Obituary, Richard Morgan (d 58

Richard Morgan (d 58)

25th June 1940 to 26th May 2021

Governor 2002-10 President OSS 2004-07

Richard Morgan loved his time at Sherborne and after a highly successful career as a schoolmaster and Headmaster he returned to be an influential and constructive Governor after his retirement in 2000. He was one of the most transformative educational leaders in the independent sector, having a huge impact on Cheltenham College in the 1980s and Radley College in the 1990s.

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 judge. Richard was sent to boarding school in England: Hillstone in Malvern and then to Sherborne, where he followed his brother Philip into Harper House under the benign auspices of John and Libby Melvin in 1953. He kept in touch with the Melvins, and with Libby in particular, for whom he acted as executor, for the next seven decades. At Sherborne he was a member of the VIth, he became a prefect and he excelled at sport, especially as a wicketkeeper/batsman in the cricket XI for two years.

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 team. Cambridge was also important for Richard in that he met three men who were to become lifelong influences upon him. Jock Burnet, Bursar of Magdalene College and President of Cambridge Fives, became an early mentor, and as a Radley governor, he recommended Richard to the Warden, Wyndham Milligan, who promptly hired him as an assistant master in 1963. Jock also introduced him to both Bishop Launcelot Fleming and to Dennis Silk. A few years later Jock introduced Richard to Launcelot Fleming ’ s stepdaughter, Margaret Agutter. She became Margaret Morgan in 1968. Margaret was the perfect foil for Richard and together they formed a great partnership which lasted more than fifty years. “I was only ever appointed to any position because of Margaret, ” Richard was later to say.

It was clear from the outset that Richard was not only a gifted teacher of English but that he had real leadership potential. He had exceptional communication skills, both to individuals and large groups. His great skill was to encourage others to talk about themselves. He brought energy, determination and drive to whatever he undertook. When Dennis Silk arrived at Radley as the new Warden in 1968 one of his first appointments was to make Richard (aged 28) a housemaster, the youngest appointee in the School’ s history. Serving with Dennis for ten years was a fine apprenticeship for Richard’ s future roles.

Richard Morgan was appointed Headmaster of Cheltenham College in 1978. Over his 12-year term, the market for private education would improve significantly but at the outset pupil numbers were down and there were financial challenges. Although a great believer in holistic education he was intensely practical and acknowledged that “ good exam results fill schools ” . He believed that every pupil had talent and it was the School’ s job to encourage and motivate. Common Room was key to achieving this objective and Richard Morgan was single-minded in appointing and supporting inspirational teachers. The appointment of Andrew Reekes (later to follow him to Radley) in 1985 as Director of Studies, sealed the direction of travel. In 1978, 11% of pupils got A grades, 23% A+B grades. In his last year, 1990, these numbers had more than doubled to 25% and 56%.

Around the core ingredient of improved academic results, Richard Morgan lifted Cheltenham ’ s reputation and with it demand for places. He was an impressive salesman and prep school heads and parents were inspired by his enthusiasm and ambition for the School and its pupils. Good teaching was the foundation but the right environment, physical and cultural, was equally important. Money was found to improve buildings and for new facilities; cocurricular opportunities for pupils were expanded to produce a school where all 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

littering. This was a formula which many parents found irresistible and when he left in 1990, Cheltenham was in excellent shape.

The problem facing the Radley Council that same year was how to replace Dennis Silk who by then was regarded as one of the leading Headmasters in the country. Richard Morgan entered the recruitment process late but with his knowledge of and deep affection for Radley, his understanding of what his great friend and mentor Dennis Silk had achieved and his own credentials as a successful Headmaster, his appointment was assured. The issues facing him were very different to those at Cheltenham in 1978. Numbers were buoyant but the Schools ’ market was changing. The introduction of A and GCSE level League tables in 1992 were a very public exposure of comparative academic performance. ISI inspections from 1996 put a spotlight on every aspect of a boarding school’ s performance, looking beyond academic performance to cocurricular and welfare provision.

Appointed for a nine year term (to take him to retirement at 60), Richard Morgan set off at pace. “It was breathless, ” a senior member of Common Room remarked later. The approach was the same as had brought success at Cheltenham. He insisted that academic performance must improve. A target of 80% A and B grades at A level was set and achieved thanks to a strengthened Common Room, the setting of high standards and an excellent team of Heads of Department, marshalled by a newly formed Senior Management team. The facilities, many of which were not fit for purpose, were upgraded: notably the conversion of a disused dining hall into a first-class library (fittingly named “The Richard Morgan Library ”) and the building of a magnificent block of new classrooms, Queen ’ s Court. Radley ’ s campus was transformed by extensive planting and by being turned into a giant art gallery with boys ’ artwork on display in the most unlikely locations.

As his time as Warden of Radley came to a close, Richard Morgan could reflect on a golden decade. Demand for places, reflected in the waiting list and reserve waiting lists, was even higher than in 1991. As well as exceptional academic results, Radley ’ s sport was very successful, not just at the top level where the 1st X1 Cricket was unbeaten for six seasons and the 1st VIII won the Princess Elizabeth cup at Henley in 1998, but also right through the lower teams and age groups.

“Retirement” in 2000 at the age of 60 was rather a misnomer. Richard remained Chairman of the Radley Foundation until 2010, he joined the Clifton College board and was Chairman from 2013 until 2016. He also devoted himself to fulfilling his role as a governor of Sherborne from 2002 until 2010. He took the trouble to seek out members of staff and to show a keen interest in what they were doing; he played a vital part in the work of the Finance and General Purposes Committee which was the engine-room of the Governing Body. He was an active President of the Old Shirburnian Society from 2004 to 2007. Above all, he was a constant support and source of wise advice and encouragement to me throughout my time at Sherborne.

His extraordinary energies were also directed to charity work. He was President of the South Wilts Mencap for several years, a Trustee of the Salisbury Museum where he was closely involved in major exhibitions of Constable and Turner paintings and later helped at Alabare, a Christian charity providing care and shelter for the homeless.

His passion for art was a constant and the pictures he bought over the years were a source of endless pleasure.

Richard was father to three adored and adoring daughters: Pippa, Victoria (“Tooey ”) and Rachel. The arrival of grandchildren Luke, Tess and Libby brought Richard, the family man, much happiness.

A great letter writer to the end, his missives were always upbeat. After he died, countless letters to Margaret, from former pupils and fellow teachers alike, invariably referred to him as the “ great

encourager

’ . Richard was an inspiration whose warmth and enthusiasm engendered lifelong loyalty and friendship.

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