Remembering Nigel Stewart
Staff 1963-1994, HouseM No.9 1974-1986
Nigel was a stalwart of Malvern College, with a career that spanned 31 years, including 12 years as the HouseM of No.9.
His first glimpse of Malvern was as an Oundle School pupil for a boxing match where he found himself getting told off by the Librarian, George Sayer, for answering a question with his hands in his pockets. Further down the line, George Sayer would become his Head of Department.
Following a first teaching post at King William’s College on the Isle of Man and a second at Bloxham, he joined the College to teach English in 1963. There Nigel met Sheila, daughter of the then headmaster Donald Lindsay. Their wedding was a College affair with the service in the Chapel and reception in a marquee on the Senior.
During his time at Malvern, Nigel was variously in charge of the Cross Country, Ledbury Run and was responsible for the standards adjudication of O’ Level coursework. He founded the Paperback Bookshop through which pupils could purchase popular paperback novels. Nigel organised the first College Charity Walk in 1968, raising an impressive £6,000 for Shelter and the first College Open Day in 1970 complete with free fall parachutists. He was also active in the CCF and became a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973.
From 1974 until his retirement, he was HouseM of No.9 in which he was ably supported by Sheila. No.9 was famed as the only House that did not use the school caterers and Sheila’s endeavours ensured it enjoyed the enviable reputation of having the best food in the whole school. Nigel continues to teach for a further eight years after stepping down as HouseM.
Nigel always sought to broaden his academic horizons. He achieved a Schoolmaster Fellowship to Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he produced selected Tales from Conrad. His other publications include Famous Short Stories and More Famous Short Stories. In 1987 he won a Goldsmith’s Travelling Scholarship to Italy where he began work on Famous European Short Stories.
Nigel is survived by his wife, Sheila, and daughters Belinda (EOG.78-85), Philippa ‘Pip’ (EOG.79-86) and Jenny (EOG.81-88). He is fondly remembered by all who knew him.
Nigel died on 27th November 2023, aged 89.