The Hampton community was delighted to learn of the appointment of former School Captain Matt Brittin CBE OH (1986) as the new director general of the BBC.
Matt joined Hampton in 1979 and was appointed School Captain for the 1985-86 academic year. A gifted all‑rounder, he thrived in the classroom and contributed impressively to wider School life. As a key member of one of Hampton’s most celebrated Championship VIIIs, he helped our Boat Club secure the coveted ‘Triple’ in 1985 and 1986, with victories in the Schools’ Head of the River Race, the National Schools’ Regatta, and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley.
After Hampton, Matt read Land Economy and Geography at Cambridge, where he also featured in three Boat Races for the Light Blues. He competed at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games as a member of the British rowing team and won a Bronze medal at the 1989 World Rowing Championships.
Matt was made a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours list earlier this year for his services to technology and the enhancement of digital skills.
As he takes up one of the most prominent roles in global media, everyone at Hampton sends their warmest congratulations to Matt and his family. A pupil profile written in The Lion magazine in 1986 offered an early indication of his natural leadership abilities and bodes well for the future of the BBC:
He has proved one of the best Captains we can remember: an excellent organiser, whose easy and humorous manner has enabled him to get things done without fuss.
The Lion Magazine, 1986
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