Exeter School Alumni

22/09/2026

The Alumni and Development office thoroughly enjoy producing The 1633 - we love listening to your memories of school and where life has taken you 🥰

Soon our Communications and Alumni officer, Ali, will be gathering stories and sitting down for interviews. Our alumni are the backbone of this magazine, and whether your story involves climbing mountains, landing your dream job or just the fact that you've discovered a new local walk you love, we would be thrilled to hear from you.

If you have a story to share please email Ali - [email protected]. Parents and friends of alumni do get in touch too... we all like to shout about those we know and love! ☺️

📷: https://www.exeterschool.org.uk/school-life/exeter-alumni/the-1633/ - this year's copy of The 1633, featuring cover star Matthew Goode (1985-1996)

19/09/2026

🏉 Exonian Rugby Reunion 🏉

We are delighted to invite former pupils, staff and friends of Exeter School to join us for an informal reunion, with a touch of rugby, on Saturday 3 October starting at midday.

The afternoon will include senior rugby fixtures against Bryanston, along with drinks and nibbles, providing a lovely opportunity to return to the school and catch up with old friends and colleagues.

We hope to welcome many familiar faces back to school and look forward to seeing you there 😃

15/09/2026

Congratulations to Ollie Batson (2018-2025) on such an inspirational journey to a very deserved spot with Exeter Chiefs 👏🏉

Hear from Ollie Batson in today's matchday programme 📖

🔗 https://www.zee-on.com/gamehubplus/exeter-chiefs-v-bristol-bears-3

14/09/2026

Ahead of this year’s Summer Fete on Saturday 19 September, from 1-4pm, we’re delighted to give alumni the opportunity to meet our new Head, Dr Adrian Rainbow.

Join us at 11.30am in The Butterfield Hall for sandwiches and cream teas, and the chance to get to know Dr Rainbow, hear about his first impressions of Exeter School, and find out how he’s settling into life here so far.

Whether you have questions about the school today, are curious to hear what’s changed since your time here, or simply fancy a chat, we’d love you to join us.

If you’d like to come along, please email Claire at [email protected] to let us know.

We hope to see you there! 😊

📷: Emma Solley - www.emmasolley.com

10/09/2026

We would love to welcome alumni, parents and friends of the school to the Exonian Quiz on Friday 2 October at 7pm.

📍- Exeter School, Main School Hall

Sign up today - https://www.cognitoforms.com/ExeterSchool2/ExonianQuiz2026.

See you there! 😁🍷❓

07/09/2026

Saturday 5 September marked a year since the passing of Captain Elizabeth Godwin (2004-2013).

Lizzie was stationed at the Army Training Centre in Pirbright, where her comrades came together to honour her memory by holding the inaugural Godwin Trophy.

The gruelling workout is a lasting tribute to Lizzie, incorporating significant dates from her life and military career. More than just a test of strength, endurance and fitness, it reflects the qualities that defined Lizzie herself - her determination, commitment, competitive spirit and unwavering dedication to those around her.

The Exeter School community and alumni department remembers Lizzie with such fondness and gratitude, and we continue to send our warmest thoughts to her family and friends.

To find out more about the Godwin Trophy, please go to - https://www.facebook.com/reel/2437481320074214/?referral_source=external_link&surface_type=tab&in_reels_tab_context=TRUE.

📷: Kindly shared by Lizzie when interviewed for the 2025 edition of The 1633 - with her favourite horse, Praetorian.

13/07/2026

The summer term has now drawn to a close, and what a year it has been at Exeter School 💜

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of the school. Your stories, memories and experiences help preserve our rich history and inspire future Exonians as they look ahead to life beyond our school gates.

With a smaller team in the office over the summer, we'll be taking a short break before picking things up again in September. We look forward to sharing more news with you then and, we hope, perhaps see you in person at one of our alumni events.

Wishing all our alumni a wonderful summer ☀

📷: Taken by Ali, Communications & Alumni Officer

10/07/2026

In the midst of World Cup fever, we were delighted to hear from alumnus Andrew Kewell (1966-1973), who shared a wonderful story behind this photograph from the Exeter School archives, showing a Teachers vs Boys football match from 1972. Remarkably, three of the boys in the photo – Andrew, Brian and Peter – still meet regularly to play walking football with the Exeter Strollers Walking Football Club more than five decades later ⚽

Brian McClintock (1966-1973) is on the back row, far right, as the team's goalkeeper. Andrew is also on the back row, two places to Brian's left, wearing a white shirt and, in his own words, sporting some rather "strange, fuzzy hair"! Peter Hancox (1966-1973) is also on the back row, fourth from the left, again in a white shirt.

It's always a pleasure to hear stories of friendships and shared passions that have stood the test of time 🥲

Do you recognise anyone else in the photograph, or remember playing in Teachers vs Boys matches? Please do comment below.

📷: Exeter School archive

07/07/2026

Many of you will remember former geography teacher John Jago (staff, 1967-1996), who also attended Exeter School as a pupil in the 1950s.

John still lives close by, so we're delighted when he drops into the Exonian Centre or joins us at an alumni event. Last week's visit was particularly special, as he arrived bearing two fascinating additions to the Exeter School archive.

The first was a tie from the school's South African rugby tour in 2010, while the second was a much older treasure - a tie commemorating a reunion of 1930s leavers, held in 1988 🥹

If you have any Exeter School memorabilia tucked away at home that you'd be willing to donate to the archive, we'd love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Ali at [email protected].

📷: Exeter School archive - John sitting relaxed, taken just after final assembly in July 1996, and retiring at the age of 58 and as a pupil in 1953 playing rugby for the 1st XV. John with Matthew Goode (1985–1996), enjoying a happy reunion during Matthew's visit to Exeter School earlier this year. Photo credit: Emma Solley.

05/07/2026

This wonderful story was shared by alumnus Richard Jowett (1948-1959), recalling a Whit Weekend adventure in 1958, when six boys from School House challenged themselves to hitchhike to the summit of Snowdon on a budget of just five shillings.

“Back in 1958, before Ten Tors or DofE, we had to make our own 'adventure'. So it was that 68 years ago I was sleeping in a field in Shropshire. Six of us from School House decided that over the Whit Weekend we would attempt to hitchhike in pairs to the summit of Snowdon getting back before school resumed the following Tuesday. Armed with an army kitbag, a groundsheet, sleeping bag, small cooker and some provisions we set off after Saturday school 🥾

“We also each had a letter from the Headmaster, Francis Kinnear (Fred) Paul (staff, 1960-1965), to the effect 'to whom it may concern, please afford all help and assistance as is deemed necessary....' And one other condition - we were to spend no more than 5 shillings (25p) in getting to the top. My partner, Eddie Hodge (1954-1959), and I made our way up the old A38 and by evening had reached Prees Heath, just beyond Shrewsbury where we camped in a field. Next morning we got lifts which took us through Chester and along the North Wales coast to Caernarfon before cutting south to Llanberis and the start of the ascent. We reached the top about noon, completely knackered 😓

“We took the train down (allowed as we had completed the challenge) and made our way south via Capel Curig, Llangollen and on to Oswestry which is where we were in a field 68 years ago today. The final leg home on the Monday took us to Gloucester where we had a stroke of luck. We were fortuitously picked up by the parents of a good school friend of ours, Andy Edwards (1949-1959), who took us all the way back to the school.

“Incidentally Andy became the father of Jonathan Edwards who, in 1985, became the World Champion (and Olympic, Commonwealth and European) Triple jumper at 18.29 metres, a record which stands to this day.” 🥇

📷: Kindly shared by Richard and kept in the Exeter School archive