News & Diary
Winchester Weekly – 18th November 2025
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Phil’s House Play – Tonight, Wednesday and Thursday at 19:30 in QEII
Fasten your seatbelts! The Phil’s House Play, The Wind in the Willows, is coming to QEII. Join us for this heart-warming classic to watch Mole, Rat, Badger, and of course, Mr Toad and his many machines, as they charm their way through the countryside in a tale of friendship and chaos.
Expect an abundance of automobiles, a cascade of calamities and a touch of theatrical tomfoolery, all delivered riverbank style!
Hop on, we ride tonight, Wednesday and Thursday at 19:30 in QEII. Doors will open at 19:15.
Advent Service – 30th November 2025: Winchester College Society warmly invites you to The Advent Service in Winchester College Chapel on 30th November. Drinks will be served in New Hall at 18:00, before the service begins at 19:00. Space is limited and registration is essential for this event.
The event is open to parents of VI Book 1 pupils, parents of Quiristers and Wykeham Patrons only. Current pupils are not able to attend the service. Places are limited to 2 adult tickets per family and, with apologies, younger siblings are not able to attend.
Parents Drinks in London – 12th February 2026: Parents are invited by Winchester College Society to join us for drinks at the Cavalry and Guards Club, London on Thursday 12th February.
End of Term Celebrations
All parents are welcome to join us for the traditional celebrations at the end of Short Half on Friday 12th December, including the Cathedral carol service from 14:30-15:30, followed by our annual Illuminā celebrations at 15:45.
Since the 19th century, the College has celebrated the end of Short Half with Illuminā, a celebration including the lighting candles along Meads Wall, enjoying a bonfire on Ball Court, and gathering to sing Domum. There will also be mince pies, sausage rolls, festive drinks, and stalls for the College community to enjoy.
Tickets must be booked in advance
Please note that tickets for the carol service are limited to 2 per family. Ticket limits do not apply to Illuminā. You do not need to book a ticket for a current pupil.
Parents are very welcome to join us for College events. Upcoming events, including the Autumn Lecture Series (link below) are highlighted in the Winchester Weekly newsletter.
The next lecture is the Cameron Bespolka Memorial Wildlife Talk with Dr Campbell Murn FRSB FLS from the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Dr Murn will share the highs and lows of devoting his life’s work to the research and conservation of birds of prey.
Below, you can find links to our lecture series and music diary for the upcoming term.
Last Wednesday the Senior Maths Team went to Portsmouth Grammar School for the regional qualifier for the National Team maths competition.
The team of Alex (B), Harry (K), Barack and Oliver (both X), jointly (with Brighton College) won the regional qualifier with a perfect score of 180/180. The organiser said it was the first time in 20 years they’ve had a perfect score.
The team have now qualified for the National finals in Manchester in February, and have done very well to get this far. Congratulations boys!
On 15th December, Classic FM Rising Star and Sony artist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason will visit Winchester College with her mother, author and activist Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, for an evening exploring Jane Austen’s musical world on the eve of her 250th birthday.
In this hour long, intimate evening concert, Kadiatu and Jeneba will reflect on references to music in Jane Austen’s works and more broadly on the music of the time, performing music with which Jane Austen would have been familiar.
Kadiatu will intersperse the live performance with details of Jane Austen’s life, her perspectives on music and the cultural context in which her female characters lived.
The latest edition of Sapientia, Winchester’s pupil-led academic journal, brings together prize-winning and shortlisted essays on an impressive variety of topics.
Highlights include pieces on the social power of music, the identity of the Romans through poetry, the economic impact of AI, and the roots of wealth inequality.
Pupils also explore big questions about religion, delve into the world of Ancient Egyptian amulets, and explain the science behind enzyme engineering and biocatalysis.
Well done to everyone involved!
Up to Books!
From meeting snakes to engaging with complicated imperial legacies, the Common Room of Winchester College is offering parents the chance to get back into the classroom.
To book a lesson – or three! – for Studium on Saturday 29th November, please click on the link below.
You will receive an email during the week commencing 24th November confirming your choices.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Last Saturday the Winchester climbing team hosted Cranleigh School for the first home fixture on the Sports Centre climbing wall, and what a success it was!
A convincing win for both College teams demonstrated the hard work the pupils have put in and reflects the consistency in training. It was lovely to see both schools working together and showing support towards everyone involved.
Next up, the team has Abingdon visiting, with more fixtures on the horizon!
The 1st Round of this year’s Concerto Competition was held on Sunday 9th November, and a most impressive display of musical skill thrilled the audience. Our Heads of Faculty had the difficult task of choosing three places in the final and these were awarded to:
Winston (X) – clarinet
Coen (G) – piano
Laurie (H) – piano
The Final will be a fabulous occasion – held on Saturday 7th February – and is a real highlight in our annual Music Diary!
Winston performs Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto
Coen performs Ravel’s Piano Concerto
Laurie performs Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no. 2
See you there!
