OS MEMORIES : THE 1970s AND 1980s
REMEMBERING ALAN TAMMADGE
It was a great pleasure to host a very special visit to the school by Anthony , Louise , Rachel and Tim Tammadge , descendants of Alan Tammadge , Headmaster of Sevenoaks from 1971 to 1981 .
Arranged by Alan ’ s granddaughter , Rachel , their return to Sevenoaks was a celebration of Anthony ’ s 70th birthday . As Alan ’ s son , he spent some of his teenage years living in the Old Head ’ s House . Anthony thoroughly enjoyed seeing his old home , viewing archive photographs , exploring the campus and sharing memories with his family .
Alan Tammadge was Headmaster during a very exciting period for Sevenoaks . In 1976 girls were first admitted to the Sixth Form , and Sevenoaks began its transformation into a fully co-educational institution , with the first female boarders arriving at the new Girls ’ International House in September 1977 . The following year , Sevenoaks took the bold step of adopting the IB , while campus developments including a new library , sporting facilities and the Sackville Theatre were also legacies of the Tammadge era . Alan retired from Sevenoaks in 1981 but continued Mathematics teaching and regularly participated in the Royal Institution Master Classes . He died in 2016 , aged 94 .
The family hugely enjoyed their visit and appreciated learning more about Alan ’ s career at Sevenoaks and his many achievements . Anthony said , ‘ It was really moving to me , and I think my father would have been overwhelmed to think he was still regarded so highly .’
With the then Prince of Wales at the opening of the Marley Sports Hall in 1977 .
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