Sir Robert Andrew KCB (OK 1947)

Sir Robert started at King’s in September 1939, just days after the outbreak of the Second World War. Having secured a scholarship from Surrey County Council, he arrived having never studied Latin or French and was aware he was behind in other subjects as well. He was, however, determined to make a success of the opportunity to study at King’s. His efforts paid off. He received a school entrance scholarship to the senior school, he was made a prefect and he secured another Surrey scholarship, this time to Merton College, Oxford to read Modern History. Tellingly, for the boy who arrived with no French, he also won a Rothschild Travel Scholarship to study in France for three months.

On leaving Oxford, he entered the Civil Service; it was a career which culminated in serving as the Permanent Secretary for the Northern Ireland Office during the time the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed. He was made a Knight of the Order of Bath in 1986. Sir Robert always remained grateful for that Surrey scholarship aged 11; it was a debt he more than repaid. For 25 years, from 1975 to 2000, he served on the Governing Body of King’s, for the last decade of which he was Chairman. As a governor, and right up until the end of his life, he was a determined advocate of the school’s bursary scheme.

He is remembered by Anthony Evans (Head Master 1997–2008): “Sir Robert was Chairman of the Governors at the time of my appointment to succeed Robin Reeve as Head Master. He was in every way exemplary in that role: wise, courteous, compassionate, astute, cautious without ever being negative, and always loyal to the school’s values and purposes. He was unfailingly supportive of me and shared my concern for pastoral care and bursaries. He will be deeply missed for his integrity and his humanity.”

Sir Robert died on 31 January 2023. He is survived by his son Christopher (OK 1984) and his grandchildren Anna, James, Izzy, Michael.