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Wellington College will soon be home to three Royal book collections: the first, given by Prince Albert in 1859, is in the Benson; the second, the gift of Queen Victoria after 1861, is now in the Beresford; the third will be on display next month in a re-furbished Driver Lecture Room.
The second of these royal collections, the new ‘Queen’s Library’, consists of books given by Queen Victoria in memory of her husband, Prince Albert, who died at the age of 42 in 1861. These, together with some magnificent silver with Beresford connections plus other artefacts and pictures from the College’s Archives, are now on display in a refurbished library room.
The work was a collaborative Wellington effort. The Library was redecorated by Keith Reesby’s father over the holidays; Neil Cullen (the College framer) installed the protective UV Perspex; and James Inglis (Head of DET) created a magnificent sign. At short notice, Paul Redfern and Leigh Armstrong (Art) hung the pictures and plaque; the carpet was donated by a Wellington parent and the heavy tables moved in by Lukas Revay (Domestics). An anonymous OW gave some Wellington-related Classics books to supplement the Queen’s gift, which originally totalled 150 volumes.
The refurbishment was paid for as part of a specific bequest from an OW, Mr. Sam Osmond (1946-51), who studied history at Peterhouse on leaving College. Mr. Osmond also paid for the protection and lettering of the Prince Albert Library in the Benson.
The third royal collection will be in situ next month: a series of Illustrated London News, dating from around 1860 to 2002, given by Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and our current Queen. It will go in the re-decorated Driver Lecture Room, dedicated to leadership, along with the College’s collection of Victoria Crosses.
