Peter Lawrence (teacher)
Encyclopedia
Peter Stafford Hayden Lawrence (9 February 1913 – 18 March 2005) was a famous master
at Eton College
and a published author
. He was, until his death, the last surviving master at Eton to have served in the Second World War.
Lawrence was born on 9 February 1913, the son of Aubrey Trevor Lawrence KC, MBE
and his wife Constance Emily Fanning. He was the grandson of Sir Trevor Lawrence, 2nd Baronet and was, until his death, heir to that title
. He was educated at Eton
, where his godfather, Cyril Alington
, had recently been appointed head master, and at Christ Church, Oxford
, his father's college, where he read science and mathematics.
During his time at Oxford he returned to Eton several times as a stop gap teacher. After university he taught for a while at The Doon School
in India
before returning to become a full-time assistant master at Eton. He later became a house master. Through his Indian connections he came to have the late Birendra of Nepal
in his house. He was eventually rewarded with the Order of the White Elephant, First Class, for his work with the Nepalese Crown Prince.
On August 1940, Lawrence married Helena Frances Lyttelton, the daughter of G.W. Lyttelton (see Viscount Cobham
) and Pamela Marie Adeane, herself daughter of Charles Adeane
. By her he had two sons and four daughters:
During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. Lawrence saw service as a radar officer in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. He was mentioned in dispatches following night patrols in the English Channel before D-Day and was
demobilised as a Lieutenant Commander
(Special Branch).
In 1977 Lawrence retired to Great Milton
, Oxfordshire
. He was the author of two volumes of photography of Eton (An Eton Camera) and edited many others (including The Encouragement of Learning, an anthology of articles and extracts from many sources covering most aspects of Eton life to the end of the Victorian Age, and Grizel Hartley Remembered, a collection of letters and memories of a unique Eton character). He founded the Museum of Eton Life, and also wrote obituaries of Eton masters for the Daily Telegraph.
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and a published author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He was, until his death, the last surviving master at Eton to have served in the Second World War.
Lawrence was born on 9 February 1913, the son of Aubrey Trevor Lawrence KC, MBE
Aubrey Lawrence
Aubrey Trevor Lawrence, MBE, KC was a successful English barrister and author.Lawrence was born 15 January 1875, the son of Sir Trevor Lawrence, 2nd Baronet and his wife Elizabeth, Lady Lawrence. He was educated at Shrewsbury and at Christ Church, Oxford where he took a first class degree in Greats...
and his wife Constance Emily Fanning. He was the grandson of Sir Trevor Lawrence, 2nd Baronet and was, until his death, heir to that title
Lawrence Baronets
There have been seven Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Lawrence, one in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and five in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom....
. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where his godfather, Cyril Alington
Cyril Alington
Cyril Argentine Alington was an English educationalist, scholar, cleric, and prolific author. He was the headmaster of both Shrewsbury School and Eton College. He also served as chaplain to King George V and as Dean of Durham....
, had recently been appointed head master, and at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, his father's college, where he read science and mathematics.
During his time at Oxford he returned to Eton several times as a stop gap teacher. After university he taught for a while at The Doon School
The Doon School
The Doon School is an independent school located in Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand in India. Established in 1935, it was founded by Satish Ranjan Das. Its first Headmaster was Arthur E...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
before returning to become a full-time assistant master at Eton. He later became a house master. Through his Indian connections he came to have the late Birendra of Nepal
Birendra of Nepal
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was a King of Nepal. The son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded in 1972, he reigned until his death in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre...
in his house. He was eventually rewarded with the Order of the White Elephant, First Class, for his work with the Nepalese Crown Prince.
On August 1940, Lawrence married Helena Frances Lyttelton, the daughter of G.W. Lyttelton (see Viscount Cobham
Viscount Cobham
Viscount Cobham is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1718 for Field Marshal Richard Temple, 1st Baron Cobham and 4th Baronet, of Stowe...
) and Pamela Marie Adeane, herself daughter of Charles Adeane
Charles Adeane
Charles Robert Whorwood Adeane CB, JP was a British army officer.-Background:Adeane was the only son of the politician Henry John Adeane and his wife Lady Elizabeth Philippa Yorke, eldest daughter Charles Yorke, 4th Earl of Hardwicke. Adeane was educated at Eton College and at Christ Church, Oxford...
. By her he had two sons and four daughters:
- Aubrey Lyttelton Simon Lawrence
- Pamela Jane Lawrence
- Anthea Mary Lawrence
- Robin Peter Charles Lawrence
- Jemima Rachel Lawrence
- Susanna Lucy Lawrence
During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. Lawrence saw service as a radar officer in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. He was mentioned in dispatches following night patrols in the English Channel before D-Day and was
demobilised as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
(Special Branch).
In 1977 Lawrence retired to Great Milton
Great Milton
Great Milton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about east of Oxford.-History:The toponym appears to refer to the "Middle Town" of a group....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. He was the author of two volumes of photography of Eton (An Eton Camera) and edited many others (including The Encouragement of Learning, an anthology of articles and extracts from many sources covering most aspects of Eton life to the end of the Victorian Age, and Grizel Hartley Remembered, a collection of letters and memories of a unique Eton character). He founded the Museum of Eton Life, and also wrote obituaries of Eton masters for the Daily Telegraph.