In the interview that followed, I noted that he was
‘unusually able and thoughtful; thinks big’ while others
on the interview panel were keen to know whether he
would help hand round the canapés if the catering staff
were busy and whether he had worked for a female
boss before and would be comfortable with this. My
only fear was – ‘Would he mind working for me, a
junior?’ He swiftly settled all our questions.
Above: Andy Burton (left)
Thereafter began a 13-year partnership; with Robert
Sackville-West as Chairman of Governors, we
commissioned the masterplan from Tim Ronalds
Architects. A string of major projects followed,
culminating in the completion of the award-winning
buildings around the Flat. In those early days, this
was a big step for Sevenoaks. Andy’s wise, patient
determination guided Governors, staff and the wider
community from nervous caution to confident
fulfilment. The results: outstanding. Andy led that
strategic momentum, alongside the potentially
all-consuming management of the complex
administrative demands of the school.
Andrew Burton
I remember vividly 30 September 2002. It was about
my fourth week as Head and I opened a letter which
changed the course of this school’s then 570-year-old
history. It was from Air Vice-Marshal AJ Burton OBE
BSc Econ FCIS FCIPD RAF, expressing interest in the
role of Bursar. So I sent off for references and this is
what I read:
“Burton is the most able administrator I ever served with,
becoming in July 1998 the youngest ever Head of the RAF
Administrative Branch at the age of 47. In addition to a sharp
and probing intellect, he has a voracious appetite for work.
The master of his brief, his strategic planning is fully
supported by his appreciation of detail. Astute, pragmatic,
decisive, persuasive, utterly reliable and resolute, he is a man
of the utmost integrity and honour, with a deep sense of duty
and personal commitment to any task he undertakes.”
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VA L E T E
No Head could have had a better Bursar. No school can
have benefited more from that immense experience,
judgement and strategic drive. We continued to benefit
even after he had retired as Bursar in summer 2018 as
he was project manager of the Science and Technology
Centre and Global Studies Centre until Christmas 2018,
seeing through the third huge building project of his
tenure. It was characteristic of Andy that as he stepped
into a less prominent, mission-critical role, he allowed
his successor, Gail Jones, to find her own way of doing
the job. Andy’s generosity is a great strength.
In the end, the most important thing about colleagues
– almost – is the get-on-ability factor. I just loved
working with Andy. He’s clever, funny, relaxed. Trust,
security and shared purpose – these are the things
that harmonious and productive partnerships rely on.
These have been the hallmarks of collaboration with
Andy, and everyone at the school over the intervening
years has felt the influence of Andy’s tireless work for
Sevenoaks even if they were not directly aware of it.
Katy Ricks