Housemaster

Nick Nelson joined College in 1995 as a Tutor in Christowe and teacher of Art and Art History. He has coached Hockey, Rugby, Cricket and Tennis to both boys and girls, he has experienced 5 years as a Resident House Tutor in Christowe and is currently Head of History of Art and Housemaster of Christowe. Nick runs an Ornithology Club and an Architecture Club and regularly puts on Cross-curricular evenings for the Sixth Form. As a former choirboy in Oxford, Nick enjoys choral music, and plays the piano and guitar. Other passions include observing wildlife (Christowe boys) and ornithology in particular, alongside gallery visits to view artworks.

Nick is married to Katie, an interior designer and photographer – they have two sons Theodore (6) and Raif (3).

Mike Alderton joined the College in September 2010 and is a member of the Science department. After completing his Master’s degree in Physics at the University of Southampton in 2002, he followed his passion for the outdoors, working as an outdoor pursuits instructor and taking part in numerous overseas expeditions. He completed his PGCE in 2007 and worked at Ludgrove prep school prior to moving to Cheltenham. Mike is a keen sportsman, taking rugby, squash and tennis teams and running climbing activities on the school climbing wall.

Mike is married to Sonya and their first child, Sebastian, was born in September 2011.

Resident Matron

Julie Dunn has worked as a Pastoral Manager in secondary schools in Essex for the past 10 years. She is a great fan of all sports, plays tennis and was a County hockey player for Essex. Although retired from hockey Julie is always willing to help umpire hockey matches for the College. She is a calligrapher and likes to spend time making greeting cards and designing wedding and party stationery. Julie also loves music and has a vast musical taste encompassing both modern and classic. She also has many other interests including, the arts, gardening and reading. Julie has three grown up daughters, Jessica, Rosie and Annie.

Assistant Matron

Jenni Hyde was poached from the College tuck shop where she had become very popular with the pupils and she has settled into the House extremely well. Nothing is ever a chore for Jenni and her warm and sunny disposition has seen many a homesick or tired Christowe boy through any rocky patch.

Jonathan Card was educated at Ipswich School and went on to the University of Birmingham, where he completed a degree in Mathematics and Psychology. After some time working in London and completing a ski season, he returned to the University of Birmingham to complete a PGCE and a masters in teaching studies. Jonathan joined the College in September 2009 from Wellington School in Somerset where he taught Mathematics and was also a Housemaster. Jonathan is a keen sportsman having represented Somerset and Gloucestershire at hockey and enjoys passing on his expertise to the pupils. Jonathan is 2i/c Maths and runs the College’s internal exams.

Brendan Enright joined College in 1999 and has been a Christowe House Tutor throughout his time here. He read Mathematics at Hull University and stayed on to complete a Pure Mathematics PhD in the field of Non-standard Analysis. During his time at Hull he taught undergraduate Mathematics and it was this experience that led him into full time teaching. Brendan became Head of Mathematics in Sept 2008. Brendan is fully involved in the sporting life at the College: he runs a Hockey team and is also involved in Soccer and Golf.

Dominic Faulkner has been a tutor in Christowe for 10 years now, having enjoyed a spell as Resident House Tutor also. He is the Director of Activities at College and responsible for extra-curricular activities as well as trips and events off-site. He is a passionate traveller and climber and regularly leads College expeditions across the world. Dominic has also written books on his travels, including ‘The Longest Climb’ which was nominated for a Boardman Tasker Prize.

Carrie Smith joined the College in September 2011 as a member of the Modern Languages department. Educated at Casterton School, Kirby Lonsdale, she went on to study French and German at Clare College, Cambridge, where she was also a choral scholar and member of the University Ballroom Dancing Team. After completing an MPhil in International Relations, also at Cambridge, Carrie moved to Brighton College, where she worked in the Admissions department, before deciding to pursue a teaching career. She is a keen swimmer and enjoys windsurfing.

Andrew Gasson is Assistant Head (Co-Curricular) and a member of College's Senior Management Team. He has been a tutor in Christowe since 1989 and was Assistant Housemaster for 10 years. He teaches Geography and is a former Head of Department. In sport, he has coached hockey and cricket and currently runs the Yearlings cricket squad.

James Stubbert was educated at Katharine Lady Berkeley's School in Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire and went on to Cardiff University, where he completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After Graduating in 2003 he spent three years working in Engineering for a company that made diesel injectors. During his time there he worked as a Manufacturing Systems Engineer and later as a Supply Chain Project Coordinator. James then completed his PGCE at Exeter University in 2006/7 before going on to work at Cleeve School in Gloucestershire in 2007, where he taught Mathematics and also became a Head of House and STEMnet Coordinator.

James joined the College in September 2010 and was made a tutor at Christowe. James is a keen fan of all sports and coaches Rugby and Cricket. James is also involved with Debating at the College. From September 2011 James was appointed as Master in charge of Upper College PSHCE and Community Service.

Michael Todd joined College in 2004 from Hilton College, an independent boarding school in South Africa. A member of the Business Studies and Economics Department, his passion is the pastoral side of education and in particular leadership and life skills for teenagers. He is Head of Leadership Development at College, which involves running the recently launched Leadership and Life Skills programme for the Lower Sixth and training and mentoring the College Prefects. Mike is Head of College Charities and Master in Charge of Golf and has recently been involved in coaching Colts A hockey. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte he then followed his passion for sport and joined a London based sports marketing business in 1994 where he managed the business affairs of professional golfers, rugby players and footballers. He then joined Investec Bank in the City as a Private Banker. After 17 years in commerce, he saw the light and joined the teaching profession with his first teaching post back at Hilton. Mike is married to Sue and they have three kids – James (13), William (10) and Rebecca (8).

Gwyn Williams graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a MA in Sports Development and began working at College as the hockey professional. He has played national league in this country as well as playing in Australia. He is now Head of Hockey at College and the CCJS as well as teaching history to the Lower College. Gwyn is also involved in cricket and rackets at College.