The Haileybury Society is saddened to learn of the death of former Kipling HM and history teacher David Peter Wright (Staff, 1973-2006) on 30th November 2022. Here, his friend and former colleague Roger Woodburn (Staff, 1978-2015), tells of his life.
David Wright was one of the most charismatic and polymathic members of the Haileybury teaching staff in the last fifty years. He gave ninety-nine terms’ service to the school community.
A man of profound religious conviction, combined with encyclopaedic knowledge of medieval history, in particular Church history, and the history of art, he was nonetheless able to engage with all kinds of people of different interests and disparate backgrounds and bring the best out of them whilst still finding time to pour Martinis so good that they could make trees move – as the housemaster of Allenby discovered to his cost one 4th July.
From mathematics to history
In 1962, at the age of sixteen, he entered the University of Chicago to study Mathematics but switched to History, taking a BA, before moving UCLA as a teaching associate and to commence doctoral work on a register of 15th century bishops.
He was proud to have been ‘on the streets’ in the late sixties and was active in Bobby Kennedy’s campaign for the White House. In 1971 he won a two year Ehrman studentship at King’s College, Cambridge. Whilst there, Christopher Morris (OH), a Senior Fellow, suggested that he apply for a teaching post that was advertised at Haileybury.
Appointed by Bill Stewart, he said of the period, ‘There was time to foster talents rather than hoop jumping’. He was a tutor in Thomason and after his marriage to Helen in 1977 became assistant to Jack Thomas in Allenby.
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David and Helen (above) were generous to a fault and many past members of the community can bear witness to that. Sunday lunches in Trevelyan Cottage might sometimes run on past midnight. One of his major passions was cooking and in particular Italian cuisine, enhanced by frequent visits to Italy. Another great love was opera and he communicated his enthusiasm to pupils and colleagues alike.
Oxbridge candidates
As well as teaching History, he was for twelve years in charge of the Oxbridge candidates arranging speakers, debates and dinners with visiting academics – a year without a dozen successful candidates was unusual. He was also Librarian and Archivist having to work under very considerable financial constraints, and between 1980 and 1988 was the editor of the Haileyburian.
He was appointed Housemaster of Kipling in succession to Ken Bartlett by David Jewell in 1988. In this role he commanded great loyalty and affection from members of the House, pushing many of them beyond what they perceived as their potential.
The House had many successes in that era, notably musical, academic and athletic. He had an abiding interest in the stage and produced many plays and acted in Pastimes when full plays were the norm. Later in his career he taught History of Art A level at the invitation of John Higgins and this provided a good excuse to purchase yet more books for his wonderful personal library.
Sports coach
David was no stranger to sports coaching; he was in charge of Cross-Country for twenty-five years and number two in the Athletics Club for a similar period. For many OHs their fondest memory will be of the Hedgehogs rugby team and David’s enthusiasm for it. Some colleagues, myself included, appreciated how he managed to keep Rugby Fives alive for a few extra years before the school’s demand for furniture storage and then changing facilities became too great to resist.
In September 2000 he was appointed Assistant General Secretary of the Haileybury Society and was responsible for the development of the website, database and online newsletter. He was a walking Who’s Who? of Old Haileyburians and the Society owes a great deal to him for his sterling work on its behalf.
He retired in 2006 to their wonderful house at Cley next the Sea, North Norfolk, where he became active in the local Roman Catholic community and entertained many visiting OHs. In later years he suffered increasingly with Parkinsons which took a great toll on him physically.
Roger Woodburn (Staff, 1978 – 2015)
From the funeral
David’s funeral took place on Monday 19th December at the Church of the Annunciation (RC), on Friday Market, Little Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6AL.
Writing about the funeral to The Society, James Thomson (C 53) reported,
“I was very glad to be able to carry out ‘my duty’ on Monday. The funeral in the Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation in Little Walsingham was a Requiem Mass. The music was played by Derek Longman who after many years at Haileybury now lives in Switzerland but has a house nearby.
The Parish Priest gave the Homily and Roger Woodburn who now lives in Langham, also nearby, gave the Eulogy.
After the service the burial took place in St Margaret’s Churchyard, Cley (where David and Helen lived). I did not go to that but attended the reception in The Hanser, also in Cley.
There was a gathering of about 40-50 and it was good to see Robin and Helen Bishop and one or two OHs. Of note was Timothy Nicholson (E 71) who is a local estate agent who we have had dealings with and had not realised the connection until recently when he spotted me in Holt wearing my OH scarf!! He indictated he owed much to David. “
Memories of David
Since David’s death, a number of OHs have written in with their memories of his work at Haileybury. You can read these here.
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