In Memory of David Carr

On Sunday 1st July 2012 there will be a celebration at Yarlet of the life of David Carr, who retired as Headmaster in Summer 1989 and died in Autumn 2011.  There will be an OY cricket match and a dedication of a Chapel memorial.  OYs and families are most welcome to attend and are asked to confirm their attendance by contacting Julia Bryan (julia.bryan@yarletschool.org / 01785 286568) who will also be able to provide more details about the event.


Eulogy provided by Richard Plant at David Carr's Service of Thanksgiving on 18th October 2011:

David Carr, as some of you may know, was quite a keen cricketer, and a most accomplished one, too.  He would have been disappointed that the Great Umpire in the Sky gave him out as he was approaching the nineties – perhaps even a century beckoned.  But being a true Reptonian and Magdalen (Oxford) gentleman, he would not have dreamed of disputing the decision; nor, indeed, would he have requested a referral to the third umpire (presumably one of the Trinity).  As he inculcated into generations of young cricketers – the umpire’s decision is final, however annoying.

I worked and enjoyed life and the occasional gin and Italian with D.N.C. for some twenty Yarlet years; he was mentor, example and friend.  It was a signal honour to succeed him as Yarlet’s Headmaster – at his instigation; but at the same time daunting to try to emulate and maintain the standards and achievements of his twenty-nine Yarlet years.  He was undoubtedly a great School Master – and equally one of the great prep-school Headmasters of his generation.

David Carr – Douglas and Donald being the other two members of the renowned triumvirate - was born in 1923.  His earliest years were passed in India, where his Father was serving as a Colonel in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.  On the family’s return to England, David was sent first to Forres Preparatory School, in Swanage, and thence to Repton – ah, Repton! – where he thrived in all areas – not least on the games fields, where he made a big impression, particularly as far as cricket and football were concerned.  He was due to go up to Magdalen, when War intervened.  David joined up with The Royal Berkshires – the Regiment of his Father and older brother – in 1943; in 1944, he was seconded to the Royal Norfolks, for the Normandy landings.  He did not sail for Normandy on ‘D’ Day itself – for one thing, he was playing cricket at Repton on that day.  When he did, shortly thereafter, arrive in Normandy, he became involved in fierce fighting, was wounded and invalided home, where he then spent some eighteen months in hospital, as his shattered right arm was repaired.  He came through all this with his customary determination and lack of fuss, although in later years it was somewhat embarrassing to his family when the surgeon’s plate and screws triggered airport security alarms.  Furthermore, undeterred by his inability any longer to bowl right-arm seamers, he taught himself to fox many a batsman with devilishly cunning left-arm spinners.  And he remained an exceptionally good batsman, demonstrated, for one thing, by his representing Derbyshire Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship.

In 1947, he took up his place at Magdalen, to read History – he used to talk to me very fondly of A.J.P. Taylor’s supervisions.  He naturally and successfully represented Magdalen on cricket and football fields; he also played cricket for The Authentics (the Oxford Second XI, if you like) – and was a member of Vincent’s, which tie he wore always with modest pride.  And he emerged, to his gratification, with a good Honours Degree in History.

Where to teach History, but somewhere near his beloved Repton?  So he came to Foremarke Hall, The Repton Preparatory School.  Kings and Queens and their dates became important.  But much more important even than those was his wooing and winning the hand of the Headmaster’s Secretary, Angela Mordaunt, who was to be his wife for 56 years.  History tells us that the Headmaster was not at all chuffed to lose a most efficient and, let it be said, attractive secretary.  In 1960, D.N.C., having been, as they say today, head-hunted by Keith Tarling, joined him at Yarlet, the beginning of a long and immensely fruitful period in the School’s long history.  David became sole Headmaster in 1970, and over the next 19 years, numbers increased dramatically, scholarships continued to be won, and fielding practices were so lethal – skiers had to be caught -  that very few cricket matches were lost.  In 1989, David retired – not that he was keen to do so – and Angela looked forward to her own home at last, and to some peaceful tending of her own garden.  But then Lichfield Cathedral School came calling, and David and Angela agreed to a year’s inter-regnum in The Cathedral Close.  Thus Angela moved from a Lodge (at Foremarke), to a Hall (at Yarlet), to a Bishop’s Palace at Lichfield.  Entirely worthy of her.  And they had a wonderful year at Lichfield.

David Carr represented on the field and was a member of numerous and distinguished cricket clubs – amongst them, I. Zingari, The Free Foresters, The Cryptics and, not least, The M.C.C., this last for over fifty years.  He was the Secretary of the Repton Pilgrims Cricket Club for 33 years; he was President of the Gentlemen of Staffordshire C.C. for ten years, and thereafter – in a position created solely for him – Vice-President of that Club.  He achieved the honour of

The Presidency of The Old Reptonian Society – only for one year, as that was all that he was allowed under ancient statutes!  He served, with distinction, too, on the Council of I.A.P.S. – The Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools.  And he was a Governor of two preparatory schools – Hillstone and The Ryleys.

So to my Yarlet years with David and Angela.  I have said that he was a “great” Headmaster, and the adjective is advisedly used.  He set the highest standards – of courtesy, civilized behaviour, self-discipline – and expected his charges to live up to them.  He was involved in everything, with encouragement, laughter (lots of laughter) and huge enthusiasm.  He taught History, of course – Old Yarletians can still recite the Kings and Queens (well, most of them can), and they can recall David’s dramatic recounting of great moments in History; the murder of Thomas Becket was a particular favourite.  I remember him teaching Lower School French, at one stage – his accent was worse than mine.  (“Steady on, Plant!”)  He ran the First XI Cricket for years – he mowed the outfield, tended the sloping square (no worse than Lord’s, said D.B.), and marked the wickets; he directed School musicals with tremendous verve – Gilbert and Sullivan being, perhaps, his finest achievements.  And there was no more skilled make-up artist than D.N.C.  Some of you here today probably tripped across the Yarlet stage, boys turned into pretty maidens by a dab of rouge (actually and usually more than a dab) – and a skilfully enhanced set of eyebrows, placed there by D.N.C.’s unerring hand.  He loved, too, the Chapel – the singing, the prayers, the whole atmosphere.  Those Chapel Services, each morning and on Sunday, were very important to him, and so to the children.  He would not tick all the inspectors’ boxes today – nor would he want to, if that involved anything less than total immersion in the life of the school and its pupils.  He took immense pride in the achievements of both present and Old Yarletians, and their respect and affection for him must have been a great joy.

But no joy was as great as that which his family gave.  The Carr family was, and is, as happy and close-knit as any you would come across, and Father played an enormous part in this happiness.  To put it simply – he adored his children.  Amongst other and many things, he took them on often hair-raising Continental holidays in the legendary Carr camper van, which on one memorable occasion ran out of petrol on an Alpine peak.  No panic, of course – and there was a petrol station at the bottom of the very steep incline, which D.N.C. negotiated expertly and free-wheelingly.  He supported his children in all ways, and on all sorts of touch-lines, boundaries, fairways and greens – though lacrosse, with no boundaries, rather perplexed him.  And he traversed the links of Deal and Sandwich, often in the foulest weather, to support his golf-playing son – and was hugely proud of the prowess of this slightly non-cricketing Carr.

And his fantastic (this would have been his word) grand-children – in chronological order:  Andrew, Vicky, Suzanne, Charlie (female), Charlie (Male), Annie and Jamie.   I have never met a prouder Grandpa, and he rejoiced in all that they did, in all their successes.  An annual highlight was the Carr outing – all of them (although Granny ducked out) – to watch and cheer on the Great Stoke City.  The Carrs are all avid Potters’ fans; D.N.C. instilled this in his children, as they have in theirs.  It was inevitable, too, that David’s musical gene and fine singing voice would find their way into at least one of his grandchildren – although I have to say that Jamie’s Lichfield Cathedral Chorister Treble was slightly classier than David’s light but tuneful Bass-Baritone.

Angela was the most important and most loved person in David’s life.  In all that he did, she was the unassuming pillar, the enormous support, the wonderful Wife, Mother and Granny.  She has enjoyed – endured? – years of acting as Headmaster’s Wife – not the easiest of roles; years of cricket and sometimes recalcitrant parents.  He could not have achieved all that he did without her – as he often told me.  These last weeks and months have been terribly hard for her – but she has never complained, tending David through such a cruel illness.  A wonderful marriage – a wonderful Lady.

All Yarlet leavers – staff and children – were invited, as the end of their last term approached, to choose a hymn, to be sung by all in the Chapel.  D.N.C.’s selection in 1989 was “Jerusalem the Golden”.  Verse Three’s words may have had something to do with his choice:

“There is the throne of David,
And there from care released,
The song of them that triumph,
The shout of them that feast;
And they, who with their leader,
Have conquer’d in the fight,
For ever and for ever,
Are clad in robes of white”.

Angelic robes or cricket flannels?  David and I thought we knew which.

D.N.C., you have had a terrific innings, which has touched the lives and boundaries of so many – younger and older.  What more can one say?  Except perhaps to coin a favourite phrase of your own –

“JOLLY WELL PLAYED!”


RSP
October 2011