Winchester College launches famous alumni tours

England’s oldest continually running school, Winchester College, has launched a number of unique guided tours this December to celebrate the lives of notable ‘Old Wykehamists’ (former pupils) including a former Chancellor, an Antarctic explorer and the inventor of the pillar-box.

The guided tours, taking place on Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 23rd December 2008, will all include an in-depth look at the 600-year-old College, accompanied by anecdotal stories and insights into the school days of ten of the most notable ‘Old Wykehamists.’

The former pupils being honoured as part of the tours include William of Wykeham who was the Chancellor of England twice, as well as the founder of Winchester College and New College, Oxford. The Antarctic explorer and survivor of the Terra Nova Expedition, Apsley Cherry-Garrard, will also be featured, as will the acclaimed author Anthony Trollope who also invented the pillar-box.

Other ‘Old Wykehamists’ featured in the tours include:

• Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding (1882-1970) Air Chief Marshal in World War two.
• Field Marshal Earl Wavell (1883-1950) Viceroy of India.
• Marshal of the Royal Air Force Viscount Portal (1893-1971) – C-in-C Fighter Command, World War two.
• George Mallory (1887-1924) Mountaineer, possibly the first to reach the summit of Everest.
• Douglas Jardine (1900 – 1958) Former English cricket captain.
• Sir Kenneth Clark (1903 – 1983) Director of the National Gallery and fine art historian.
• Richard Noble (1946-) Former holder of the land speed record.

The guided tours are taking place on Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 23rd December 2008 at 11.30am and booking is essential. Tickets are priced at £4 for adults and £3.50 for students and senior citizens. For more information please visit winchestercollege.org.

Winchester College offers the original guided tours every day of the year, except Christmas and New Year, at specific times throughout the day. The tours last for approximately one hour and concentrate on the medieval heart of the college including the gothic chapel, the chamber court, the medieval cloister and the original Scholar’s dining room.

For more information on Winchester, see Visitwinchester.co.uk.