The life and death of Edward Wilson remains a powerful legacy for all at Cheltenham College. As an explorer, artist, scientist and doctor he excelled in all disciplines and yet maintained his reputation as a modest and gracious man.  He will forever be associated with his immense contribution to polar exploration and in particular for his professional and personal support to Captain Scott with whom he died.  Few schools can lay claim to have such a distinguished connection and we are very proud to consider him an Old Cheltonian. 

Edward Wilson attended College as a day pupil from 1886 - 1891. One of our Boarding Houses, Westal, is named after his former family home and there are a number of memorial plaques and portraits located around the Cheltenham College campus. 

We have a large number of events planned to mark the centenary of his death. Taking place this term are: 

1) Tuesday 6 March at 16.45 in TLG - a Sixth Form lecture by Isobel Williams on Edward Wilson

2) Sunday 18 March at 11am in College Chapel - a Wilson Memorial Service. This will be open to the public by invitation or reservation only. Please call 01242 706 701 to indicate attendance. Following the service, three large panels will be unveiled around Cheltenham to commemorate the life of Edward Wilson, including one at College (see panel three in the links above).

3) Tuesday 20 March at 8pm in College Chapel - an organ recital and music concert in memory of Edward Wilson by College Organist Alex Ffinch. This will be prefaced by readings from Scott's diary. Free and open to the general public. No bookings needed.

4) Saturday 24 March to Saturday 31 March in the College Library - an Exhibition of Wilson's sketches and watercolours from the Cheltenham College collection, plus a display of the Edward Wilson Scrapbook and other archives relating to Wilson. Open to the public, free admission. There will also be an opportunity to buy facsimile prints of Edward Wilson's artwork at this Exhibition. 

Full opening hours are: 

Sat 24 March: 12.00 - 17.00

Sun 25 March: 11.00 - 17.00

Mon 26 March - Fri 30 March: 11.00 - 19.00

Sat 31 March: 11.00 - 17.00

5) Saturday 24 March at 11.00: All's Well - a concert by Jake Wilson performing his cycle of songs written from the point of view of the men who died on their return journey from the South Pole 100 years ago.  Tickets £5

6) Saturday 31 March at 11.30: illustrated talk by Victoria Stevens, who conserved the original Wilson Scrapbook.  Tickets £2.50

Finally, also on the 18 March, we will be releasing Cheltenham College First Day covers of Edward Wilson. People can either buy an unsigned one (£7.50) or a limited edition one signed by Edward Wilson's 2 great nephews, David and Christopher Wilson (£25)

For more information, please contact one of the members of the Archives staff:

Mrs Christine Leighton, Archivist: leighton.christine@cheltcoll.gloucs.sch.uk

Mrs Jill Barlow, Assistant Archivist: barlow.jill@cheltcoll.gloucs.sch.uk