Grenville
Andrew Murphy - Housemaster
Andy and Gabi joined Stowe in January 2010, along with their Golden retriever Seamus. Prior to Stowe Andy was Assistant Housemaster at Felsted School in Essex. Andy hasn't always been in teaching, but please don't hold that against him! Andy worked for Guinness UDV (now Diageo) for 4 years in their Marketing department and then as Marketing Manager for Heineken. A love of alcohol, in moderation, is very much Andy's passion. Believe it or not but Andy is actually Scottish, hailing from Perthshire; though his accent seems to have been eroded having attended Edinburgh University for his undergraduate degree and then The Queen's College, Oxford University, for his postgrad. Andy absolutely loves sports in all their various guises, particularly Cricket, Football, Rugby and Hockey. A keen marathon runner in days gone by and now professional dog walker. Having received a set of Golf clubs from Gabi for Christmas, Andy is looking forward to tackling the new course on his door step.
Emma Whitehead - Matron
Emma joined Grenville in January 2008, having previously managed a small family-run hotel in Marlborough. She was educated at Leweston and at Idbury Manor, attending finishing school at Redlynch Park. Following her education, Emma worked in the catering industry in London and then in Ireland. Upon returning to England, she was employed by Prue Lane-Fox as an Interior Decorator, before getting married and bringing up her family. Emma has two children (a son and a daughter) and a step-son. Emma is passionate about the countryside and all animals, wild and domestic! She takes a keen interest in equestrian sports, mainly Eventing and National Hunt Racing, and enjoys following Rugby and Tennis. Emma relishes the responsibility of her work at Stowe and considers it a tremendous privilege to care for the boys in Grenville House.
Awaiting photograph
Mark Blew - 3rd Form Tutor
Henry Swayne - Under-Housemaster & 4th Form Tutor
Henry arrived at Stowe in September 2006 as the Chaplain's Assistant. He was educated at Uppingham, then attended Durham University to read History and Politics and graduated in June 2006. At Stowe, Henry runs the Christian meeting, Crossfire, leads Bible study groups, teaches Spam Ed. (Spiritual and Moral Education) and helps with the Confirmation course. Henry is a keen sportsman and coaches hockey, fives and cricket as well as being an enthusiastic golfer and squash player. He also enjoys music and scrapes his violin in the School Orchestra. Cricket is one of his great passions.
Gwilym Jones - 5th Form Tutor
After Stonyhurst, Gwilym graduated from the University of Bristol with a BA Hons in German. He moved to Stowe in September 2008, from Somerset, with Luci and their 3 year old daughter Anna, joining our Modern Languages Department. Gwilym's interests are in the outdoors and he likes to spend as much time as school commitments allow kiting the beaches of South Wales.
Michael Righton - 6th Form Tutor
He joined Stowe from the Dragon School in September 2005 to teach Biology. Michael's interests are in outdoor pursuits and rowing. In the last few years, Michael has significantly developed the talents of our rowing Stoics, who were invited to compete in their first Henley Regatta in 2008.
David Smith - 6th Form Tutor
David arrived at Stowe in September 2007 after fourteen years at Sevenoaks School in Kent, where he was resident in a boys' boarding House for eight years. He was also Head of History for five years. David joins Stowe as our Head of History and 6th Form Tutor for Grenville, accompanied by his family: his wife, Ann, and their four children (Edward, Toby, Poppy and Sarah). His interests away from school include rugby, politics and walking.
History of Grenville House
Viscount Cobham's sister, Hester, married Richard Grenville of Wotton Underwood who died relatively young. Cobham brought up Hester's children at Stowe and the eldest, Richard, succeeded him and became Earl Temple. The family surname became Grenville-Temple. Richard Grenville's brother, George, was Prime Minister in 1765 - 66 and fathered both the Marquess of Buckingham and Lord Grenville who was Prime Minister in 1806 - 7. Another brother, Thomas, was a naval captain killed in action in 1747 and thus inspiring the Grenville Column with its boat motifs, and his sister, also Hester, married William Pitt the Elder, later Earl of Chatham.
| Housemasters |
|
| Ian Clarke |
1923 - 1934 |
| RW Skene |
1934 - 1937 |
| George Gilling-Lax |
1937 - 1939 |
| Raymond Walker |
1939 - 1943 |
| RM Hamer |
1943 - 1944 |
| Brian Gibson |
1944 - 1962 |
| George Clarke |
1962 - 1974 |
| Richard Theobald |
1974 - 1979 |
| Rodger Potter |
1979 - 1988 |
| Michael Smith |
1988 - 1993 |
| Michael Chitty |
1993 - 1997 |
| David Fletcher |
1997 - 2003 |
| Richard Knight |
2003 - 2009 |
| Andrew Murphy |
2010 - |