John Vaughan Wilkes
Encyclopedia
John Comyn Vaughan Wilkes (30 March 1902 - 24 January 1986) was an English educationalist, who was Warden of Radley College
and an Anglican priest.
Wilkes was born in Eastbourne
, the eldest son of Lewis Chitty Vaughan Wilkes and his wife Cicely Ellen Philadelphia Comyn. His parents were the proprietors of St Cyprian's School
which they had established in 1899. Wilkes was educated at Fonthill East Grinstead, St Cyprians and Eton College
, where he was a King's Scholar
. George Orwell
and Cyril Connolly
followed him to Eton as scholars from his parents' school. Wilkes won a classical scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford
. At Oxford, he won a half blue for golf and played in the University Golf Match
against Cambridge
in 1924 and 1925.
In 1925, Wilkes became an assistant master at Eton and from 1930 to 1937 he was Master in College
(or housemaster for the King's Scholars) there. In 1937 he became Warden of Radley College
, and after the outbreak of World War II
he helped arrange for Eastbourne College
to be evacuated to Radley from the south coast. In spite of overcrowding, the two schools drew together harmoniously.
Wilkes pushed the school forward and was an ardent believer in the duty of public schools to share their benefits with others less fortunate. While at Radley, he took Holy Orders becoming Deacon in 1945 and Priest in 1946. He led the school in the centenary celebration in 1947, and left Radley in 1954 to become a practising clergyman. He was Vicar of Hunslet
, Leeds from 1954 until 1958 where he was concerned with social issues in deprived areas. He was then Vicar of Marlow
until 1965. From 1965 to 1967 he was Rector of Preston Bisset, and then Rector of Great Kimble. In 1974 he was recommended for appointment as Bishop of Peterborough, but turned down the offer. He retired in 1977, and went to live in Hereford
where he died aged 84.
Wilkes married Joan Alington, a daughter of Cyril Alington
in 1940. Her father was headmaster of Eton and Dean of Durham, and her sisters married Sir Alec Douglas Home, later Prime Minister, and Roger Mynors
, who were both Wilkes' contemporaries at Eton. Wilkes' sister Rosemary married cricketer William Tomlinson
who became headmaster of St Cyprians. John and Joan Wilkes' daughter Kathy Wilkes
was a philosopher and active campaigner for academic freedom in Soviet Eastern Europe.
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
and an Anglican priest.
Wilkes was born in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, the eldest son of Lewis Chitty Vaughan Wilkes and his wife Cicely Ellen Philadelphia Comyn. His parents were the proprietors of St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School was an English preparatory school for boys, which operated in the early 20th century in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Like other preparatory schools, its purpose was to train pupils to do well enough in the examinations to gain admission to leading public schools, and to provide an...
which they had established in 1899. Wilkes was educated at Fonthill East Grinstead, St Cyprians and Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where he was a King's Scholar
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
. George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
and Cyril Connolly
Cyril Connolly
Cyril Vernon Connolly was an English intellectual, literary critic and writer. He was the editor of the influential literary magazine Horizon and wrote Enemies of Promise , which combined literary criticism with an autobiographical exploration of why he failed to become the successful author of...
followed him to Eton as scholars from his parents' school. Wilkes won a classical scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. At Oxford, he won a half blue for golf and played in the University Golf Match
University Golf Match
The University Golf Match is the annual golf match contested between the Full Blue golf teams from Oxford and Cambridge universities. Dating back to 1878, it is the oldest amateur event in golf, as well as the oldest team event in golf...
against Cambridge
Cambridge University Golf Club
The Cambridge University Golf Club is the golf club for the University of Cambridge, England. It comprises the Blues team, the second-team Stymies, and the Ladies team. The club was founded in 1875, and the first University Golf Match was played against Oxford in 1878...
in 1924 and 1925.
In 1925, Wilkes became an assistant master at Eton and from 1930 to 1937 he was Master in College
Master in College
Master in College is the title of the master responsible for College, the oldest boarding house at Eton College, which is reserved for the seventy King's Scholars....
(or housemaster for the King's Scholars) there. In 1937 he became Warden of Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, and after the outbreak of World War II
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...
he helped arrange for Eastbourne College
Eastbourne College
Eastbourne College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils aged 13–18, situated on the south coast of England, included in the Tatler list of top public schools. The College's current headmaster is Simon Davies. The College was founded by the Duke of Devonshire...
to be evacuated to Radley from the south coast. In spite of overcrowding, the two schools drew together harmoniously.
Wilkes pushed the school forward and was an ardent believer in the duty of public schools to share their benefits with others less fortunate. While at Radley, he took Holy Orders becoming Deacon in 1945 and Priest in 1946. He led the school in the centenary celebration in 1947, and left Radley in 1954 to become a practising clergyman. He was Vicar of Hunslet
Hunslet
Hunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
, Leeds from 1954 until 1958 where he was concerned with social issues in deprived areas. He was then Vicar of Marlow
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
until 1965. From 1965 to 1967 he was Rector of Preston Bisset, and then Rector of Great Kimble. In 1974 he was recommended for appointment as Bishop of Peterborough, but turned down the offer. He retired in 1977, and went to live in Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
where he died aged 84.
Wilkes married Joan Alington, a daughter of Cyril Alington
Cyril Alington
Cyril Argentine Alington was an English educationalist, scholar, cleric, and prolific author. He was the headmaster of both Shrewsbury School and Eton College. He also served as chaplain to King George V and as Dean of Durham....
in 1940. Her father was headmaster of Eton and Dean of Durham, and her sisters married Sir Alec Douglas Home, later Prime Minister, and Roger Mynors
Roger Mynors
Sir Roger Aubrey Baskerville Mynors was a British academic and classical scholar.Mynors was educated at Summer Fields School, Oxford and won a scholarship to Eton. He was Newcastle Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford. At Eton and Balliol, he was a friend of Cyril Connolly. He was Hertford and...
, who were both Wilkes' contemporaries at Eton. Wilkes' sister Rosemary married cricketer William Tomlinson
William Tomlinson
William James Vincent Tomlinson was an English schoolmaster and cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire and Cambridge University from 1920 to 1924....
who became headmaster of St Cyprians. John and Joan Wilkes' daughter Kathy Wilkes
Kathy Wilkes
Kathleen Vaughan Wilkes was an English philosopher and academic who played an important part in rebuilding the education systems of former Communist countries after 1990. She established her reputation as an academic with her contributions to the philosophy of mind in two major works and many...
was a philosopher and active campaigner for academic freedom in Soviet Eastern Europe.