Wiseman's House

The strength of the House lies in its warmth and family atmosphere. The boys in the House mix well throughout the year groups and with a diverse mixture of backgrounds and cultures that gives the house a truly global feel. The House are enthusiastic and support each other greatly whether it be on the sports pitch or in other events like the House Song competition.

Staff
Housemaster:	Mr Mark Dixon
Assistant HoM:	Mr Bobby Trivic
Matron:	Mrs Gillian Gardiner
Tutors:	Mr Thomas Johnston Mr Colin Lewis Mr Simon Miller Mr Tony Reeves Mr David Richardson
Pupils
Number:	Approximately 65

History

Wiseman’s history starts with an exciting new phase in September 2006. The House and its occupants have moved to Worcester Road to a newly acquired and refurbished boarding house. The new house is spacious and exciting, in particular, the Sixth Form study bedrooms will be extremely high quality, with groups of 3 (2 sharing and 1 single) with their own bathroom and kitchenette. Mark Dixon, the current housemaster, looks forward to showing Wiseman’s friends around the house: past, present and future.

Wiseman’s was Clifton’s third boarding house and started in its current location in 1878 under the leadership of Rev. H. J. Wiseman. The House narrowly escaped bombing in 1940 when a bomb fell and destroyed the squash courts next to the House and its air-raid shelter. In 1966, the Redgrave Theatre was built on an area known as “Clissold’s Piece” after H. Clissold who was a WiH Housemaster killed in the Great War. In exchange for this, the existing WiH building was extended to include a house library, named in Clissold’s honour. In the House’s 133 year history there have only been the 13 housemasters. The number being unlucky for the existing building perhaps, as we prepare to leave it. What will happen after the 13th housemaster in the new location in Worcester Court?

Famous Old Boys

J.E. McTaggart Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and a very famous philosopher. The school’s McTaggart Society is named after him.
Rt.Hon J.H. Whitley Liberal MP for Halifax and Speaker of the House of Commons. Also Chairman of the Governers of the BBC.
Matthew Windows Cricketer for Gloucester CCC and headed the country’s batting averages in 2000.

House Activities

Every Sunday night the House has a 90-minute booking for indoor 5-a-side football. This is hard-fought and appeals to the whole House with all year groups taking part. Pool and table tennis are played in the House. House trips occur during the term, with recent ones being ice skating, paint-balling and trips to Weston-Super-Mare.

The house runs a yearly ski trip in the half-term exeat of the Lent Term. This year we are going to Les Deux Alps for a week. All year groups are invited through to 'private-side' for dinners at various times through the year. For the Upper Sixth, the boys themselves cater for the group. The tradition seems to be that these preparations have had a theme drawn from where the caterers come from, which has made them particularly interesting and varied.

House Motto

Nec tenui ferar penna – 'On no feeble wing shall I be borne'

This comes from the Roman poet Horace. In this the poet predicts his world fame and immortality. The message for the Wiseman’s boys is “aim high”. Accordingly, the House symbol is of an arrow flying upwards. On the House hall is a Greek inscription from Homer’s Iliad which translates to “Glaucus, why is it that we two are held in the highest honour?” The original passage continues and gives the message that the position of high rank and respect lays on these men the obligation to fight for their weaker men in the forefront of battle. It is urging the boys to use their education and privilege in their lives to the benefit of others.

The two mottos combine powerfully in what they ask the boys to do and to be.

Contact

Wiseman's House 3 Worcester Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3JL
Email Housemaster MDixon@clifton-college.avon.sch.uk
Telephone +44 (0)117 315 7330
Fax +44 (0)117 315 7334