Family Tradition: RICHARD & HENRY FULLER
individual,” he says,“ it is because I have chosen to go down the path that I myself want to.” His decision to pursue his passion was greatly encouraged by his father, but Henry does not preclude the notion of eventually joining the family business.“ I expect my Dad would not be proud if I went to the Brewery because I felt I had to,” he says.“ If I ended up wanting to join, it would just be nice, in the same way as a coincidence is nice, a bit like me choosing to go to Trant’ s.” Henry and Richard share the same approach to life, and to making decisions about their lives. Whilst life at Win Coll may have been very different in their respective times at the school, certain features have ensured that the journey remains the same. The most important of all, according to both, is the role of the Housemaster.“ The Housemaster is the means by which you do what you want to do,” says Henry of Dr Cullerne; whilst of Dick Massen, Richard remarks,“ The Housemaster can always see the bigger picture.’’ Both Fullers are simultaneous examples of how and where Wykehamists tend to apply themselves and of what lessons they have learnt. However, Richard is quick to state that it tends to be rare for Wykehamists to aspire to go into industry. Whether it is the lure of continuing the collegiate nature of the school’ s intellectual environment into adult working life, or whether university tends to push young men towards certain lines of work, or whether it is simply a sense of duty to other interests, Wykehamists have usually made their mark, as Fullers past have, in traditional professional institutions. However, Richard advocates the role of the entrepreneurial environment for the application of the intellectual mind.“ The enquiring mind is always happier,” he says.“ You can use your brain fully in industry.” In essence, both Fullers are archetypes of Winchester’ s bold education, having made the most out of their respective experiences in the school to fashion who they are, in order to influence the world in the best way they can. In advocating the role of individual desire when making decisions, they are also brilliant examples of how a school, and a family, can provide the best platform for young men to leap out into their own destinies. Henry, poetically, remarks that“ In order to grow into wheat, a seed needs to be a good seed. However, it also needs good grounding, and needs the earth around it to be fertile.” The Winchester experience has changed somewhat from the mid-70’ s through to the early 2010’ s. The school is, of course, far more international, and the curriculum has continued to develop. Richard would have progressed through the years according to his performance in Div, whilst Henry finished his five years having taken the Cambridge Pre-U. Their paths may have been different, but there is a commonality in their journeys which demonstrates the role the school plays in the lives of Old Wykehamists over the centuries.“ Dad has always said you can recognise a Wykehamist in the room,’’ says Henry.“ It’ s simply their approach to the world and their sense of direction.’’
40 The Wykeham Journal 2016