Giles Alington

Giles Alington was born on 29 May 1914 and died on 24 February 1956. He served as a Fellow of University College, Oxford, from 1944 until his death in 1956.

He was the eldest son of the Very Revd Dr Cyril Alington, who was the headmaster of Eton College and Shrewsbury School, as well as the dean of Durham Cathedral. His mother was Hester Margaret, née Lyttelton. The Alington family has historical roots in the clerical and landed gentry classes, originating from the Alingtons of Horseheath, an ancient family from Cambridgeshire. Cyril Alington descended from the Alingtons of Horseheath and was associated with the Alington family of Little Barford Manor House, located in St Neots, Huntingdonshire. The Alington family has also held the title of Barons Alington.

Prior to World War II, Giles Alington was employed as assistant secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers. Due to health issues, he was unable to serve in the military during the war. Instead, he contributed to wartime efforts by assisting Arthur Goodhart as the coordinator of the Short Leave Courses at Balliol College, Oxford.

In the post-war years, Alington was a prominent figure among the fellows at University College. He was appointed Dean of the College in 1945 and became Senior Tutor in 1948, a position he held until his death. He was awarded a Third-Class degree, which reflects his academic performance. Despite not being highly academic, he was appreciated by students for his manner and administrative skills.

During his time at Oxford, Alington also served as a magistrate and was a member of the Visiting Justices' Committee at Oxford Prison. John Wild served as Master of University College from 1945 to 1951; Wild later succeeded Cyril Alington as Dean of Durham Cathedral.

Giles Alington died at the age of 41. In his memory, the Alington Room at University College was named. He had three surviving sisters: Lavinia, Joan, and Elizabeth. Lavinia was married to Sir Roger Mynors, an academic; Joan was married to John Vaughan Wilkes and was the mother of academic Kathy Wilkes; Elizabeth married Alec Douglas-Home, who later became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Harold Wilson, also a Prime Minister and associated with University College, was a friend and colleague of Alington. Wilson and his wife, Mary Wilson, named their son Giles in honor of Alington.