List of Old Dunelmians explained

This is a list of notable Old Dunelmians, former students of Durham School at Durham, England.

A to E

F to J

K to O

P to T

U to Z

Speculative ODs

There have been claims for certain individuals to be ODs over the years, research has not been able to rule them out, but not in either.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World War II unit histories & officers. unithistories.com. 18 August 2010. Aarvold, (His Honour Sir) Carl Douglas ... Education: Durham School; Emmanuel College, Cambridge (Hon. Fellow, 1976)..
  2. Web site: A Personal Introduction from Xander & Ben.... The Armstrong and Miller Show/. 18 August 2010. Alexander attended Mowden Hall Preparatory School in Northumberland where he picked up a lively interest in music and acting. So much so that he transferred at the age of 11 to St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh where he specialised in singing and playing the piano, the cello, and the giddy goat. He proceeded to Durham school on a music scholarship where he dropped the Cello in favour of the much more masculine Oboe but continued to hone his love of showing off.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100811064531/http://www.armstrongandmiller.co.uk/blurb.html. 11 August 2010.
  3. Web site: Durham School . https://archive.today/20120913085054/http://www.schoolsguidebook.co.uk/schools/view/134/Durham/HMC/Durham-School-Durham-City-DH1-4SZ . dead . 13 September 2012 . Guide to Independent Schools . 8 November 2009 . Former pupils: Granville Sharp (involved in the abolition of the American slave trade); Sir Peter Vardy (chairman of the Vardy Group plc); Mike Weston, Michael Stephenson (rugby players); Charles Spedding (Olympic athlete); Alexander Armstrong (actor); Jamie Atkinson (show jumper); William Todd (composer). .
  4. Book: Earle, Charles S . Durham School Register . Bradbury, Agnew & Co Ltd . 1912 . 2nd . London . 126–337.
  5. Durham County Rugby Union. Records 1876–1936, C.B Cowell and Watts Moses
  6. Web site: Player profile: Jack Askew. CricketArchive. 9 April 2012.
  7. Stearn. Roger T.. Bennett, Sir Ernest Nathaniel (1868–1947). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 2004; online edn, May 2007. 22 September 2009 . Ernest Bennett was educated at Durham School (1881–5), becoming a king's scholar, a school monitor, and captain of the rugby fifteen..
  8. Web site: Best Lee . 2023-11-27 . Bath Rugby Heritage.
  9. Power . D'A.. rev. Ian R. Whitehead . Bowlby, Sir Anthony Alfred, first baronet (1855–1929). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004; online edn, May 2008 . 12 October 2009 . Anthony Bowlby was educated at Durham School and entered St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, in October 1876..
  10. McCord . Norman . Burn, William Laurence (1904–1966). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 19 October 2009 . ...born on 15 October 1904 at Bombay House, Angate Street, Wolsingham, co. Durham, the only son of Laurence Burn (1864–1920) and his wife, Annie (1871–1931), daughter of William Coates of Oakcroft, Wolsingham. Burn's father was a minor landowner and tradesman, possessing a local quasi-patriarchal position which his son was to inherit. Burn was educated at Wolsingham grammar school (1914–19), Durham School (1919–22), and Merton College, Oxford (1922–5). He graduated with a second-class degree in modern history in 1925 and was appointed assistant in history at the University of St Andrews..
  11. CARTER, THE REV. EDMUND SARDINSON. The Wisden Archive of Cricketers' Lives 2010. 2010. 17 August 2010. Going up from Durham Grammar School Mr. Carter was a double blue at Oxford, playing in the eleven in 1866 and 1867 and rowing in the boat in 1867 and 1868..
  12. Web site: 1st XV Squad . Newcastle Falcons . 18 August 2010 . School/university: Durham School, Newcastle University. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110516094619/http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/113_583.php . 16 May 2011 .
  13. Cooper . Thompson . rev. Richard Sharp . Cooke, Thomas (1722–1783). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 4 October 2009 . After He received his education as king's scholar at Durham School, and afterwards entered Queen's College, Oxford (22 February 1743), where he never took a degree..
  14. Web site: Full text of "Durham School register".
  15. Crowder . C. M. D. . Creighton, Mandell (1843–1901). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 4 October 2009 . His father was a stern parent and, despite companionship at school, Creighton seems to have had a solitary adolescence, taking long walks, a relaxation that he enjoyed throughout his life (in his youth he walked from Oxford to Durham in three days), and forming decided, independent opinions. He went first to the cathedral school in Carlisle in 1852 and in 1858, with a scholarship, to the grammar school of Durham..
  16. CUMBERLEGE, BARRY STEPHENSON. The Wisden Archive of Cricketers' Lives 2010. 2010 . 16 August 2010. who died on September 22 [1970], aged 79, was in the Durham School XI before going up to Cambridge, where he got his Blue in 1913..
  17. Web site: A profile of Dominic Cummings, friend of Gove and enemy of Clegg . Gimson . Andrew . Conservative Home . 15 May 2014.
  18. Lee. Stephen M. . rev. Sinéad Agnew . Eden, William, first Baron Auckland (1744–1814). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 2004; online edn, May 2009 . 8 November 2009 . Eden was educated at Durham School (1755–8) and Eton College (1758–62) before going up to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1762..
  19. Himsworth. Harold. Elliott, Thomas Renton (1877–1961). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 2004. 18 August 2010 . born at Willington, co. Durham, on 11 October 1877, the eldest son of Archibald William Elliott, retailer, and his wife, Anne, daughter of Thomas Renton, of Otley, Yorkshire. He went to Durham School where he was head boy, played rugby and cricket for the school, and won the fives challenge cup. He obtained a leaving exhibition to Cambridge, where his father's two elder brothers, Sir John Eliot and Thomas Armstrong Elliott, in their time had been second and eighth wrangler respectively..
  20. FERENS, HENRY CECIL, C.B.E.. The Wisden Archive of Cricketers' Lives 2010. 2010 . 16 August 2010. died at Durham on June 4 [1975], aged 76. A good batsman, he was in the XI at Durham School and later played for some years for the county, captaining the side in 1929, 1930 (when they won the championship) and 1931. At the time of his death he was Chairman of the County Club..
  21. News: Rogue's Recipe . Elizabeth Grice . The Daily Telegraph. London . 17 February 2007 . Bill Fowler was a gifted, spoilt boy. He hated his public school in Durham and confided that he sometimes thought of throwing himself off the bridge. Though naturally left-handed, he was made to write with his right hand and this caused him to stammer.
  22. Prior . Katherine . Fox, Henry Watson (1817–1848). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 6 November 2009 . ...born at Westoe, co. Durham, on 1 October 1817, a younger son of George Townshend Fox (d. 1848), of Durham. He was educated at Durham grammar school and at Rugby School (1831–6), where he came under the influence of Thomas Arnold and first contemplated life as a missionary. He took his BA from Wadham College, Oxford, in December 1839 and a year later was ordained deacon with a view to entering the service of the Church Missionary Society (CMS)..
  23. "William is thought to have attended the grammar school at Durham and went from there to Wadham College, Oxford, in 1828."

  24. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 65 (1969) – Item Notes, Page 361
  25. News: Michael Gough. https://web.archive.org/web/20121102113524/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/27964/Michael-Gough/biography. dead. 2 November 2012. 8 November 2009. Movies & TV Dept.. The New York Times. Hal Erickson. Hal Erickson (author). 2012. Education: Wye Agricultural College, England; Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, England, Major – drama; Durham School, England; Rose Hill School, Kent, England.
  26. News: Eric Shorter. 17 March 2011. Michael Gough obituary. The Guardian. London. 21 April 2011. Michael Gough, actor, born 23 November 1916; died 17 March 2011 ... He was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, where his father was a rubber planter. After attending Rose Hill school, Tunbridge Wells, and Durham school, he dropped out of Wye Agricultural College in Kent in order to study acting at the Old Vic..
  27. Boase . G. C.. George Clement Boase . rev. Ellie Clewlow . Graham, John (1794–1865). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 6 November 2009 . ...was born in Claypath, Durham, on 23 February 1794, the only son of John Graham, managing clerk to Thomas Griffith of the Bailey, in the city of Durham. He was educated at the grammar school in Durham and matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1812, being elected to a scholarship in 1813..
  28. Burns . Arthur. Greenwell, William (1820–1918). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 3 November 2009 . His education commenced under the Revd George Newby at Witton-le-Wear, continuing at Durham grammar school. He matriculated at University College, Durham, in October 1836, graduating BA in 1839. He entered the Middle Temple, but owing to ill health returned to University College in 1841, obtaining his LTh in 1842 and MA in 1843..
  29. Ransome . Eleanor . Hardcastle, William [Bill] (1918–1975)]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 8 November 2009 . William (Bill) Hardcastle's education at Durham School was cut short when, aged sixteen, he contracted osteomyelitis, and was in and out of hospital for the next four years..
  30. Howlett. David J. . Hardinge, Henry, first Viscount Hardinge of Lahore (1785–1856). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 2004; online edn, January 2008 . 9 September 2009 . Hardinge passed much of his childhood at The Grove near Sevenoaks amid a deeply religious tradition and in the care of two maiden aunts, and went to school at Durham..
  31. Clark . Relf . Harrison, Arthur (1868–1936). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 2004 . 18 August 2010 . born on 21 February 1868 in College Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, the second of the seven children of Tom Hugh Harrison (1839–1912), organ builder, and his wife, Elizabeth Ann, née McDowell (d. 1921). In 1872 the family moved to Durham, and in 1882, after attending Durham School, Harrison followed his father into the craft of organ building, serving as an apprentice and eventually, in 1893, becoming his partner. The firm's business took him to many parts of the British Isles, but Durham remained his base for the rest of his life. ... The organs at Durham and Ely cathedrals (1905, 1908), All Saints, Margaret Street, London (1911), and St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol (1912), were outstanding in the pre-war period. Outstanding in the post-war period was his work at the Caird Hall, Dundee (1923), the Royal Albert Hall, London (1925–33), and King's College, Cambridge (1934). Throughout his career he built small organs of distinction, too, such as those at St John's, Keswick (1912), and All Saints, Maidenhead (1931). ... In November 1936 Harrison interrupted the finishing of the organ at Westminster Abbey in order to undergo an operation for a suspected ulcer..
  32. Murray. Patrick . rev. Katherine Mullin . Beith, John Hay (pseud. Ian Hay) (1876–1952). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 13 September 2009 . In 1901 Beith taught at Fettes before returning to Cambridge for a short period to study science. In 1902 as a junior science master he joined Durham School, where he also coached the rugby teams and river crews. A charming companion, with a developed social sense, he was extremely popular. Durham featured in one of his best books, Housemaster (1936)..
  33. Haig . Catriona . Hodgson, William Noel [pseud. Edward Melbourne] (1893–1916)]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004 . 12 October 2009 . In September 1905 Hodgson entered Durham School as a king's scholar. He was a gifted student and a talented athlete, achieving several sporting prizes ... However, they were quickly made aware of the realities of war; their first important experience of battle, at Loos on 25 September 1915, resulted in the deaths of fifteen officers and 461 men. During the conflict Hodgson, with three other officers and a hundred men, defended a trench for thirty-six hours before reinforcements arrived. His poem 'Back to Rest', describing the exhilaration of war, was written soon after this experience. For his actions during the engagement Hodgson was awarded the Military Cross in October 1915 ... on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Somme offensive, he was killed near Mansel Copse outside Mametz while bringing forward the supply of grenades..
  34. Web site: Ian Hogg Biography (1937–). filmreference.com. 8 November 2009. Education: Trained for the stage at Drama Centre, London, 1961–64; also attended Durham School and St. John's College, Durham, England..
  35. Thoma. Carol L.. Hogg, Thomas Jefferson (1792–1862). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 13 September 2009 . A reserved boy acutely conscious of his status as a gentleman, Jefferson attended Durham grammar school from the age of twelve until 1810 before matriculating at Oxford in February 1810..
  36. HUMPHREYS, CAPT. NOEL FORBES. The Wisden Archive of Cricketers' Lives 2010. 2010 . 16 August 2010. born 1890; died of wounds March 27 [1918]. Durham School XI. Visited South Africa with the English Rugby XV..
  37. News: Wilkinson joins others in the wings . Northern Echo . 11 December 2004 . 18 August 2010 . James Isaacson ... The 24-year-old Durham School product, who made his senior debut in 2001, ... .
  38. LAWS, Rt Hon Lord Justice; Hon Sir John Grant McKenzie . Debrett's People of Today . 20 August 2010 . b. 10 May 1945 ... Education: Durham Sch (King's scholar), Exeter Coll Oxford (Sr open classical scholar, BA, MA) .
  39. Web site: Distinguished Old Dunelmians. Durham School. 16 August 2010.
  40. Web site: English LTA: Mr. Lohden Elected Chairman. 11 March 1933. 21 June 2013. newspapers.nl.sg. Malayan Saturday Post.
  41. Hamilton . J. A. . rev. Sinéad Agnew . Manisty, Sir Henry (1808–1890). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004 . 19 October 2009 . ...born at Vicarage House, Edlingham, Northumberland, on 13 December 1808, the second son of James Manisty BD, vicar of Edlingham, and his wife, Eleanor, née Foster, of whom little is known. He was educated at Durham Cathedral grammar school, and was later articled in the offices of Thorpe and Dickson, attorneys, of Alnwick, Northumberland..
  42. Doyle. Sheila . Mickleton, James (1638–1693). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 2004 . 16 August 2010. He was educated at Durham School, admitted to Gray's Inn in 1652, and to Christ's College, Cambridge, and the Inner Temple in 1656. He was called to the bar in 1663. He was appointed keeper of the seal of the county palatine of Durham in 1689..
  43. Bonney. T. G.. rev. Robert A. Stafford . Murchison, Sir Roderick Impey, baronet (1792–1871). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004; online edn, May 2009. 9 September 2009 . In 1799 Roderick was placed at the grammar school, Durham, where he led in mischief more often than in his class..
  44. Bywater . Ingram . rev. Roger T. Stearn . Nettleship, Henry (1839–1893). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004; online edn, May 2006 . 4 October 2009 . Nettleship attended Mr Darnell's Preparatory School, Market Harborough, before going in 1849 to the new Lancing College, and then in 1852 to Durham School, whose headmaster was Edward Elder, for whose character and attainments Nettleship always retained the utmost admiration. In 1854 Nettleship followed Elder to Charterhouse, and became a 'gown-boy' by winning an open foundation scholarship in 1855. .
  45. OWEN, Hon Mr Justice; Sir Robert Michael . Debrett's People of Today . 20 August 2010 . b. 19 September 1944 ... Education Durham Sch, Univ of Exeter (LLB) .
  46. Rawlinson . A. E. J. . rev. Marc Brodie . Parsons, Richard Godfrey (1882–1948). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 8 November 2009 . ...born at Pendleton, Lancashire, on 12 November 1882, the only son of William Parsons, merchant, of Calcutta, who became secretary of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce, and his wife, Bertha Best, of Thetford, Norfolk. Educated at Durham School (1895–1901), he became in 1901 a demy of Magdalen College, Oxford, obtaining in 1903 a second class in honour moderations and in 1905 and 1906 first-class honours in literae humaniores and theology, and being elected to a Liddon studentship. Postgraduate work in Germany was followed by residence at the deanery, Westminster, as the pupil of the dean, J. Armitage Robinson, and at Cuddesdon College..
  47. PATTIE, Sir Geoffrey Edwin . Debrett's People of Today . 17 August 2010 . b. 17 January 1936 ... Education: Durham Sch, St Catharine's Coll Cambridge .
  48. Max Pugh. BBC Film Network. 6 February 2011. He was educated at Durham School and read politics at the University of Leeds.. 21 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160121221833/http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/users/56611157. dead.
  49. Mackay . A. J. G. . H. C. G. Matthew . Ramsay [formerly Burnett], Edward Bannerman (1793–1872)]. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 3 November 2009 . Edward Ramsay spent much of his boyhood with his great-uncle, Sir Alexander, who lived on his Yorkshire estate. He was sent to the village school at Halsey after his uncle's death, and in 1806 to the cathedral grammar school at Durham. He completed his education at St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1816..
  50. Neuberger . Julia . Rayner, John Desmond (1924–2005). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. online edn, January 2009. 6 November 2009 . Hans Rahmer went to live with the family of Robert William Stannard, rector of Bishopwearmouth, co. Durham, who soon became his family—Uncle Will and Aunt Muriel. They succeeded in getting a nursing place for his sister Erica at Sunderland Royal Infirmary, and she arrived on 25 August 1939. Hans attended Durham School, and, later, with restrictions in place for German refugees in case they were Nazi agents, was transferred to Giggleswick School, from which he won an open scholarship in modern languages to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He took that up in 1947, after four years in the Durham light infantry, during which he changed his name from Rahmer to Rayner..
  51. Courtney . W. P. . rev. A. I. Doyle . Rud, Thomas (1667/8–1733). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 8 November 2009 . After being educated at Durham grammar school, he was admitted as subsizar at Trinity College, Cambridge, on 2 February 1684, and graduated BA in 1688; he proceeded MA in 1691. ... In 1710 Rud returned to Durham School until 1711, when he was instituted to the vicarage of St Oswald, where he catalogued the library left to it by a predecessor, John Cock. From 1716 to 1725 he was librarian to the dean and chapter..
  52. Durham County Rugby Union. Records 1876–1936. C.B Cowell and Watts Moses
  53. Holder. Richard. Salvin, Anthony (1799–1881). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 22 September 2009 . After education at Durham School Salvin was placed as a pupil with John Paterson of Edinburgh during the latter's restoration work on Brancepeth Castle..
  54. Ditchfield . G. M. . Sharp, Granville (1735–1813). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 2004; online edn, January 2008 . 9 September 2009 . According to Prince Hoare, his first biographer, Granville: was at a very early age withdrawn from the public grammar-school at Durham, before he had gained more than the first rudiments of the learned languages, and was sent to a smaller school, to be instructed more particularly in writing and arithmetic. .
  55. Carlyle . E. I. . rev. Marc Brodie . Shortt, Edward (1862–1935). . 2004; online edn, October 2009 . 9 September 2009 . Shortt was educated at Durham School and at Durham University, where he was Lindsay scholar and graduated in classics in 1884..
  56. Williamson . Karina . Smart, Christopher (1722–1771). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 4 October 2009 . Smart was educated at Durham School under the mastership of a classical scholar, Richard Dongworth, and showed early accomplishment as a writer of Latin verse. In 1739 he left school to enter Pembroke College, Cambridge, as a sizar, with a supplementary allowance of £40 granted by the duchess of Cleveland, Henry Vane's sister-in-law. .
  57. News: Jim . Hooley . Andrew delight at Barney success . Northern Echo . 6 March 2003 . 18 August 2010 . Their progress has not gone unnoticed at Newcastle, who discovered players such as Michael Stephenson, Hall Charlton and James Isaacson playing for Durham [School] and someone called Jonny Wilkinson at Lord Wandsworth. .
  58. Gash. Norman. Surtees, Robert Smith (1805–1864). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 11 October 2009 . For some years he was a boarder in a private school at Ovingham, Northumberland, and in 1818–19 he briefly attended Durham grammar school..
  59. Buckland . A. R. . rev. Robin A. Butlin . Tristram, Henry Baker (1822–1906). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004; online edn, May 2007 . 3 November 2009 . Educated first at Durham School, Henry became a scholar of Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1839; he graduated BA with a second class in classics in 1844, and proceeded MA in 1846..
  60. Book: Memorials of the Church of SS. Peter and Wilfrid, Ripon; THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE SURTEES SOCIETY. VOL, LXXVIII. . Rev. J. T. . Fowler. 1886 . The Surtees Society . Thomas Hutchinson Tristram (Q.C.), D.C.L., was appointed 1883. Dr. Tristram was born at Eglingham, Northumberland, September 24, 1825, being the secood son of Henry Baker Tristram, M.A., formerly student of Christ Church, and then vicar of Eglingham. His elder brother is Dr. H. B. Tristram, canon of Durham, the well-known traveller and naturalist. He was educated as a King's Scholar at Durham School, and proceeded to Lincoln College, Oxford, as one of Lord Crewe's Exhibitioners; the date of his matriculation is October 11, 1843..
  61. https://archive.today/20130209163256/http://www.xreferplus.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=6118160 VARDY, Sir Peter
  62. News: Campion the wonder school. 18 August 2010. 30 March 2001. Durham School claim to be the fourth oldest rugby outfit in the world, and have been touring for 150 years. Alumni include England lock Gareth Archer and British Lions great Mike Weston. . BBC News.
  63. Buckland . A. R. . rev. Rowan Strong . Wilkinson, George Howard (1833–1907). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 2004. 18 October 2009 . Scottish Episcopal bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld, and Dunblane, was born at Durham on 12 May 1833, the eldest son of George Wilkinson of Oswald House, Durham, and his wife, Mary, youngest child of John Howard of Ripon, Yorkshire. On his father's side he was from a long-established gentry family in co. Durham and Northumberland. Educated at Durham grammar school, Wilkinson went to Brasenose College, Oxford, in October 1851, but in November was elected to a scholarship at Oriel College..
  64. Web site: Mickey Young . Newcastle Falcons . 30 April 2010 . Attending Brierton Community School in Hartlepool before joining Durham School Sixth Form and Northumbria University, Young represented England at Under-16s level in 2005. Having played for Durham School in the final of the Daily Mail Cup at Twickenham, Young graduate to England Under-18s level. . https://web.archive.org/web/20110614015434/http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/5290_4231.php?player=61926&includeref=dynamic . 14 June 2011 . dead .
  65. News: The Jameson Raid. The Sydney Morning Herald . 30 July 1896 .
  66. News: Lord Wyfold is Dead. Montreal Gazette. 5 June 1937.
  67. Stell . G. P. . John [John de Balliol] (c.1248x50–1314)|journal= Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|issue=2004|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com|accessdate=9 September 2009 |quote=Balliol was evidently present at this dispute, since he rebutted Neville's claims for precedence and privileges, declaring that he had for a long time attended the schools of Durham but had not heard of the privileges which the lord of Raby claimed. This may well have been the novices' school, which, as described in the later rites of Durham, provided education for intending monks, though it is also possible that he was taught in the Durham almonry school.}}

    Citation needed

    These are believed to be ODs but do not have references at this point. They are here so that editors can assist by finding references to support their inclusion and move them into the relevant sections above.

    External links

    ]

    .