The Hill

Housemaster: Mr. John Giannikas

Tel: +44 (0)1344 444149

Email: jg@wellingtoncollege.org.uk

Mr John Giannikas (JG) is the 29th housemaster having been appointed for September 2009. John joined Wellington in 2008 having taught at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, Australia were he was Senior Resident Master. At Wellington he teaches Economics and Business Studies, coaches Rugby, Football and Cricket. He is married to Vanessa and they have two children, Stephen and Damien. His interests include Rugby League, Surfing, Golf, and playing/listening to music.

House Matron:

Sheila Taylor joined the Hill Sept 2008 having worked at the other end of the spectrum with the elderly. She was quickly embraced by the boys in the house achieving massive popularity for her Thursday cooking sessions, the house tuck-shop and producing piles of sandwiches after games. She is regularly spotted on the touchlines or dashing off for a spot of last minute washing and quickly established the highest accolade awarded by the boys " Hill legend" - one boy recently described her as his "second Mum". Sheila is married to Ernie and when she is not looking after her chickens (or the boys) she enjoys relaxing in her new conservatory with a good book.

Assistant House Mistress

Miss Fiona MacLean is the 5^th form tutor appointed as a Maths and Physics teacher in Sept 2009, she is the resident assistant Housemistress. She coaches hockey, netball and tennis throughout the year. Having served in the British Army, she is also an active member of the CCF. Interests include golf, surfing, travel and anything outdoors. She lives with her partner Andy.

The House team

Mr Julian Jeffrey is the Upper Six tutor. Appointed to Wellington in January 1997 and Head of History since 2000. He coaches rugby, football and cricket, and also runs staff Development programme. Interests include reading, cinema, watching Holland and West Ham play football, travel, and golf.

Dr William Heathcote is the Third Form tutor. As well as being the 3rd form tutor, he is teaching Physics and Chemistry having arrived from Oxford where he studied for his doctorate in Atomic and Laser Physics. Outside the labs he is a keen musician, playing jazz piano and French horn. He can also be found coaching girls hockey.

Miss Virginia Woods is the 4^th form tutor and is a teacher of English and Head of Creative Writing at Wellington. She has also been a Housemistress, both at Downe House and here at Wellington. Virginia was brought

up in Germany, France and England, and so speaks three languages. Virginia's great passion is writing and she hopes to publish a novel sometime soon;

Mr. Ryan Tulley is the L6th tutor and joins Wellington College in 2011 as the Rackets Professional. His appointment follows 5 years in Canada, as head professional at the Montreal Racket Club. He also runs the Wellington College Tennis Program.

Mr I.M Henderson. Iain has been a Housemaster since September 1996, for 6 years in the Hardinge, and up until this year, the Benson. He has been at Wellington since 1993 after three years teaching at Aylesbury Grammar school. He is married to Cressida, who is Head of Firth Form at Wellington, and they have two sons, Cameron(13) and Douglas (10). Winner of the Presidents Putter in 2004, he is Master In Charge of Golf at College. Apart from this his interests include cookery, treatments for Autism, Hockey, Football and Cricket.

Number of boarders and day pupils: 58

If I told you that I didn’t feel intimidated when I first walked into the Hill I would be lying. But I would also have to tell you that the Hill is in fact one of the most welcoming, warm and friendly Houses in college.

‘Death or Glory’, the motto by which every Hill boy lives throughout his time as a Wellingtonian, clearly demonstrates the notorious house spirit that resonates from our historic foundations. The Hill demands not that each member is the best at everything or indeed anything but that they will show non-depleting courage, enthusiasm and passion for all the challenges they face. Be it house sporting competitions, the inter-house quiz or even the infamous house dance competition, what makes the Hill great is that each member is willing to give their all and full heartedly tackle even of the most gargantuan of duties thrust upon them. As one of the ‘in-College’ houses the Hill is not only in a prime location, but is a crucial component of the beating heart of the College.

As far as the houses recognition goes, our cultural and physical diversity sees us as one of the best all round singing boys houses, SKO (Senior Knock-out) rugby semi-finalists, winners of JKO(Junior Knock-out), JKO cricket, BIMS rugby, finished top 3 in the past 3 athletics days and twice crowned champions of hockey in both JKO and BIMS format. Adding to this we have a young man who shoots for Scotland and two members of the all conquering College squash and rackets teams who were victorious in their national tournaments. As well as our fantastic and persevering record in all sporting domains, this year we have 6 pupils appearing in 3 major theatre productions, the top music scholar performing extensive concerts, 4 boys in the school choir, 12 boys in various orchestras and bands and are finalists in the inter-house quiz 2011. The Hill is a successful House in so many ways, especially when you consider our size. In that regard we hit well above our weight!

Finally, but by absolutely no means least, the Hill’s academic affluence ranked us one of the top male Houses for effort at the end of 2010. As challenging as this was to uphold, the junior and intermediate year groups of the house maintained this spectacular achievement by remaining in the top 2 male houses in college thereafter; similarly the upper end of the house achieved 100% Gold and Silver placing us well above the college average. In terms of GSCE, the House has maintained an impressive 85% A*& A result while at AS an average of 89% A&B has been achieved. At the all important A2/IB level the House has recorded an average of 97% A*,A & B: all excellent results.

The Hill currently houses up to 58 boys over three floors.. The Hill will remain one of four traditional 'In house' boys boarding houses. Situated at the front of the school with views over Swan Lake and Front Quad it is at the centre of the College and games fields, classrooms and the Sports Hall are approximately all equidistant. The boys in the house are proud of the 'House spirit' that is manifested in their support for each other. Its location and the boys' sense of loyalty provide the pulse that is evident in the heart of the College.

The Hill was opened in 1860 under the first Housemaster R Griffith Esq when boarding school fees were a mere £110. There have been 26 subsequent Housemasters; the longest serving being C K Potter Esq who was resident for 16 years and is currently Secretary of the OW society.

This in-college house is named after Viscount Hill, Commander of the Anglo Dutch 2nd Corps. Rowland Hill - Lord Hill (1772 - 1842) - was universally liked by the soldiers under his command, he was known as "Daddy Hill" by the troops who valued and respected his kindness. It was claimed that he used profanity on only two occasions.