No. 140
The Trusty Servant
Win Coll Soc News
2027 Battlefield Tour. Is it for you? James Webster( CoRo, 92-) writes: Following the success of our OW Battlefield Tours since 2016, most recently at Monte Cassino in September 2024, Michael Wallis and I are planning a visit to the Arras battlefields in northern France. The dates for this will be 21st-24th September 2027.
In spring 1917, British and Empire forces achieved some great successes and propped up the Allied position as Russia collapsed into revolution and the French army into mutiny. Much of this fighting has been overshadowed by the stories of the Somme in 1916 and Third Ypres later in 1917. A dozen Wykehamists lost their lives in these battles and lie buried or commemorated around Arras, including Osmund Bartle Wordsworth( Coll, 1899-06), whose last resting place was only formally identified in 2021. In 1940, Arras was the location of a famous British counter-attack against the Wehrmacht, in which one Wykehamist lost his life.
Please let us know if you are interested in this tour by contacting Win Coll Soc on wincollsoc @ wincoll. ac. uk All contact details are on the back page.
Recent Win Coll Soc Events
Jane Austen Festival, 1 st June 2025 was the year in which Jane Austen admirers around the world marked 250 years since her birth. Win Coll’ s contribution to the commemoration was to convert No. 8 College Street and open it to( restricted) public viewing for the first time.
Win Coll Soc was delighted to host a festival for a group of its supporters before the public opening, giving its guests an afternoon of talks and guided tours. Two fascinating lectures from
Lucia Quinault( CoRo, 99-) on Jane Austen’ s character from her letters; and from Anthony Dakin( CoRo, 00-) on Jane Austen’ s Juvenilia, set up the audience before they enjoyed the Jane Austen Exhibition in Treasury and a tour of the house in which Jane Austen died.
The view from No. 8 College Street looking over the La Croix Garden
Inside No. 8 College Street
Everest Book Launch, Sunday 8 th June
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD MEMORY OF GEORGE HERBERT LEIGH MALLORY SCHOLAR OF THIS COLLEGE MCM-V WHO WAS LOST TO HUMAN SIGHT BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT EVEREST ON JUNE VIII MCMXXIV
These words are inscribed on the memorial to Mallory in Cloisters, designed by RMY( Dick) Gleadowe( Coll, 1901-7; CoRo, 22-44), Art Master and close contemporary of Mallory in College.
Exactly one hundred years after the last sighting of Mallory and his climbing partner Sandy Irvine, a party of Wykehamical adventurers were received last year by the monks of Rombuk Monastery in Tibet.
29