Walpole House Staff Peter Platts-Martin - Housemaster Educated at the King's School, Canterbury, and with a History degree from London University, Peter began his teaching career in an East London comprehensive, "an invaluable experience." He then moved to teach in the private sector, spending eleven years at the King's School, Bruton, (five as Housemaster of a Sixth Form House) and seven years as a Prep School Headmaster, before joining Stowe as Housemaster in January 2006 and "thoroughly enjoying the challenges of overseeing the welfare and development of 61 boys." Peter teaches History and Politics to GCE A Level, and retains a keen interest in playing and coaching a variety of sport. He is married to Abigail, a former officer in the Royal Navy, and they have three young sons still at home.
Sheldine Moran - Matron Sheldine arrived at Walpole House in January 2004, having left her native South Africa and her two sons and extended family. A professional dressmaker, she was involved in the clothing industry in Durban for most of her working life there, and also involved in fundraising and her local church. Sheldine specializes in wedding dresses - including her daughter-in-laws' in South Africa, and also embroiders, loves knitting and crafting as well as the outdoors and wild life. She has a love of sports - carried through to her sons, one a professional tennis coach for school children, the other an agent for sports footwear and clothing in Natal. Sheldine became a grandmother in 2006. Sheldine has an open door policy in the House, being there for the boys - pastoral, medical care and a chat and laugh - even letting them use her stove on occasions! She says she feels very blessed to be at Stowe and its magnificent surroundings.
James Hayden - Under-Housemaster & 4th Form Tutor James attended Abingdon School before reading History with Ancient History at Bristol University. Following on from this he completed his PGCE at Oxford University and joined Stowe in September 2007. His interests include golf, rugby, football and historical fiction. As Under-Housemaster in Walpole he provides support to both academic studies and everything else that comes with living in a boarding House with sixty other boys.
Lionel Weston - 3rd Form Tutor Lionel joined Stowe in 1979 from Whitgift School after leaving Loughborough College where he studied Physical Education. An ex-England International Rugby player, Lionel was Head of PE, Master-in-Charge of rugby and cricket and taught English for many years. He became Housemaster of Walpole in 1987 where he spent 13 extremely happy years. Whilst he was a Housemaster he gained a qualification in teaching dyslexic pupils and he has run the Skills Development Department for 12 years. After retiring from Walpole he became Director of Sport, and in 2006 passed on the mantle for this to Isaac Michael, Housemaster of Bruce.
Richard Pickersgill - 5th Form Tutor Richard arrived from Durham University via a job with the National Hockey Association and a lot of traveling. He is the Stowe Hockey Coach and a passionate sportsman in general. He teaches PE and Sports Science and suits Walpole perfectly!
Rory Akam - 6th Form Tutor Rory is Head of Science and Tutor to many Walpole boys. He is married to the Senior Tutor, Sally Akam, and they have two boys. He supports Sunderland and so there is real friction with the Middlesborough born Under-Housemaster.
Peter Last - 6th Form Tutor Pete Last graduated from St. Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1989 and spent the first six years of his teaching career at Hebron International School, Ootacamund, India where he and his wife ran a girls' boarding house and taught Geography and Art respectively. He returned to the UK and spent nine years teaching Geography at Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire. Here Pete and his wife Debs (still teaching Art) spent a further six years running a girls' boarding house. He arrived at Stowe in 2005 to take over as Head of Geography and Head of PSHE. He is a lifelong Arsenal fan and lives in Buckingham with his wife and three children.
This is not a family name. The House was named after Horace Walpole, who wrote some famous letters about his visits to Stowe in the 18th century. It was his father, Sir Robert Walpole, who was the more notable Walpole in England's and Stowe's history, however. He was the Whig 'Prime Minister' from 1721 to 1742 and was the first man to be called that - though he did not approve of the title. Viscount Cobham's political life started under Walpole but his subsequent opposition to him led Cobham to found a political dynasty that played a major part in politics until Victorian times (producing four Prime Ministers).
