Newcastle Scholarship
The Newcastle Scholarship is an annual prize awarded at Eton College for the highest performance in a series of special written examinations taken over the course of a week. It is Eton's most prestigious prize and was for over a century (until it changed form in 1976) considered the premier school prize examination in England for pupils of the Classics (Greek and Latin language and literature) and Divinity (the Bible scriptures). It was instituted and first awarded in 1829, thanks to the initiative and benefaction of Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Statutes, recorded in 1841, state:
'The design and object of these Scholarships is to promote and encourage a Religious education and sound and useful Learning in general among the Scholars of Eton School, including particularly accurate Scholarship in Greek and Roman literature but most especially and principally to inculcate a thorough knowledge of the Evidence, Doctrines and Precepts of the Christian Religion.'[1]
The winner of the Newcastle Scholarship was awarded a cash prize of £250, a considerable sum in 1829, while the runner-up received a Gold Medal. Originally a series of up to twelve examinations in the ancient languages and in knowledge of Biblical texts, the Scholarship was split into two, becoming one Prize for Divinity and one for Classics, in 1977. Since 1987 the Newcastle Scholarship has been an examination primarily in philosophy and ethics. Distinguished winners of the Newcastle Scholarship in its original form include Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy (1831), WR Inge (1879), Patrick Shaw-Stewart (1905), Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone (1925), Douglas Hurd (1947) and William Waldegrave (1965, currently Provost of Eton College); those who have also become professional Classicists include Roger Mynors (1922), Charles Willink (1946), Adrian Hollis (1958), Richard Jenkyns (1966) and Armand D’Angour (1976).
Since 1988 it has been an examination in philosophical theology, moral theory and applied ethics. Candidates sit two three-hour papers after Long Leave in the Lent Half. Each paper consists of about 12 questions divided into two sections. Candidates must answer three questions in each paper, at least one chosen from each section.
Some of the most distinguished theologians and philosophers in the United Kingdom have been invited to examine the Newcastle Scholarship. In addition to setting the papers and marking the scripts, they have to choose a set book on a theme of their choice upon which the candidates are examined. The examiner interviews up to six candidates (The Newcastle Select) and from these candidates he/she chooses three boys who are nominated as 'winners' during the Reading Over.
Recent Winners
"KS": King's Scholar; "OS": Oppidan Scholar; "MS": Music Scholar; "ME": Music Exhibitioner; "ma": the elder of two siblings attending the school.
| Year | Scholar | Medallist |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | C. W. Willink, K.S. | T. J. Burrows, K.S. |
| 1947 | D. R. Hurd, K.S. | S. Goldblatt, K.S. |
| 1948 | C. L. Drage, O.S. | S. M. Haskell, K.S. |
| 1949 | S. M. Haskell, K.S. | S. H. Willink, K.S. |
| 1950 | S. H. Willink, K.S. | M. C. Stokes, K.S. |
| 1951 | S. L. Egerton, K.S. | M. C. Stokes, K.S. |
| 1952 | M. Mortimer, K.S. | W. J. A. Wickham, O.S. |
| 1953 | S. L. Hugh-Jones, K.S. | R. C. Palmer, K.S. |
| 1954 | R. B. O’G. Anderson ma, K.S. | P. M. O. Stafford, K.S. |
| 1955 | N. P. Bayne, K.S. | C. M. K. Taylor ma, K.S. |
| 1956 | E. L. Hussey, K.S. | P. T. S. Carson, K.S. |
| 1957 | M. Elliott, K.S. | A. S. Hollis, K.S. |
| 1958 | A. S. Hollis, K.S. | T. R. Adès, K.S. |
| 1959 | T. R. Adès, K.S. | J. P. Steele, K.S. |
| 1960 | K. A. O. Fulton, K.S. | G. A. D. Emerson, K.S. |
| 1961 | G. A. D. Emerson, K.S. | J. V. Kerby, K.S. |
| 1962 | R. J. A. Carnwath ma, O.S. | P. T. Hutchinson, K.S. |
| 1963 | F. M. Prideaux, K.S. | R. J. Lane Fox, K.S. |
| 1964 | A. G. Foster-Carter, K.S. | R. J. Lane Fox, K.S. |
| 1965 | The Hon. W. G. Waldegrave, O.S. | The Hon. A. J. L. Bruce, O.S. |
| 1966 | R. H. A. Jenkyns, K.S. | N. S. R. Hornblower, K.S. |
| 1967 | J. W. Waterfield, K.S. | N. S. R. Hornblower, K.S. |
| 1968 | The Hon. P. C. H. Snow, K.S. | O. W. A. Barnes, K.S. |
| 1969 | S. P. M. Mackenzie, K.S. | M. P. R. Wormald, K.S. |
| 1970 | R. R. Oliver, O.S. | The Hon. A. D. A. Macdonald, O.S. |
| 1971 | The Hon. A. W. R. Morrison, K.S. | A. J. Pemberton, K.S. |
| 1972 | A. J. Pemberton, K.S. | J. D. Leigh Pemberton ma, O.S. |
| 1973 | H. C. Lawson-Tancred, K.S. | S. G. Barber, O.S. |
| 1974 | M. J. Lyall Grant, O.S. | J. H. Leigh Pemberton ma, O.S. |
| 1975 | H. C. Eyres, K.S. | The Hon. G. S. Monck ma, O.S. |
| 1976 | A. J. D’Angour ma, K.S. | M. A. Anderson K.S. |
| 1977 | The Hon. A. A. J. Monson ma, O.S. | N. I. Macpherson, K.S. |
| 1978 | D. W. K. Anderson, K.S. | M.R.V. Southern KS |
| 1979 | J. W. Mackinnon, K.S. | J. W. R Cummings, K.S. |
| 1980 | P. D. P. Barnes ma, O.S. | M. Brandreth, K.S. |
| 1981 | K. K. Nath, K.S. | G. T. S. Davson, K.S. |
| 1982 | G. T. S. Davson K.S. | A. D. T. Cromartie, K.S. |
| 1983 | H. J. B. Smith, K.S. | A. D. T. Cromartie K.S. |
| 1984 | D. W. Runciman, O.S. | J. F. Boff, K.S. |
| 1985 | S. H. Mandelbrote, K.S. | A. J. N. Roxburgh K.S. |
| 1986 | P. S. Drinkall, O.S. | J. W. Rees-Mogg |
| 1987 | B. J. Smith ma, O.S. | W. G. Wringe, K.S. |
| 1988 | H. R. M. Dimbleby | C. R. Heatly, K.S. M.S. |
| 1989 | J. B. R. Reppas ma, K.S. | T. G. M. Mitcheson, O.S. |
| 1990 | E. W. J. Lamb | N. J. I. Kind, K.S. |
| 1991 | T. P. Elias, K.S. | D. K. Renton, O.S. |
| 1992 | K. A. A. Kwarteng, K.S. | F. F-T. Chen, O.S. |
| 1993 | D. A. S. Hugh-Jones, K.S. | A. C. Warr, O.S. |
| 1994 | I. N. M. Wright, K.S. | A. C. E. Ruck Keene, O.S. |
| 1995 | T. D. Calvocoressi, O.S. | R. J. Starling, K.S. |
| 1996 | P. M-T. Sohmen, K.S. M.E. | S. Krishnan, K.S. |
| 1997 | R. A. Elliott Lockhart, O.S. | R. V. Gowan ma, K.S. |
| 1998 | N. T. Shah, K.S. | L. P. C. Geddes |
| 1999 | C. P. W. Fielding, O.S. | N. T. Shah, K.S. |
| 2000 | J. D. J. Neicho, K.S. | M. J. Pappenheim, K.S. |
| 2001 | H. H. Briance, O.S. | A. Grenfell ma, K.S. M.E. |
| 2002 | O. J. C. Bridge | H. H. Briance, O.S. |
| 2003 | J. C. Dacre ma, K.S | H. J. Ellis, O.S. |
| 2004 | H. C. R. Donati, O.S. | T. C. Wingfield, O.S. |
| 2005 | H. C. R. Donati, O.S. | F. J. O. Spring |
| 2006 | N. H. J. Gaisman O.S. M.E. | A. H. White mi, K.S. |
| 2007 | M. I. L. Osman | A. T. P. Parham mi |
| 2008 | G. K. Kotecha, K.S. | J. H. F. Roxburgh, K.S. |
| 2009 | A. A. Nadeem, K.S. | R. Mehan, O.S. |
| 2010 | A. A. Cornish, K.S. | D. J. F. C. Leung, K.S. M.S. |
| 2011 | W. J. Gowers, K.S | H. Xu, K.S |
| 2012 | M. A. P. Seely, K.S. | T. A. Bannatyne, K.S. |
| 2013 | H.C. Elliott ma, K.S. | S.A.P. Norman ma, O.S. M.E |
| 2014 | C.J. Styles | A.A. Groes, O.S. |
| 2015 | B.P. Barnard | W. Baker |
| 2016 | J. Choo-Choy | M. Woernle ma OS |
Recent Examiners
| Year | Examiner | Set Text |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Professor John MacQuarrie (Christ Church, Oxford) | Peace Studies: The Hard Questions |
| 1989 | Canon Brian Hebblethwaite (Queens’ College. Cambridge) | Mahoney, Bioethics and Belief |
| 1990 | Professor Stephen Prickett (Glasgow University) | Prickett, What do the Translators Think They are Up To? |
| 1991 | Rabbi Julia Neuberger | Webster, A Brief History of Blasphemy |
| 1992 | The Rt Revd Stephen Sykes (Bishop of Ely) | Report on Faith in the Countryside |
| 1993 | Professor Basil Mitchell (Oxford University) | Sacks, The Persistence of Faith |
| 1994 | Sir Anthony Kenny (Rhodes House, Oxford) | Casey, Pagan Virtue |
| 1995 | Professor Stephen Clark (Liverpool University) | Regis, Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition |
| 1996 | Dr Janet Martin Soskice (Jesus College, Cambridge) | Sacks, Faith in the Future |
| 1997 | Dr Graham Ward (Peterhouse, Cambridge) | Weil, Gravity and Grace |
| 1998 | Professor David Pailin (Manchester University) | Mesle, Process Theology |
| 1999 | Professor Peter Lipton (King’s College, Cambridge) | Nagel, Mortal Questions |
| 2000 | Professor Ann Loades MBE (Durham University) | Pelikan, Jesus through the Centuries |
| 2001 | Mr Michael Proudfoot (Reading University) | Warnock, Imagination and Time |
| 2002 | Professor John Webster (Christ Church, Oxford) | MacIntyre, Dependent Rational Animals |
| 2003 | Professor Roger Trigg (Warwick University) | Fukuyama, Our Posthuman Future |
| 2004 | Professor Anthony O'Hear (Birmingham University) | Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion |
| 2005 | Professor George Pattison (Christ Church, Oxford) | Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling |
| 2006 | Dr Fraser Watts (Queens’ College, Cambridge) | James Proctor, Science, Religion and the Human Experience |
| 2007 | Dr Susan Parsons (Universities of Cambridge and Nottingham) | Anselm, Proslogion |
| 2009 | Dr Douglas Hedley (Clare College, Cambridge) | Kant, The Moral Law |
| 2010 | Professor John Cottingham (Reading University) | Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality |
| 2011 | Dr Paolo Crivelli (New College, Oxford) | Plato, Phaedo |
| 2012 | Dr Dave Leal (Brasenose College, Oxford) | Ryle, The Concept of Mind |
| 2013 | Professor Derek Matravers (Emmanuel College, Cambridge) | Williams, Morality |
| 2014 | Dr William Wood (Oriel College, Oxford) | Pascal, Pensées |
| 2015 | Dr Clare Carlisle (King’s College, London) | Lear, Radical Hope |
| 2016 | Dr Jonathan Loose (Universities of London and Cambridge) | Plantinga, Knowledge and Christian Belief |
Winners of the Newcastle Classical Prize since 1976
| Year | Scholar | Proxime accessit |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | R.W. Bourne KS | T.A. Oates OS |
| 1977 | N.T. Morgan ma KS | M.R.V. Southern KS |
| 1978 | G.W. Philipps ma KS | A.P.M. Beeley OS |
| 1979 | J.W. Mackinnon KS | H.M. Matovu mi KS |
| 1980 | J. Minney ms KS | P.D. Clancy OS |
| 1981 | A.B. Johnson ma KS | G.T.S. Davson KS |
| 1982 | H.J.B. Smith KS | W.D.M. Buckley ma OS |
| 1983 | R.J.B. Hoare KS | N.E. Evans Lombe KS |
| 1984 | NOT | AWARDED |
| 1985 | A.J.N. Roxburgh KS | C.M. Phipps OS |
| 1986 | A.S. Brown KS | E.J. Baden-Powell OS |
| 1987 | S. Towler KS | W.B.M. Coley KS |
| 1988 | N.A.H. Dent OS | J.C.S. Sword KS |
| 1989 | D.J. Causebrook KS | L.S.-K. Fung OS MS, M.J.H. Meynell ma |
| 1990 | S.J. Lloyd KS | P.A. Delves Broughton OS |
| 1991 | H.J.S. Howard KS | I. Tebb KS |
| 1992 | G.A.J. Kelly ma OS | N.P. Larkin KS |
| 1993 | K.A.A. Kwarteng KS | C.A.C. Smith KS |
| 1994 | A. Oliver KS MS | A.G. Buchanan OS |
| 1995 | M.R.B. Wilson KS | A.S. Zihni KS |
| 1996 | J.P. Wootton OS | S.A. Sorell KS |
| 1997 | C.L. Whitton OS MS | M.A.C. Martin OS |
| 1998 | C.P.W. Fielding OS | A.S. McCluskey OS ME |
| 1999 | A.C.M. Anslow OS | W.D.F. Brett OS ME |
| 2000 | M.J. Pappenheim KS. MS. | C.D.A. Wright OS. |
| 2001 | H.H. Briance OS. | A.G.R. Summers KS. |
| 2002 | T.E. Cameron KS. | T.H.W. Casey OS. |
| 2003 | C.N. Morrison OS. | A.O.K.Edun ma OS. |
| 2004 | T.A.S.Rudkin OS. | J.F. Manhood KS. |
| 2005 | Y.Kawata KS. | J.K. Romer-Lee OS. |
| 2006 | M.S. Ostrowski KS. ME. | F.C.C.T. Parham ma KS |
| 2007 | H.C. Lyall Grant OS | O.J.W. Murphy KS. |
| 2008 | J.H.F. Roxburgh KS. | H.W. Lebus |
| 2009 | A.A. Cornish KS. | M.E.F. Bridges OS. ME. |
| 2010 | O.J.Y-T. Koo OS. | R.B. Morley KS. |
| 2011 | D.A.S. Byam-Shaw KS. | E. Loh KS. and G.H.F. Hull OS. |
| 2012 | W.D.D. Tilston KS. | V.W.W. Taylor |
References
- ↑ David Butterfield, The Newcastle Scholarship: a historical survey (Eton 2013).