the wellington college year book 2010/2011
23
Mr Fairclough is
an absolute legend
and the best teacher
I ever had. His lessons
were always fun
despite the ridiculous
amount of work
he always made us do
and he made us all think
that Politics was
really exciting
and important.
I never thought of myself
as an A grade student,
but he made me believe
I could be, and I owe him
my place at Uni.
paul fai rc loug h
20 0 7 – 2 0 1 1
Paul has enjoyed a whirlwind four years at
Wellington as Head of Politics and during
that time has elevated the Department to a
position of real pre-eminence, with a glowing
reputation both in and out of College,
partly due to his outstanding results, but
mainly to the extraordinary conferences he
organised. He is a prolific author of Politics
Textbooks, and is also a chief examiner: it is
surely only a coincidence that the publicity
on the Waterstones’ site for one of his latest
publications suggests to candidates that
purchasing this title will almost guarantee exam
success?! One of life’s great conversationalists,
Paul brings wit and wisdom to bear on all
he does, and the lives of his students were
immeasurably enriched by him. One of his
former pupils writes: ‘Mr Fairclough is an
absolute legend and the best teacher I ever
had. His lessons were always fun despite the
ridiculous amount of work he always made us
do and he made us all think that Politics was
really exciting and important. I never thought
of myself as an a grade student, but he made
me believe I could be, and I owe him my place
at Uni.’ Praise indeed, but no more than the
truth, and Wellington will be poorer for his
leaving, for he always had time for everyone
and had the rare ability to make the world
seem a better place.
Paul was a terrific Tutor in the Benson, with
an unshakable belief that he was involved
with the very best house: the boys always
looked forward to his evenings on duty, as
did the boys and girls who he used to ferry
uncomplainingly to Polo practises and matches.
It is somehow typical of him that he started
up the Wellington Angling Club, allowing him
as it did to combine one of his own greatest
enthusiasms with an opportunity to broaden
the lives of the pupils, while at the same time
indulging a limitless capacity to tell stories of
the tallest nature. Paul leaves us to take up
the post of Deputy Head at Casterton School
in Cumbria, and we wish him, his wife Clare,
and three lovely children, Adele, Felicity and
Dougla 2F?R&W7B?b???V6??