In Memoriam - Dr John Wroughton

In his near 30-year career at King Edward’s, John Wroughton was first Head of History, then Second Master and latterly Headmaster of the school he loved and which he continued to support with great affection and loyalty right up to his death earlier this summer, aged 88.

The school from which John retired in 1993 was undoubtedly a very different school from the one that he joined in 1965, not just in its make-up (girls joined the Sixth Form for the first time in 1986, paving the way for full co-education just over a decade later) or size (numbers on roll more than doubled during the ’60s and ’70s and grew again by well over 10% during his time as Headmaster), but most importantly in its ethos and feel, a school increasingly renowned not just for its academic excellence but for the strength of its pastoral care, the breadth of its educational offering and, to use John’s own words, “the warm and friendly atmosphere which exists within our community, a community built on trust and respect”.

John was, first and foremost, a passionate, hugely enthusiastic, impressively knowledgeable and wonderfully effective Teacher of History, and many of the tributes to him from Old Edwardians that have poured into school in recent months have highlighted how he “brought History to life” with his “infectious enthusiasm and expertise”. A renowned local historian and writer, John’s knowledge of, and insights into, his favourite period covering the English Civil War were matched only by the eagerness with which he donned helmet, breastplate and leather tunic as he led scores of pupils into a re-enacted Battle of Lansdown under the aegis of the Sealed Knot. Years after he had left King Edward’s, John’s illuminating annual visits to the Pre-Prep and Junior Schools saw generations of younger pupils continue to be enthralled by his story telling, often illustrated by the odd pike or halberd or indeed any artefact that would help to recreate the aura of the time. John continued to research and write well into retirement, publishing over 20 books in his lifetime, along with many scholarly articles, as well as giving more than 350 lectures to over 100 historical societies. He was particularly and deservedly proud to be called upon by the BBC as an expert commentator for one of the programmes in its series, Who Do You Think You Are?.

A passionate and talented sportsman, John set up the first ever KES ski trip (to Norway in 1967) and was also in charge of the School’s athletics programme, where his ability to spot natural talent and identify potential led to several pupils competing with great credit in the National Schools’ Championships. Most successful of all was John’s tenure as coach of the U15s’ rugby team, whose ‘golden period’ saw a run of 34 victories out of 35 matches played (over three seasons), with more than 1,000 points scored to just 71 conceded. The recipe for success, according to John, was “to build up team spirit and bonding, to concentrate in joint measure on fitness and the learning of skills and, above all, to aim to win”, all backed up by his oft-repeated mantra that “there is no joy in losing”!

As Second Master (from 1974) and later Headmaster (from 1982), John’s approach was often innovative and transformative. He introduced an annual fundraising ball for parents, oversaw two major development campaigns and was a co-founder of what was to become the much-lauded KES Arts Festival. Already a pioneer of horizon-broadening trips and visits, including overseas sports tours, John launched the end of year KES Activities Week in the early ’80s, still much loved and eagerly anticipated by our pupils 40 years later. He also developed partnerships and fundraising links with schools both local and further afield, including in Kenya and South Africa. Recognising that KES needed to grow and change in response to the modern demands of a much larger pupil and staff body, John guided the School through what was undoubtedly one of the most significant phases of development in its history, and a rapid expansion of facilities saw a new Sixth Form Centre, a new Art and Design Centre, new computer and language laboratories and the new Astroturf and Sports Hall that still grace the school grounds today, as well as the purpose-built Porter Library in the building that is now G Block. Along the way, he welcomed such luminaries to the School as the Princess Royal and Sebastian (now Lord) Coe, having previously as Second Master welcomed to KES the then Secretary of State for Education, Margaret Thatcher. Perhaps the most significant developments of that time came with the aforementioned admission of girls into the Sixth Form and the relocation of the Junior School from Broad Street to its current North Road site into what was – and remains – a superbly designed educational facility that was undoubtedly ahead of its time.

In retirement, John was a regular theatre- and concert-goer and enjoyed the freedom to indulge both his love of – and talent for – historical writing and his passion for travel, visiting Canada, Indonesia, New Zealand, China, Zanzibar, Mozambique, France, Portugal and Italy, amongst others. He was also a regular guest on the Hebridean Princess (whose Chief Pursar was an Old Edwardian and former pupil of John’s, of course!), visiting the beautiful Western Isles of Scotland on no fewer than 12 occasions. Above all, John loved to spend time at his apartment in Tenerife, relaxing by walking along the coast or on the slopes of Mount Teide and making use of the peace and solitude to research and write his books.

John also continued to play an active and significant role in the life of King Edward’s, both as a returning expert on the Civil War and other aspects of local history (my own son, now about to start his GCSEs, has very fond memories of Dr Wroughton’s most entertaining visit!) and as a Governor of the School for four years (he was on the panel that appointed me as Headmaster!). In 2015 he returned to KES in an official capacity as our Founder’s Day preacher in Bath Abbey, familiar territory to him after more than four decades as a Church of England Lay Reader. Perhaps most significantly, John introduced and sponsored a series of annual ‘Wroughton Lectures’, presented by, amongst others, several household names from the worlds of History, Science and the Arts, such as David Starkey, Michael Wood, Chris Rapley, OE, and Sir Christopher Frayling (twice). Still going strong 20 years after inception, this prestigious and ambitious lecture series has educated and entertained in equal measure. More importantly, it was John’s express wish that all proceeds from ticket sales should go to supporting the School’s Bursary Programme, a cause very close to his heart and one which has benefited by more than £30,000 as a result of his generosity and altruism.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knew John that he always placed great value on this area of School life; indeed, it is a great measure and reflection of his character that so much of his public life was dedicated to providing others with opportunities and then giving them the tools and encouragement to make the most of them. John’s own journey – from very humble beginnings in the Midlands (his father owned a painting and decorating business in Derbyshire, but died when John was just three, leaving his mother to bring up him and his brother on her own), via Ashby-de-la-Zouch Grammar School and thence to Hertford College, Oxford to read Modern History – spoke to his great drive, ambition and meritocratic sense of wanting to grasp all the opportunities that came his way whilst also striving to be the best version of himself that he could be, a mantra that he would ardently pass on in later life to generations of Edwardians. John certainly felt that the pathway to fulfilling one’s potential provided by King Edward’s mirrored his own, and in his memoir – aptly entitled The Little Boy From Swadlincote – he wrote: “Although it was an independent day school, it came out of the solid grammar school tradition, with a strong emphasis on free places and bursaries for able children from less affluent families.”

The many glowing tributes from Old Edwardians that have been sent in to School since John’s death highlight his passion for, and mastery of, his subject and the craft of teaching, his loyalty and dedication to King Edward’s, his encouragement to all pupils to aim high in all they did and to enjoy the full breadth of educational opportunities that came their way and, perhaps most impressive of all, his ability to recall the name of every single child in the School and to know something of significance about each and every one of them, a most endearing trait. He is variously described in their reflections as “inspiring”, “calm, intelligent and caring”, “kind-hearted and full of humour”, “a teacher who had time for all” and someone who “always saw the best in everyone”, “a true gentleman” and “a wonderful, quintessentially English Headmaster”, to quote from just some of those tributes.

I know from my many coffee meetings, dinners and catch-ups with John over the years that he remained immensely proud both of his own time at King Edward’s and of the School that it is today, not just in terms of its success and popularity, but more importantly in the ethos and values that he held to be his own. The “community built on trust and respect” that he considered to be of such vital importance is just one part of a remarkable legacy that continues to shape the lives of King Edward’s pupils today. Dr John Wroughton was a brilliant and inspiring Headmaster and a unique and wonderful man, whose like we may never see again. He will be sorely missed but most fondly and gratefully remembered.

Martin Boden, Headmaster