Eric Anderson (teacher)

Shield of Arms of Sir William Eric Kinloch Anderson, KT, FRSE

Sir William Eric Kinloch Anderson Template:Postnominals (27 May 1936 – 22 April 2020) was a British teacher and educator, who was headmaster of Eton College from 1980 to 1994 and provost of Eton College from September 2000 to January 2009. He is notable also for having played a part in the education of a King and four Prime Ministers, at four separate educational institutions (two in Scotland and two in England).

Early life and education

Anderson was born on 27 May 1936,<ref name=Birth>Template:Cite news</ref> eldest of three children<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/04/24/sir-eric-anderson-head-master-eton-college-1980-1994-obituary/</ref> of William James Kinloch Anderson (1907–1997), managing director and chairman<ref>University of Edinburgh Journal, collected volumes 37-38, University of Edinburgh Graduate Association, 1997, p. 124</ref> of the Edinburgh-based kilt-making business Kinloch Anderson, and Margaret Gouinlock Harper.<ref>https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18413737.obituary-sir-eric-anderson/</ref> He was schooled at George Watson's College, Edinburgh. He graduated from the University of St Andrews with first-class honours in English language and literature and then a Master of Letters (MLitt) degree from Balliol College, University of Oxford.

Career

During his early career, Anderson taught at Fettes College in Edinburgh<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and at Gordonstoun where he taught Prince Charles and directed him as Macbeth in the school play. He moved back to Fettes (1966–1970) and then to be headmaster at Abingdon School (1970–1975),<ref name=AS>Template:Cite web</ref> Shrewsbury School (1975–1980) and Eton College (1980–1994)<ref name=EC>Template:Cite web</ref> and he was rector of Lincoln College, Oxford (1994–2000), when its undergraduate students included Rishi Sunak. He was chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund (1998–2001) and provost of Eton College (2000–2009).

At Fettes, he was Prime Minister Tony Blair's housemaster. Blair subsequently named Anderson in a 1997 advertising campaign run by the Teacher Training Agency, entitled "No one forgets a good teacher". He was Headmaster of Eton while David Cameron and Boris Johnson were there,<ref name=AS/> as well as Rory Stewart, the Olympic oarsman Matthew Pinsent and the actors Dominic West and Damian Lewis. He was a supporter of the direct grant system.<ref name=EC/><ref name=AS/>

The Clarendon Press published Anderson's edition of The Journal of Sir Walter Scott in 1972 and he became a trustee of Scott's Abbotsford during its refurbishment. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1985 and, in 2002, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

He retired as provost of Eton on 30 January 2009,<ref>Profile: Sir Eric Anderson, KT, FRSE Template:Webarchive, Debrett's</ref> and was succeeded by William Waldegrave.<ref name=EC/>

His other positions included visitor at Harris Manchester College, Oxford; member of the visiting committee of Harvard University Memorial Church; trustee of the Royal Collection Trust; and chairman of Cumberland Lodge. He received honorary degrees from the University of St Andrews, Hull, Siena, Birmingham, the University of Aberdeen and Buckingham.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Anderson married Elizabeth ("Poppy"), née Mason. Their son is David Anderson (Lord Anderson of Ipswich KBE KC), and their daughter Kate is married to Will Gompertz.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He was an honorary Old Abingdonian and in 2018 accompanied Poppy, Kate and Will Gompertz, to open Beech Court at Abingdon School.<ref name=AS/> Anderson died on 22 April 2020 at the age of 83, two days after his 60th wedding anniversary.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref name=AS/>

See also

• List of Old Abingdonians