Board of Governors

Mr Phil Jones - Chairman

Studied Geography at Cambridge where he also obtained a teaching qualification, played rugby for the University, rowed and played hockey for his college. Taught at Downside School for four years and then at Sherborne School. Whilst at Sherborne he was Head of Department, Housemaster, Senior Master and i/c rugby before moving on to become Headmaster of Christ College, Brecon, retiring in 2007. He is a former Inspector of Independent Schools and married to Jane, who was a founding governor of Sherborne Prep. Their two children both attended The Prep. Phil is a governor at two other schools and is involved with a national charity supporting HIV orphans in Kenya. Hobbies include most sports and a particular passion for night-time fly-fishing for sea trout and training gun dogs.

Mrs Fiona Ashley Miller

Finance Director of The Present Finder of Sherborne and married to Mark. Mother to Catriona and William, who between them have spent 18 years at Sherborne Prep, having both started in the Pre-Prep Nursery. A graduate of Oxford Brookes University, where she read Italian, French and German before working in the City of London for ten years marketing portfolio management to private investors.

Mr Richard Bromell

Richard is an Old Prepper who attended the school from 1973-1979 after which he went to boarding school in Devon. Richard then entered the world of antiques and auctioneering and has worked for several firms of auctioneers from South Devon to North Yorkshire. In 1999 he returned to Sherborne setting up his own firm of auctioneers with his wife. Richard has twice been nominated as one of the top four auctioneers in the country and is an Associate of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers. Both of Richard's children are also Old Preppers. His daughter Octavia started in Year 3 and his son Hugo in the Pre-Prep. Richard, Octavia and Hugo have the unusual accolade of having all been taught by Mr Walbank! Richard lives locally and enjoys walking his dog when not working.

Mr Bernard Brown BSc FCA

A graduate of Hull University (BSc in Chemistry). Subsequently qualified as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Now retired but formerly a partner in KPMG Chartered Accountants in London. Hon Treasurer of Sherborne PCC and Hon Treasurer of the Friends of Sherborne Abbey. A Foundation Governor of the Gryphon School. Previously a school governor in Hertfordshire. His interests include travel, reading and bridge. Married to Christina and lives in Sherborne. Bernard has a son and a daughter and two young grandchildren.

Mrs Jenny Dwyer Bed (Hons)(Cantab)

Jenny took up her post as Headmistress of Sherborne Girls in 2006 from Prior's Field School, Godalming where she was Headmistress from 1999.

After graduating from Homerton College, Cambridge, she was on the staff of Benenden School for eight years, becoming Housemistress in 1988. From 1994 to 1999 she was Deputy Head (Pastoral) at Queen Anne's School, Caversham.

Jenny is married to Adrian and has two sons.

Mr Duncan Fowler-Watt MA

Duncan Fowler-Watt is a Housemaster at Bryanston School where he has been an outstanding teacher of Classics for a number of years. Duncan is a hugely versatile Housemaster, widely respected teacher (and the subject of a tribute from Emilia Fox on 'My Favourite Teacher' in the Times Education Supplement), excellent sports coach and renowned director of many superb plays and musicals produced by Bryanston School. Duncan is also a Governor at two other prep schools.
Duncan is married to Karen who, along with their family, share the joys of boarding life in their Year 9 boarding house.

Mr Nigel Jones BSc FRICS ACIArb

Nigel is a Chartered Surveyor based in Yeovil and has been practising primarily in commercial property and development land matters in the area for 25 years. He is a specialist in property disputes, acting as an expert witness or arbitrator in contentious matters throughout southern England. He and his wife Valerie live at Cattistock and have one daughter, Immie, who recently left the Prep School for senior education. Nigel is a sports fan with a particular interest in rugby (having played over 600 games for Dorchester) and cricket and is also a syndicate member in a racehorse!

Mrs Elly Key

Grew up and schooled in Sherborne. Qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1988 at The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London. Returned to Sherborne and worked at Yeovil Hospital for ten years as Sister in the Intensive Care Unit. Subsequently involved in the start up of the Dorset Blue Soup Company. Stopped Nursing to bring up her three children and support husband in the Royal Navy. Home is currently in Buckinghamshire, when not posted further afield. Has three children, the youngest of whom is still at The Prep, and enjoys cooking, walking, tennis, gardening, reading and socialising with friends.

Mr Peter Lapping MA

Born in India and brought up in South Africa. After reading History at the University of Natal went to Lincoln College, Oxford where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Taught History, was Head of History and a Housemaster at Loretto School in Scotland before becoming Headmaster of Shiplake College in 1979. Has many interests including cricket - played for Natal University, Oxford University Authentics and the East of Scotland. In 1988 was appointed Headmaster of Sherborne School from where he retired in 2000. In 1998 became a founder-governor of The Prep and, together with his two fellow founder-governors, bought the School from its then owner and established the School as a charitable trust. Married with grown up children and lives in Gloucestershire.

Mrs Emma Ramsay LLB

Emma is a Solicitor specialising in employment law, with particular expertise in the further education sector. On graduating from Exeter University she moved to Guildford law School and then London to complete legal training, qualifying in 1988. After travelling the world for 18 months in 1990/91 she moved to the West Country and joined Clarke Willmott, specialising as an employment lawyer and subsequently becoming a partner and Head of the Employment Team. Emma was Clerk to Yeovil College for a few years in the 1990s and now advises a number of further education colleges cross the country. She is currently with Nicholas Moore Specialist Employment Lawyers. Emma lives in Sherborne with her husband and two sons, enjoying sport, travel, good food and wine, and family life.

Mr David Savile Platt Dip CAM

Born in Devon, but completed his education at The Scots College, Sydney, Australia. Holds a degree in Communication, Advertising and Marketing. Eleven years as elected District Councillor and Programme Committee Chairman. Ex-Chairman of Mortgage Provider to the British Army. Qualified offshore Yachtmaster and competed in the 1989 RORC Fastnet Race. Married and lives in Sherborne.

Miss June Taylor BSc OBE

A mathematics graduate from the University of Sussex, she went on to St Anne's College, Oxford for a PGCE. Maths teacher and Housemistress at Sherborne School for Girls, prior to becoming Headmistress, in 1985 and retiring in 1999. Currently serves on the Executive Committee of the ISEB, is Chairman of the Independent Schools Inspectorate and Deputy Chairman of AGBIS, Chairman of CE Publications and a Trustee of The Royal National Childrens Foundation. A governor of two other schools and a founder-governor of The Prep, June's interests include theatre, listening to music, paintings and building in this country and in Europe and country pursuits.

Mr Mickey Burton-Brown - Clerk to Governors

Mr Mickey Burton-Brown TD, MA
Mickey is a classical scholar of Charterhouse and Pembroke College, Oxford and has been Clerk to the Governors since 1998. He was Assistant Master at Rugby School from 1956-58, Assistant Headmaster of Ludgrove Preparatory School from 1958-1969 and Headmaster of Edgeborough Preparatory School from 1969-1992 before retiring to Sherborne. He still gives individual tuition in Latin and Greek and takes a Greek session as part of our Saturday morning activities, which is attended by parents as well as children. He is a past Chairman and President of the Sherborne branch of the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies. Mickey is a widower with two grown up children and two grandchildren.