Richard Morgan (d 58) 25th June 1940 to 26th May 2021
Governor 2002-10 President OSS 2004-07
Richard Morgan loved his time at
Richard to the Warden, Wyndham
believer in holistic education he was
Sherborne and after a highly successful
Milligan, who promptly hired him as an
intensely practical and acknowledged
career as a schoolmaster and Headmaster
assistant master in 1963. Jock also
that “good exam results fill schools”. He
he returned to be an influential and
introduced him to both Bishop Launcelot
believed that every pupil had talent and it
constructive Governor after his retirement
Fleming and to Dennis Silk. A few years
was the School’s job to encourage and
in 2000. He was one of the most
later Jock introduced Richard to
motivate. Common Room was key to
transformative educational leaders in the
Launcelot Fleming’s stepdaughter,
achieving this objective and Richard
independent sector, having a huge
Margaret Agutter. She became Margaret
Morgan was single-minded in appointing
impact on Cheltenham College in the
Morgan in 1968. Margaret was the perfect
and supporting inspirational teachers.
1980s and Radley College in the 1990s.
foil for Richard and together they formed
The appointment of Andrew Reekes (later
Richard Morgan was born in June 1940 in Weston-super-Mare to Welsh parents, Trevor and Leslie. The family returned to Wales where his father was a circuit
a great partnership which lasted more
to follow him to Radley) in 1985 as
than fifty years. “I was only ever
Director of Studies, sealed the direction
appointed to any position because of
of travel. In 1978, 11% of pupils got A
Margaret,” Richard was later to say.
grades, 23% A+B grades. In his last year,
judge. Richard was sent to boarding
It was clear from the outset that Richard
school in England: Hillstone in Malvern
was not only a gifted teacher of English
1990, these numbers had more than doubled to 25% and 56%.
and then to Sherborne, where he
but that he had real leadership potential.
Around the core ingredient of improved
followed his brother Philip into Harper
He had exceptional communication skills,
academic results, Richard Morgan lifted
House under the benign auspices of John
both to individuals and large groups. His
Cheltenham’s reputation and with it
and Libby Melvin in 1953. He kept in
great skill was to encourage others to talk
demand for places. He was an impressive
touch with the Melvins, and with Libby in
about themselves. He brought energy,
salesman and prep school heads and
particular, for whom he acted as executor,
determination and drive to whatever he
parents were inspired by his enthusiasm
for the next seven decades. At Sherborne
undertook. When Dennis Silk arrived at
and ambition for the School and its
he was a member of the VIth, he became
Radley as the new Warden in 1968 one of
pupils. Good teaching was the
a prefect and he excelled at sport,
his first appointments was to make
foundation but the right environment,
especially as a wicketkeeper/batsman in
Richard (aged 28) a housemaster, the
physical and cultural, was equally
the cricket XI for two years.
youngest appointee in the School’s
important. Money was found to improve
history. Serving with Dennis for ten years
buildings and for new facilities; co-
He went up to Caius College, Cambridge to read law and won a blue at rugby fives as well as being captain of the university
was a fine apprenticeship for Richard’s
curricular opportunities for pupils were
future roles.
expanded to produce a school where all
team. Cambridge was also important for
Richard Morgan was appointed
Richard in that he met three men who
Headmaster of Cheltenham College in
were to become lifelong influences upon
1978. Over his 12-year term, the market
him. Jock Burnet, Bursar of Magdalene
for private education would improve
College and President of Cambridge
significantly but at the outset pupil
Fives, became an early mentor, and as a
numbers were down and there were
Radley governor, he recommended
financial challenges. Although a great
pupils had the chance to excel in one area or another and gain confidence. Although forward-looking and innovative, Richard Morgan insisted on adherence to the ethos and traditions of the College, preserving compulsory chapel and insisting on high standards of personal conduct – tidy hair, shirts tucked in, no
