Dr John Wroughton (1934 - 2023)

The School is deeply saddened to announce the death of former King Edward’s Headmaster, Dr John Wroughton, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 88.

Dr Wroughton joined King Edward’s in 1965 as Head of History. He was Second Master for eight years before becoming Headmaster in 1982, a position he held until his retirement in 1993. He later served as a Governor of the School and remained very involved in life at KES, in particular through his sponsorship of the Wroughton Lectures over the last 20 years, a series which has helped to raise many tens of thousands of pounds during that time for the School bursaries programme that was very close to Dr Wroughton’s heart.

Dr Wroughton’s passion for History saw him continue to visit the Pre-Prep and Junior Schools on many occasions following his retirement to enthuse and enlighten eager young minds about the English Civil War, a subject on which he was a renowned local expert, and there will most likely be many current KES pupils who still fondly remember their interactive trips to the site of the Battle of Lansdown! Dr Wroughton also wrote the most recent History of King Edward’s on the occasion of the School’s 450th anniversary in 2002. Amongst countless other aspects of life at KES today, Dr Wroughton’s legacy continues in the Theatre which is named after him and in which many Junior and Senior parents will watch colourful and exciting productions in the coming weeks. 

Those of you who visit the North Road site will see that the School flag is flying at half-mast as a mark of respect for someone who was deeply involved in the life of King Edward’s for nearly 60 years and who very much helped to shape the School that we are today. We understand that a memorial service for Dr Wroughton will be held in due course, with further details to be announced once these are known.

Mrs Winifred Thomson - Chair of Governors