St. Philip's School - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

• Anthony E. Pratt, inventor of the board game Cluedo
• Don Maclean, entertainer and presenter of Crackerjack.
• Eamon Duffy, Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge
• John Jenkins, Ambassador to Iraq since 2009
• J. R. R. Tolkien and his brother Hilary Tolkien - In 1902, the Tolkien family moved to a house in Edgbaston next door to the Birmingham Oratory and the school. Tolkien had been attending King Edward's School but was moved to Saint Philip's. Later, he won a Foundation Scholarship to King Edwards and returned to his former school.
• Matthew Marsden, actor
• Paul Beard OBE (1901–89), leader of the City of Birmingham Orchestra from 1922–1932, of the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1932–1936 and of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1936-62; he became Professor of Violin at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and also taught at the Royal Academy of Music.
• Patrick Gallaher CBE, Chairman of North West Gas from 1974–82, and of Wales Gas Board from 1970-4, and President of the IGasE from 1977-78
• Paul Leighton, Broadcaster and BBC Radio 2 Newsreader 1981-2000.
• Sir Francis Griffin, Director of the NEC from 1970-74, 1976–80
• Squadron Leader Peter Latham, later Air Vice-Marshal, Station Commander of RAF Tengah from 1969–71
• William Slim - Between 1903 and 1910, William Slim attended St. Phillip's and King Edward's. As Field Marshal Slim, he served as the British Commander in Chief in Southeast Asia during World War II.
• John Warnaby, stage, screen and television actor.
• Frank Farrell, Musician. (Supertramp)