Geoffrey Winthrop-Young and his wife Eleanor had already been climbing for years. As a student, Geoffrey had been one of the pioneers of roof-climbing at Trinity College, Cambridge. He had also explored and found new hikes and climbing routes in the Alps, in the Lake District and in mountains around Pen-y-Pass in Wales. In Pen-y-Pass Geoffrey had organized climbing parties with other prominent climbers like his friend George Mallory.

Eleanor had first been climbing at Pen-y-Pass in 1911 with her father William Cecil Slingsby, who is probably best known for his climbing in Norway. She was also co-founder of the Women's Pinnacle Club in Wales.

So, naturally JWY and his sister Marcia go to

Pen-y-Pass with their parents during their family holidays.

1938 - 1939

After graduating from Gordonstoun, JWY goes to Geneva to learn French and study playing the flute with Marcel Moyse (1889-1984), Professor at the Geneva Conservatoire.

1949

Together with the King and Queen of Greece, JWY co-founds Anavryta near Athens that he sets up following the ideals and guidelines of Salem and Gordonstoun.

He is Headmaster until 1959.

1959 - 1963

JWY returns to England with his family to work for the News Department of the Foreign Office first in London and then at Wilton Park, Wiston House, Steyning, West Sussex.    

1964 - 1972 


JWY becomes Headmaster of the Salem campus, one of the - at the time - four campuses of Salem, Germany.

1965 


He founds and sets up the Kurt Hahn Archive in Salem that is taken over by his daughter Sophie from 1990 to 2010. It then becomes a school’s depositum in the district’s public archive, located in Salem.

1966

Inspired by the multiple-school reconstruction effort in Argostoli, Greece, following a devastating earthquake in 1953, and after 12 years of planning and organising, JWY initiates a meeting of the Heads and Governors of Kurt Hahn schools. On the occasion of Kurt Hahn's 80th birthday celebrations at Salem, JWY's idea of an association of Kurt Hahn schools is finally realised.

JWY runs the association Round Square as Honorary Secretary and later as Director until he retires in 1992.

Until 1985


JWY is honorary member and Warden of the Board of the Head’s of Salem. He is also Head of Security and coordinator of the Emergency Services.

2003


JWY speaks at the „Reconnections and New Directions Conference“ at the Lester Pearson UWC, Vancouver, on the four organisations that had been either inspired by Hahn or followed his educational ideas: Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Outward Bound, United World Colleges and Round Square. 

He had been present at the beginnings of all of them.

2009

On occasion of the 60 years celebration of Anavryta, JWY is presented with an award by the Association of Anavryta Old Boys in appreciation and recognition of his work at Anavryta.

The precious things brought forth by the sun,

And the precious things thrust forth by the moon ;

Earth's fullness, and the chill of snow-fed fountains,

          The rustling of wings,

          And our men's wills,

The chief things of the ancient mountains, 
And the precious things of the lasting hills.

Poem written by his father Geoffrey Winthrop-Young when JWY was born. Recited by his nephew, Thomas Newbolt, at his memorial service. Ω

1.5.2012

Family, friends, and colleagues come together for a memorial service held at the Salem Betsaal. Addresses were given by King Constantine of Greece, Apostolos Kallios, President of Anavryta Old Boys Association, Dieter Plate, member of the Board of Salem and former colleague, and Thomas Newbolt, Jocelin's nephew. His son Geoffrey was Master of Ceremony.

2015

Box Hill names a new building in JWY's honour.

2016

Round Square celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Source of reference :
*  Family collection

º  Kurt Hahn Archive

† Gordonstoun Archive

∞ Salem 

Ω Winthrop-Young, G. (1936). Collective Poems. Wind And Hill. London: Methuen and Co. Ltd.