not derive from any of the obvious beaver connotations. The Talbot Beavers' crowning achievement was in 2003 when they became the only house for several years to hold all three major boys house trophies - Rugby, Hockey and Cricket
Mason House
Mason, along with Talbot and Pelham House, is one of the original houses of Worksop and was called Cross previously. The House is situated next to the Headmaster's house and the School Library. The current head of Mason is W.G. Robinson. The emblem of the house is a golden cross, kept from the original name and crest.Pelham House
The shape of Pelham House is slightly reminiscent of a letter 'L', if you can imagine a large version of that letter laid out on the ground and then walls being constructed along its perimeter. Its two arms, as it were, set at right angles to each other comprise the junior and senior wings of the House. Over the last few years Pelham was the strongest for house sports.The current housemaster of Pelham is T.P. Larkman
Portland House
Portland house is the newest boys house at Worksop and is one of the most popular amongst those pupils entering the school from Ranby House. Portland has a strong sporting tradition. Portland has produced a number of very strong sporting pupils over the last number of years, most recently Steve LawrenceSteve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence is an American singer and actor, perhaps best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as "Steve and Eydie"...
who captained the England under 19 hockey team in 2003. Others include Simon Heggie who was an international 400m runner, Henry Straw who represented England at under 15 level at cricket in 1996 and Joe Root
Joe Root
Joseph Edward Root is an English first-class cricketer, who plays for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He is a classically elegant, right-handed opening batsman and useful occasional off-spinner, much in the mould of former England captain Michael Vaughan...
who scored a century for England under 15s in 2006. The current housemaster is Mr T J Franse.
Shirley house (Motto: Loyal je Suis)
Founded in 1930s after Rev Shirley, this house was unique amongst the houses as it moved to become the first co-educational house in 1991 up until 2007 at the same time it also became a day house with boarding phased out with the last intake of boarders in 1990. Shirley is currently for day pupils only (although since Housemaster Chad Hamlet took over in 2007, there have been several weekly boarders in Shirley who spend the night in a boarding house). Alumni of Shirley house include N.M. Hall who captained the England Rugby Union team in the 1950s and Phillip Sharpe who scored a century for England at cricket in the 1960s.School house (Motto: Semper ad Coelestia)
School house is an all girl house. It was reopened in 2007 after being closed since the mid 1980s and is situated in the old Gibbs building north-west of the main school.Derry house
Derry is an all girl house. It is situated near the Great Hall and usually holds around 50-60 girls.Gibbs house
Gibbs House is one of the girls houses of the college. It's the house with the most boarders and fullboarders. Gibbs House is a very strong community, a big family."If it's not purple, it's not good enough!" (quote: a former deputy house captain)
Gibbs House has recently been refurbished and now occupies a purpose build facility on the former site of the 1st XV rugby pitch. The new facility cost in excess of £2 million and boasts its own computer suite and laundry.
Mountgarret House
When Mountgarret house was closed in the 1992 there was uproar amongst Old Worksopiand and current house members. The dwindling numbers at the College led to the closure, along with School House. The Mountgarret name was brought back to Worksop when the current Headmaster created the Mountgarret Music Centre in 2000, although this was seen by many as a cop outCop out
Cop out is an idiom which means to avoid taking responsibility for an action, fulfilling a duty or meeting expectations; as a noun, it refers to someone who 'cops out'.Cop out or cop-out may also refer to:...
, as Mountgarret was a house rather than a music school.
College buildings
Worksop has many fine buildings including:- The Great Hall, the centrepiece to Worksop and the first building to be completed. One of the largest rooms in NottinghamshireNottinghamshireNottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, its hammerbeams are spectacular; the original design was based upon Westminster Abbey. With the eyes of all the former headmasters looking down, it is a most imposing structure. Mouse Man furniture was acquired in the 1930s and remains to this day. On the wall facing the 1st XI cricket square can be found many carvings of Old Boys from the time Worksop was opened. - The ChapelChapelA chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, opened in 1906. The structure was based upon that of Westminster Abbey and the ceiling contains many passages of LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
verse. Worksop is also the owner of a newly refurbished organ which stands nearly the height of the Chapel. - The East Wing, the first wing of Worksop to be opened, was blessed in 1895 by the Bishop of Southwell. The East Wing is a huge building standing five floors high and contains many quirky floors, which can be entered through trap doors in some very odd places.
- The SquashSquash (sport)Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
Courts were once lit by natural light, but the former roof has now been replaced by a lowered ceiling. The courts are an excellent example of early squash courts. The balconyBalconyBalcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
is particularly noteworthy as the courts were designed in back to back format which is quite rare.
The Dorm Run
One of the original sporting events at Worksop was the Dorm Run and was first coined in the late 19th century (so called as people ran for their dorm, Fluer de Leys, Cross, Crown or Lion). The Dorm Run is still a large part of life at Worksop and despite a number of course alterations is still run this day. Well known past winners include:- David Griffiths (Mason) Commonwealth Games competitor. Winner in 1958, 1959 & 1960.
- Bill Foster (Pelham) International marathon runner. Winner in 1976.
- Jack BucknerJack BucknerJack Richard Buckner was one of the many British athletes of the mid 1980s who dominated track and field. Educated at St. Petroc's preparatory school in Cornwall and Worksop College in Nottinghamshire it was clear from a young age that Buckner was highly talented...
(Talbot) European 5000m champion and Olympian. Winner in 1977, 1979 & 1980. - Tom BucknerTom BucknerThomas Christopher Buckner is an English long distance runner who finished 5th at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, as well as winning the Amateur Athletic Association steeplechase on two occasions. He is the younger brother of Jack Buckner who was also an international athlete...
(Talbot) AAA steeplechase champion and Olympian. Winner in 1981. - Simon LewisSimon LewisSimon Lewis is a novelist and screenwriter, born in Newport, Monmouthshire, in 1971. He went to school in Monmouth then studied Art and Art History at Goldsmiths College in London....
(Shirley) Wales international steeplechase runner. Winner in 1991, 1992 & 1993. - Simon Heggie (Portland) England international 400m runner. Winner 1994.
- Graham Anderson (Pelham) England international hockey player. Winner in 2000.
- Steve Lawrence (Portland) England U21 hockey captain. Winner in 2001.
- Sam Dixon (Shirley) England U18 hockey player. Winner in 2007 and 2008.
Jack Buckner would have been the only pupil to have won the Dorm Run four years in succession had it not been for the cancellation of the race in 1978 due to snow and flu epidemic, thus he become one of the 3 time winners of the race (others being Simon Lewis (Shirley) 1991, 1992 & 1993 and Marcus Smith (Pelham) 1995, 1996 & 1997). Buckner holds the course record of 18:35, Tom Buckner is second on the list with 19:58 (1981) and Simon Lewis is third and fourth with 19:59 (in 1992) and 20:00 (1993). On the pre 1968 course (using Windmill Lane rather than the Golf Course route) David Griffiths held the record of 19:20 in 1959. A year later Griffiths finished 5th at the England School's Cross Country Championships and recorded 19:48 in snowy conditions.
The Dorm Run course was temporarily changed in 2004 due to logging on Fred's Hill. The course has now been restored to its original length.
Rugby
Rugby was first introduced to the College in 1921 and the College quickly found its feet. From 1929 - 1942 the College played exactly 100 games, winning 76, drawing 5 and losing only 19, a quite excellent record for such a comparatively small school. In the early days many College players were capped by the England Public Schools XV - the first being G Laing in 1930. Laing was also 'invited' to play for Blackheath upon completing his studies at Worksop.The finest seasons of rugby were enjoyed in the late 1930s and early 1940s where the college remained unbeaten for a number of years. In 1941 the XV notched up some impressive victories en route to their first unbeaten season: Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
6-3, Denstone College
Denstone College
Denstone College is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Denstone,Staffordshire, England and a member school of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It is also a Woodard school and as such has a strong Anglo-Catholic tradition. It has continued to show impressive academic...
16-3, St Peters School, York 28-0 and Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
30-0. N.M Hall who captained the 1943 XV (which was also unbeaten) captained the North of Thames XV in the same year and would later captain England a record 19 times. Anderson, Millar, Carmichael, Ewart and Jennison were all capped by the North of Thames Public Schools during this season.
The appointment of England and British Lion Jeff Butterfield
Jeff Butterfield
Jeffrey Butterfield was an England, British and Irish Lions, Northampton and Barbarians Rugby player and businessman....
in 1954 as a master at the College quickly led to a surge in success. In 1960 the College rugby sevens team captained by D.E. Tarbatt and coached by Butterfield reached the final of the Roslyn Park competition, narrowly losing out to Edinburgh Academy in the final.
In 2007 the 1st XV recorded their first unbeaten season since 1943 with victories over The Manor School, Trent College
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
, Ratcliffe College
Ratcliffe College
Ratcliffe College is an independent Catholic boarding and day school in Leicestershire, England. The College, situated in of parkland on the Fosse Way about six miles north of Leicester, was founded on the instructions of Blessed Father Antonio Rosmini-Serbati in 1845 as a seminary. In 1847, the...
, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School is a selective state grammar school in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. Founded in 1527, it is one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom. The school was a day and boarding school until the 1880s, and retained a small number of boarders in the mid-20th century...
, Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School is a British boys' independent school situated about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It has around 900 pupils from ages 11 to 18 and there is the adjoining Nottingham High Junior School catering for younger boys and, from September 2008, the Lovell House...
, Pocklington School
Pocklington School
Pocklington School, is an independent school in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1514 by John Dolman. The school is situated in of land, on the outskirts of a small market town, from York and from Hull. It is an Anglican foundation and Friday morning church is...
, Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School founded in 1495 by Thomas Burton, is an independent school for boys in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It is a day school for over 1100 pupils and a boarding school for nearly 100. It is one of three schools known as the Loughborough Endowed Schools, along with...
, Ashville College
Ashville College
Ashville College is a co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils aged 4–18 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It was founded as a Methodist boarding school for boys in 1877, and subsequently merged with Elmfield College and New College in the 1930s...
, Denstone College
Denstone College
Denstone College is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Denstone,Staffordshire, England and a member school of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It is also a Woodard school and as such has a strong Anglo-Catholic tradition. It has continued to show impressive academic...
, Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School is an English secondary school and Specialist Music College as designated by the Specialist Schools Trust situated in Bakewell, a market town in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire...
, Bryanstone School (on tour South African tourists) and Silcoates School
Silcoates School
Silcoates School is a public school in Wakefield, England. It was founded in 1820 as the Northern Congregational School at Silcoates House, for the board and education of the sons of non-conformist clergy; it was located close to Ossett and Horbury, which both had unusually large nonconformist...
amongst others. The team scored 477 points and conceded only 47, which gives them the best points difference in the UK for their age group.
2009 was another highly successful season for Worksop College rugby. Had it not been for an outbreak of Swine Flu mid-way through the season it is likely that the two 1st XV games lost would have been reversed. Of particular frustration was the third round Under-18 Daily Mail Cup loss to Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
. However this loss did mean that Worksop were entered into the Daily Mail Vase, where they have progressed with relative ease to the latter stages and must be amongst the favorites to take the title. The one other loss (to old rivals Denstone College
Denstone College
Denstone College is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Denstone,Staffordshire, England and a member school of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It is also a Woodard school and as such has a strong Anglo-Catholic tradition. It has continued to show impressive academic...
) was also a blow as Denstone went on to record an unbeaten season, albeit with a slightly less intense fixture schedule. Over the course of the season the 2nd XV were unbeaten and the 3rd and under 14 XV's recorded only one loss each. George Barnes and Jack Bradford were called up to the Scotland under 17 team, the latter has also progressed to the Midlands Under 18 team.
Hockey
Hockey has been in existence at Worksop since the late 1920s, it was probably originally introduced due to the sandy nature of the soil on Sparken Hill which led to superbly drained pitches. Like cricket, hockey has always been a strong sport at the College and fixtures are regularly played against some of the strongest schools in the Midlands including Repton SchoolRepton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
, QEGS Wakefield, Solihull School
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
, Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
and Trent College
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
. In 2005 the College XI reached the semi-finals of the National Schools Competition having beaten Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
and Trent College
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
en route. In 2008 Worksop have once again reached the last four, losing 1-0 to Kingston Grammar School in the semi-final. Kingston went on to beat Millfield School in the final.
During the 2007/2008 season the College played 18 matches winning 17. During the course of the season the team scored 110 goals with only 18 scored in reply. Some notable results included two 6-1 wins over Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
, a 6-0 win over Oundle School
Oundle School
Oundle School is a co-educational British public school located in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire. The school has been maintained by the Worshipful Company of Grocers of the City of London since its foundation in 1556. Oundle has eight boys' houses, five girls' houses, a day...
, Trent College
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
were beaten twice (3-1 and 3-2) and QEGS Wakefield were beaten twice 5-0 and 8-0.
Over the course of the 2008/2009 Worksop College played 29 matches against other schools and clubs, winning 28. The one loss came in the final of the National School's Championships to Dean Close School
Dean Close School
Dean Close School is a co-educational independent school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school is divided into pre-prep, preparatory and senior schools located on separate but adjacent sites outside Cheltenham town centre, occupying the largest private land area in the town...
(Gloucestershire). En route to the final, the College had beaten Queen Mary's Grammar School
Queen Mary's Grammar School
Queen Mary's Grammar School is a selective grammar school located in Sutton Road, Walsall, England, about a mile from the town centre.-Admissions:...
, Solihull School
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
, Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School founded in 1495 by Thomas Burton, is an independent school for boys in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It is a day school for over 1100 pupils and a boarding school for nearly 100. It is one of three schools known as the Loughborough Endowed Schools, along with...
, Egglescliffe School and Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
.
Worksop has produced many international hockey players over the years, the earliest coming in the form of F.T. Hopkinson (Mason 1929-1934) who went on to be capped by England in 1939. In 2003 Stephen Lawrence (Portland 1998-2003) captained the England under-18 team and in 2005 Adam Dixon (Shirley 2003-2005) achieved the same feat. Dixon is now a current member of the Great Britain hockey team. Other international hockey players in recent times have included: John Grice (Pelham 1994-1999) who played for Great Britain at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Graham Anderson (Pelham 1996-2001), Sam Dixon (Shirley 2004-2009), Dave Jones (Mason 2006-2008) Matt Parker (Pelham - current), Rob Trem (Shirley - current), Joe Morrison (Mason - current) and David Overton (Pelham - current). The only female international produced thus far has been Holly Brown (Gibbs - current) who has played for England at under 16 and under 18 levels.
The Shirley years
Worksop was known as St Cuthbert's College until Shirley himself decided to change its name in the mid 1930s, Shirley College was his preferred choice. Under Shirley the school prospered and a huge building programme was undertaken - the SanatoriumSanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
, Squash courts, Eton Fives
Eton Fives
Eton Fives, one derivative of the British game of Fives, is a hand-ball game, similar to Rugby Fives, played as doubles in a three-sided court. The object is to force the other team to fail to hit the ball 'up' off the front wall, using any variety of wall or ledge combinations as long as the ball...
courts (replaced in the 1960s by the chemistry department), staff houses, Old Theatre, Art School, West Wing and the top proportion of the North Wing were all completed, as was a state-of-the-art latrine block. Shirley's plan was to turn Worksop into the Eton
Eton College
Eton 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"....
of the Midlands. School numbers had risen to 500 and the school had created a brilliant reputation amongst English Public Schools with many sixth-formers achieving scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s to Oxbridge
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
and when Shirley left he took with him many staff and prefects, something that was frowned upon at the time and prompted Shirley to be struck off the HMC
Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
register.
The 1950s & 1960s
The 50s and 60s were another period of growth for the College. New buildings that appeared at this time included the gym (now demolished), swimming bath (opened in 1954), Churchill Hall Theatre, Chemistry Department and Talbot House (now School House and language department). A new rugby pitch was leveled in 1954; Jeff ButterfieldJeff Butterfield
Jeffrey Butterfield was an England, British and Irish Lions, Northampton and Barbarians Rugby player and businessman....
led a Worksop College XV to victory against Worksop RFC in the opening match.
1980 - present
The 1980s and early 1990s were difficult years for Worksop with school numbers falling (as in most public schools in the UK) and little school development took place. An extension to the Churchill Hall was made in 1981 and would form the newly established Craft and Design Centre, with a young Brian Biddulph at the helm. Roger KnightRoger Knight
Roger David Verdon Knight OBE, MA, BA, DipEd is an English administrator, cricketer and schoolmaster. He was awarded the OBE in 2007...
was appointed head in the early 1990s and the school's reputation fell. This all changed however when the current headmaster Roy Collard took over, and began his impressive working partnership with Carl Bilson. One promise made when he took up the role was to bring back the name 'Mountgarret' to Worksop (Old Boys from Mountgarret apparently donate most to the school). Not long after Collard took over as head, Worksop celebrated its centenary and HRH The Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
opened the new school ICT centre. Collard did indeed bring back the Mountgarret name to Worksop by renovating the latrine block of the 1930s into a new music school. Other recent developments include the increased provision of ICT facilities, refurbishment of dated boarding accommodation, new teaching facilities and the new Sports Hall (opened 2003). The new Gibbs Boarding house was opened in early 2007.
Notable Old Worksopians
Former students of Worksop College are referred to as Old Worksopians. See also :Category:Old Worksopians.- George AbleGeorge Graham AbleGraham George Able is a noted educationalist who was the master at Dulwich College from 1997-2009.-Early life:He was educated at Worksop College and went on to study Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge where he received his MA in 1968...
(Mountgarret) - Master of Dulwich CollegeDulwich CollegeDulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and educationalist. - Major William Barnsley AllenWilliam Barnsley AllenMajor William Barnsley Allen VC DSO MC and Bar was an English recipient of 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....
VCVictoria 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....
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....
(Mason) - recipient of 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....
. - John AustinJohn Austin (bishop)John Michael Austin was the Bishop of Aston from 1992 to 2005, filling a post which had been vacant since the previous incumbent Colin Ogilvie Buchanan resigned in 1989. After him the post remained vacant for 3 years until the Diocese announced the appointment of Andrew J Watson to fill the...
- Bishop of AstonBishop of AstonThe Bishop of Aston is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Birmingham, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after Aston, an area of the City of Birmingham...
(1992–2005). - Christopher AwdryChristopher AwdryChristopher Awdry is an English author best known for his contributions to The Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, which was started by his father, the Rev. W. Awdry. He has also produced children's books based on a number of other railways, as well as non-fiction articles...
(Mountgarret) - Children's author famous for writing The Railway SeriesThe Railway SeriesThe Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
of books including Thomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue... - Richard BaconRichard Bacon (television presenter)Richard Paul Bacon is an English television and radio presenter.Bacon's first high-profile media role was as a presenter of Blue Peter, from which he was sacked in 1998 following newspaper reports of him taking cocaine...
(Mason) - broadcaster. - Jack BucknerJack BucknerJack Richard Buckner was one of the many British athletes of the mid 1980s who dominated track and field. Educated at St. Petroc's preparatory school in Cornwall and Worksop College in Nottinghamshire it was clear from a young age that Buckner was highly talented...
(Talbot) - European 5000m champion 1986, Commonwealth Silver Medallist 1986, World Championship Bronze Medallist 1987 and double Olympian (Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992). - Tom BucknerTom BucknerThomas Christopher Buckner is an English long distance runner who finished 5th at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, as well as winning the Amateur Athletic Association steeplechase on two occasions. He is the younger brother of Jack Buckner who was also an international athlete...
(Talbot) - AAA steeplechase champion and Olympian (Barcelona 1992). - Simon CorlettSimon CorlettSimon Charles Corlett is a former Irish cricketer. Corlett attended Worksop College, a public school in North Nottinghamshire...
(Portland) - former president of the Irish Cricket Board. - Neil DicksonNeil DicksonNeil Dickson is an English actor, who has worked extensively in both American and British film and television.At the age of five, Dickson contracted polio, but he was fortunate enough to make a complete recovery a year later. He attended Worksop College in Nottinghamshire playing Coriolanus in the...
(School House) - actor - Adam Dixon (Shirley) - current member of the England and GB hockey team
- Bill FosterBill FosterBill Foster may refer to:* Bill Foster , U.S. Congressman , physicist* Bill Foster , Negro League baseball player* Bill Foster Bill Foster may refer to:* Bill Foster (Illinois politician) (born 1955), U.S. Congressman (D-IL), physicist* Bill Foster (baseball) (1904–1978), Negro League baseball...
(Portland) - International marathon runner and World Masters Indoor 3000m Champion 2010. - Vivian HollowdayVivian HollowdayCorporal Vivian Hollowday was a British recipient of the George Cross, the highest British medal for gallantry not in the face of the enemy...
(School House & Shirley) - the first member of the RAF to be awarded the George CrossGeorge CrossThe George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
. - John GriceJohn GriceSir John Grice was an Australian business man, company director and University of Melbourne vice-chancellor.Grice was born in Selly Oak, fourth son of Richard Grice, a Selly Oak merchant...
(Pelham) - Former member of the Great Britain hockey team. - Norman (Nim) Hall (Shirley) - England fly half and captain in the late 1940s and 1950s.
- Matthew LambleyMatthew LambleyMatthew Lambley is a Great Britain hammer thrower who is currently ranked 16th United Kingdom all-time list for the 7.26 kg implement . Lambley gained a sports scholarship to Worksop College where he won various England Schools titles. After completing his A-levels he moved to Loughborough...
(Shirley) - Great Britain hammer thrower. - Samit PatelSamit PatelSamit Rohit Patel is an English cricketer of Indian descent. He plays first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. He made his One Day International debut for England in August 2008, and three years later played his first Twenty20 International in 2011.-Early and personal...
(Talbot) - Nottinghamshire and England cricketer. - Judge James PicklesJames PicklesJudge James Pickles was an English Circuit judge famed for his "no nonsense" approach and many controversial decisions, who later became a tabloid columnist.-Early life:...
(Mountgarret) - Judge, tabloid columnist and occasional TV personality. - Ivor Roberts-JonesIvor Roberts-JonesIvor Roberts-Jones, RA was a British sculptor. He is best known for his sculpted heads of notable people such as Yehudi Menuhin and George Thomas, Viscount Tonypandy....
(Pelham) - sculptor who produced amongst other works the statue of Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
which currently stands in Parliament Square, London. - Joe RootJoe RootJoseph Edward Root is an English first-class cricketer, who plays for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He is a classically elegant, right-handed opening batsman and useful occasional off-spinner, much in the mould of former England captain Michael Vaughan...
(Portland) - Yorkshire cricketer. - Phil Sharpe (Shirley) - England cricketer and Wisden Cricketer of the year 1966.
- Rupert SheldrakeRupert SheldrakeRupert Sheldrake is an English scientist. He is known for having proposed an unorthodox account of morphogenesis and for his research into parapsychology. His books and papers stem from his theory of morphic resonance, and cover topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, memory,...
(Pelham) - scientist, author and television personality. - Mark SimmondsMark SimmondsMark Jonathon Mortlock Simmonds is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is the Member of Parliament for Boston and Skegness in Lincolnshire, and was first elected in 2001, succeeding Sir Richard Body...
(Portland) - 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...
Member of Parliament for Boston and Skegness. - Chad VarahChad VarahReverend Prebendary Edward Chad Varah, CH, CBE was a British Anglican priest. He is best remembered as the founder of The Samaritans, established in 1953 as the world's first crisis hotline organisation, offering non-religious telephone support to those contemplating suicide.-Life:Varah was born...
CH CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(Fleur de Lys) - Founder of The Samaritans.
Notable staff
- Jeff ButterfieldJeff ButterfieldJeffrey Butterfield was an England, British and Irish Lions, Northampton and Barbarians Rugby player and businessman....
- Captain of England rugby team in the 1950s - Frank Dick OBE - Former British Athletics Fedaration Director of Coaching and motivational speaker
- Herbert Jacob - Engand rugby wing 1924-1930
- Alan OldAlan OldAlan Gerald Bernard Old is an English Rugby Union player who had 16 caps for England.Old made his debut for England against Wales in 1972 and made a further 15 appearances with his final one being against France in 1978. His 16 caps included only 4 wins, but these were against New Zealand, South...
- England rugby fly half 1972-1978 - Roger KnightRoger KnightRoger David Verdon Knight OBE, MA, BA, DipEd is an English administrator, cricketer and schoolmaster. He was awarded the OBE in 2007...
- Former secretary to the MCC - Ken FarnesKen FarnesKenneth Farnes was an English cricketer. He played in 15 Tests from 1934 to 1939.Farnes was born in Leytonstone, Essex, and was educated at the Royal Liberty School in Gidea Park. He made his first-class debut for Essex in 1930, aged only 19. He took 5-36 in his second county match against Kent...
- England fast bowler in the 1930s - Nick GaywoodNick GaywoodNicholas 'Nick' Richard Gaywood is a former English cricketer. Gaywood was a left-handed batsman who bowled slow left-arm orthodox. He was born in Newton Abbot, Devon.-Minor Counties cricket:...
- England Minor Counties cricketer