With origins as far back as the 14th Century, Westminster School is
one of the oldest in the country with a long tradition of scholarship -
and outstanding results, both in academic and public life.
Over the centuries, Westminster has stood apart from other prominent
schools. Firmly grounded between Westminster Abbey and the Houses of
Parliament, it has remained curiously unswayed by the influence and
ethos of figures such as Thomas Arnold and the Victorian public school
tradition, combining a distinctive evolution with the retention of much
of its unique character.
A great many of the school's former pupils are famous names. At one
time, some of those pupils were uncontrolled outside school hours and
notoriously unruly about town, but always encouraged to question,
challenge and debate - and above all to respect genuine scholarship.
They rank among this country's most distinguished thinkers, writers,
theologians, scientists, politicians, artists and musicians.
Ben Jonson, George Herbert, Richard Busby, John Locke, Christopher
Wren, Robert Hooke, Lord Mansfield, Charles Wesley, Warren Hastings,
Jeremy Bentham, Henry Mayhew, A. A. Milne, John Spedan Lewis, Richard
Doll and Tony Benn are the individuals the authors recognise as
'loyal dissenters', at once respectful of peers, staff and principles,
yet unafraid to forge their own direction.
