VALETE
Curtis Whaymand a ceremony performed by the College’s very own Chaplain Reverend White at the school’s Chapel of God’s Gift in Dulwich Village. The enduring image of the day for me – and I suspect others too – was of John’s beaming smile as his bride- to-be came down the aisle: it was evident to all that he was absolutely bursting with pride. Next year Wellington College and its pupils will have the honour of welcoming John into their school. He goes there T he composer Scott Hayden once said that teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and a love of bringing the first two loves together. I cannot think of a better way to describe our esteemed friend, Curtis Whaymand. A highly motivated, innovative and very capable practitioner, he has made a profound impact on many boys and colleagues in his time at Dulwich College. With infectious levels of energy and an insatiable appetite for fun, Curtis has been a highly valued and well-respected member of the Physical Education department since he joined in September 2013. Passionate about sport and physical activity, he has been able to radiate his enthusiasm to boys across the full age and ability range with ease. His knowledge in a variety of sports, most notably tennis and association football, is especially strong. However, he has consistently demonstrated an unrivalled desire to learn and continually improve his teaching practice. No doubt one of his most prized possessions from his time at the College will be a secret Santa present — a personalised mug with the tag-line ‘I’d rather be on a course...’ inscribed on it. Within the Physical Education department, Curtis has held the position of Master in Charge of Tennis from day one. He has fulfilled the role with aplomb; he has been meticulously organised, incredibly dedicated to the task of raising participation across all age groups, and he has worked tirelessly to improve the ability of all boys he has taught. He has also done a wonderful job of gaining the support of the wider Common Room, and his summer soirées of tennis, strawberries and Pimm’s will no doubt live long in the memory. It is not just within the Physical Education department that Curtis has had a significant impact. He has been a dedicated Form Tutor in the Lower School, an outstanding Lower School Housemaster of Howard, a fine Visiting Tutor to boys in Old Blew and The Orchard and an enthusiastic teacher of Geography to Lower School boys. He has also held the highly James Davies
with boarding experience from his time as a Visiting Tutor at Dulwich and a sense of fate in joining David Edwards, his best man at his wedding, as a colleague. Back here, life will doubtlessly seem strange for a while. There will be no remarkably nimble big man on the ball at staff football, no diner at the staff table at lunch proudly declaring ‘I didn’t need that but I wanted it’, and no Baloo the Bear to my Mowgli in the English Office.
prestigious position of captain of the staff cricket team, the Dusters, and his unconventional batting style, unorthodox bowling action and distinctive fielding techniques have entertained many spectators. It is also important to celebrate the huge amount of time and effort that Curtis has invested in organising a wide variety of expeditions for the boys. From tennis tours to Biarritz and San Sebastián to skiing trips to Geilo and Sestriere, his dedication to the provision of memorable experiences and opportunities for learning beyond Dulwich is admirable. He has also applied this committed approach to various charity initiatives and has been responsible for raising thousands of pounds for the TackleAfrica charity through the football marathons he has organised. Curtis leaves us to embark upon a new adventure in Southeast Asia where he has been appointed as a teacher of Physical Education at Dulwich College (Singapore). He has been a tremendous colleague and will be missed enormously; nothing has ever been too much trouble and he has been utterly dependable. It is testament to his character and personable nature that he has forged so many enduring relationships with a wide variety of members of the Common Room. We all hope he stays in touch; in his own inimitable words, we look forward to the day we ‘see you on the boundary’ soon!
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