Newcastle Scholarship
The Newcastle Scholarship is an annual prize awarded at Eton College in England for the highest performance in a series of special written examinations taken over the course of a week. It was instituted and first awarded in 1829. It is the College's most prestigious prize, and for over a century until it changed form in 1976 it was considered the premier school prize examination in England for school students of the Classics (Greek and Latin language and literature) and Divinity (the Bible scriptures).
History
The scholarship was instituted and first awarded in 1829 on the initiative and benefaction of Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle. The Statutes, recorded in 1841, state:
'The design and object of these Scholarships is to promote and encourage a Religious education and sound and useful Learning in general among the Scholars of Eton School, including particularly accurate Scholarship in Greek and Roman literature but most especially and principally to inculcate a thorough knowledge of the Evidence, Doctrines and Precepts of the Christian Religion.'[1]
The winner of the Newcastle Scholarship was awarded a cash prize of £250, a considerable sum in 1829, while the runner-up received a Gold Medal. Originally a series of up to twelve examinations in the ancient languages and in knowledge of Biblical texts, the Scholarship was split into two in 1977, becoming one Prize for Divinity and one for Classics.
Exam format
Since 1987 the Newcastle Scholarship has been an examination in philosophical theology, moral theory, and applied ethics. Candidates sit two three-hour papers after Long Leave (the mid-term break) in the Lent Half (the winter term). Each paper consists of about 12 questions divided into two sections. Candidates must answer three questions in each paper, at least one chosen from each section.
Since its foundation, many distinguished British theologians and philosophers have been invited to examine the Newcastle. In 1840 William Gladstone was one of the examiners, together with Lord Lyttelton.[2] In addition to setting the papers and marking the scripts, they choose a set book on a theme of their choice, upon which candidates are examined.
Winners
Distinguished winners of the Newcastle Scholarship in its original form have included Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy (1831), William Johnson Cory (1841),[3] WR Inge (1879),[4] M. R. James (1882),[5] Patrick Shaw-Stewart (1905),[6] Arthur Rhys-Davids(1916), Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone (1925),[7] Douglas Hurd (1947) and William Waldegrave (1965, currently Provost of Eton College). Those who have become professional classicists include Roger Mynors (1922), Charles Willink (1946), Adrian Hollis (1958), Richard Jenkyns (1966) and Armand D’Angour (1976).
The following is a list of winning Scholars, and Medallists (runners-up) since 1946. They are listed with their post-nominals earned at the school: "KS": King's Scholar; "OS": Oppidan Scholar; "MS": Music Scholar; "ME": Music Exhibitioner.
"ma" indicates the elder of two brothers at the school, or exceptionally the eldest of three or the second of four or more; "mi" similarly indicates the second of two or three, or the third of four or more.
| Year | Scholar | Medallist |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | C. W. Willink, KS | T. J. Burrows, KS |
| 1947 | D. R. Hurd, KS | S. Goldblatt, KS |
| 1948 | C. L. Drage, OS | S. M. Haskell, KS |
| 1949 | S. M. Haskell, KS | S. H. Willink, KS |
| 1950 | S. H. Willink, KS | M. C. Stokes, KS |
| 1951 | S. L. Egerton, KS | M. C. Stokes, KS |
| 1952 | M. Mortimer, KS | W. J. A. Wickham, OS |
| 1953 | S. L. Hugh-Jones, KS | R. C. Palmer, KS |
| 1954 | R. B. O’G. Anderson ma KS | P. M. O. Stafford, KS |
| 1955 | N. P. Bayne, KS | C. M. K. Taylor ma KS |
| 1956 | E. L. Hussey, KS | P. T. S. Carson, KS |
| 1957 | M. Elliott, KS | A. S. Hollis, KS |
| 1958 | A. S. Hollis, KS | T. R. Adès, KS |
| 1959 | T. R. Adès, KS | J. P. Steele, KS |
| 1960 | K. A. O. Fulton, KS | G. A. D. Emerson, KS |
| 1961 | G. A. D. Emerson, KS | J. V. Kerby, KS |
| 1962 | R. J. A. Carnwath ma OS | P. T. Hutchinson, KS |
| 1963 | F. M. Prideaux, KS | R. J. Lane Fox, OS |
| 1964 | A. G. Foster-Carter, KS | R. J. Lane Fox, OS |
| 1965 | The Hon. W. G. Waldegrave, OS | The Hon. A. J. L. Bruce, OS |
| 1966 | R. H. A. Jenkyns, KS | N. S. R. Hornblower, KS |
| 1967 | J. W. Waterfield, KS | N. S. R. Hornblower, KS |
| 1968 | The Hon. P. C. H. Snow, KS | O. W. A. Barnes, KS |
| 1969 | S. P. M. Mackenzie, KS | M. P. R. Wormald, KS |
| 1970 | R. R. Oliver, OS | The Hon. A. D. A. Macdonald, OS |
| 1971 | The Hon. A. W. R. Morrison, KS | A. J. Pemberton, KS |
| 1972 | A. J. Pemberton, KS | J. D. Leigh Pemberton ma OS |
| 1973 | H. C. Lawson-Tancred, KS | S. G. Barber, OS |
| 1974 | M. J. Lyall Grant, OS | J. H. Leigh Pemberton ma OS |
| 1975 | H. C. Eyres, KS | The Hon. G. S. Monck OS |
| 1976 | A. J. D’Angour ma KS | M. A. Anderson KS |
| 1977 | A. A. J. Monson ma OS | N. I. Macpherson, KS |
| 1978 | D. W. K. Anderson, KS | M.R.V. Southern KS |
| 1979 | J. W. Mackinnon, KS | J. W. R Cummings, KS |
| 1980 | P. D. P. Barnes ma OS | M. Brandreth, KS |
| 1981 | K. K. Nath, KS | G. T. S. Davson, KS |
| 1982 | G. T. S. Davson KS | A. D. T. Cromartie, KS |
| 1983 | H. J. B. Smith, KS | A. D. T. Cromartie KS |
| 1984 | D. W. Runciman, OS | J. F. Boff, KS |
| 1985 | S. H. Mandelbrote, KS | A. J. N. Roxburgh KS |
| 1986 | P. S. Drinkall, OS | J. W. Rees-Mogg |
| 1987 | B. J. Smith ma OS | W. G. Wringe, KS |
| 1988 | H. R. M. Dimbleby | C. R. Heatly, KS MS |
| 1989 | J. B. R. Reppas ma KS | T. G. M. Mitcheson, OS |
| 1990 | E. W. J. Lamb | N. J. I. Kind, KS |
| 1991 | T. P. Elias, KS | D. K. Renton, OS |
| 1992 | K. A. A. Kwarteng, KS | F. F-T. Chen, OS |
| 1993 | D. A. S. Hugh-Jones, KS | A. C. Warr, OS |
| 1994 | I. N. M. Wright, KS | A. C. E. Ruck Keene, OS |
| 1995 | T. D. Calvocoressi, OS | R. J. Starling, KS |
| 1996 | P. M-T. Sohmen, KS ME | S. Krishnan, KS |
| 1997 | R. A. Elliott Lockhart, OS | R. V. Gowan ma KS |
| 1998 | N. T. Shah, KS | L. P. C. Geddes |
| 1999 | C. P. W. Fielding, OS | N. T. Shah, KS |
| 2000 | J. D. J. Neicho, KS | M. J. Pappenheim, KS |
| 2001 | H. H. Briance, OS | A. Grenfell ma KS ME |
| 2002 | O. J. C. Bridge | H. H. Briance, OS |
| 2003 | J. C. Dacre ma K.S | H. J. Ellis, OS |
| 2004 | H. C. R. Donati, OS | T. C. Wingfield, OS |
| 2005 | H. C. R. Donati, OS | F. J. O. Spring |
| 2006 | N. H. J. Gaisman OS ME | A. H. White mi KS |
| 2007 | M. I. L. Osman | A. T. P. Parham mi |
| 2008 | G. K. Kotecha, KS | J. H. F. Roxburgh, KS |
| 2009 | A. A. Nadeem, KS | R. Mehan, OS |
| 2010 | A. A. Cornish, KS | D. J. F. C. Leung, KS MS |
| 2011 | W. J. Gowers, KS | H. Xu, KS |
| 2012 | M. A. P. Seely, KS | T. A. Bannatyne, KS |
| 2013 | H.C. Elliott ma KS | S.A.P. Norman ma OS ME |
| 2014 | C.J. Styles | A.A. Groes, OS |
| 2015 | B.P. Barnard | W. Baker |
| 2016 | J. Choo-Choy | M. Woernle ma OS |
| 2017 | L. Fraser-Taliente OS | L. Li KS |
| 2018 | K. Power | A.F. Warley |
| 2019 | G. Conradie KS | T. Chow KS |
| 2020 | F.A.W. Kirkby MS | W.I.S. Ferguson |
Recent Examiners
| Year | Examiner | Set Text |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Professor John MacQuarrie (Christ Church, Oxford) | Peace Studies: The Hard Questions |
| 1989 | Canon Brian Hebblethwaite (Queens’ College. Cambridge) | Mahoney, Bioethics and Belief |
| 1990 | Professor Stephen Prickett (Glasgow University) | Prickett, What do the Translators Think They are Up To? |
| 1991 | Rabbi Julia Neuberger | Webster, A Brief History of Blasphemy |
| 1992 | The Rt Revd Stephen Sykes (Bishop of Ely) | Report on Faith in the Countryside |
| 1993 | Professor Basil Mitchell (Oxford University) | Sacks, The Persistence of Faith |
| 1994 | Sir Anthony Kenny (Rhodes House, Oxford) | Casey, Pagan Virtue |
| 1995 | Professor Stephen Clark (Liverpool University) | Regis, Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition |
| 1996 | Dr Janet Martin Soskice (Jesus College, Cambridge) | Sacks, Faith in the Future |
| 1997 | Dr Graham Ward (Peterhouse, Cambridge) | Weil, Gravity and Grace |
| 1998 | Professor David Pailin (Manchester University) | Mesle, Process Theology |
| 1999 | Professor Peter Lipton (King’s College, Cambridge) | Nagel, Mortal Questions |
| 2000 | Professor Ann Loades MBE (Durham University) | Pelikan, Jesus through the Centuries |
| 2001 | Mr Michael Proudfoot (Reading University) | Warnock, Imagination and Time |
| 2002 | Professor John Webster (Christ Church, Oxford) | MacIntyre, Dependent Rational Animals |
| 2003 | Professor Roger Trigg (Warwick University) | Fukuyama, Our Posthuman Future |
| 2004 | Professor Anthony O'Hear (Birmingham University) | Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion |
| 2005 | Professor George Pattison (Christ Church, Oxford) | Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling |
| 2006 | Dr Fraser Watts (Queens’ College, Cambridge) | James Proctor, Science, Religion and the Human Experience |
| 2007 | Dr Susan Parsons (Universities of Cambridge and Nottingham) | Anselm, Proslogion |
| 2009 | Dr Douglas Hedley (Clare College, Cambridge) | Kant, The Moral Law |
| 2010 | Professor John Cottingham (Reading University) | Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality |
| 2011 | Dr Paolo Crivelli (New College, Oxford) | Plato, Phaedo |
| 2012 | Dr Dave Leal (Brasenose College, Oxford) | Ryle, The Concept of Mind |
| 2013 | Professor Derek Matravers (Emmanuel College, Cambridge) | Williams, Morality |
| 2014 | Dr William Wood (Oriel College, Oxford) | Pascal, Pensées |
| 2015 | Dr Clare Carlisle (King’s College, London) | Lear, Radical Hope |
| 2016 | Dr Jonathan Loose (Universities of London and Cambridge) | Plantinga, Knowledge and Christian Belief |
| 2017 | Professor John Skorupski (Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of St Andrews) | Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy |
| 2018 | Professor Jens Timmermann (Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of St Andrews) | Kant, The Conflict of the Faculties |
| 2019 | Professor Sarah Coakley (Emeritus Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge) | Fricker, Epistemic Injustice |
| 2020 | Professor Oliver O'Donovan (Emeritus Professor of Christian Ethics, Edinburgh) | Augustine, On the Nature of the Good and Scheler, Repentance and Rebirth |
Winners of the Newcastle Classical Prize since 1976
| Year | Scholar | Runner(s) up (Proxime accessit or accesserunt) |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | R.W. Bourne KS | T.A. Oates OS |
| 1977 | N.T. Morgan ma KS | M.R.V. Southern KS |
| 1978 | G.W. Philipps ma KS | A.P.M. Beeley OS |
| 1979 | J.W. Mackinnon KS | H.M. Matovu mi KS |
| 1980 | J. Minney ms KS | P.D. Clancy OS |
| 1981 | A.B. Johnson ma KS | G.T.S. Davson KS |
| 1982 | H.J.B. Smith KS | W.D.M. Buckley ma OS |
| 1983 | R.J.B. Hoare KS | N.E. Evans Lombe KS |
| 1984 | Not awarded | |
| 1985 | A.J.N. Roxburgh KS | C.M. Phipps OS |
| 1986 | A.S. Brown KS | E.J. Baden-Powell OS |
| 1987 | S. Towler KS | W.B.M. Coley KS |
| 1988 | N.A.H. Dent OS | J.C.S. Sword KS |
| 1989 | D.J. Causebrook KS | L.S.-K. Fung OS MS, M.J.H. Meynell ma |
| 1990 | S.J. Lloyd KS | P.A. Delves Broughton OS |
| 1991 | H.J.S. Howard KS | I. Tebb KS |
| 1992 | G.A.J. Kelly ma OS | N.P. Larkin KS |
| 1993 | K.A.A. Kwarteng KS | C.A.C. Smith KS |
| 1994 | A. Oliver KS MS | A.G. Buchanan OS |
| 1995 | M.R.B. Wilson KS | A.S. Zihni KS |
| 1996 | J.P. Wootton OS | S.A. Sorell KS |
| 1997 | C.L. Whitton OS MS | M.A.C. Martin OS |
| 1998 | C.P.W. Fielding OS | A.S. McCluskey OS ME |
| 1999 | A.C.M. Anslow OS | W.D.F. Brett OS ME |
| 2000 | M.J. Pappenheim KS MS | C.D.A. Wright OS |
| 2001 | H.H. Briance OS | A.G.R. Summers KS |
| 2002 | T.E. Cameron KS | T.H.W. Casey OS |
| 2003 | C.N. Morrison OS. | A.O.K.Edun ma OS |
| 2004 | T.A.S.Rudkin OS. | J.F. Manhood KS |
| 2005 | Y.Kawata KS | J.K. Romer-Lee OS |
| 2006 | M.S. Ostrowski KS MS | F.C.C.T. Parham ma OS |
| 2007 | H.C. Lyall Grant OS | O.J.W. Murphy KS |
| 2008 | J.H.F. Roxburgh KS | H.W. Lebus |
| 2009 | A.A. Cornish KS | M.E.F. Bridges OS. ME |
| 2010 | O.J.Y-T. Koo OS | R.B. Morley KS |
| 2011 | D.A.S. Byam-Shaw KS | E. Loh KS G.H.F. Hull OS |
| 2012 | W.D.D. Tilston KS | V.W.W. Taylor |
References
- David Butterfield, The Newcastle Scholarship: a historical survey (Eton 2013).
- Peter C. Erb, ed., The Correspondence of Henry Edward Manning and William Ewart Gladstone, Vol.1 1833–1844 (Oxford University Press, 2013), p. 153.
- W.C. Lubenow, The Cambridge Apostles 1820–1914: Liberalism, Imagination, and Friendship (Cambridge University Press, 1998), at page 258
- W. Sydney Robinson, The Last Victorians: A Daring Reassessment of Four Twentieth Century Eccentrics (Robson Press, 2014)
- George Woodcock intr., Twentieth Century Fiction (Macmillan Press, 1983), at page 336
- Miles Jebb, Patrick Shaw-Stewart, An Edwardian Meteor (Dovecote Press, 2010); Evelyn Waugh, Two Lives: Edmund Campion and Ronald Knox (Continuum, 2002), at page 172; Waugh records that the academic strain was such that Shaw-Stewart's hair fell out.
- The New Scientist, Profile: Viscount Hailsham (15 August 1957)