About the House
Pennell House, one of three boys boarding houses at Eastbourne College, was opened in 1920 and named after a former pupil, Theodore Pennell, a Christian missionary and doctor who lived among the tribes of Afghanistan. It is a purpose-built building on the corner of Blackwater Road and College Road.
There is a large common area which is made up of a games room, a tuck shop and a TV room available to all boys during those times of the day when they are not committed to school activities.
Pennell is lucky enough to have a dedicated music room complete with an electronic drum kit, weighted keyboard and amplifiers.
House events: The most recent was a 150km walk (where the whole house each walked 20km)
Housemaster
Tim Holgate studied Business Management at Southampton Solent University. Throughout his teaching career, he has taught Business while coaching a wide range of sports including senior boys rugby and was Master-in-charge of athletics for four years. Away from College life, he enjoys spending time with his wife Kirsty and their two daughters, Ella and Jessie. He also competes in the annual Eastbourne Triathlon.
Susan Edwards is the house matron and, as well as Tyrin Smit, the resident tutor, there are six other tutors who help with the running of the house and are responsible for overseeing their tutees’ academic progress, co-curricular involvement and general wellbeing.
Housemaster’s Welcome
Pennell is an unpretentiously friendly house. It is not fussy about its achievements or boastful about its qualities, respecting the sportsman as much as the actor, the academic as much as the musician and all those who fall in between. Talent is valued but is not seen as the be-all and end-all. Everyone belongs and everyone contributes.
We believe that good communication solves many problems and, as a result, doors are always open and time is always given. Wherever possible, the house staff believe in being ahead of any problem. Pennell boys understand that life is to be lived to the full and, most importantly, that this means being aware of others’ needs as well as of one’s own. We hope our boys will leave Pennell with both happy memories and long-lasting friendships. To Old Pennellians everywhere, we never close and they never really leave.
I look forward to welcoming you to Pennell.
