The change was brought about after the governing bodies of both colleges asked the headmasters, Mr Anthony Chenevix-Trench of Eton and Sir Desmond Lee of Winchester, to revise the exams to attract more students from state schools. As Latin is often not taught at state schools, compelling candidates to be proficient in the language narrowed the field of entry considerably.
George and Sarah ‘Mrs Dick’ Richardson
Master in College’s Dining Room looking East commissioned by George Richardson. Five of the Gentlemen Commoners can be seen hung unusually high on the far wall. George Richardson, a former second master, is particularly relevant to this topic. Or rather his wife, Sarah, commonly known as ‘Mrs Dick,’ is. She brought ‘warm draughts of humanity into the austere lives of the scholars’ and often overshadowed her husband. Rubric 45 of the statutes forbade women to hold jobs, or even set foot, in the College. The only exception to this rule occurred when a washerman could not be found, in which case a washerwomen could be allowed to enter, and only then if she was old or ugly enough to not arouse suspicion.
The words of the speech are lost to time, but numerous articles were written about it. Mr Richardson championed the mixed system, speaking about the beneficial role girls might play in the education of boys and declaring that he was a convert to it. He, having made the speech in 1899, boldly asserted that in less than 50 years, some of the great public schools of England would be mixed. His influence was probably important to the continuing prevalence of this debate, just as women like Mrs Dick kept it in the College’s consideration. Thus, throughout its long history, Winchester College has largely evaded bias. The progressive George and Sarah Richardson were undoubtedly important in the College’s journey leading up to the recent announcement, and the Gentleman Commoners are a sharp reminder of Wykeham’s aims to help the poor and needy.
Mrs Dick struggled to be accepted into the monastic society of the College. She was allowed to do what she pleased throughout her own home, but her offer to help in the College kitchen was politely turned down. Mr Richardson, in his valedictory or retirement speech, made the first call for co-education at Winchester. The call has been repeated time and time again, especially since Winchester’s sister foundation, New College, Oxford, decided to admit girls in 1965, and was answered recently by the governing body.
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