The Chairman and Board of Governors of S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, have appointed Rev. John Charles Puddefoot M.A. (Oxon) B.D. to be the 17th Warden of the College. He will assume duties July 1, 2009.

A communiqué issued in this connection by Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera states: “The Warden-designate is at present the Deputy Head (Curriculum) at Eton College, Windsor, UK. He joined Eton in 1984 as Assistant Master (Mathematics) and was subsequently promoted Head of Mathematics in 1993 and Director of Studies in 2002. He has been Deputy Headmaster since 2003. “Mr. Puddefoot is Chairman of a number of Eton Committees, such as Curriculum, Professional Development, IT Executive, School Fund, Universities Liaison, Examinations etc. Some of the subjects he has taught at Eton are Pure Mathematics, Mechanics, Statistics, Computer Science, General Philosophy, Theology, Medical Ethics, etc. In addition he was once the Chief Setter for the Independent Schools Examinations Board Common Entrance and Common Scholarship in Mathematics.

“He has been a School Inspector since 2000 with the UK Independent Schools Inspectorate.
“He has written extensively in the area of Theology and Science, published three books and dozens of papers and reviews and lectured in many different parts of the world from New Zealand to Canada. He is a life member of the Centre of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, NJ, USA.

“The Rev. John Puddefoot, who was born on November 3, 1952 is leaving the UK educational system to take up this appointment in Sri Lanka. He is very much looking forward to serving the cause of education amongst boys in a new environment which will present stimulating new challenges. In this he will receive a great deal of support from his wife Susan who is an Educationist in her own right with degrees in Human Biology, Theology and Religious Studies and is the Head of Religious Studies at a large Grammar School in the UK; she is similarly leaving her UK employment to be with her husband in Sri Lanka.

“S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia was founded on February 3, 1851 by Bishop James Chapman, the First Bishop of Colombo. Bishop Chapman modelled the school on his alma mater, Eton College. S. Thomas’ and Eton have the same school motto ‘Esto Perpetua’ and the same school colours – Blue, Black and Blue.

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