List of masters of Gresham's School

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 1574–1582: Master Harrison 1585–1602: Christopher Williams 1602–1605: Rev. Richard Snoden MAS. G. G. Benson, Martin Crossley Evans, I Will Plant Me a Tree: an Illustrated History of Gresham's School (James & James, London, 2002) 1605–1606: Rev. Francis Catlyn MA 1606–1639: Thomas Tallis MA 1639–1640: Rev. Nathaniel Gill 1640: Thomas Tallis (again) 1640–1644: Sir Thomas Witherley 1644–1646: John Fenn 1646–1659: Rev. Francis Wright MA, fellow of Merton College, Oxford 1659–1660: Rev. William Hickes MA, previously Master of Oundle 1661–1665: Rev. Henry Mazey MA, Fellow of Caius College, CambridgeJohn Venn, Biographical History of Gonville and Caius College 1349–1897, Vol. I (Cambridge: at the University Press, 1897), p. 388 1665–1667: Rev. John Goodman (acting Master) 1667–1692: Rev. Thomas Bainbridge MA 1692–1697: Rev. William Reynolds MA 1697–1702: Edward ReynoldsLewis 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 1702–1715: Rev. William Reynolds MA 1715–1729: Rev. David Duncombe MA (d. 1729) 1730–1760: John Holmes - writer of textbooks on grammar, rhetoric and astronomy 1760: John Knox 1760–1787: James Smith 1787–1806: Thomas Atkins 1806–1807: Rev. Mr Babington (acting Master) 1807–1809: Thomas Atkins (again)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." 1809–1857: Rev. Benjamin Pulleyne, or Pullan MA, fellow of Clare College, Cambridge"PULLAN (or PULLEYNE), Benjamin", in John Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses Part II. 1752–1900, Vol. V Pace – Spyers (1953), p. 215"Benjamin Pullan" in Matthew Peacock, The History of Wakefield Grammar School (Milnes, 1892), p. 182 1858–1867: Rev. Charles Allen Elton MA BD, fellow of Sidney Sussex College, CambridgeBurke, 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." 1867–1900: Rev. Reginald Jolliffe Roberts MARoberts, Rev. R.J., M.A., Head Master, Holt Grammar School: from The Teachers List (1872) p. 216

Headmasters, 1900 to date 1900–1919: George William Saul Howson MA, formerly of Uppingham, reforming headmaster 1919–1935: J. R. Eccles MA 1935–1944: Philip Staniforth Newell MA 1944–1955: Martin John Olivier MA - previously of Rossall, later head of Guthlaxton College, Wigston Magna"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." 1955–1982: Logie Bruce Lockhart, international rugby footballerWho's Who 2003 (A. & C. Black, London, 2003) 1982–1985: Dr Timothy Phillips Woods MA DPhil 1985–1991: Hugh Wright MA, later Chief Master of King Edward's School, Birmingham (1991–1998) and Chairman of the HMC 1991–2002: John Hardy Arkell MA, formerly head of Wrekin College 2002–2008: Anthony Roy Clark MA, - formerly head of St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown, South Africa 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 ? to 1621: John Watson 1627–1632: Thomas Cooper 1632–1638: Nicholas Davie 1638: Thomas Cooper (again) 1638–1639: Henry Luce 1640: Henry Luce (again) 1640–1643: Timothy Cutler 1643–1644: Thomas Cooper (again)CCED for Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich: "1643 / Subsc / Cooper, Thomas / Holt Grammar School / Schoolmaster" - hanged in 1650 as a Royalist rebel 1658–1660: Henry Mazy 1661–1665: John Goodman 1689–1692: Thomas Kellway 1692: William Chambers 1692–1695: Thomas Garrett 1695: William Rowland 1696–1697: Thomas Turner 1697–1704: Thomas Plumstead 1705–1708: John Reynolds 1708: John Fox 1708–1713: William Selth 1713–1714: John Spurling 1714–1715: William Chaplyn c. 1718: John Brooke c. 1725: John Holmes 1729: Edward Read 1770s: Christopher Stangroom 1796–1801: David Kinnebrook 1810–1811: Reverend Robert Davies 1811–1813: Peter Barney 1813–1821: Daniel CarrNotice 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." 1821: James Sturley 1821–1828: Thomas Beckwith 1828–1843: William Robert Taylor 1843–1851: John Slann (first Second Master)

Thomas Beckwith used the title "undermaster" in 1821.Sara Slinn, The Education of the Anglican Clergy, 1780-1839 (Boydell & Brewer, 2017), p. 159

Second masters

1843–1851: John Slann (last Usher) 1851: William Allen Rudkin 1851–1857: John Hubbert Kent 1858–1860: J. Rodney Phillips 1860: Berney Wodehouse Raven 1860–1862: Charles Frederick Furbank 1862–1863: Frederick Roy Dowson 1863–1864: George W. Anstiss'Ecclesiastical News' in Liverpool Mercury, Saturday, 13 February 1864; Issue 4997 1864–1865: Henry David Jones 1865–1866: William Henry Hooper 1866–1867: Matthew Walter TunnicliffeMatthew 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 1867: William Remington Backhouse 1867: John Robinson Wells 1867–1869: Robert Stokes 1869–1871: Robert Campbell Conolly 1871–1872: John Lowndes"Lowndes, J., B.A., Assistant Master, Holt Grammar School": from The Teachers List (1872) p. 206 1872–1880: Stephen Bousfield 1881–1900: John Henry Howell 1900–1907: John Goodrich Wemyss Woods 1907–1919: James Ronald Eccles, later headmaster 1919–1928: John Chambré MillerDied 1928: obituary in The Times, 6 Sept. 1928; pg. 15; Issue 44991; col A 1928–1942: Joseph Foster 1942–1963: A. Bruce DouglasDied 1963: see L. Bruce Lockart, Mr. A. B. Douglas in The Times, Friday, 27 Dec 1963; pg. 10; Issue 55893; col D 1963–1970: Bernard Sankey 1970–1977: Paul V. A. Colombé 1977–1985: John Coleridge 1985–2001: Richard N. K. Copas

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 SchoolAlumni Cantabrigienses 1752–1900, (Vol. II, Chalmers – Fytche, 1944), p. 491 1930–1932: J. W. Reynolds 1932–1946: Edward Francis Habershonborn 9 May 1886 (habershons.com ); educated Harrow School and Clare College, Cambridge 1946–1950: Charles L. S. LinnellBenson, I Will Plant Me a Tree, p. 56 & pp. 92-93: Linnell was also the editor of the School Register published in 1955 1950–1959: Wilfred Andrews 1959–1974: Douglas C. Argyle,Previously assistant chaplain at Repton School: see The Times, Tuesday, 24 Nov 1959; pg. 14; Issue 54626; col E died 2012Old Greshamian Magazine, September 2013, p. 92 1974–1975: Percival Hallewell Rogers (previously headmaster of Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, 1954–1973)Sandford Link Archive Issue 37 February 1985 at sandfordonthames.co.uk, accessed 9 January 2009Born 1913; author of A Guide to Divinity Teaching (London, SPCK, 1962) 1975–1983 T. Ray BowenOld Greshamian Magazine, Number 147, (October 2008) p. 25 1983–1991: Alan Wadge,The Times, Tuesday, 10 May 1983; pg. 14; Issue 61528; col C later Rector of SparsholtAnthony Lee, "Reverend Alan Wadge", childreyandsparsholt.org, accessed 14 November 2025 1991–1992: Richard Buckner (died in office) 1992 (acting): Patrick Rix 1992–2000: Robin N. MyerscoughOld Greshamian Magazine, November 2002, p. 48 2001–2020: Bryan R. RobertsOld Greshamian Magazine, Number 159, November 2020, pp. 56, 136 2020– : Jack BranfordTony Rothe, "Aylsham curate takes on Holt school chaplaincy", Network Norwich, July 2020, accessed 28 June 2025

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' housesSenior Staff list at greshams.com

House Housemaster Assistant housemaster Howson's J. CowanE. RobinsonFarfield T. BurnettJ. Beales Tallis C. CoxC. Oates Woodlands J. SharrockS. Knightbridge

Girls' houses

House Housemistress Assistant Housemistress Edinburgh E. Fern E. Wilson Queens' (formerly Britten) V. Seldon E. PhilpottOakeley O. RaviliousD. Majid

Notable masters John Holmes (master, 1730–1760), writer of textbooks on grammar, rhetoric and astronomy George Howson (headmaster, 1900–1919) Geoffrey Shaw (music master, 1902–1910), organist and composerGeoffrey Shaw (Composer, Arranger) at www.bach-cantatas.com C. V. Durell (assistant master, 1904–05), writer of mathematics textbooksOxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004) Warin Foster Bushell (assistant master, 1907–1912), later headmaster of Michaelhouse and Birkenhead School and president of the Mathematical Association Dalziel Llewellyn Hammick (assistant master, Chemistry, 1910–1918) - research chemistDalziel Llewellyn Hammick, 1887-1966 by E. J. Bowen in Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, vol. 13, November 1967, pp. 107–124 Walter Greatorex (director of music, 1911–1949), composerThe History and Register of Gresham's School, 1555–1954 (Ipswich, 1955) Arnold Powell (assistant master, early 1900s), later head of Bedford Modern School and Epsom CollegeThe Times, Saturday, 13 January 1917, issue 41375, p. 4, col. B Frank McEachran (assistant master from 1924), authorAccording 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 Denys Thompson (assistant master, English, 1930s), editor of the quarterly Scrutiny with F. R. Leavis and of the journal The Use of EnglishObituary of Boris Ford in College Record 1998 of Downing College, Cambridge (accessed 22 October 2007) Richard D'Aeth (assistant master, 1938–1940)Professor Richard D'Aeth, obituary in The Independent dated 5 May 2008 Charles W. Lloyd (assistant master, 1946–1951), later master of Dulwich CollegeWho’s Who 1997 (A. & C. Black, London, 1997) p. 1186 Logie Bruce Lockhart (headmaster, 1955–1982), Scotland rugby footballer