Winchester House alumnus Lieutenant Commander Colin Harris (1940–1945)

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Winchester House alumnus Lieutenant Commander Colin Harris (1940–1945) has died.

After his time at Winchester House, Colin went on to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, on a scholarship, before serving in the Royal Navy. Later in life, he settled in Cornwall, where he played an active role in his local community, helping to run the village museum and working with the Cornwall Record Office.

Colin kept in close contact with Winchester House throughout his life and his son, Christopher, is a Housian too. His daughter Lizzy was the relevant age before WHS was co-ed but did sit her Common Entrance examinations at Winchester House as an ‘extra’ Housian for a few days. After his children left Winchester House Colin was a familiar and much-loved presence at Winchester House several times a year. He regularly took part in our Acts of Remembrance by reading the Naval Prayer, spoke to pupils with great warmth about his life at – and beyond – WinchesterHouse and often joined them for supper or lunch as well as performing official functions, such as planting the King Charles III Coronation tree in the Seligman Playground to mark the coronation of His Majesty in 2023.

His kindness, generosity of spirit and deep affection for the School left a lasting impression on all who met him. A true Housian, Colin will be greatly missed by our community. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.