The Wykehamist
Salvete
SALVE EIE
Mr Evans joined us this year as the new Head of Academic Music, having held a similar title at his previous school, and has already begun leaving an impression on his students. Whether it be through his teaching, his Saxophony group, or his tutor group, he tells us he is thoroughly enjoying it.
After studying Music and the piano for four years in Manchester, Mr Evans began his teaching journey across several public day-schools before coming to Winchester. As well as a pianist, he is a woodwind player, playing both the saxophone and the clarinet, and leads the Saxophony group here on Monday evenings. He describes music as being something that he’ s always done, and something which he simply fell for.
Mr Evans tells us just how impressed he’ s been with the spirit of the pupils, how easy they are to engage with, whether it be across a lunch table or in his lessons. He has found their approach to new material refreshing, compared to other schools where he’ s taught, stressing our being“ interested and not just academic”.
He currently is a tutor in Hoppers.
with thanks to Poppy Clarke( H 2024-)
SALVE ALB
This term we welcomed Dr Beeton to teach Div, an old Wykehamist himself( I, 2010-15), and Head of House, no less. His profound understanding of History, having read it at Oxford( completing his BA, MA and DPhil there), shines through in each lesson. His teaching expands into philosophy, providing valuable correlations between past and present thought. Since leaving Oxford in 2023, he has been working at the History of Parliament Trust, in which he was first a research assistant and later a research fellow. Dr Beeton’ s work is now focused on Journals of the House of Lords, such as Scribble Books and Manuscript Minutes produced by the Clerk of the Parliaments and his assistant.
Dr Beeton has already enjoyed teaching the political history of the revolutionary period as well as the history of education during the mid-seventeenth century. He tells us that his interest in this period of time derives from his time here, at the College, where his expertise on the Civil War was developed in his VIBk2, guided by Dr Foster.
However, Dr Beeton’ s love for the arts have also come into discussion in his hours. He has recently been talking about music in his Div, where he shares with the class his love for the classics, such as Bob Dylan, his particular favourite being Tangled up in Blue. He has also been exploring mid-to-late twentieth century movies, his enthusiasm for which has urged his pupils to pursue them in their own time. Dr Beeton’ s shared experiences with boys at Winchester make his classes relatable and engaging, and those who were lucky enough to be taught by him for this term will most definitely miss him when he concludes his time here at the end of Common Time. He will be missed, by his pupils, and by the community.
Arthur Duckworth( H, 2021-)
SALVE SJ
Dr James has come to Winchester College for two terms to teach English, Religious Studies and Div. He brings a wealth of experience and insight, joining us from St Stephen’ s House, Oxford, where he teaches ecclesiastical history and is a research fellow.
Alongside his university teaching, Dr James’ research specialises in British sociology and religious identities, and religious philanthropy in the British Empire. As Editor of the Catholic Herald( he has also written for the Telegraph, the Critic, and the Church Times), Dr James is a well-respected voice in historical and contemporary religious thought.
Outside the classroom, Dr James has a deep love for beauty and philosophy. His journey has been shaped by a multicultural upbringing – splitting his childhood between the Brecon Beacons and Bangkok. This rich blend of cultures has given him a dynamic perspective, and an open-minded curiosity particularly when it comes to finding beauty in everyday objects.
Each summer, he leads a course at Oxford exploring the philosophy of beauty – a subject close to his heart, reflecting his
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