Eminent Dragons

Among the Dragon's old pupils can be found a large number of highly successful men and women, notably:

Writers:

John Betjeman, Nicholas Shakespeare, Nevil Shute, Naomi Mitchison, Antonia Fraser, John Mortimer, Poppy Adams, Alain de Botton, William Fiennes, Pico Iyer

Journalists:

Peter Jay, David and Stephen Jessel, Humphrey Carpenter, Chris Lowe, David Shukman, Rageh Omaar

Politicians:

Hugh Gaitskell, Patrick Jenkin, Baroness Young, Timothy Raison, Lancelot Mallalieu, Per Mallalieu, Rory Stewart, Julian Brazier

Music:

Peter Tranchell, Roger Norrington, Hal Cazalet, Nick Lloyd Webber, Ed O'Brien

Actors:

Hugh Laurie, Christopher Cazenove, Jack Davenport, Hugh Dancy, Tom Hiddleston, Emma Watson, Tom Ward, Tom Hollander, Dom Joly, Jack Whitehall, Oliver Milburn, Emma Hiddleston

Sportsmen:

Cyril Gadney and Ronnie Poulton-Palmer in rugby, the Clay brothers, and more recently Frances Houghton in rowing, Tim Henman in tennis, Tom Ward in fencing and a host of Internationals and Blues in many sports

Service Men:

Leonard Cheshire VC, John Smyth VC , Jack Randle VC, William Leefe Robinson VC, Marshal of the Air Force John Slessor, Admiral Sir Hugo White, Air Chief Sir Donald Hardman KCB, Col. Harry Holt OBE DSO, Lt. Col. Charles Walker DSO

Looking Back

Before the hymn the Skipper would announce
The latest names of those who'd lost their lives
For King and Country and the Dragon School.
Sometimes his gruff old voice was full of tears
When a particular favourite had been killed.
Then we would hear the nickname of the boy,
'Pongo' or 'Podge', and how he'd played 3Q
For Oxford and, if only he had lived,
He might have played for England - which he did
But in a grimmer game against the Hun.
And then we'd all look solemn, knowing well
there'd be no extra holiday today.

John Betjeman OD