the wellington college year book 2010/2011
22
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 supportive
and inspirational colleague during the period
we worked together.
Others could no doubt speak with greater
authority and passion on Nick’s contribution
to Rugby coaching at Wellington and his time
as Housemaster. All I can say is that colleagues
and students greatly appreciated the time and
energy he devoted to all that he did.
She is one of the
kindest and most
warm-hearted
of people and
she immediately
impressed by her care
for the pupils and
her passion for her subject
c ath e r i ne m i c k l em
2006–2011
Catherine joined Wellington in September
2006, having completed her pgce at
Cambridge after her First Class degree at
Exeter. Although the day of her interview
was not, perhaps, the most auspicious
start to a teaching career, because it rained
incessantly, it was obvious from the first
meeting that Catherine would be an excellent
asset to any school. She is one of the kindest
and most warm-hearted of people and she
immediately impressed by her care for the
pupils and her passion for her subject. A lot
has happened to her in this short time: on a
personal level, she has married Duncan and
is looking forward to the imminent arrival of
their first child and, on a professional level,
she has achieved a status as an outstanding
teacher and administrator. She was quickly
promoted to Head of Classical Civilisation
and the pupils have flourished under her
compassionate and untiring tutelage; her time
was also much valued in The Murray, as coordinator of the hype programme and as the
ever willing volunteer for the interviewing of
pupils from pre-testing level to 16+ entrance.
Her gentle and calm manner easily combined
with an acuity of approach and evaluation.
She will be very greatly missed in the Classics
department and in College.