No . 134 The Trusty Servant
Housemaster there for a further four years . I know the Freddieites will miss his dedication and also his calm , fair and relaxed manner in the boarding house .
Nobody has erected and dismantled more tents in the pursuit of preparing Wykehamists for their outdoor adventures and his lessons in campcraft were an enjoyable and necessary part of the Adventure Training curriculum .
He has served the school as a Squash don in Short Half and Common Time and as a Tennis don in Cloister Time for every term he has been here , becoming Master in Charge of Squash since 2020 and earning responsibility for the Yearlings Tennis teams .
Alex leaves us to join the rather Orwellian-sounding Assurance and Future Technology Team at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory . What he will be doing there , not even Alex knows , or so he claims …
He will be dearly missed by his colleagues and friends in and beyond the department .
Ross Maidment ( Chaplain , 20-22 ) Hester Jones ( Dean of Chapel , April , 22- ) and Andy Sparkes ( Lay Chaplain , Co Ro 16- ) write : Revd Ross Maidment came to Winchester two years ago as Chaplain , after serving his curacy in the Diocese of Monmouth , and reading Theology at Oxford University . In the College , Revd Maidment taught RS , Philosophy and Div , supported CCF activities , and undertook training for naval Chaplaincy . His early time as don and College Chaplain was blighted by COVID but he nonetheless settled rapidly into the rhythms of the place and brought to his lessons not just an affable and avuncular manner but scholarly content . He took a full part in many aspects of College chaplaincy , not least in preparing candidates for Confirmation , and accompanying them on their pre- Confirmation day in Oxford , where they experienced ( in one day ) the splendour of Sunday Eucharist in Pusey House , and then the beauty of Choral Evensong in New College – appropriate ground for someone so knowledgeable about liturgy and church ceremonial . On my arrival as Dean six months ago ,, Ross and Stephanie offered me a warm welcome to Winchester , making sure that I soon felt at home in the College . It has been good to get to know Ross and Stephanie a little , and we now wish them both many blessings in this next chapter . A proud Welshman , Ross has returned to Monmouth Diocese , to live out his vocation as Area Minister in the Mountain and Marsh area . His cowritten book , Keeper of the word : the Virgin Mary in recent encounters between Anglicans , Catholics and Baptists , is soon to be published .
Tim Cox ( Grounds , 99-22 ) Simeon Cox ( Estate Bursar ) writes : Tim Cox was born locally . He was grammar school-educated , is well read , a bit of a philosopher , loves music ( having been part of the Hampshire Youth Orchestra ) and has a passion for opera . He decided not to go to university , instead starting with the BBC as a video tape editor , and then later working on programmes such as Grandstand and One Man and his Dog . After leaving the BBC he joined ITV ’ s Southern Television where he branched out into promotional TV editing .
Twenty-three years ago , with no experience at all , he joined as a gardener under Ted Hopper , who apparently said he was the best of a bad bunch !
However , since this complete career change the College gardens have benefited from his considered and thoughtful approach , and in conjunction with Alan , his work means that the gardens now have a connection with this institution , an inner beauty , not seen before . If one cares to dig below the visual beauty it becomes clear that all work was and is undertaken with consideration and thoughtfulness , ensuring the planting has a direct link and meaning within the College , its place and surroundings .
Tim used his other skills to write or critique pieces written by boys studying music , and accompanied them on trips to the opera as an informed adult . He recently wrote a piece for the National Gardens Scheme Open Day which when submitted to the Head Man came back with a note inviting him to consider swapping careers again , this time to teach English !
Tim ’ s pensive , tranquil , elegant and cheerful presence has been a constant source of peace and pleasure , and his work alongside Alan an example to us all of true teamwork . He is much missed .
Bethesda Garden , May 2020
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