Sir Edwin Manton

Sir Edwin Manton was born in 1909 and studied at the then Shaftesbury Grammar School as a boarder from 1918-1926. He excelled at languages and played in the school cricket and football teams. He won a scholarship to Cambridge but never took it up, choosing instead a job in insurance, which took him to the Paris office of Caledonian Insurance.

In 1933 he moved to America and joined a group owning a large number of insurance companies, eventually becoming vice president of the American International Group in New York. He retired in 1975.

He was knighted in 1994 for services to art and, as a member of the Old Shastonians Club, chose to support Shaftesbury School’s application for sports college status by donating $150,000 to the school, thus making it possible for us to become one of only 34 sports colleges in the country at the time.

He died in 2005 aged 96.

Duncan Vaughan

Duncan was born in 1928 and attended Shaftesbury School, which was then the local grammar school. One of his talents was his superb sporting ability. In 1944 he was called up for National Service in the army.

He was chosen to be one of the Torchbearers for the 1948 Olympic games. The Olympic Torch procession ran from the West coast of England, where the Olympic water sports were taking place, to Wembley in London. Duncan was given the torch as a memento of his role in the Games.

After completing military service he began studying accountancy at the London School of Economics. Sadly when about to marry in 1950 at the age of only 22, he caught polio and died.

Duncan's mother presented the Olympic torch to the School more than 40 years ago. It has come to be used by the School as an inspirational symbol.

Tony Rogers

Tony left Shaftesbury Grammar School in 1965, and studied at Cambridge University. There he achieved a Blue in Rugby and went on to play for Rosslyn Park RFC and England "B". He is currently the head coach of Cambridge University Rugby Club

Joseph Fiennes

Joseph Fiennes was born in 1970. After leaving school, he worked with the Young Vic Youth Theatre, and then went on to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
His first professional stage appearance was in the West End in THE WOMAN IN BLACK, followed by A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, opposite Helen Mirren. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for two seasons. During that time, he performed roles in Dennis Potter's SON OF MAN, LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS (directed by Simon Callow), TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, and Peter Whelan's award-winning THE HERBAL BED.
Joseph made his film debut as Willy in THE VACILLATIONS OF POPPY CAREW. He hit stardom John Madden's SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards for 1998.

Joseph is brother of Ralph (star of "Schindler's List") and nephew of the polar explorer Ranulph Fiennes.