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Unrivalled Trip Leader Perhaps no Dulwich College linguist has travelled more in service of the boys. Robert has led countless Year 12 trips to Paris, an unrivalled opportunity for pupils to explore the Louvre with their own art‑historical guide and braved the famously exhausting Vic‑sur‑Cère trip for Years 7 and 8, a whirlwind of karting, hiking, handball and French immersion. A Leader Colleagues Admire Those who have worked with Robert speak of his calm professionalism, kindness and unfailingly positive spirit. He is praised as a leader who “serves as well as leads”, who remembers the personal circumstances of every team member, and who offers trust, structure and unwavering support. One colleague wrote: “I would work for him again any day. He has set a standard that I don’t think others will reach.” A Teacher Who Never Gives Up on a Pupil Robert sees the good in every student without compromising standards. He has a remarkable ability to coax excellent grades from pupils who may not initially expect them. This year alone, he has devoted evenings, weekends and holidays to supporting his Year 11 French class. Few teachers at the College have taught as wide a range as he has, from Year 4 to Year 13, with such consistency and care. Beyond the Classroom Robert’s contributions have extended far beyond Modern Languages. He coached rowing at The Dulwich College Boat Club (DCBC) and as Head of Rowing, guided the club through challenging years with diplomacy and good humour. He has served on the Education Leadership Team, acted as a Yelcho Room (Wellbeing) listener, and been a committed Community Action volunteer.
Bringing History to Life Calista never saw the Archive as a silent storeroom. Through talks and online events, first developed during the COVID-19 lockdowns and now among the Development team’s most popular offerings, she brought the College’s past into conversation with its present. Exhibitions were always grounded in her conviction that objects matter, and that by sharing them, we deepen collective understanding. Her stewardship of the Shackleton collection was equally significant. Every year, more than 1,000 primary school pupils visited the James Caird , inspired by the explorer’s story and Calista’s ability to ignite curiosity. She also forged close links with societies rooted in Dulwich’s heritage, including the James Caird Society and the P.G. Wodehouse Society, and led the public through the Barry Buildings on Open House days with characteristic enthusiasm. Protecting the Digital Future As the College moved decisively into the digital age, Calista played a crucial role in shaping archival systems to protect the College’s future heritage. She developed reliable structures for storing and searching electronic material, mindful of the risk of a ‘digital dark age’. Alongside major records, she faithfully collected the small ephemera of College life – posters, programmes, ties and even Dulwich‑branded rock – recognising the value of these everyday fragments. Kindness, Care and Connection Over the years Calista welcomed thousands of visitors, many of them Old Alleynians returning with fond memories or, in some cases, more complicated ones. She met people with empathy, discretion and patience, helping some lay old ghosts to rest. Her work has always been rooted in the belief that she was not just preserving records but holding the College’s history in trust. A Fond Farewell As she retires, Calista leaves behind a transformed Archive, digitally robust, widely accessible and deeply appreciated. Her legacy is not only the preservation of the College’s past, but the inspiration she has offered to countless pupils, staff, scholars and visitors. We wish Calista and her husband every happiness in retirement, and success in restoring their home in Somerset. Dulwich College owes profound thanks for her passion, expertise and unwavering dedication.
Calista Lucy Two Decades of Dedication to the Dulwich Archive by Dr Nick Black When Calista Lucy joined Dulwich College in 2001, she could not have known that she would go on to become one of the most influential custodians of the College’s history. After early roles in Development, the Bursary Appeal and the creation of the College website, she became Keeper of the Archive in 2006, a role in which she truly found her calling. Making the Archive Visible From the beginning, Calista believed that Dulwich College’s rich historical collections should be “ seen to be believed .” Working within the limitations of an archive housed inside a busy school, she championed digitisation. She collaborated on the online publication of the estate maps and court rolls and played a key role in the internationally significant digitisation of the Henslowe–Alleyn Papers. Among her proudest achievements was the 2018 launch of the Old Alleynians in the Great War website, praised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and now central to the Year 9 History curriculum.
Robert Baylis by Nick Mair
Celebrating 28 Years of Service After graduating from Christ’s College, Cambridge, with a degree in Accountancy many embark on careers in finance, but Robert soon exchanged Accountancy for Art, completing an MA in Greek and Byzantine Art at the Courtauld. Equipped with this love of culture and language, he entered teaching: a decision that would define his outstanding career. Building a Modern Languages Powerhouse Robert began at Halliford School, rising to Head of Modern Languages before joining Dulwich College in 2005 as Head of French. He quickly stabilised and expanded both pupil numbers and staff, later becoming Head of Modern Languages for a department of more than 30 teachers. Along the way he also carried responsibility at various times for Chinese and Italian, and even accompanied trips to Valencia and the German Christmas Markets, despite never officially leading Spanish or German. His academic expertise led to the publication of the bestselling Edexcel textbook French for A Level, which became a staple in classrooms across the country.
Outside school, Robert delights in exhibitions, theatre, reading, hiking and tennis.
A New Chapter After 28 years in the classroom, Robert is stepping back, in part shaped by the personal demands of recent years and a desire to spend more time with his family. He also intends to pursue a long‑standing ambition: applying to become a magistrate, caveat fur! Dulwich College bids him farewell with deep gratitude for his leadership, scholarship and humanity.
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