The Wheare family connection to the Dragon dates back to 1953, when Tom (OD 1958) joined the school, followed by his brother Henry (OD 1966, Former Parent) in 1959. During his time at the Dragon, Tom received second class prizes for his holiday diary on a couple of occasions, was part of the Debating Society and was mentioned as a ‘good Drill Leader’ in the Summer Draconian, 1958. On Prize Day 1958, Tom received a prize for soccer along with Mrs Stenning’s Prize for Dramatic Art. Henry is mentioned as a prefect in the Christmas Draconian of 1965 and the Easter and Summer Draconians of 1966, and also achieved second class for his holiday diary on a couple of occasions. Fast-forward to 1991 when Henry’s first-born, Richard (OD 1996), joined the Dragon, quickly followed by his brother James (OD 1999) in 1994. Tom later returned as governor of the Dragon school for over thirty years, and today, his daughter, Frances Wheare, is the Dragon’s Director of Development and Social Impact.
This month Tom and Henry take a walk down Dragon Lane. Tom recalls that his father “greatly enjoyed regular walks down Dragon Lane, emerging from the garden door of 55, Park Town and almost always encountering a cheerful passer-by.”
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My time at the Dragon School in three words
Tom: Educated by Uncles
Henry: Frightening, Funny, Formative (in that order)
When I was a young Dragon, I wanted to be
Tom: A teacher
Henry: Taller (careers had not then been invented) or an Antiquarian
The superpower I wish I had
Tom: The ability to dodge questions like this!
Henry: To read people’s minds
Eggy or marbles? Squares or Pin? Snakes or Rubix Cube?
Tom: I tended to go for walks and talks in the various gaps in the day, so none of these
Henry: N/A
My inspiration growing up
Tom: At the Dragon I was inspired by Bruno, and in all else by my parents
Henry: My brother
At the top of my bucket list
Tom: To hear a bittern boom
Henry: Original Orient Express (via Trans Siberian Railway) from Victoria Hong Kong to Victoria London
My most memorable moment at the Dragon
Tom: From the first minute, arriving with no place; from the last day, my Dad’s speech at prize-giving
Henry: Making and Directing 3 amateur movies about the fictional Tilbury School with Bev MacInnes and Dougie Dalrymple
My biggest achievement
Tom: Singing in the King’s College Cambridge Choir 1963-1966. If it’s meant to be a Dragon achievement, then being part of the Gilbert and Sullivan tradition.
Henry: Coxing Cambridge and Great Britain
The advice I would give to my younger self
Tom: It’s all yours, but make it so with love
Henry: Don’t worry It may never happen
In one sentence, what does it mean to be a Dragon?
Tom: To have an education that lasts
Henry: Walking with Kings, nor losing the common touch and the rest of that poem
Since my Dragon days …
Tom: I went on to teach at Eton College and Shrewsbury School. I was Headmaster of Bryanston School for over 20 years, and a Governor of the Dragon School for 30 years.
Henry: Intellectual property lawyer in Hong Kong since 1984 where it’s becoming a bit Orwellian, but still hanging on for dear life to the rule of law
Would you like to take a ‘walk down Dragon Lane’? Please get in touch with the Development team; we’d love to hear from you.
