Mr Douglas Anderson, former Headmaster, Royal School, Cavan

THE death occurred on Sunday of last week of Mr Douglas Anderson, B.Sc., H.Dip.Ed, former headmaster of the Royal School Cavan. Aged 87 he succeeded his father the late Rev John Anderson in 1970, who although retired from the position of headmaster, continued to live in the school and acted as manager until his death in 1982. His son, Douglas, who succeeded him, was born on February 26, 1924 in Dublin and was the eldest of five brothers. When he was only six months old, Douglas moved to Cavan where his father was appointed headmaster of Cavan Royal School, and would be his home for the next sixty five years of his life. As a child he regarded the establishment as a kind of adventure playground, and enjoyed the various things young children of that age get up to. He was educated at the school and attended Trinity College, Dublin, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science and a Higher Diploma in Education. He returned to teach science at the Royal School and it was there that he first came in contact with his future wife Hazel Hewitt. In 1970 Douglas followed in his father's footsteps and was appointed the twenty second Headmaster of Cavan Royal School. His incumbency would be marked by vision and innovation. As an extremely intelligent and well-read man, Douglas believed that education was about much more than simply sitting and passing examinations. When he took over the role of headmaster, Douglas, like his father embarked on a major programme of building and refurbishment; although his most important initiative was undoubtedly the introduction of computers. Prescient enough to realise the part they were destined to play in the future, he and his vice-principal, Ivan Bolton brought them into the school as early as 1978, and set up a computer network that was one of the first in the country, giving the Royal School a well-deserved reputation in that field. It was also during his watch that the science laboratory was built, and that an all-weather hockey pitch was laid. Douglas had a very good rapport with the students in the school; he was scrupulously fair; he was tender and understanding of their needs, and he was blessed with a powerful and much-needed sense of humour. At the same time he was keenly interested in farming and he and his father kept a purebred Jersey herd on the school grounds. Today's pupils might be a little surprised to learn what some of his present-day school-buildings were used for in the past. He was very progressive and bought the reserve champion charolais bull at the Spring Show to improve the quality of his calves. Incredibly, as well as these things, Douglas was also employed as a chemist at McCarren's bacon factory, testing the quality of the meat. Douglas loved animals, especially horses. He was a licensed jockey and horse trainer, and there was always a horse kept on the school grounds. His best known horse was called Sailor Boy, which was runner-up at a race meeting at the Curragh. Douglas retired as headmaster in 1989 but never lost his interest in education. He read the Irish Times every day and kept abreast of all that was going on in the world of education. He was a fount of knowledge and provided good advice to his successor Ivan Bolton, a native of Dublin. Between him and his father the school had been in the Anderson family for some sixty two years. His interest in ensuring that the Royal School was at the forefront of modern-day educational needs was broadened in his position as a former President of the Irish Schoolheads' Association and as a member of the Board of Management of Cavan No 1 Primary School, where he was always enthusiastic and encouraging -and would quietly but generously write a large cheque to support any fund-raising. His interest at national and second level provided him with the opportunity of being at the coalface of the growth in education at second level in the country and for the Royal School in particular. He was head of only the second fully co-educational school in the state (the first was Wesley College in Dublin) where Roman Catholics were also welcomed. One of his proudest moments was in 2008 to see the school jointly celebrate with Royal Schools in Armagh and Dungannon; Portora Royal School, Enniskillen and Royal and Prior School, Raphoe, the 400th anniversary of the five Royal schools, which were founded by King James 1 in 1608. The schools were in fact amongst the longest-surviving non-church organisations of any kind in the island of Ireland. Douglas also enjoyed gardening and had many admirers who used to watch in admiration the exact lines of perfect proportions on his lawn, whenever he cut the grass. He also loved to travel and went around the world twice and flew on Concorde. Hong Kong and Thailand were among his favourite destinations. He lived an amazingly fulfilled life, and as Canon Mark Lidwill in the course of his sermon said "we thank God for all we knew of Douglas". Son of the late John and Martha Anderson and stepmother Katherine, he was also predeceased by his brothers, Cyril, Cavan; Clive, Harare, Zimbabwe and Bill, Cavan. He is survived by his brother, Henry, Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada. The funeral took place on Wednesday of last week following Service in Cavan Parish Church followed by burial at Drumcree Parish Churchyard, Portadown.