The Old Cliftonian Society (OCS) is the society for the alumni of Clifton College - whether pupils or staff. The OCS organises regular reunions at the school and publishes a regular newsletter for alumni.

Founded in 1862 as a school for boys, Clifton College

Clifton College

Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...

is a major public school

Public School (UK)

A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...

, now co-educational, in Clifton, Bristol

Clifton, Bristol

Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...

, England. There are currently around 720 pupils in the upper school - about one third of whom are girls.

The Society publishes an annual magazine for alumni called "The Cliftonian".

Clifton College Register

The register's motto:

"There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported..."

The Clifton College Register is the definitive set of records held for Clifton College

Clifton College

Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...

 in Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

. The Register is kept and manintained by the Old Cliftonian Society.

The record has been maintained unbroken from the very start of the school in 1862 and lists every pupil, master and headmaster. Each person is allocated a unique and consecutive school number - and for masters and headmasters the number is prefixed with either an M or HM as appropriate. The Register also maintains a record of the school roll in numbers, the Heads of School and summarises the major sporting records for each year.

The Register is periodically published by the Old Cliftonian Society; at present there are three available volumes:

• 1862 - 1947
• 1948 - 1977
• 1978 - 1994

A new edition is currently being prepared (2010).

School slang and terms

• Big School - The school canteen
• Big Side - 1st and 2nd XV rugby pitches
• Little Side - all other rugby pitches
• The Close - the grass in front of the school (inc. big and little side pitches)
• Praepostor (Praep)- school prefect
• Congers - (short for congregation) school congregational hymn singing
• The Grubber - the school stationers (historically, the school tuck shop)
• The Pens - School cross country races (long pen and short pen)
• Holder of the Big Side Bags - Captain of the School Cross Country Team
• The Huntsman - Vice Captain of the School Cross Country Team
• Exeat - 'Let him go out' (Latin) - permission for boarders to go home at the weekend or for longer periods
• Rustication - a milder form of suspension that isn't listed on a student's permanent record
• Yearlings - the youngest year in the (upper) school
• Head Man - the headmaster
• The Percy - the (Percival) library
• Terriers - an activity programme for the 3rd form (year 9) where they learn life skills, such as table manners.
• 'Coal Up'- an old expression, meaning 'hurry up'.
• HoM - used in conversation to mean housemaster or mistress

List of Headmasters from the register

Allocated consecutive numbers, prefixed HM

• HM1 - John Percival
  John Percival
  John Percival known as Mad Jack Percival was a legendary officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812, the campaign against West Indies pirates, and the Mexican-American War.-Biography:Born in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, Percival left home at thirteen to...
  
   - Lord Bishop of Hereford
• HM2 - Canon James Maurice Wilson
  James Maurice Wilson
  Rev. James Maurice Wilson was a British theologian, maths and science teacher, and astronomer.-Early life:...
  
   (1879–1890)
• HM3 - Canon Michael George Glazebrook
• HM4 - Rev. Albert Augustus David
• HM5 - Dr John David King
• HM6 - Norman Whatley
• HM7 - Bertrand Leslie Hallward
• HM8 - Henry Desmond Pritchard Lee
  Desmond Lee
  Sir Henry Desmond Pritchard Lee , known as Desmond Lee, was an English classical scholar specializing in ancient philosophy who became a Fellow and tutor of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, a lecturer in the University, and head master successively of Clifton College and Winchester College,...
  
  
• HM9 - Nicholas Geoffrey Lempriere Hammond
• HM10 - Steve John McWatters
• HM11 - Stuart Morrison Andrew
• HM12 - Andrew Hugh Monro
• HM13 - Dr Stephen Spurr
• HM14 - Mark Moore
  Mark Moore (Clifton College)
  Mark J Moore is currently the headmaster of Clifton College in Bristol - he succeeded Stephen Spurr in 2005. Clifton College is a co-educational independent school and has around 720 children in the Upper School of which about a third are girls.Moore was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School...
  
  

First entries in the Register

Pupils
Allocated consecutive numbers, prefixed P

• P1. Sept 1862 - Francis Charles Anderson (b 14 Nov 1846 - d 1881)

Masters
Allocated consecutive numbers, prefixed M

• M1. Sept 1862 - Rev. Thomas Henry Stokoe
  T. H. Stokoe
  Thomas Henry Stokoe DD , known as T. H. Stokoe and as Dr Stokoe, was an English clergyman, schoolmaster, author and headmaster....
  
  . (Educated at Uppingham; Exhibition at Lincoln College Oxford. Left - 1863. d 1903)

Headmasters
Allocated consecutive numbers, prefixed HM

• HM1 - John Percival
  John Percival (bishop)
  John Percival was the first Headmaster of Clifton College, where he made his reptutation as a great educator. In his 17 years at Clifton numbers rose from 62 to 680. He accepted the Presidency of Trinity College, Oxford to recover from his exhaustive years at Clifton...
  
  - Lord Bishop of Hereford
  Bishop of Hereford
  The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
  
  

The early years

• Numbers of pupils in the school

• 1862 - 69
• 1863 - 195 (including the new junior school)
• 1864 - 237
• 1865 - 258
• 1866 - 278

• Heads of School

• 1862 - HW Wellesley
• 1863 - AW Paul

External links

• Old Cliftonian Website
• Clifton College Website
• OC facebook page