About.

This is the website of The Westminster Society, the alumni society for former students & staff of Westminster College London and Oxford.

Contributions are welcome from any former student or staff member.

Our Goal

The Westminster Society exists to help members maintain and refresh the bonds of friendship established during their years at Westminster College.

Established in London & Oxford

The Westminster Society was founded in 1886, at the original Westminster College premises in Horseferry Road, Westminster, SW1, under the title Westminster Club.

The Westminsterian began life as the in-college magazine, produced several times a term. The earliest copy in the archive dates from 1892.

Do you know when it became today's alumni magazine? Was it, perhaps, around 1977? Because . . .

...continued

The Westminster Bulletin was produced from 1925 to 1977, first as the alumni magazine of the Westminster Club which at some point became the Society it is today. When was that?

Incidentally, the Bulletin followed on from the War Bulletin, which The Principal edited from 1914 to 1918, for Old W's on active service or recovering from war wounds.

Please look at your own back copies or archives of these magazines. It would be good to complete the College archive, and to see in what year these changes took place. Have a sort out before those eager young recyclers move in on you!

Please contact the Society using the form down the page, or drop a line to: [email protected]

Your Committee

Work in progress beyond this point

Peter Relf ('63-'66)
Chair

Peter had a great time at Westminster and particularly enjoyed music-making and staging theatre productions. This was excellent preparation for teaching music in Hillingdon, Doncaster, Mexborough and Mansfield.

He gained a BA degree with the Open University and then supported vocational education in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. With an MBA from the OU he worked for the Methodist Church, first regionally and then nationally, before retiring

David Gibbs ('66-'69)
Treasurer

I started learning the piano aged 7. By 13 my principal study had become the organ, first at my Parish Church, and later with John Webster at Oxford University, and John Clough at Gloucester Cathedral.

At Westminster I studied Music. My teaching career began in Primary schools, continued on Secondary, leading to Head of Department posts and to the school gaining Performing Arts specialist status. I was  involved in teacher training through the school's links with Bath Spa University.

I have performed and directed music in educational and church settings, including 30 years as Director of Music for church, work with Christian Radio, and visits to USA, Europe, and Scandinavia.

My wife Joy and I moved to West Sussex in 2009 to be closer to part of the family. Our son and daughter are both professional musicians.

Mary Lines ('75-'78, Mary Schofield)
Secretary of the Society, and a director of Westminster Oxford Trust Ltd

I enjoyed college life and have many happy memories. I remained teaching in Early Years in Oxfordshire, retiring in 2014. Living in North Hinksey, I have maintained links with the College over the years. I joined the Westminster Society in 2018 after becoming a trustee of the Westminster College Oxford Trust who are appointed by the Methodist Church as the managing trustees of the Harcourt Hill site. (read more about the Trust here)

Peter Steadman ('74-'78)
Online & Membership

A year in France, then Leicester, proved enough teaching for me. I went into magazine publishing, installed the firm's first computer, and grew with the business, retiring early as Database & Distribution Director.

Music, especially singing, has always been part of me, and nowadays I run weekly lunchtime concerts in Leatherhead Methodist Church (or online during COVID). see: musiconthursdays.org

The four officers named above form the Executive that runs The Westminster Society day-to-day

Liz Stock ('72-'75, Liz Bullock)
Reunion Team Rep

I enjoyed college life and have many happy memories. But that is not me in the picture

Liz and the four members of the Executive form the Society's Reunion Organising Team

Representing Group Organisers:

Frances Ann Johnson ('75-'78)
Organiser for England North East

Having spent 3 happy years at Westminster, leaving in 1978, I taught different age groups, in the South East and North East of England. I’ve travelled extensively, visiting North America, Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe, leaving only South America & Antarctica to complete the set! Family, Music, Drama, Chapel and the Community have played, and continue to play, a huge role in my life.

John Wallace ('66-'69)
Organiser for Cornwall

I enjoyed college life and have many happy memories. Married Brenda Manning (also '66-'69). We retired to Cornwall, but that has not changed me as much as the photo suggests.

Members without portfolio:

Sylvia Clift ('65-'69, Sylvia Owen)
Recent Past Chair (stepped down September 2021)

One of Oxford University's first BEd's. Taught in FE Colleges. Retired early as Lead Lecturer in History & English and College Community Development Officer. Then Tutor Organiser for WEA. Also supply work in state and independent schools and Sixth Form Colleges.. Now enjoying retirement in rural Worcestershire with my dogs and horses.

Sylvia saw through the BA process with Dave Haigh, and has made a great contribution to the Society through quite a long period, even persuading her non-Westminster husband to become interim-Treasurer for what turned out  to be three years of toil.

Will Bissett ('86-'90)
Committee Member, Communications

I enjoyed college life and have many happy memories. I eavesdrop on committee meetings when I can. It is great to be working with a group of people who have vision for where The Westminster Society is heading.

Officers not on the Committee:

Dave Haigh ('70-'73)
IT Volunteer

Trained in PE & maths, did lots of sports - good way to meet people from different houses & years. Moved to Fareham with Liz Edmondson ('71-'74). We married in ’76, 2 children arrived in '79 and '82.

Taught for 40 years at Cowplain School. Became Head of PE, moved to IT in '88, Head of IT 2 years later. Ran school camp - 200 year 8's to the New Forest for a week under canvas, 1980 to 1990. I was invited to join the Inspection team as a Hampshire Lead Teacher for ICT. P/T role, very satisfying working with teachers in other schools. Final years found me teaching maths to parents & borderline pupils in evenings to get them through GCSE grade Cs, all but one making it.
 
Always keen on sport, learnt to fly 12 yrs ago. Could never get Liz up there, so knocked that on the head and we joined a power boat club. We pop over to the Isle of Wight for an afternoon when the weather is kind!

We're Here for You

Your suggestions for improving The Westminster Society, your desire to volunteer, to join the committee, your picture, news, or article for the magazine, the blog, or a newsletter, or your worry about a problem, we welcome them all.

Sharing thoughts, opinions, ideas and problems helped us back in College days. It'll still help today - after all, we are each that little bit wiser now! (OK, maybe not ALL)