Sir Eric Anderson KT 1936-2020

Sir Eric Anderson was Head Master of Eton 1980-1994, then Provost, and teacher of three prime ministers. Guy Walters recalls a stern and awe-inspiring figure while we also asked colleagues, friends and former pupils, including Tony Blair, for their memories of a hugely influential educator

The best of Heads

Sir Eric Anderson employed the best and let them get on with it

Rescue specialist

He had a particular skill with those who had fallen foul of the system

Old school reformer

Eric understood that the system had to stop being a relic of the past

Master of judgement

Jacob Rees-Mogg remembers a man who knew how to handle people

Fair cop

When he gave you a punishment he’d ask if you agreed it was fair

Authoritative not Authoritarian

His Scottish Presbyterian view was not hierarchical

Trust that sustained a community

The main thing about Sir Eric Anderson was his integrity

A living justification for the Union

Eric was at ease with England, yet contributed something which England alone could not provide

The disarming power of restraint

He showed how the essential prerequisite for greatness is humility