"You should see Sloper and Kirke, they’re pathetic, even worse than I am."
-- Ron Weasley (OP25)
Andrew Kirke was at Gryffindor in the mid 1990s and on Gryffindor’s Quidditch Team as a Beater from 1995-96.
Kirke was at least a second year during the 1995-1996 school year, and became a Beater on the Quidditch team after Fred and George were banned (OP21). Unfortunately he wasn’t very good – the most memorable moment of his season being when he fell backwards off his broom in fright during a match against Hufflepuff (OP26).
Commentary
Etymology
Andrew is the English form of the Greek name Ανδρεας (Andreas), which is derived from ανδρειος (andreios), meaning "manly, masculine" (Behind the Name).
Kirke means "church" and derives from Old Norse Kirkja . As a surname, it is found mainly in Scotland and the North of England (Internet Surname Database).
Notes
Related images:
It may be that the name Andrew Kirke comes from combining the names of the magician (Andrew Ketterley) and his nephew (Digory Kirke) from The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis.
Lexicon list of Beaters
From the Web
Writing by J K Rowling on WizardingWorld (Pottermore): The Sword of Gryffindor
The-Leaky-Cauldron essay: Quidditch in Harry Potter
MuggleNet:
- What Makes a Gryffindor? Just Ask the Weasleys
- Seven Things No One Tells You About Being a Gryffindor
Harry Potter Wiki: Andrew Kirke
WizardingWorld (Pottermore) features:
- Which Quidditch position would be right for you?
- Gryffindor House welcome (includes "A message from your prefect" written by J K Rowling)
- Ranked: the best and worst Hogwarts Quidditch players
- House Pride: Gryffindor
