This was the last occasion on which an election took place in Abingdon School, the University Reform Bill of 1854 henceforward commencing its unrighteous operation, the right of election being transferred to others, and the privileges of the School, as designed by Tesdale and Wightwick, alienated by Act of Parliament! One can sense Strange’s outrage, but it is nothing compared to the fury he felt when in 1868, Pembroke turned down both of the nominated Abingdon candidates – Meredith and Young. And perhaps Strange had a point, Meredith subsequently won an open exhibition to Magdalen Hall and Young an open mathematical scholarship to Queen’s College. In Strange’s opinion, Pembroke did not have a good academic reason for turning the Abingdon candidates down. The Abingdon scholarships at Pembroke survived for many years, even in 1982 the School could advertise that it ‘possesses four scholarships at Pembroke College, Oxford, of the value of £80 a year, tenable for four years with power of extension to five years. These are open to boys at the School who have been educated there not less than two years.’ The last Abingdon scholar went up to Pembroke in 1985. Opposite: Corbel in the main entrance into Big School. Right: 1. Kneeler in Chapel 2. Thomas Tesdale (1547–1610), OA 3. Richard Wightwick (c1547–1629) 4. William Adams OA, Master of Pembroke 1775–1789 5. John Smyth OA, Master of Pembroke 1796–1809 6.George Hall OA, Master of Pembroke 1809–1843 7. In 1911 these stained-glass windows were among several inserted into the old schoolroom in the centre of town, to commemorate the school’s 307-year occupancy of the room. Two sets of windows were removed when the Guildhall buildings were extended. They were offered to the school on permanent loan and inserted into what is now the Staff Common Room. This particular set records OAs who were Heads of Oxford Colleges, including the seven consecutive Masters of Pembroke. GRIFFEN 2024 | 15 3. 1. 4. 7. 2. 5. 6.
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