Founding head of The Emmbrook School dies

THE FOUNDING headmaster of The Emmbrook School has died.

Richard Carter joined the school prior to it opening in May 1965, and remained head until 1983. He is the longest-serving head teacher at the secondary school to date.

Current head, Nick McSweeney, paid tribute to Mr Carter, who lived into his 90s and died peacefully.

Mr McSweeny said his thoughts are with Mr Carter’s wife Sheila and his family.

“I was lucky to have had the opportunity to talk with Mr Carter on a couple of occasions and I was struck by his deep and genuine interest in, and fondness for, The Emmbrook,”

Mr McSweeney said.

“Nearly 40 years on from his retirement he remained engaged with former colleagues and students and continued to read our newspaper, The Emmbrook Wave.

“We also exchanged letters and in those he expressed real pride in this community.”

Mr McSweeney said Mr Carter was particularly proud of Tirabad, the outdoor education centre in Wales that he helped found with the headmasters of Maiden Erlegh School and Charters School.

Since leaving the school, many Emmbrook alumni remained in contact with Mr Carter.

This has included numerous reunions, the last of which was in 2019.

Mr McSweeney said: “Gary Wells was one of the original 65 students who started on May 5, 1965. He remembers Mr Carter as a thoroughly nice guy who was hugely respected.

“Prior to teaching, Mr Carter had served in the armed forces, and Mr Wells said that he had the bearing of a military man.”

Mr McSweeney said that Mr Carter remained in contact with each of his successors over the years. Nigel Matthias, head from 2006 to 2016, shared fond memories of Mr Carter, and said he saw it as a community rather than simply a school.

“We both agreed that Mr Carter’s principles shaped our own leadership,” Mr McSweeney added. “He held a holistic view of the purpose of education; to develop well-rounded individuals who make a positive contribution to society.

“I believe this remains at the core of our ethos more than 50 years later.”

“We will find a suitable way to honour his memory,” he added.