Sir William Mallalieu

(OD 1922)

Politician, Journalist, Author and Naval Officer

Sir William ‘Per’ Mallalieu (OD 1922) attended the Dragon between 1916 and 1922 before progressing, via Cheltenham College to Trinity College, Oxford.

He was considered something of a schoolboy hero: the winner of cups for diving, gymnastics, cricket; captain of the hockey, rugby and debating teams; winner of history, divinity, recitation and reading prizes, and the player of four major roles in school plays (including those of Macbeth and Petrucio in The Taming of the Shrew). In his leaving year of 1922 at the Dragon, he was awarded the Officers’ Cup, one given, by the vote of the whole School, to the boy who had “the most gentlemanly bearing and best influence on other boys.” Speaking of the Mallalieu brothers, Skipper commented,

“We have had fine fellows, fine scholars and fine athletes before: but never have we had, at the same time in the School, three boys who each combined in himself the fine fellow, fine scholar and athlete as they are combined in these three. It has been a wonderful privilege to masters and boys to have these three to lead the School.”

Per’s political and journalistic ambitions had to go on hold when he was called up in 1942 and he joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman. Out of his experiences of naval escort work on a destroyer in the Arctic convoys to Russia came a book: Very Ordinary Seaman. Of it, Michael Foot wrote, “… A masterpiece. It must take its place on any shelf purporting to hold the English classics of sea literature.” The hardback edition sold 64,000 copies.

In 1945 Per married Harriet Tinn and they had two children: Ben Mallalieu, author and a Travel editor for The Guardian, and Ann (Baroness Mallalieu QC). Sir William ‘Per’ Mallalieu died on 13 March 1980, aged 71. At his funeral, the lesson was read by a Dragon contemporary (and later member of staff), Francis Wylie and Michael Foot, having given the address, contributed an appreciation to the Tribune:

“From the moment I first set eyes on him, I fell, as I’m sure countless others did too, beneath his charm and its strange magic never lapsed thereafter. A poor word, charm, I fear, to describe what he had: a careless, uncalculating quality, an overflowing, never-failing sense of humour, a gift for comradeship, a faith in our common humanity…”

More Eminent Dragons

Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC

Od year - (OD 1931)

Position - RAF Pilot, Philanthropist and Life Peer

Leonard was born in Chester and moved to Oxford at a young age, where he studied at the Dragon and Stowe School. He was later accepted ... Read more

Dame Cressida Dick DBE QPM

Od year - (OD 1974)

Position - Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police

Photo Credit: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Read more

Tom George

Od year - (OD 2008)

Position - Athlete

Tom attended the Dragon between 2003 and 2008. During his time at the School Tom thrived as a sportsman, particularly on the rugby ... Read more

Nevil Shute Norway

Od year - (OD 1913)

Position - Aeronautical Engineer and Novelist

Nevil Norway (OD 1913) left the Dragon at the end of the Easter Term 1913. He went on to graduate from Balliol College, Oxford, in ... Read more

Christopher de Lerisson Cazenove

Od year - (OD 1957)

Position - Actor

Christopher de Lerisson Cazenove (OD 1957) was born in 1943. He attended the Dragon between 1953 and 1957 before being educated at ... Read more

Dr Henry Marsh CBE FRCS

Od year - (OD 1963)

Position - Neurosurgeon

Henry Marsh CBE FRCS (OD 1963) joined the Dragon in 1958. He is a leading English neurosurgeon. His work in Ukraine was the subject of ... Read more

William Fiennes

Od year - (OD 1983)

Position - Author

William Fiennes attended the Dragon between 1978 and 1983, then Eton, before studying at Oxford University. He is the bestselling ... Read more

Tom Hollander

Od year - (OD 1980)

Position - Actor

Tom Hollander (OD 1980) is an award-winning actor. He attended the Dragon between 1975 and 1980 and continued to Abingdon School ... Read more

Nick Wheeler OBE

Od year - (OD 1978)

Position - Entrepreneur

Nick Wheeler OBE (OD 1978) was born in Ludlow, Shropshire, and attended the Dragon from 1973 through to 1978. He went on to attend ... Read more

Dr Stephen Oppenheimer

Od year - (OD 1960)

Position - Paediatrician, Geneticist & Writer

Dr Stephen Oppenheimer (OD 1960) attended the Dragon from 1955 through to 1960. He is a graduate of Green Templeton College, Oxford. ... Read more

Naomi Mitchison OBE

Od year - (OD 1911)

Position - Novelist and Poet

Naomi Mitchison CBE (OD 1911), (née Haldane) followed her brother to the Dragon (then known as Oxford Preparatory School) in 1904, as ... Read more

Lady Antonia Fraser

Od year - (OD 1944)

Position - Author

Lady Antonia Fraser (née Pakenham) (OD 1944) is an award-winning historian and author. She attended the Dragon between 1940 and ... Read more

Sir Tim Hunt FRS FRSE FMedSci MAE

Od year - (OD 1956)

Position - Biochemist and Molecular Physiologist

Sir Richard Timothy Hunt (OD 1956) is a British biochemist and molecular physiologist. He joined the Dragon in 1951 and left in 1956. ... Read more

Jack Whitehall

Od year - (OD 2001)

Position - Actor, Comedian, Presenter and Writer

Jack Whitehall (OD 2001) grew up in London and went to board at the Dragon, aged 10. He is an award-winning actor, comedian, presenter ... Read more

John Betjeman CBE

Od year - (OD 1920)

Position - Poet, Writer and Broadcaster

Sir John Betjeman (OD 1920) was born in London and joined the Dragon in 1917, before being educated at Marlborough College and then ... Read more

Nicholas Shakespeare FRSL

Od year - (OD 1970)

Position - Novelist and Biographer

Nicholas Shakespeare (OD 1970) joined the Dragon in 1966. He is the author of seven novels, including 'The Vision of Elena Silves' ... Read more

Tim Henman OBE

Od year - (OD 1987)

Position - Athlete

Tim Henman OBE (OD 1987) is a British retired professional tennis player. He began playing tennis at the early age of two-and-a-half ... Read more

Ronald Poulton Palmer

Od year - (OD 1903)

Position - Lieutenant, England Rugby Captain

Ronald 'Ronnie' Poulton (OD 1903) was born in Headington, Oxford to Edward Bagnall Poulton, Hope Professor of Zoology at Oxford ... Read more

Simon Tolkien

Od year - (OD 1972)

Position - Novelist and Former Barrister

Simon Tolkien (OD 1972) grew up in Oxford where he loved his time at the Dragon School and returned there to study modern history at ... Read more

Jack Davenport

Od year - (OD 1986)

Position - Actor

Jack Davenport (OD 1986) joined the Dragon aged seven and went on to attend Cheltenham College, before studying English Literature and ... Read more

Alan Macfarlane FBA FRHistS

Od year - (OD 1955)

Position - Anthropologist and Historian

Alan Macfarlane FBA FRHistS (OD 1955) attended the Dragon between 1950 and 1955. He is an anthropologist and historian. He is an ... Read more

Maia Bouchier

Od year - (OD 2012)

Position - Cricketer

Maia Bouchier (OD 2012) born in London, joined the Dragon in 2011. In B Block, she played for the 2nd XI with a handful of games for ... Read more

Frances Houghton MBE

Od year - (OD 1993)

Position - Athlete

Frances Houghton MBE (OD 1993), daughter of ‘Lofty’ (OD 1953), learnt to row at the Dragon School and went on to be the first British ... Read more

Poppy Adams

Od year - (OD 1983)

Position - Documentary Director/Producer and Novelist

Poppy Adams (OD 1983) is a British television documentary director/producer and novelist. Following her education at the Dragon, ... Read more

Hugh Dancy

Od year - (OD 1988)

Position - Actor

Photo © Tabercil - Hugh Dancy Read more

Dom Joly

Od year - (OD 1981)

Position - Comedian and Writer

Dom Joly (OD 1981) attended the Dragon between 1976 and 1981. He is a multi-award winning comedian and travel writer. He was the ... Read more

Michael Beloff KC

Od year - (OD 1954)

Position - Barrister and Arbitrator

Michael Beloff KC (OD 1954) attended the Dragon from 1950 to 1954. He was a scholar at Eton where he was Captain of the school and ... Read more

Sir Lancelot Mallalieu

Od year - (OD 1918)

Position - Politician

Sir Edward Lancelot Mallalieu (OD 1918) known as Lance Mallalieu, was a British politician. He was educated at the Dragon School, ... Read more

Lieutenant General Sir Charles Roland Walker KCB DSO (OD 1983)

Position - Senior British Army Officer

Lieutenant General Roland Walker KCB DSO joined the Dragon in 1978 before attending Harrow and Cirencester. He went on to join the ... Read more

Alain de Botton

Od year - (OD 1982)

Position - Philosopher and Author

Alain de Botton was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and now lives in London. He is a writer of essayistic books that have been ... Read more

Paul Chahidi

Od year - (OD 1982)

Position - Actor

Paul Chahidi (OD 1982) grew up in Summertown, and attended the Dragon from E through to A Block. He is a Tony and Olivier nominated ... Read more

Sir Lennox Berkeley

Od year - (OD 1912)

Position - Composer

Sir Lennox Berkeley (OD 1912) was born in Boars Hill, Oxfordshire, and attended the Dragon from 1909 through to 1912. He went on to ... Read more

Lord Armstrong of Ilminster GCB CVO

Od year - (OD 1940)

Position - Civil Servant and Life Peer

Robert Temple Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster (OD 1940), was born in Headington, Oxford. He was educated at the Dragon from ... Read more

Sir John Kendrew CBE FRS

Od year - (OD 1930)

Position - Biochemist and Crystallographer

John C. Kendrew (OD 1930) attended the Dragon between 1923 and 1930 before being educated at Clifton College, Bristol (1930-1936), and ... Read more

Brent Hoberman CBE

Od year - (OD 1982)

Position - Entrepreneur

Brent Hoberman (OD 1982) was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and attended the Dragon from 1979 through to 1982. He went on to attend ... Read more

Pico Iyer

Od year - (OD 1970)

Position - Essayist and Novelist

Essayist and novelist Pico Iyer (OD 1970) won a King’s Scholarship to Eton, following his time at the Dragon, and then a Demyship to ... Read more

Emma Watson

Od year - (OD 2003)

Position - Actor, Activist and Artist

Emma Watson (OD 2003) was born in Paris, and moved to Oxfordshire when she was five, where she attended the Dragon. She rose to fame ... Read more

Tom Hiddleston

Od year - (OD 1994)

Position - Actor

Tom Hiddleston (OD 1994) is an award-winning actor. He attended the Dragon between 1989 to 1994 and continued to Eton before attending ... Read more

Ella Mills

Od year - (OD 2004)

Position - Food Writer and Entrepreneur

Ella Mills (OD 2004) attended the Dragon between 1996 and 2004. She is an award-winning cookery author, entrepreneur and a champion ... Read more

Christopher Tolkien

Od year - 1937

Position - Editor

Christopher Reuel Tolkien (OD 1937, Former Parent) joined the Dragon in 1932, before continuing his education at The Oratory School, ... Read more

David Shukman

Od year - (OD 1971)

Position - Speaker, Writer and Consultant

David Shukman (OD 1971) attended the Dragon between 1965 and 1971 before continuing his education at Eton College and the University ... Read more

Lieutenant Colonel John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill

Od year - (OD 1920)

'Mad Jack' Churchill (OD 1920) was a British Army officer, known for his bag-pipe playing and sword-wielding, who fought during World ... Read more

Sir John Mortimer CBE

Od year - (OD 1937)

Position - Barrister, Dramatist, Screenwriter and Author

Sir John Mortimer (OD 1937), was born in Hampstead, London, he joined the Dragon in 1932 and went on to be educated at Harrow and at ... Read more

See all