 John Howard Whitehouse, known as the Warden, left Parliament at the height of his career and as such was able to attract a high calibre of pupil from a number of influential parents.This coupled with his radical approach to education brought much interest from many society figures of the day with whom the Warden was acquainted, many of whom were to be involved in the school.Early visitors to the school included John Masefield, Walter de la Mare, Henry Nevinson and Isaac Foot amongst others.