George André Robertson
Encyclopedia
George André Robertson (8 September 1929, St Jean-de-Luz, France
– 22 February 2007, Redhill, Surrey
), was a British educator, headmaster and sportsman. An Old Amplefordian
, he attended St Wilfrid's House (1943-1948) and was cricket captain in 1948 before attending Peterhouse, Cambridge
(1949-1952).
In 1947 he took 30 wickets at 13.3. In his final season, 1948, he captained the XI. The Ampleforth Journal [September 1948] noted that "[George A.] Robertson became … the centre of the team and besides finishing at the head of the batting averages [32,44] was the mainstay of the bowling [average 10.34]", being awarded prizes as Best Cricketer [Downey Cup], Best All-Rounder and Highest Score. Robertson was Captain of the 1st XI in 1948, opening the batting and opening the bowling. He scored 100 retired in the first match, and in the season, he took 26 wickets at 10.47 each.
Robertson made two first-class
appearances during the 1950 season, the first for Cambridge University
and the second for Free Foresters Cricket Club
against Cambridge University. He made his first-class debut against Hampshire
and opening the bowling dismissed both Hampshire openers, finishing with figures of 2/53. The match was most notable for future England captain Peter May
scoring an unbeaten double century for the university. The appearance for Free Foresters came three days later and Robertson took one further wicket.
from 1949 to 1952, reading French and Spanish.
From 1952 to the mid 1980s and beyond to 1991, Robertson was a teacher and headmaster at several different preparatory schools. He joined the staff at Ladycross, at Seaford
, Sussex
, where he met his future wife. He taught at St. Edmund's School (Hindhead)
, Surrey
, and later at All Hallows, Cranmore, Somerset
.
From 1967 to 1977, he was Headmaster of St. Martin's School, Nawton, North Yorkshire
, near Kirkbymoorside
. [this has since amalgamated with Gilling Castle to form St. Martin’s, Ampleforth].
In 1977 he became Headmaster of the
Oratory Prep School
. When ill health forced him to give up that post, he became Headmaster of an English school in Algarve, Portugal
. In the mid-1980s, Robertson became Secretary of a golf club at a RAF base in Germany
.
In 1986 he joined the staff of the Modern Language Department at the Oratory, coaching also Under 14 cricket sides and helping to develop the school golf. The Oratory School Magazine (2006; issue #166) noted that he "was largely responsible for creating a very special family atmosphere, one which is still warmly remembered by former pupils to the present day".
) forced him to retire and he went to live in Surrey, where he died on 22 February 2007 at the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill
at the age of 77.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
– 22 February 2007, Redhill, Surrey
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
), was a British educator, headmaster and sportsman. An Old Amplefordian
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
, he attended St Wilfrid's House (1943-1948) and was cricket captain in 1948 before attending Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
(1949-1952).
Cricketer
Robertson was a noted cricket player. He was in the 1st XI for all five years at the school, from his match on 14 May 1944 until his final match on 27 June 1948. In 1944, he won the Younghusband Cup for Best Bowler, taking 32 wickets for 308 runs, an average of 9.31, bowling in all 109.3 overs and 26 maidens. By 1947, his fourth year in the cricket team, he was described by the Ampleforth Journal [September 1947] as "probably the best bat in the eleven", but the journal hinted at a weakness by adding that he "might easily do great things when he has learnt better footwork".In 1947 he took 30 wickets at 13.3. In his final season, 1948, he captained the XI. The Ampleforth Journal [September 1948] noted that "[George A.] Robertson became … the centre of the team and besides finishing at the head of the batting averages [32,44] was the mainstay of the bowling [average 10.34]", being awarded prizes as Best Cricketer [Downey Cup], Best All-Rounder and Highest Score. Robertson was Captain of the 1st XI in 1948, opening the batting and opening the bowling. He scored 100 retired in the first match, and in the season, he took 26 wickets at 10.47 each.
Robertson made two first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
appearances during the 1950 season, the first for Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
and the second for Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1856 for players from the Midland counties of England. It is a 'wandering' club, having no home ground....
against Cambridge University. He made his first-class debut against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
and opening the bowling dismissed both Hampshire openers, finishing with figures of 2/53. The match was most notable for future England captain Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
scoring an unbeaten double century for the university. The appearance for Free Foresters came three days later and Robertson took one further wicket.
Teaching career
After Ampleforth, Robertson attended Peterhouse, CambridgePeterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
from 1949 to 1952, reading French and Spanish.
From 1952 to the mid 1980s and beyond to 1991, Robertson was a teacher and headmaster at several different preparatory schools. He joined the staff at Ladycross, at Seaford
Seaford, East Sussex
Seaford is a coastal town in the county of East Sussex, on the south coast of England. Lying east of Newhaven and Brighton and west of Eastbourne, it is the largest town in Lewes district, with a population of about 23,000....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, where he met his future wife. He taught at St. Edmund's School (Hindhead)
St. Edmund's School (Hindhead)
St. Edmund's School is a coeducational nursery, pre-prep and preparatory school originally founded in Hunstanton, Norfolk, England in 1874, and subsequently moved to Hindhead, Surrey, England in 1900, where the school moved into a large country house named Blen Cathra, previously a home of George...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and later at All Hallows, Cranmore, Somerset
Cranmore, Somerset
Cranmore is a village and civil parish east of Shepton Mallet, in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlets of Waterlip, East Cranmore and Dean where Dean farmhouse dates from the 17th century, as does The Old Smithy, just off the A361 which was originally two...
.
From 1967 to 1977, he was Headmaster of St. Martin's School, Nawton, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, near Kirkbymoorside
Kirkbymoorside
Kirkbymoorside is a small market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England which lies approximately 25 miles north of York midway between Pickering and Helmsley, and has a population of approximately 3,000.-History:...
. [this has since amalgamated with Gilling Castle to form St. Martin’s, Ampleforth].
In 1977 he became Headmaster of the
Oratory Prep School
The Oratory Preparatory School
The Oratory Preparatory School is a Catholic day and boarding school for just over 400 boys and girls from 3 to 13. Founded by Cardinal John Henry Newman, the school continues to provide an education which is rooted in the traditions and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.The Oratory Preparatory...
. When ill health forced him to give up that post, he became Headmaster of an English school in Algarve, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. In the mid-1980s, Robertson became Secretary of a golf club at a RAF base in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 1986 he joined the staff of the Modern Language Department at the Oratory, coaching also Under 14 cricket sides and helping to develop the school golf. The Oratory School Magazine (2006; issue #166) noted that he "was largely responsible for creating a very special family atmosphere, one which is still warmly remembered by former pupils to the present day".
Family
He married Joan Turnbull (died 1984) in the 1950s. They had three sons: Simon, Andrew and Peter. Their marriage was dissolved in 1983.Health problems and death
In 1991, health problems (such as Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
) forced him to retire and he went to live in Surrey, where he died on 22 February 2007 at the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
at the age of 77.