Eric Anderson (teacher)

Sir William Eric Kinloch Anderson KT FRSE (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).

Sir Eric Anderson KT FRSE
Born	William Eric Kinloch Anderson (1936-05-27)27 May 1936
Died	22 April 2020(2020-04-22) (aged 83)
Education	George Watson's College
Alma mater	University of St Andrews (MA) Balliol College, Oxford (MLitt)
Occupation	Academic
Spouse	Poppy Mason
Children	2 including David Anderson

Life and career

Anderson was born on 27 May 1936^[1] and 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.

During his early career, Anderson taught at Fettes College in Edinburgh^[2] and at Gordonstoun where he taught Prince Charles and directed him as Macbeth in the school play. He moved back to Fettes (1966-70) and then to be headmaster at Abingdon School (1970–75),^[3] Shrewsbury School (1975–80) and Eton College (1980–94)^[4] 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,^[3] 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.^[4][3]

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.^[5]

He retired as provost of Eton on 30 January 2009,^[6] and was succeeded by William Waldegrave.^[4]

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.^[7]

Personal life

Anderson was the son of William James Kinloch Anderson, proprietor of the Edinburgh-based kilt-making business Kinloch Anderson, and Margaret Gouinlock Harper. He was married to Elizabeth ("Poppy") Anderson, daughter of William and Mary Mason of Skipton.^[8] Their son is David Anderson (Lord Anderson of Ipswich KBE KC), and their daughter Kate is married to Will Gompertz.^[9]

He was an honorary Old Abingdonian and in 2018 accompanied Poppy, Kate and Will Gompertz, to open Beech Court at Abingdon School.^[3] Anderson died on 22 April 2020 at the age of 83, two days after his 60th wedding anniversary.^[10][3]

Arms

Coat of arms of Eric Anderson

Motto Ad Meliora[11]

See also

• List of Old Abingdonians

References

1. "Birthdays today". The Daily Telegraph. 27 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2014. Sir Eric Anderson, Provost of Eton College, 2000–09, 77 years old
2. "Sir Eric Anderson". Fettes College. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
3. "Sir Eric Anderson". Abingdon School. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
4. "Sir Eric Anderson Obituary". Eton College. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
5. "No. 56780". The London Gazette. 12 December 2002. pp. 15113–15114.
6. Profile: Sir Eric Anderson, KT, FRSE Archived 25 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Debrett's
7. "HRH The Duchess of Rothesay joins University 'family'". University of Aberdeen. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
8. Field, Ron. "Sir William Eric Kinloch Anderson". Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
9. "Will Gompertz: 'We are all artists. We just have to believe it. That's what artists do'". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
10. Anderson, David [@bricksilk] (23 April 2020). "My father, a fine teacher, died yesterday..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
11. Lyon Court [@LyonCourt] (23 April 2020). "We note with great sadness the death of Sir Eric Anderson, Knight of the Thistle, a distinguished teacher and scholar. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife and family" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

Academic offices
Preceded by Michael William McCrum	Head Master of Eton College 1980–1994	Succeeded by John Lewis
Preceded by Maurice Shock	Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford 1994–2000	Succeeded by Paul Langford
Preceded by Sir Antony Acland	Provost of Eton 2000–2009	Succeeded by William Waldegrave