Farsighted Headmaster of Oakham School
John Buchanan was one of the most successful post war headmasters. In 1958 when he went to Oakham as headmaster, the school was direct-grant, and served as a minor public school for 200 boarders and as the local grammar school for Rutland day boys, with a total of 330 pupils. Twenty years later, when Buchanan retired, Oakham was wholly independent, internationally orientated, with 950 pupils. The school had become the largest co-educational boarding public school on the Headmasters’ Conference.
John David Buchanan was educated at Stowe and Trinity College, Cambridge. When war broke out, he joined the Grenadier Guards and served with great distinction. He was adjutant of the 3rd Battalion, 1941-43, and mentioned in dispatches in 1943; became Brigade Major, 1st Guards Brigade, 1944-45; and was appointed MBE for his war services. After demobilisation, he spent a year in New York as private secretary to Sir Alexander Cadogan, Britain’s representative at the UN, followed by various teaching jobs. He became headmaster of Oakham in 1958.
Within 18 months, Buchanan had increased the fees by 20 per cent, which allowed ten new staff. He realised that there was no quicker way of transforming a school than by recruiting quality teachers, and saw his efforts rewarded by higher academic and sporting achievement. Buchanan rapidly realised that to achieve his objectives Oakham would have to become co-educational. In 1971 the trustees agreed to this decision.
Buchanan’s finest hour came in March 1970 when the trustees of Oakham communicated to the chief education officer for Rutland that “we are resolved that as from September 1970, the school will cease to accept direct grant and so become a wholly independent school”. This announcement became national news and was played out in the media.
Buchanan’s association with Oakham remained intense to the end. In recognition of his dedication, the trustees invited him to become the Visitor in June 2003, and, in the winter term of that year, he attended his first trustees’ meeting for 25 years. He was to be found on the touchlines and boundaries of Doncaster Close for rugby and cricket into the summer term of 2005 and offered true friendship and support to Oakham’s most recent headmasters.
John Buchanan, MBE, Headmaster of Oakham School 1958-77, was born on October 26, 1916. He died on July 26, 2005, aged 88.
The Times © 10 August 2005.
The Shirburnian, Michaelmas 1957
J.D. Buchanan joined the Staff in September 1948. His only previous experience of teaching had been at Westminster Junior School, since demobilisation. Other careers were open to him, in business and in Repertory: but luckily J.T.M. persuade him to come here.
His war service had included the War Course at the Staff College and service with the Grenadier Guards in North Africa and through Italy. At the end of the war, he served under Sir Alexander Cadogan (as he then was) on the British delegation to the United Nations.
On reaching Sherborne, he was persuaded to join the Corps at once, and gave invaluable help, especially in raising the standard of drill to its present high level. And it may not be generally known how much the tactical efficiency of the Corps owes to him and the other two officers (H.F.W. Holmes and J.T. Melvin) who were trained at the Staff College. He became 2 i/c in 1949, and has commanded the contingent since 1953. He looks every inch (and he has many) a soldier: the weaker brethren may have found him rather too keen on route marches.
On the stage he was no less valuable. With his talent and experience he held together any cast, whether of Town or Gown, and did his best not to underline their deficiencies, whilst in the School any play produced by him was sure of success. His histrionic powers could enliven any English lesson, and though always busy and efficient in form he never failed to treat his large classes as human beings, each with a different need.
These activities had to be combined with provision for a lively and numerous family and the care of a garden. Those who have had the luck to visit Mr and Mrs Buchanan in their home will agree that he fills the roles of father and gardener as well as any other part. And the James Rhoades Society in particular will remember how they found at Lenthay Fields the comfort of a home as well as the joys of literature. Then, too, there is the Royal and Ancient Game of Golf, for which he did so much in the school by example and enthusiasm.
In the Guards his men had dubbed him “Never and Idle Moment”. (The School, seldom notably successful in the names it finds for the Staff, never devised anything apt for him). So he had time for what the slave-drivers of Scout Training Courses call with nice iron “Spare Time Activities”. He has been practising the trombone for some years, with the connivance of David Ullman, and we have not yet quite abandoned hope of hearing a solo from him in public.
So we thank him for nine very full years here. His personality is as colourful as his clothing and the Courts will be drabber without them. Those who pass that way will certainly call to see him and Mrs Buchanan at Oakham: and we all confidently wish them every success there.
John David Buchanan, MBE.
Born 26 October 1916.
Educated at Stowe.
Trinity College, Cambridge (History and Law), MA.
Grenadier Guards, 1939-1946; adjutant of the 3rd Battalion, 1941-43, mentioned in dispatches in 1943.
Brigadier Major, 1st Guards Brigade, 1944-45. Served with the Guards Brigade in North Africa, Italy, Austria.
MBE for war services.
Private Secretary to Sir Alexander Cadogan, British Delegation to the United Nations (New York).
Taught at Westminster Junior School.
Assistant master at Sherborne School 1948-1957; O.C., C.C.F. 1953-1957; tutor in Lyon House; Chairman of the James Rhoades Society.
Headmaster of Oakham School, 1958-1977.
Died 26 July 2005, aged 88.