VALETE
Andy Wheble
Damian King
E ight years ago, fresh-faced Andy Wheble arrived at Dulwich to teach Physics, having recently graduated from Cambridge with a degree in Engineering, as well as spending six months at Sandhurst. Though he had never set foot in the classroom before, Andy’s talents as a teacher quickly became evident and it was in the classroom that he found his forte. He was always keen to impart his enthusiasm for engineering to those that he taught, quickly assuming the role of providing extension activities to those boys looking to make competitive university applications, which he did with notable success. Andy was keen to provide boys with opportunities to use Physics outside the classroom and he ran numerous Physics projects which included the Student Robotics Challenge, CERN Summer Schools, Weizmann Safe Cracking competition, and the International Young Physicist Tournament; he and his team members travelled to the international finals in Singapore, Beijing and Israel for the latter two competitions. Though he was not one to chase for promotion, Andy’s talents (including a penchant for spreadsheets and an eye for detail) were noted: he was first promoted to Second in Charge of Physics, and more recently to Head of Physics in which role he has presided over one of the largest departments at the College. Andy has been involved in all areas of the College. He is enviably talented, but rarely one to hide his light under a bushel, and his achievements speak for themselves. He successfully coached the U15 and U16B teams to a two-year unbeaten season, drawing on his own experience of playing
Blues Rugby at Cambridge, and more recently playing for the OAs. He ran the ski racing team at the College with notable success, again drawing on his experience as a member of the UK ski team in his youth. He was Master in Charge of Athletics. He has been a visiting House Tutor, acting Housemaster of Old Blew, and Middle School Housemaster of Drake, which won the House competition for the past two years. In addition, he has been an active member of the Chamber Orchestra, where he plays the viola, and the Symphony Orchestra, where he plays the French horn. Little wonder he was chosen to accompany the Dulwich Schools Olympiad to Beijing in 2015. Having been managed by Andy as a member of his tutor team and as a member of the Physics Department, I speak from experience when I say that two of his defining characteristics are his selflessness and kindness. He is always ready to help and to give of his time, making sure that those whom he manages or teaches are well looked after. Andy will be leaving the College for Singapore, to join his wife, who secured a promotion there last Easter. It didn’t come as a surprise to hear he was snapped up by our sister school, DCI Singapore, where he will teach Physics and Maths as well as becoming Housemaster of Mandela House. We have no doubt that Andy’s star will continue to shine brightly in the Far East. In a profession in which we all move in small orbits, we hope that our trajectories cross again in the near future.
148
Made with FlippingBook Annual report