COLL P 21

Reference code

COLL P 21

Title

Papers of Provost Anderson, 2000 - 2009

Level

Series

Administrative / Biographical history

Sir (William) Eric Kinloch Anderson (1936-2020) was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and went to St Andrew's University where he gained a First in English. He later gained an M.Litt from Balliol College, Oxford. He is an authority and published author on the novels of Sir Walter Scott. Anderson was assistant master at Fettes between 1960-1964. He moved to Gordonstoun in 1964, where he taught Prince Charles, before returning to Fettes in 1967 as Assistant Master and Housemaster. There he taught Tony Blair. He was appointed headmaster of Abingdon School in 1970, and then of Shrewsbury School in 1975. In 1980 he was appointed Head Master of Eton College, where he taught David Cameron. Under his Headmastership, use of the cane was abolished, and he arranged for pupils to visit inner-city areas. He stayed as Head Master until 1994 when he became rector of Lincoln College, Oxford. In 2000 he was appointed Provost of Eton, a position he held until 2009. In addition to the above, he has held a number of other positions, including trusteeships of the National Heritage Memorial Fund 1996-2001 (Chairmanship 1998-2001), Royal Collections 2000-2006, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Wordsworth Trust. He was an Honorary Fellow of Balliol College Oxford 1989, Lincoln College Oxford 2000, and Eton College 2009. In addition, he was a noted Sir Walter Scott scholar. In 2002 he was made a Knight of the Thistle. He died 22 April 2020.