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Staff Leavers

Whether in Durban, away to St Paul’s or at home on Flagstaff, Mr Evans-Evans always found a way to do two things at once. He stressed the importance of the immediacy of the experience, while also creating moments that would last, providing young men with memories they could call upon whenever needed. This made Mr Evans-Evans a rugby coach we wanted to play for, a coach we trusted and a coach we loved; on reflection, this instilled a similar sense of steadiness in each of the young men who benefitted from his leadership. Some of the fondest memories of my time at the School were forged on the tours which Mr Evans-Evans organised; such diligence in everything he did provided us with such wonderful opportunities. While these memories were not created by mirroring his measured approach – hence why I cannot share any! – we never took the work that went into organising the tours and managing us for granted. Mr Evans-Evans, thank you for giving so much to the boys you led; thank you for creating an environment which forged such strong fraternal bonds; thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about the depths of our own passion and our ability to channel our aggression, guile and talent as individuals and as a team. Most importantly, thank you for embodying the behaviours we all endeavour to demonstrate as fathers, sons, colleagues and friends.

of a problem and identify a workable solution has helped many an MTS teacher resolve seemingly intractable dilemmas. There is no INSET you can go on, no easy instruction manual for these situations; such calmness and sagacity are hard won, the product of a million corridor conversations, Caron’s own experience as an ISI Inspector and an acute appreciation of different perspectives. These qualities were especially useful when Caron project-managed the merger of Merchant Taylors’ School and Northwood Prep, now Merchant Taylors’ Prep. This was a project which required great diplomacy and sensitivity, the result of which Caron was justly proud. Caron has not only been a mainstay of the Sports Department – he has taught PE throughout his quarter century at the School – but a stalwart member of the Royal Navy section of the CCF. The first to volunteer for any excursion, Caron would also accompany sports tours. These included rugby tours to Australia, South Africa and Europe, as well as cricket tours to Grenada and Barbados. As well as organising and co-ordinating such trips, Caron was always the first to underline the contribution of colleagues who supported the MTS extra-curricular panoply, and felt that this was one of the foundations of the increasingly rare breed. Unstintingly loyal to MTS, Caron’s dedication has enabled thousands of boys to thrive, discovering hitherto unknown talents and enjoying transformative experiences that will sustain them well into the future. His legacy is to be found in the thriving new societies which seem to spring up every term, the continued success (and variety) of sport at the School and the spirit of so many Taylors’ boys who are determined to brighten and enhance their school careers. For Caron, who remains grateful to his own teachers for the opportunities they created for him, the circle has now turned. He has given so much and for so long; we wish him all the very best for a long and happy retirement. Mr J. M. S. Rippier modern success of the School. Schoolmasters like Caron are an

Societies & Activities, Field Days and overseas trips which, in a pre-Covid age, saw boys travel to all parts of the globe with extraordinary frequency. From his base in the Master’s Office, where he has been ably supported by Anne Schofield, Sue Williamson and latterly Roslyn Elliott, Caron also took on the immense responsibility of organising the biggest events in the School calendar. These included St Barnabas Day, Doctors’ Day and the Triennial Service. Caron’s six Triennials included the 2011 event, at which the Occupy protest movement had blocked the main entrance, nearly forcing a cancellation; Caron’s foresight ensured that the whole School quietly processed through the North Transept and all passed off without a hitch. And then came the one-off spectaculars which will be etched in the annals of Taylors’ history: the visit of HRH The Duke of Gloucester to open the Design Centre in 2015 (together with CCF Band fanfare), the opening of the Sir Edward Evans Geography Building and, most recently, the involvement of MTS boys in the Lord Mayor’s Show, when Alderman Nicholas Lyons became the fourth member of the Merchant Taylors’ Company to be elected to the mayoralty. Caron then oversaw the visit of the Lord Mayor to Sandy Lodge earlier this year. This kind of event takes enormous and careful preparation; indeed, the meticulous grasp of detail that Caron has brought to the role has enhanced so many such occasions. He has always been guided by a desire to ensure opportunities for the boys and an engaging experience for the School’s many distinguished guests. This includes members of the Court, some of whom might occasionally arrive unannounced and demand a seat. Caron would solve this, too; calm, unflappable, ever attentive to the needs of others. Unofficially, Caron took on the vital SCR role of confidant and advisor to colleagues as they navigated the considerable challenges of a changing profession in a rapidly evolving institution. Caron’s open door policy and vast experience has seen him offer much more than a sympathetic ear; his ability to cut through to the heart

Marcus-Alexander Neil Head Monitor 2007-08 1st XV Captain 2007

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