the school 

School history and alumni

Hampton School was founded on March 7 1557 from the will of Robert Hammond. The early school assembled on the site of St Mary's Church, Hampton and later moved to a purpose built campus in 1880 on the Upper Sunbury Road, before its move to the present site on the Hanworth Road in 1938. The School became an independent, fee paying school in 1975 in the light of changes to the administration of secondary education in the London Borough of Richmond and remains independent to the present day.
A more detailed history of the School, Hampton, the School, for Ever, is being written in advance of the School's 450th Anniversary in 2006/7. To register your interest in ordering a copy of this work, please email: devdir@hamptonschool.org.uk We are proud of our history and tradition. Our varied range of alumni includes:
  • Michael Underwood (c1747-53), surgeon and writer on surgery, discoverer of infantile paralysis.
  • William Elliott, engraver of landscapes (1737-40)
  • William Page (c1736), highwayman
  • Sir Philip Barling Ben Greet, the great Shakespearean Actor - Manager was born on September 24th 1857
  • Sir Joseph Coussey (1900-03), sometime President of the Court of Appeal of West Africa
  • Air Marshal Sir Peter Wykeham-Barnes KCB DSO and Bar OBE DFC and Bar AFC (1926-28)
  • Douglas Everett FRS CBE (1928-35), former Leverhulme Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, Bristol University
  • Jim Chandler (1935-42) represented Britain at pistol shooting in the1948 Olympics.
  • Michael Brudenell (1937-44), retired gynaecologist
  • The Rt Hon Lord Baker CH (1946-48), former Secretary of State for Education.
  • John Harvey CBE (1947-54): Executive Chairman, Tibbett and Brittin
  • Professor John Lucas (1948-55), poet and academic
  • Peter Lovesey (1948-55), author
  • Barry Sheerman (1951-57): MP for Huddersfield since 1983 and Chairman of the Education Select Committee
  • The Rt Hon Sir David Keene (1952-59), an Appeal Court judge
  • Professor Rigas Doganis (1950-58), former Chairman, Olympic Airlines
  • John Duerden (1955-60), Chief Operating Officer, Development Division, Invensys plc
  • John Roberts CBE (1955-64) former Chief Executive of the Royal Mail Group
  • Keith Faulkner CBE (1955-62), Chairman, Working Links, Manpower
  • Captain Chris Tuffley RN LVO Royal Navy (1956-63), formerly Captain of the Royal Yacht Britannia
  • Robert Walker (1956-63), Chief Executive, Severn Trent plc
  • Air Vice Marshal (retd) Graham Skinner CBE (1956-63)
  • Michael Austin-Smith QC (1956-63)
  • Professor Michael Sterling (1957-64) Vice Chancellor, University of Birmingham and Chairman of the Russell Group.
  • Dave Travis (1957-65), GB javelin thrower and Commonwealth Gold Medal holder.
  • Professor Brian Vincent (1957-64), Professor, Physical Chemistry, Bristol University
  • Dr Paul Brand (1957-64), Fellow, All Souls; legal historian
  • Brian May (1958-65), musician, founding member, Queen
  • Murray Head (1959-62), musician
  • Geoff Hunt (1959-66), President, the Royal Society of Marine Artists 2003-
  • His Honour Stephen Kramer QC (1959-66)
  • Timothy Charlton QC (1962-69)
  • Andy Hall (1962-69), Chairman, Phibro
  • Zach Miles (1964-71), Chairman, Vedior
  • Major General Malcolm Wood CBE (1964-71), Director, Defence Supply Chain
  • Ian Cliff OBE (1964-71): Ambassador to Sarajevo
  • The Venerable Christopher Chessun (1967-75): Archdeacon of Northolt
  • Robert Hayward (1968-75), ENO baritone
  • Dr Simon Green (1970-77), Fellow of All Souls, Oxford; historian
  • Stephen Miron (1976-83), Managing Director, The Mail on Sunday
  • Jonny Searle OBE (1980-87), Olympic gold winning oarsman
  • Greg Searle OBE (1983-90), Olympian gold winning oarsman
  • Paul Casey (1989-95), professional golfer (winner, 2003 Benson and Hedges International Open)
  • Simon Amor (1992-97), Captain, England Sevens 2003