No. 139 The Trusty Servant
Ben Pennington( CoRo, 19-24) Clare Talks( CoRo, 03-) writes:
Ben has an enormous intellect, enviable efficiency and a wonderful rapport with pupils and colleagues. His departure to the rolling hills of Berkshire will leave a huge void at Win Coll, not least amongst his top years, some of whom have been taught by Dr Pennington for all thirteen terms. The A Level geographers describe Dr Pennington as the smartest, wisest and most organised of dons, and of course, a don with the looks of Michael Buble. In their language, he is a don of‘ maximum aura’.
Everything that Ben has accomplished in his five years at the school has been exemplary and extraordinary, whether giving memorable Preces like his‘ Call to Prayer’ when recounting his experiences of living in Egypt or waxing lyrical on glacial profiles in rural Herefordshire, successfully winning over thirty members of VI Book in a seemingly mundane muddy field.
Ben leaves a powerful legacy- we all have copies of his rich botanical tour of the College which we shall treasure forever, and the College campus is now adorned with imaginative noticeboards educating us on the importance of biodiversity. Moreover, he has successfully transformed the mindset of Wykehamists to fully respect our natural world.
In the Geography department, Ben has brought the subject to dizzy heights giving all year groups highly stimulating and enriching experiences, and leading by example in every aspect of departmental work. Last year, Geo was the 5 th most popular A Level, due in no small part to the drive and energy of Ben. We shall miss the intensity of Ben’ s departmental meetings, the ambitious weekly agendas, the effortless flicking from one spreadsheet to the next, and his boundless enthusiasm for pupil data.
To quote his pupils, we are all so sad that Dr Pennington is going.
We wish Ben and his beautiful young family every happiness on their next adventure in life. Reading Blue Coat School will be all the richer for Ben’ s intellectual contributions, his research work will achieve every accolade and the building work on his new home in Berkshire will be completed to perfection. Ben, thank you for all that you have brought to Winchester, for your many talents, for your friendship and for your inspiration as a top don.
Hester Jones( CoRo, 22-24) Matthew Burnett( CoRo, 18-) writes:
The Rev’ d Dr Hester Jones joined Winchester as Dean of Chapel in Cloister Time 2022, and was immediately swept into the heart of school life. On her very first day in the role, she stepped into the cathedral to lead an uplifting and deeply thoughtful Eastertide service: it was a baptism of fire by any standard, and an occasion which she handled with poise and grace.
From the outset, Hester brought her characteristic energy, intellect, and warmth to every facet of her role. Alongside her leadership of the chaplaincy, she taught Div, which included English in the lower school. English was a natural continuation of her distinguished academic career as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol, while Div, though a new venture, allowed her to draw richly from her deep love of language, culture, theology, and philosophy. In both disciplines, she proved to be an inspiring and original presence in the classroom.
Her stewardship of the chaplaincy became even more central during Short Half 2022 and Common Time 2023, following the departure of the Rev’ d Ross Maidment. With quiet determination and considerable flair, Hester maintained a full and vibrant spiritual life for the school, sustaining the rhythm of Compline in Chantry, morning Chapel three times a week, and the rotating Sunday X / Y services.
With the welcome arrival of Rev’ d John Storey( CoRo 23-24, see Valete TS 138) in Cloister Time 2023, the chaplaincy team regained its full strength, but Hester’ s steady hand during the interregnum left a lasting mark on the life of the College. Under her direction, congregation numbers recovered significantly from the pandemic years, and the standard of liturgy and choral music flourished anew.
Yet Hester’ s influence reached far beyond the chapel. Her literary precision and sharp analytical mind inspired not only her pupils but also her colleagues in the Common Room. Thoughtful, measured, and generous with her advice, she became a trusted sounding board for many. Ever-present in Bethesda, she offered a listening ear to the wide array of reflections, questions, and musings that passed through its doors, in so doing placing herself— quite literally— at the spiritual and scholarly centre of school life.
Hester’ s time at Winchester was marked by numerous highlights, which comprised, inter alia, joyful confirmand day trips to New College, Oxford; thoughtful and eloquent sermons at the Cathedral; and presiding over formative services, from the solemnity of Founder’ s Obit to the grand traditions of Domum and the shared worship with Eton College. Nevertheless, it is perhaps the more informal memories that capture her true spirit best, not least moments of conviviality at the Wykeham Arms, post- Evensong, in the company of Quirister parents, dons, and friends.
At the end of Short Half 2024, Hester left Winchester to take up the exciting role of Rector of Witney. She goes with our admiration, gratitude, and warmest wishes for the future, having left a lasting impression on the religious and intellectual life of the College.
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