Aldro
Aldro is a preparatory school in Shackleford, near Godalming, Surrey, England. It caters for about 240 boys between the ages of 7 and 13. The Good Schools Guide called the school an "Extremely popular and successful traditional prep school," also stating "It is a somewhat eccentric world with some delightfully eccentric teachers, and makes a welcome home for boys of every variety."[1]
History
Aldro was founded at Meads in Eastbourne in 1898 and moved to its present home in 1940.
They were converted by the school during and after the Second World War. A large, timbered barn, for example, became the school chapel, and was consecrated in 1949. It survived a fire in the 1970s. A former workshop next door became the science laboratory, and the estate’s potting shed became a carpentry workshop.
The current Headmaster is James Hanson, the Deputy Head is Chris Rose and the Assistant Head (Pastoral) is Nick Margesson.
Facilities
The oldest building is thought to be the octagonal cider press, standing close to the main entrance, which has been used as a small museum and as a home for a model railway.
Over the years there have been many new additions to the site. For years the large lake doubled as a swimming pool and as a race course for inter-house rowing competitions. Today there is an open heated swimming pool.
Other more recent facilities include a theatre, an art, design and technology centre, tennis courts and a three -hole golf course. The Centenary Building, opened in 1999, contains a library and new classrooms, and a new dining hall opened in 2003. In 2015 a new sports hall was opened including indoor cricket nets.
Notable former pupils
- David Hacking, 3rd Baron Hacking, hereditary peer
- Geoffrey Hallowes, Special Operations Executive
- Kim Philby, member of the Cambridge Five
- Ronald Scott-Miller, Conservative Member of Parliament
- Alexander Scrimgeour (1897–1916), Author of "Scrimgeour's Scribbling Diary" who was killed at the Battle of Jutland[2]
- Toby Stephens, actor, who has played Kim Philby in television drama Cambridge Spies
- Lord Wakeham, Conservative peer and former Cabinet member in Thatcher & Major governments
- Tim McMullan, An actor who has been featured in many movies such as "The Woman In Black" and "The Queen"
Notes
- ↑ The Good Schools Guide
- ↑ Scrimgeour, Alexander (1 July 2009). Scrimgeour's Scribbling Diary: The Truly Astonishing Diary and Letters of an Edwardian Gentleman, Naval Officer, Boy and Son. Conway Maritime Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-1844860982.
External links
Coordinates: 51°11′56″N 0°39′49″W / 51.199011°N 0.663605°W