John Leonard Thorn
Encyclopedia
John Leonard Thorn is a writer and educational consultant. He was headmaster
of Repton School
from 1961 to 1968 and then of Winchester College
until 1985. He was Chairman of the Headmasters' Conference for 1981.
, and at Corpus Christi College
, Cambridge
.
Leaving school during the Second World War
, Thorn joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
, in which he served as a Sub-Lieutenant
from 1943 to 1946. On returning to civilian life, he took up a place at Corpus Christi
, graduating in 1949, and was then an assistant schoolmaster
at Clifton
from 1949 until being appointed headmaster of Repton
in 1961. From 1968 until 1985 he was headmaster of Winchester
. In 1981, he was Chairman of the Headmasters' Conference.
After his retirement from Winchester, where he has continued to live, Thorn was an educational consultant
and also a writer, as well as serving on a number of public and charitable bodies. He was a director of the Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
, from 1971 to 1976; a Trustee of the British Museum
from 1980 to 1985, and of the Winchester Cathedral
Trust, from 1986 to 1989; Vice-Chairman of the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust from 1989 to 1992, then its Chairman until 1996; for some years he served on the Executive Committee of the Cancer Research Campaign. He was Chairman of Governors of Abingdon School
from 1991 to 1994 and was also a Governor of Oakham School
and of Stowe School
during the 1980s.
Sir Robert Maconochie OBE
QC
, and they had one son and one daughter. His wife died in 1999.
In 1989 he published an autobiography, The Road to Winchester. He is a member of the Garrick Club
.
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
of Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
from 1961 to 1968 and then of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
until 1985. He was Chairman of the Headmasters' Conference for 1981.
Early life
The son of Stanley and Winifred Thorn, Thorn was educated at St Paul's School, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Career
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Thorn joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
, in which he served as a Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
from 1943 to 1946. On returning to civilian life, he took up a place at Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, graduating in 1949, and was then an assistant schoolmaster
Schoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
at Clifton
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...
from 1949 until being appointed headmaster of Repton
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
in 1961. From 1968 until 1985 he was headmaster of Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. In 1981, he was Chairman of the Headmasters' Conference.
After his retirement from Winchester, where he has continued to live, Thorn was an educational consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
and also a writer, as well as serving on a number of public and charitable bodies. He was a director of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, from 1971 to 1976; a Trustee of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
from 1980 to 1985, and of the Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
Trust, from 1986 to 1989; Vice-Chairman of the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust from 1989 to 1992, then its Chairman until 1996; for some years he served on the Executive Committee of the Cancer Research Campaign. He was Chairman of Governors of Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
from 1991 to 1994 and was also a Governor of Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
and of Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
during the 1980s.
Private life
In 1955, Thorn married Veronica Laura, daughter of the barristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
Sir Robert Maconochie OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, and they had one son and one daughter. His wife died in 1999.
In 1989 he published an autobiography, The Road to Winchester. He is a member of the Garrick Club
Garrick Club
The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in London.-History:The Garrick Club was founded at a meeting in the Committee Room at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Wednesday 17 August 1831...
.
Publications
- A History of England (1961, contributor)
- The Road to Winchester (1989, autobiography)