In the summer , Gareth Willis stepped down after 15 years in the boarding community , leading School House and then Aisher House . An Aisher boarder pays tribute .
MR WILLIS – A BOARDING LEGEND
Mr Willis always strives to maximise the academic potential of every student who is lucky enough to be in his boarding house , and he is extremely good at it . This year alone students in his house received offers from Oxford and Cambridge , as well as 17 of the other top 20 universities in the country , and from Ivy League schools such as Brown , and top European universities such as Bocconi . Along with these hard facts , Mr Willis is always happy to talk about work and higher education , to speak to teachers and help with other issues or deadlines . It is because of this that he does such an amazing job providing for all the students he takes under his wing , and it is why he is so successful at pushing us to succeed .
In the summer , Gareth Willis stepped down after 15 years in the boarding community , leading School House and then Aisher House . An Aisher boarder pays tribute .
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Above : Cake made by Janice Record for the Aisher House farewell .
It was a real honour being part of Gareth Willis ’ s 15th and final year as a housemaster , and now , looking back on my five years at the school , there is no other man who I would rather have had to provide such unerring guidance through the challenges of the final years of school .
No one can ever come close to being as proactive and generous with their time as Mr Willis is to his boarding students . Not only does he do multiple duty nights a week , but he also organises trips to museums or football and cricket matches , or to go-karting , bowling , escape rooms , trampoline parks , camping or a meal out . He does this on top of the very busy life he already leads as a Geography teacher , HE adviser , sports team coach – as well as being the Liberal Democrat party representative for Sevenoaks recently elected to the local council . How he finds the time to do all this I will never know , but what I do recognise is how incredibly lucky I , and everyone who has ever had him as a housemaster is , to have someone so generous and helpful leading the way .
Recognising the importance of engaging in cocurricular activities , Mr Willis encourages students to participate in anything the school offers , from art or drama to sports . He is also more than happy to facilitate out-of-school activities such as sports clubs , and in all areas , it is partly down to his willingness to accommodate such endeavours that students make the most of these opportunities . Just this last year students in Aisher have been able to compete at national level in sports such as running and swimming , as well as representing the school at 1st team level in all three terms , hold leadership roles in the CCF and as Senior Prefects , perform in concerts , and organise charity events . None of this would be possible without Mr Willis ’ s practical and moral support .
Mr Willis ’ s record makes him something of a legend , as not only has he been such an outstanding housemaster for so many years , but he has played a crucial role in establishing and running the newest house in the school , Aisher . He has been a tremendous role model for me and all his students throughout his tenure as a housemaster ; we will all be forever grateful for his hugely positive impact on our lives and the school will forever be indebted to his unrivalled loyalty and service to its boarding community .
Alex Harley , Upper Sixth
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