Staff Remembered Peter Attenborough Member of staff from 1960-1975, Housemaster of The Lodge 1970-1975
Peter arrived at Uppingham in 1960 and soon became a very young and highly regarded Head of the Classics Department, throwing himself into School activities with characteristic zeal and coaching the rugby and cricket teams with infectious enthusiasm. The boys were lucky to experience trips to Greece and Italy under his care and it was occasions such as these that cemented friendships with pupils and staff alike that lasted a lifetime. Peter’s first departure from Uppingham came in 1966 when he took a sabbatical year, entering into voluntary service at a school for orphans, Starehe Boys’ Centre, in Nairobi. His presence there had an enormous impact on the school. Peter in the White Hart, 1969
On his return, Peter was fortunate to meet Sandy at a Guy Fawkes Night party and by the time the year was over they were engaged and soon married. They were blessed with two children, James and Charlotte. In September 1970, they moved from a tiny cottage situated along School Lane into the gothic splendour of The Lodge, where Peter became Housemaster. The amount of care and attention he lavished upon individual members of his House earned him respect and affection from all the boys. He had the innate ability to empathise and show compassion to everyone. He could also read a situation sensitively and use his wise sense of judgement to offer the guidance needed. In the House, in School, and with their many friends around the town, Peter and Sandy always worked hard for other people. Peter’s tact, diplomacy and humanity were second to none and he was always able to find practical solutions for any challenges that were thrown in his path. After 15 successful years at Uppingham, Peter was persuaded to move north to Sedburgh as Headmaster, where he spent six years, before moving again to another headship at Charterhouse. Keen to experience every play, concert, lecture or match, regardless of the volume of work on his plate, Peter was respected for his quiet wisdom and common sense.
34 Staff Remembered
Peter spent 12 years at Charterhouse; he’d made his mark but felt that every so often a school benefits from being looked at with a fresh pair of eyes. So, at the age of 55, he surprised everyone by announcing his retirement. He then took up a position with the charity, The Rank Foundation, which couldn’t have been more suitable, supporting children whose school funding was jeopardised and also working with other charities who needed his valuable help and advice. Then, with a move to Linton, Peter became a willing volunteer to whoever needed his support, be it the local church, the History Society and individual residents of the village. Peter passed away in February 2020 and it is impossible, within the confines of the magazine, to do full justice to his life, although in a quote by John Webster (C 70) you get a sense of the dedication he had: Peter had a profound effect on my life. In my Lower Sixth year, as a bolshy sixteen-year-old, I was in danger of crashing academically. As Head of Classics, he simply refused to let my teenage self get the better of my prospects. This meant extra tuition, delivered one-on-one with great patience, often on Sunday evenings and no doubt in the face of monosyllabic unpleasantries from me. He helped me turn a corner, and I went on to Oxford to read Greats, and the rest – as they say – is history. I am forever grateful and happy that I got the chance to tell him personally when I last saw him.” A plaque in Peter’s memory will be placed in The Lodge in tribute to his dedicated service to both the School and pupils and to the lifelong impact he had on so many lives.
