Andrew MacTavish
I was educated at the Royal Grammar School, and went on to read English at Downing College, Cambridge. I spent two years National Service with a commission in the Royal Artillery, and was an instructor at the Army Outward Bound School. I qualified in mountain leadership, climbing and caving, though my certificates are now somewhat mildewed.
After a spell in industry making detergents with Procter and Gamble, I returned to the RGS to teach English for four years. I continued in the teaching profession as a classroom teacher, Head of English Department and Deputy Headmaster in three other boys’ grammar schools in Reading, Dorset and Plymouth.
I was appointed as Headmaster at John Hampden Grammar School in 1983, and retired in 1999. I was appointed a governor at the RGS in 2000, and currently chair the Curriculum Committee.
I am a member of the Old Wycombiensians Committee. I am also a trustee of the RGS, of World Challenge Trust, and of the Bucks Military Museum.
My wife has now retired from her profession as a Practice Nurse. We have two sons, both of whom attended the RGS, and both went on to Cambridge. They are married and we have 5 grandchildren under the age of 6; I am competent at Lego, and can judge the relative sizes of pieces of toast-and-Marmite with absolute precision.
