Walpole
Peter Last - Housemaster
Pete was educated at Alleyn's School, London and St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he read Geography. He then worked at Hebron International School in South India where he met his wife and together they ran a girls' boarding house. After 6 years (and 3 children) in India he returned to the UK to teach Geography at Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire where he and Debs ran the school's first 13-18 girls' house for 6 years. He arrived at Stowe in 2005 as Head of Geography and Head of PSHE. He is married to Debs, who is an artist, and they have three children. He and his family are active members of Well Street Church, Buckingham. He has a keen interest in music and is a member of the Stowe staff rock band 'Plug Street'. He is also a lifelong Arsenal fan and will not tolerate any nonsense from Chelsea or Spurs fans.
Terry Sanders - Matron
Terry was born and educated in Hong Kong where her family have lived since 1905. Prior to coming to England she spent 18 years in New Zealand. Qualified in public relations, Terry has worked in various fields, most recently as manager of a music and literature festival. She also spent two years working with special needs pupils in a secondary school. Her two grown-up sons both boarded during their schooling and she is a firm advocate of the benefits that boarding provides. As a new Matron she is looking forward to getting to know all the boys in her house. Terry enjoys reading, walking, history and church architecture.
Kevin Ryce - Under-Housemaster & 6th Form Tutor
Kevin is also our Head of Economics and Politics. He previously studied Economics at Heriott-Watt, Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities where his addiction to the subject and Celtic Football Club developed. In between his studies Kevin worked as an Economist in the Office of Fair Trade. While working as an undergraduate tutor he decided to try school teaching and gained a PGCE from St Andrews College. Kevin then worked at an IB school in Oxford where he taught Economics and Business and was responsible for a boarding House. His hobbies include five-a-side football, running and playing golf badly.
Issac Michael - 4th Form Tutor
Isaac started his teaching career at Winchester College after 5 years at Exeter University where he captained the basketball, played 1st XV rugby, 1st XI cricket and was twice University decathlon champion. In 2000 he became Housemaster of Bruce after 10 successful years as Director of PE. He now teaches French full-time and is still Master-in-Charge of basketball. Isaac became Senior Housemaster at Stowe in 2005 and in 2006 took on the role of Co-curriculum Co-ordinator overseeing the sports and activities programme and development. He is married to Jenny and they have 4 children, Abby, Jimmy, Miles & Toby. His other interests are music, performing arts and gardening. Isaac stepped down as Bruce Housemaster at the end of the Summer Term 2008 and now joins Walpole while remaining at Stowe to help develop the co-curricular provision of the school.
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!
Simon Dearsley - 6th Form Tutor
Simon joined Stowe in September 2008 as our Director of Music. Simon was educated at the Jesuit comprehensive school, Wimbledon College. He was an Organ Scholar at Magdalene College, Cambridge and studied Archaeology and Anthropology specializing in East Asian Archaeology and Japanese. He won a Power Scholarship to study for a Master's degree in Music at the University of Michigan, then returned to England as an organist at Westminster Abbey and taught at Westminster School. In 1990 he met his wife, Philippa, when he was being auditioned to conduct a London chamber choir. She is a professional singer and when he was appointed she stayed on to ensure their future together was sealed! In the last fifteen years they have done concerts together all over the world as the King David Duo, visiting Australia, the USA and the Far East, in particular Japan, where Simon remains a visiting Professor of Organ at the Elisabeth University, Hiroshima. They both love cooking, performing and living life to the full!
History of Walpole House
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).
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Housemasters |
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Ian Clarke |
1934 - 1939 |
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Harold Kinvig |
1939 - 1956 |
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John Uttley |
1956 - 1961 |
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Ronnie Adams OS |
1961 - 1971 |
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Michael Kirk |
1971 - 1978 |
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Chris Atkinson OS |
1978 - 1987 |
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Lionel Weston |
1987 - 2000 |
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John Moule |
2000 - 2005 |
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Peter Platts-Martin |
2006 - 2008 |
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Peter Last |
2008 - |