Sir Eric Kinloch Anderson

‘He was a great man and the finest of friends’

Your fine obituary of Sir Eric Anderson KT (12 May) chronicles his fulfilled life and his achievements, as an educationist, a scholar and as a great public servant. May I add some comments on his personal character and qualities?

Always modest, he was firmly founded on clear values, and the support of his wife, Poppy. Never a finger-wagging moraliser, there was a strongly Scottish characteristic in his robust and questioning intellect and in his pawky directness. Despite achieving great offices, and real influence, invariably behind the scenes, he was entirely unchanging in manner. Never grand himself, he was not one for deference, but his respect, when earned, was always encouraging, and generously given. Quietly, he gave counsel to many, and commanded that same loyalty which he gave to his friends in abundance. It was only a few days before his death that he gave me advice on the favourite foliage and flowers of Sir Walter Scott, his great mentor, with whom he shared so many qualities.

There was a profound sense of humanity in him, and yet, for one of such high standards he had a remarkable tolerance of the frailties and imperfections of life. In the many jewels of the Scottish diaspora, he was a rare pearl.

I once asked him about the challenges of discipline, within a great school. He told me about a boy who had been found in his room with an empty Champagne bottle. Eric pointed out that he had let himself down, his family, his house, and the school. Did he have anything to say? The boy admitted that he had been tempted, on leaving home, where his parents were having a party, to pick up the bottle and put it in his bag.

On the journey to school, however, he realised he had made a mistake. He then recited back to Eric the same sequence of all those he would have let down, but added, “and I would also be letting you down, headmaster, so I emptied the bottle down the sink”.

Eric said that this performance had been delivered with confidence and style. After reflection, he reminded the boy that the penalty for a first offence of drinking in school was to be gated for 14 days. As the boy had brought alcohol into the school, but had not been drinking, he told him that he would be gated “for only 13 days”. Eric said that he marked down to follow the boy’s subsequent career, and that he would go far, if perhaps in an unpredictable direction.

The story underlines Eric’s generous understanding of others, his humanity, tolerance and wisdom. All of that shone through in more weighty matters. He was a great man, and the finest of friends.