Anthony Saddler (Honorary OC, past GH Housemaster) has died at age 90
Anthony’s eulogy from family:
Anthony was born on 7th June 1936 in High Wycombe.
His mother was Kathleen Saddler (known as Kitty) and his father was Thomas Saddler (known as Tom).
Tom was ‘called up’ when the Second World War broke out and away from family life for over 6 years so it was Kitty who brought up Anthony in the main.
Anthony has one sister, Angela, who was born in 1947, when Anthony was 10 years old.
Kitty put her all into Anthony’s education and he attended the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. This was where Anthony’s interest in Classics began as he studied the subjects of Latin, Greek and Ancient History.
Anthony left school in 1954 (when he was 18 years old) and went to do National Service in the RAF before going to Cambridge University to study Classics at Jesus College.
It is here that Anthony met his lovely wife Vivienne - on the tennis court. As all the family will know (they have heard this story many times !!) Vivienne was playing tennis for Homerton College in a match against Jesus College. Unbeknown to Anthony, Vivienne was a very good tennis player, having been the Cheshire Junior Champion and having also played at Junior Wimbledon. The story goes that Vivienne was hitting winners past Anthony and that was it – he was smitten.
A mutual college friend of Anthony and Vivienne wrote recently “What a power couple they were! Incredibly handsome and in love”. She went on to write that “Anthony charmed everyone with his ready wit, curiosity, knowledge and being a general all round “Good egg”.
After Cambridge, Anthony went on to take an external degree from London University and to do his teaching practice at St Paul’s School in Hammersmith. Vivienne was in Paris at this time studying French but they would get together whenever they could.
Anthony married Vivienne on 19th August 1961 at St. Mark’s Church in Bredbury, Stockport – They would have been married for 65 years this year.
Anthony’s teaching career took him and his family all over the country. He started teaching in Lincoln (where Timothy was born) but soon moved to be a housemaster at Highgate School in North London (where Geraldine and Jonathan were born)
He thoroughly enjoyed his time at Highgate. As well as teaching he threw himself into school life and he championed participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. He talked fondly about leading expeditions up Snowdon in North Wales although he bemoaned the fact that despite many ascents he never actually saw the view from the top because of the weather conditions. Anthony and Vivienne’s time at Highgate provided many memories and friendships which lasted a lifetime.
After Highgate the family moved to Nottingham and Anthony became deputy head of Trent College in Long Eaton.
Despite term-time being very busy Anthony always ensured that the family had a summer holiday which he really looked forward to. Holidays would be taken in Eastbourne where Anthony’s parents now lived and later on in Cornwall. The family would spend their days
on the beach, swimming in the sea, building moats and sandcastles, rock-pooling and playing beach games. These were very happy times.
Anthony’s final teaching post was as the Headmaster of Read School Drax in North Yorkshire from 1985 to 1996.
He was extremely proud to have been a headmaster.
The family have received many kind messages from the pupils and staff of Read School Drax recounting their memories of Mr Saddler. The School have said that former pupils recall his fairness, his consistency, and his memorable assembly theme: “Manners maketh Man” and that staff remember a leader who listened, who valued professionalism and who believed wholeheartedly in the power of education.
Anthony retired in 1996 and enjoyed a long, happy retirement with his beloved wife Vivienne. They settled in Derby to be nearer their family and were always in the background to support with child care when required. They have 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
In retirement Anthony and Vivienne enjoyed holidays together to Australia and New Zealand, Egypt, Italy, Greece and Spain. They enjoyed playing golf together, going to the races, and made regular trips across The Pennines to watch Manchester City – Anthony’s adopted football team. They felt fortunate to have witnessed the success that City have had over the past 10 years and this brought them enormous pleasure.
Throughout his life Anthony had a keen interest in sport both playing in his earlier years and watching later on. He often talked about how he attended every England football game in the 1966 World Cup and even in his final days on the hospital ward he was reminiscing with the other patients about the skill and class of Bobby Moore. He enjoyed watching cricket having been introduced to it by his mother Kitty and he attended many Test Matches over the years as well as watching Derbyshire at the County Ground from time to time. It’s fair to say though that Vivienne was never a fan of the cricket!!
Throughout their married life Anthony and Vivienne were regular theatre goers, always enjoying the night out and live entertainment.
In the latter years of his life Anthony was committed to looking after his wife Vivienne at home. He was head chef and head of entertainment. He cooked a meal every lunchtime and this would be followed by an afternoon watching the racing and listening to classical music together.
Anthony celebrated his 90th Birthday on the 7th June this year. In this period, he received visits from all his family as well as previous work colleagues. He was very proud to have reached this milestone.
Anthony certainly lived life to the full. He was a devoted husband to Vivienne, a supportive father to Timothy, Geraldine and Jonathan and he enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
As one of his ex-students recently wrote ‘Mr Saddler leaves behind a lasting legacy through the countless young people whose lives he influenced, guided and inspired’
Now rest in peace Anthony. Your work is done.