the wellington college year book 2010/2011
the wellington college year book 2010/2011
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n icolas g allop
2 0 02–2011
It is with no little irony that as I too prepare
to leave Wellington, after four short but
happy years, I am called upon to offer a penportrait of my friend and former colleague
Nick Gallop — who left to become Assistant
Head (Sixth Form) at Portsmouth Grammar
in January after eight years in Common Room.
I first met Nick back in 2006, when I travelled
down to Crowthorne to be interviewed for
the Head of Politics post he was vacating
in order to become Housemaster of The
Picton. I was understandably anxious on that
day — but he immediately put me at ease with
his open manner and obvious enthusiasm for
College life.
Nick is possessed of great generosity of
spirit, intelligence and wit. It took me some
time to adjust to the demands of life at a ‘fullon’ boarding school and Nick was the best
mentor and confidant one could have: quick to
reassure; slow to judge. Whilst the presence
of a former HoD in one’s departmental team
is often seen as potential source of friction, I
could not have wished for a more supp