Chronicle January 2021

8 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

What were the highlights of your Teddies career? A constant highlight was watching the development of pupils in all sorts of areas, after all that’s why the school exists. I liked seeing shy, sometimes insecure, pupils thrive and go on to achieve more than they could ever have imagined, thanks to the pastoral care of dedicated teachers and others. As an example I think of one pupil, making no measurable progress in his state school. His parents pleaded with me to admit him. He was tested and found to be well below what we expected but he had something about him, so we agreed to take him on. His teachers persevered and he slowly blossomed. He is now a surgeon. Culturally, I think of Carmen, Kiss Me Kate, Death of a Salesman, South Pacific , Verdi and Fauré requiems. Some

I was Education Advisor to the Haberdashers’ Livery Company. In addition to its well-known independent schools it was a pioneer in the original Academies movement. The Academies did great work in deprived areas. Seeing these schools before becoming Academies underlined the shaming scandal of the gap between rich and poor in our country, and in our education system. This has not improved, in fact things have deteriorated, and all schools have a critical role to play in levelling up society. I am a Trustee of St Andrews Links Trust. We control and manage seven golf courses, including The Old Course, and stretches of coastline, including The Chariots of Fire beach. I’m a trustee of Friends of Panmure House, Adam Smith’s Edinburgh home. It promotes his thinking and not just the bits hijacked by certain politicians. I’m active in the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, playing as inconsistently as ever. We are keen gardeners, cultivating acid- loving plants and trees, lilies and some rare woodland plants, and have a great wee dog. Who would you name a building after? Perhaps a new building might be named after an inspiring woman, someone like Greta Thunberg or Malala Yousafzai. They are courageous role models who show that the old can learn from the young.

sensational soloists, brilliant art exhibitions - too many to mention. We know that we have nurtured some fine actors (both genders) musicians and artists, who have gone on to make a name for themselves. These things don’t happen by accident. One delightful highlight came when I stopped the Daily Telegraph cricket reporter leaving Upper One as he sensed Eton were going to beat us. I strongly recommended that he stay. He was not very pleased, but he was glad he did – we won in the end, and hit the headlines in his newspaper. On the sporting front, wins in the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley, some great rugby moments e.g. besting an un- beaten Wellington side, on their home ground, and seeing coach Paul Kitovitz perform a triumphant somersault on their hallowed turf! The fly-over of the Quad by the Spitfire and Lancaster bombers, one Sunday after Chapel, in the 1990s, which was very moving. The whole school was there and stood in silent awe as the planes of the Historic Flight flew over us. It was like a visit from Bader and Gibson.

What have you been doing since stepping down in 2004?

I’ve been very busy. I sat on the Board of Ecclesiastical Insurance until 2016, latterly as Deputy Chairman of the Board. That was very interesting and I enjoyed learning about City finance.