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2025 was the 125th anniversary of the birth of Michael Powell, one of the greatest of British Film directors. Michael who often worked in partnership with Emeric Pressburger, enjoyed the three years that he was at the College (1919-22). At fourteen Michael Powell wrote home from Blew House that Founder’s Day “went with a whizz”. A keen member of the Combined Cadet Force, his films show a lifelong interest in the Armed Forces. He wrote to his mother describing the dedication of the War Memorial, saying, “I will always try to be your true and pure knight”. He was well known for his dormitory ghost stories and for spending much time up trees reading. His love of France and its literature, it’s said, derived from the Joerg brothers. He wrote a poem for the Alleynian (atypical for the then sporty magazine) poking fun at rugby players “wallowing like pigs in mire”. Powell’s father suddenly ran off with his mistress to France, and Powell was forced to leave and work in a bank, though he longed to become a ‘blood’, and go on to university. A holiday job at Studio Victorine in Nice defined his future and A Matter of Life and Death was the First Royal Command Film in 1946. Michael’s great devotion to the Dulwich College OTC led to a lifelong affection for the British Armed Forces which we can see in his films. Michael won the John Miles Powell prize for English, which was awarded in memory of his late brother John who died suddenly at the age of 15 (1918) from peritonitis following appendicitis. Jan R Piggott MICHAEL POWELL Film director and self-confessed movie addict.
PG Wodehouse Book This book records the money that PG Woodhouse, the legendary writer and OA, earned from his various literary pursuits that were started at his final years at the college. It was noted that he earnted10 shillings and 6 pence for a contribution to the ‘Public School’ magazine with an article on “some aspects of game captaincy”. Subsequent entries record his ongoing career including the moment in September 1902 when he “chucked” his banking job and “started out on his wild lone as a freelance”.
The Dulwich Experiment This newspaper reports the success of The Dulwich Experiment. This was a successful pioneering scheme that took place after the Second World War. Under the Mastership of AH Gilkes’ son, Christopher, a great majority of boys at the College were on scholarships from neighbouring councils. Their fees were paid from local taxes. This scheme lasted from1945–1970, and subsidised pupils at private schools whose parents could not afford the fees. In the latter half of the 20th century the Dulwich Experiment was heavily associated with the academic renaissance of the College. Date: 1945–1970
A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Film made with Emeric Pressburger Starred David Niven and Kim Hunter Filmography Two Crowded Hours (1931) Red Ensign (1934) The Phantom Light (1935) The Edge of the World (1937) The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) A Canterbury Tale (1944)
I Know Where I’m Going! (1945) A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
Black Narcissus (1947) The Red Shoes (1948) The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) Peeping Tom (1960) Awards 1981 - BAFTA Fellowship 5 films featured in the 100 Greatest British Films
Historic Graffiti Behind the Old Library, there’s a collection of names of old students scraped into the walls of the Library. The clay brick makes it easy to sculp into. The tradition seems to have started with MA Staniforth who has the earliest date scratched into the wall (1925-1931) and seems to have been a rite of passage for those leaving the College. Many boys have scratched their names into the wall over the years. Date 1925
Theatre
1944: Directed Ernest Hemingway's The Fifth Column at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow 1944: Directed Jan de Hartog's Skipper Next To God at the Theatre Royal, Windsor 1951: Directed James Forsyth's Heloise at the Golders Green Hippodrome, London 1952: Directed Raymond Massey's Hanging Judge at the New Theatre, London
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