No . 135 The Trusty Servant for paranormal visitors , finding voids behind the panelling and even a secret room sealed off during a previous renovation .
THE SABBEN-CLARES ( 1979-85 ) James Sabben-Clare ’ s reign as Second Master was represented by his wife Mary and children Matthew ( I , 85- 90 ) and Rebecca ( now Howard ; G , 86-88 ). Matthew ’ s strongest memory of his time in College was waking up one night aged about seven to find a policeman in his room . He was looking for the Second Master to discuss a pupil and Matthew was fortunately able to help him . Rebecca was pleased that her application to become a Wykehamist herself was more successful than Jane McIntosh ’ s , listed above .
THE WINKLEYS ( 1985-91 ) The final don to combine the role of caring for the scholars with being Second Master was Stephen Winkley . His family was represented at the gathering by his widow Jenny Winkley , alongside their daughter Jessica ( now Ayres ). Jenny echoed the Scotts ’ tales of ghost-hunting . She had always felt that the Snug , a panelled room on the top floor , was inhabited by a cold , unwelcome presence , especially in one corner . In fact so unpleasant did it become that she could no longer abide being in the room . One evening guests staying in the rooms immediately below reported seeing feet coming through the ceiling and walking on air about six inches below the plaster . Apparently a renovation centuries earlier had raised the floor level and the feet treading their accustomed height were those of Bishop Thomas Ken ( Coll , 1652-56 ).
THE LANDS ( 2003-12 ) The children of Peter Roberts ( the first Master in College , 91-03 ) were sadly unable to attend , so the next family in the list is that of Alastair Land . Harrow allowed their Headmaster to return for the day , with his wife Madeleine ( Co Ro , 06-10 ), their son Maurice ( who spent his first few months in College ), plus his younger siblings Martin and Sophie . Madeleine remembers games of sardines while Alastair was away on CCF exercises , with yet more paranormal activity reported by one participant who felt cold hands grasping him while concealed in a cupboard behind the drawingroom panelling . Maurice spent many mealtimes in College Hall installed in his cradle on one of the window ledges . When he was old enough to be left in the lodgings , a special longrange baby monitor was required for the signal to get through Wykeham ’ s walls . When awake , he was sometimes taken around the boys ’ side by Alastair at wake-up and bedtime , his cries proving particularly good at rousing sleeping scholars .
THE GIDDINGSES ( 2010-16 ) Josie and Wilfred attended the gathering as the first children to live in the College Tutor ’ s flat , since no incumbent previous to Tim had been married while in the role . The quarters above Thulé were remodelled ready for Josie ’ s arrival . The rather eccentric arrangement of two bathrooms , an upstairs kitchen and one bedroom was altered to create a nursery , although the budget sadly did not stretch to replacing the mustard velour curtains hung in the drawing room by Michael Fontes in 1966 ( they finally went in 2022 , when the flat was transferred to the College Matron ). Josie remembers ‘ improvising ’ on the six-figure piano in College Hall with fingers possibly still sticky from Sunday-lunch puddings and also receiving first aid from Matron Kathryn Irvine-Fortescue when she fell down the stairs and broke her wrist . Wilfred is resentful that he did not receive a new bedroom , but spent his first 14 months in a cot in the corner of a corridor .
THE TOWNSONS ( 2018- ) Iris , daughter of the current College Tutor and his wife Katie , was the second-youngest guest . They are currently living out of College itself while a new Tutor ’ s flat is created from what was previously the College wood-store and the Master in College ’ s kitchen . As I write , Iris has just gained a younger brother , William , who thus becomes the youngest ‘ child of College ’.
THE LATTERS ( 2022- ) The youngest guest at the gathering was Harry , son of the current Master in College , Alex , and his wife , Ellie . Harry has made an early impression after his family ’ s arrival in Chamber Court in the summer , disturbing Chapel Choir during their rehearsals for the memorial service for the Queen . Perhaps the youngest children will repeat the event some time in the 2090s , with further tales of ghosthunting , welcome and unwelcome guests , and lives shared with 70 gowned big brothers .
Back : Matthew Scott ( E , 75-79 ); Tom Scott ( A , 73-77 ); David Howarth ( I , 64-68 ); Alex Latter ( Co Ro , 19- ); Harry Latter . Sophie Harrison ( née Scott ); Catherine Scott ; Matthew Sabben-Clare ( I , 85-90 ); Rebecca Howard ( née Sabben- Clare ) ( G , 86-88 ); Jenny Streat ( née Wright ); Patricia Elkington ( née Wright ); Iris Townson ; Katie Townson ; Ellie Latter . Front : Frances Stadlen ( née Howarth ); Jessica Ayres ( née Winkley ); Maurice Land ; Wilfred Giddings ; Josie Giddings .
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