John Tonkin arrived at Kingham Hill School in September 1939, aged just 11, having travelled alone by train from Plymouth with a label around his neck. Recently widowed, his mother had few options, and it was through a recommendation that John found his way to Kingham—a decision that would shape the course of his life.
His first impression was of the school’s beauty and order, something that remained unchanged even when he returned more than 80 years later. Settling into Clyde House, John quickly felt at home. Life was structured and purposeful, particularly during the war years when boys took on daily responsibilities such as cleaning and food preparation.
John thrived academically, especially in Religion, Music, English and History. Canon Horsfield played a pivotal role in shaping his Christian faith, while music and literature sparked lifelong passions. As a chorister, he performed works such as The Messiah, and his love of reading began in the classroom.
Sport also played a central role in school life. John captained the football team, played hockey, and excelled in gymnastics, winning a school trophy. Despite less enthusiasm for swimming, he embraced the active outdoor life that defined Kingham afternoons.
Friendships were central to his experience. Among them were Hans Leistina and Johann Schmidt, German boys whose parents had been killed for opposing the Nazi regime—an early and powerful reminder of the wider world beyond the school.
Although the Second World War formed the backdrop to his time at Kingham, its direct impact on school life was limited. The school provided stability, strong routines, and a sense of community during uncertain times.
Reflecting on his years at Kingham, John is clear about their lasting impact: it was here that the foundations of his Christian faith were laid. Though he initially pursued engineering after leaving in 1945, he later followed a vocation to the priesthood—a path rooted in the values he developed at school.
“Kingham equipped me for life,” he said, “giving me resilience, independence, and a clear sense of how I should live.”
Adrian Foster (Greenwich, 1967–1974) reflects:
“In 1964, as the newly arrived curate of the parish church in Keynsham—where my brothers and I lived with our widowed mother—a chance conversation outside Bot’s led to John recommending Kingham as the right school for us. He later visited with our mother and grandfather, who was struck by the care shown by staff. Together they decided it was the right place to send us—a decision that proved as important and as positive for the three of us as it had been for John 25 years earlier.”