List of masters of Gresham's School

The original school, founded in Sir John Gresham's manor house at Holt, sketched in 1838

This is a list of the Masters (later Headmasters) and Ushers (later Second Masters) of Gresham's School, Holt.

Masters, 1562–1900

• 1571: Master Robinson ^[1]
• 1574–1582: Master Harrison ^[1]
• 1585–1602: Christopher Williams ^[2]
• 1602–1605: Rev. Richard Snoden MA ^[2]
• 1605–1606: Rev. Francis Catlyn MA ^[2]
• 1606–1639: Thomas Tallis MA ^[2]
• 1639–1640: Rev. Nathaniel Gill ^[2]
• 1640: Thomas Tallis (again) ^[2]
• 1640–1644: Sir Thomas Witherley ^[2]
• 1644–1646: John Fenn ^[2]
• 1646–1659: Rev. Francis Wright MA, fellow of Merton College, Oxford ^[2]
• 1659–1660: Rev. William Hickes MA, previously Master of Oundle ^[2]
• 1660–1665: Rev. Henry Mazy MA ^[2]
• 1665–1667: Rev. John Goodman (acting Master) ^[2]
• 1667–1692: Rev. Thomas Bainbridge MA ^[2]
• 1692–1697: Rev. William Reynolds MA ^[2]
• 1697–1702: Edward Reynolds ^[1]
• 1702–1715: Rev. William Reynolds MA ^[1]
• 1715–1729: Rev. David Duncombe MA (d. 1729) ^[1]
• 1730–1760: John Holmes - writer of textbooks on grammar, rhetoric and astronomy ^[2]
• 1760: John Knox ^[2]
• 1760–1787: James Smith ^[2]
• 1787–1806: Thomas Atkins ^[2]
• 1806–1807: Rev. Mr Babington (acting Master) ^[2]
• 1807–1809: Thomas Atkins (again) ^{[2] [3]}
• 1809–1857: Rev. Benjamin Pulleyne, or Pullan MA, fellow of Clare College, Cambridge ^{[2] [4]}
• 1858–1867: Rev. Charles Allen Elton MA BD, fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge ^{[2] [5]}
• 1867–1900: Rev. Reginald Jolliffe Roberts MA ^{[2] [6]}

Headmasters, 1900 to date

• 1900–1919: George William Saul Howson MA, formerly of Uppingham, reforming headmaster ^[2]
• 1919–1935: J. R. Eccles MA ^[2]
• 1935–1944: Philip Staniforth Newell MA ^[2]
• 1944–1955: Martin John Olivier MA - previously of Rossall, later head of Guthlaxton College, Wigston Magna ^{[2] [7]}
• 1955–1982: Logie Bruce Lockhart, international rugby footballer ^{[2] [8]}
• 1982–1985: Dr Timothy Phillips Woods MA DPhil ^{[2] [8]}
• 1985–1991: Hugh Wright MA, later Chief Master of King Edward's School, Birmingham (1991–1998) and Chairman of the HMC ^{[2] [8]}
• 1991–2002: John Hardy Arkell MA, formerly head of Wrekin College ^{[2] [8] [9]}
• 2002–2008: Anthony Roy Clark MA, - formerly head of St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown, South Africa ^{[2] [8]}
• 2008–2013 : Philip John - formerly head of King William's College, Isle of Man
• 2013–2014 : Nigel Flower (acting headmaster)
• 2014– : Douglas Robb MA MEd

Ushers

• 1602–1606: Nicholas Stephenson ^[2]
• ? to 1621: John Watson ^[2]
• 1627–1632: Thomas Cooper ^[2]
• 1632–1638: Nicholas Davie ^[2]
• 1638: Thomas Cooper (again) ^[2]
• 1638–1639: Henry Luce ^[2]
• 1640: Henry Luce (again) ^[2]
• 1640–1643: Timothy Cutler ^[2]
• 1643–1644: Thomas Cooper (again) ^{[2] [10]} - hanged in 1650 as a Royalist rebel
• 1658–1660: Henry Mazy ^[2]
• 1661–1665: John Goodman ^[2]
• 1689–1692: Thomas Kellway ^[2]
• 1692: William Chambers ^[2]
• 1692–1695: Thomas Garrett ^[2]
• 1695: William Rowland ^[2]
• 1696–1697: Thomas Turner ^[2]
• 1697–1704: Thomas Plumstead ^[2]
• 1705–1708: John Reynolds ^[2]
• 1708: John Fox ^[2]
• 1708–1713: William Selth ^[2]
• 1713–1714: John Spurling ^[2]
• 1714–1715: William Chaplyn ^[2]
• c. 1718: John Brooke ^[2]
• c. 1725: John Holmes ^[2]
• 1729: Edward Read ^[2]
• 1770s: Christopher Stangroom ^[2]
• 1796–1801: David Kinnebrook ^[2]
• 1810–1811: Reverend Robert Davies ^[2]
• 1811–1813: Peter Barney ^[2]
• 1813–1821: Daniel Carr ^{[2] [11]}
• 1821: James Sturley ^[2]
• 1821–1828: Thomas Beckwith ^[2]
• 1828–1843: William Robert Taylor ^[2]
• 1843–1851: John Slann (first Second Master) ^[2]

Thomas Beckwith used the title "undermaster" in 1821. ^[12]

Second masters

• 1843–1851: John Slann (last Usher) ^[2]
• 1851: William Allen Rudkin ^[2]
• 1851–1857: John Hubbert Kent ^[2]
• 1858–1860: J. Rodney Phillips ^[2]
• 1860: Berney Wodehouse Raven ^[2]
• 1860–1862: Charles Frederick Furbank ^[2]
• 1862–1863: Frederick Roy Dowson ^[2]
• 1863–1864: George W. Anstiss ^{[2] [13]}
• 1864–1865: Henry David Jones ^[2]
• 1865–1866: William Henry Hooper ^[2]
• 1866–1867: Matthew Walter Tunnicliffe ^{[2] [14]}
• 1867: William Remington Backhouse ^[2]
• 1867: John Robinson Wells ^[2]
• 1867–1869: Robert Stokes ^[2]
• 1869–1871: Robert Campbell Conolly ^[2]
• 1871–1872: John Lowndes ^[2] > ^[15]
• 1872–1880: Stephen Bousfield ^[2]
• 1881–1900: John Henry Howell ^[2]
• 1900–1907: John Goodrich Wemyss Woods ^[2]
• 1907–1919: James Ronald Eccles, later headmaster ^[2]
• 1919–1928: John Chambré Miller ^{[2] [16]}
• 1928–1942: Joseph Foster ^[2]
• 1942–1963: A. Bruce Douglas ^{[2] [17]}
• 1963–1970: Bernard Sankey ^[2]
• 1970–1977: Paul V. A. Colombé ^[2]
• 1977–1985: John Coleridge ^[2]
• 1985–2001: Richard N. K. Copas ^[2]

Deputy heads (Pastoral)

• 2001–2006: S. Smart
• 2006–2016: N. C. Flower
• 2016–2020: W.A.M. Chuter
• 2020-present: E. Alexander

Deputy Heads (Academic)

• 2001–2010: N. White
• 2010–2013: D. Miles
• 2013–2016 : S. Kinder
• 2016–2023: T.P. Hipperson
• 2024-present: D. Chart-Boyles

Chaplains

• 1900–1901: R. L. Langford
• 1901–1908: E. E. M. Benson
• 1908–1930: Francis George Elwes Field, MA (Cantab.), previously headmaster of Truro Grammar School ^[18]
• 1930–1932: J. W. Reynolds
• 1932–1946: Edward Francis Habershon ^[19]
• 1946–1950: Charles L. S. Linnell ^[20]
• 1950–1959: Wilfred Andrews
• 1959–1974: Douglas C. Argyle ^[21]
• 1974–1975: Percival Hallewell Rogers (previously headmaster of Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, 1954–1973) ^{[22] [23]}
• 1975–1983 T. Ray Bowen ^[24]
• 1983–1991: A. Wadge ^[25]
• 1991–1992: Richard Buckner (died in office) ^[26]
• 1992 (acting): Patrick Rix ^[26]
• 1992–2000: Robin N. Myerscough ^[27]
• 2001–2020: Bryan R. Roberts ^{[27] [26]}
• 2020– : Jack Branford ^[28]

Headmasters of the Junior School

• 1954–1969: John B. Williams
• 1969–1979: Michael Hughes
• 1979–1984: Neville Jones

The Junior School was reorganized into the Preparatory School and the Pre-Preparatory School in 1984.

Headmasters of the Preparatory School

• 1984–2003: Tony Cuff
• 2003–2018: James Quick
• 2018-date: Catherine Braithwaite

Heads of the Pre-Preparatory School

• 1984–1991: Penelope Moore
• 1991–1997: Lesley Gillick
• 1997–2002: Daphne Dawson-Smith
• 2002–2017: Janette Davidson
• 2017–present: Sarah Hollingsworth

Housemasters and staff

Boys' houses ^[29]

House	Housemaster	Assistant housemaster
Howson's	J. Cowan	E. Robinson
Farfield	T. Burnett	J. Beales
Tallis	C. Cox	C. Oates
Woodlands	J. Sharrock	S. Knightbridge

Girls' houses ^[29]

House	Housemistress	Assistant Housemistress
Edinburgh	E. Fern	E. Wilson
Queens' (formerly Britten)	V. Seldon	E. Philpott
Oakeley	O. Ravilious	D. Majid

Notable masters

• John Holmes (master, 1730–1760), writer of textbooks on grammar, rhetoric and astronomy ^{[30] [31]}
• George Howson (headmaster, 1900–1919)
• Geoffrey Shaw (music master, 1902–1910), organist and composer ^[32]
• C. V. Durell (assistant master, 1904–05), writer of mathematics textbooks ^[30]
• Warin Foster Bushell (assistant master, 1907–1912), later headmaster of Michaelhouse and Birkenhead School and president of the Mathematical Association ^[33]
• Dalziel Llewellyn Hammick (assistant master, Chemistry, 1910–1918) - research chemist ^[34]
• Walter Greatorex (director of music, 1911–1949), composer ^[31]
• Arnold Powell (assistant master, early 1900s), later head of Bedford Modern School and Epsom College ^[35]
• Frank McEachran (assistant master from 1924), author ^[36]
• Denys Thompson (assistant master, English, 1930s), editor of the quarterly Scrutiny with F. R. Leavis ^[2] and of the journal The Use of English ^[37]
• Richard D'Aeth (assistant master, 1938–1940) ^[38]
• Charles W. Lloyd (assistant master, 1946–1951), later master of Dulwich College ^[39]
• Logie Bruce Lockhart (headmaster, 1955–1982), Scotland rugby footballer ^[8]
• Richard Smyth (born 1951), later head of King's School, Bruton ^[40]
• Hugh Wright (headmaster 1985-1991), later chief master of King Edward's School, Birmingham (1991–1998) and Chairman of the HMC ^{[2] [8]}
• Patrick Thompson (assistant master, physics, 1965–1983), Conservative Member of Parliament ^[41]
• Graeme Fife (classics master, 1970–1979), writer, playwright and broadcaster

See also

• Gresham's School
• List of Old Greshamians
• Category:People educated at Gresham's School

References

1. Lewis B. Radford, "Masters of the Gresham’s School" in History of Holt: a brief history of Parish, Church, and School (Holt: Rounce & Wortley, 1908), pp. 123–124
2. S. G. G. Benson, Martin Crossley Evans, I Will Plant Me a Tree: an Illustrated History of Gresham's School (James & James, London, 2002)
3. Atkins was dead by 1820: see Urban, Sylvanus, Gentleman's Magazine volume XC, for January to June 1820 (London, John Nichols & Son, 1820) Obituary, p. 477 online: "May 5 In Great Ormond street, the relict of Mr Atkins, formerly Master of Sir John Gresham's Grammar School, at Holt, in Norfolk."
4. Benjamin Pullan was educated at Wakefield Grammar School, was elected a Cave Scholar on 19 January 1805, was Senior Optime in 1808, and was described as "Master of Holt Grammar School, Norfolk, in 1837". (Peacock, Matthew, 'The History of Wakefield Grammar School', Milnes, 1892, p. 182)
5. Burke, Edmund, Annual Register for 1858, p. 511 (London, Rivington's, 1859): [Promotions, July 1858] "Rev. C. A. Elton to be Head Master of the Gresham Grammar School, Holt, Norfolk."
6. Roberts, Rev. R.J., M.A., Head Master, Holt Grammar School: from The Teachers List (1872) p. 216
7. "Mr. Martin Olivier" in Gloucestershire Echo, Tuesday 11 April 1944, p. 4: "Mr. Martin Olivier, who has been for 20 years on the staff of Rossall School, has been appointed head master of Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk, at present evacuated to Newquay, Cornwall."
8. Who's Who 2003 (A. & C. Black, London, 2003)
9. Born 10 July 1939 (Birthdays in The Independent dated 10 July 1999, accessed 9 January 2009
10. CCED Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine for Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich: "1643 / Subsc / Cooper, Thomas / Holt Grammar School / Schoolmaster"
11. Notice in Norwich Mercury newspaper dated 8 December 1821:"D. CARR Begs leave respectfully to inform the inhabitants of Fakenham, and the Public in general, that after the Christmas Vacation, he intends opening a BOARDING and DAY SCHOOL, in that Place, for the reception of YOUNG GENTLEMEN... D. CARR has spent six years and a half as Sub-Master in the Holt Grammar School, under the Rev. B. Pullan; and a year and a half as one of the Masters in the Norwich grammar School, under the Rev. E. Valpy, by whom he was also formerly instructed. NB Letters addressed to D. Carr, Holt, will receive immediate attention."
12. Sara Slinn, The Education of the Anglican Clergy, 1780-1839 (Boydell & Brewer, 2017), p. 159
13. 'Ecclesiastical News' in Liverpool Mercury, Saturday, 13 February 1864; Issue 4997
14. Matthew Walter Tunnicliffe of St John's College, Cambridge, graduated BA 1866; second master of Holt Grammar School, Norfolk, 1866-67; curate of Ringstead, Norfolk, 1867-69, of Elmley, Yorks, 1869-71; Vicar of Earlsheaton, Yorks., 1871; died 1891: from Leeds Grammar School Admission Books, from 1820 to 1900 (Thoresby Society, 1906) p. 139
15. "Lowndes, J., B.A., Assistant Master, Holt Grammar School": from The Teachers List (1872) p. 206
16. Died 1928: obituary in The Times, 6 Sept. 1928; pg. 15; Issue 44991; col A
17. Died 1963: see L. Bruce Lockart, Mr. A. B. Douglas in The Times, Friday, 27 Dec 1963; pg. 10; Issue 55893; col D
18. Alumni Cantabrigienses 1752–1900 , (Vol. II, Chalmers – Fytche, 1944), p. 491
19. born 9 May 1886 (habershons.com Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine ); educated Harrow School and Clare College, Cambridge
20. Benson, I Will Plant Me a Tree, p. 56 & pp. 92-93: Linnell was also the editor of the School Register published in 1955
21. Previously assistant chaplain at Repton School: see The Times, Tuesday, 24 Nov 1959; pg. 14; Issue 54626; col E
22. Sandford Link Archive Issue 37 February 1985 at sandfordonthames.co.uk, accessed 9 January 2009
23. Born 1913; author of A Guide to Divinity Teaching (London, SPCK, 1962)
24. Old Greshamian Magazine, Number 147, (October 2008) p. 25
25. The Times, Tuesday, 10 May 1983; pg. 14; Issue 61528; col C
26. Old Greshamian Magazine, Number 159, November 2020, pp. 56, 136
27. Old Greshamian Magazine, November 2002, p. 48
28. Tony Rothe, "Aylsham curate takes on Holt school chaplaincy", Network Norwich, July 2020, accessed 28 June 2025
29. Senior Staff list Archived 2008-09-13 at the Wayback Machine at greshams.com
30. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004)
31. The History and Register of Gresham's School, 1555–1954 (Ipswich, 1955)
32. Geoffrey Shaw (Composer, Arranger) at www.bach-cantatas.com
33. BUSHELL, Warin Foster, in Who Was Who 1897-2007 online, retrieved 24 May 2008 from BUSHELL, Warin Foster (2008)
34. Dalziel Llewellyn Hammick, 1887-1966 by E. J. Bowen in Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, vol. 13, November 1967, pp. 107–124
35. The Times , Saturday, 13 January 1917, issue 41375, p. 4, col. B
36. According to W. H. Auden's The Map of All My Youth (Clarendon Press, 1990, p. 117), McEachran arrived at Gresham's as a master in September 1924. His books include The Civilized Man (1930), The Destiny of Europe (1932), The Life and Philosophy of Johann Gottfried Herder (1939), Freedom - The Only End, Spells for Poets, and More Spells
37. Obituary Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine of Boris Ford in College Record 1998 of Downing College, Cambridge (accessed 22 October 2007)
38. Professor Richard D'Aeth, obituary in The Independent dated 5 May 2008
39. Who’s Who 1997 (A. & C. Black, London, 1997) p. 1186
40. SMYTH, Richard Ian, Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, 2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014
41. THOMPSON, (Hugh) Patrick ^{[ permanent dead link ]} in Who's Who 2007 online (accessed 28 September 2007)