Peter David Ronald Anthony
Peter was an old boy of Plymouth College, read history at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and gained a Diploma in Education at Exeter College Oxford. After teaching practice and a short stint at Harrogate Grammar School, he was appointed to teach History at Monmouth in September 1968. Peter enjoyed a long and successful career academically and also in his roles as Master in Charge of Cricket, as a rugby coach, and as a Housemaster.
In the 1990s Headmaster Rupert Lane wrote “…he is the sort of man to whom one gives potentially difficult customers with the confidence that if anyone can make anything of them, he will do so.” Whilst Peter retired from teaching in 2000, he remained an active member of the Monmouth community, serving as a committee member of the Old Monmothian Club and acting as friend and mentor for successive staff and Heads alike. Despite the diagnosis of a debilitating lung condition that would eventually be the cause of his death, Peter could be seen regularly walking or using his mobility scooter around Monmouth with an oxygen tank in a backpack. He was always a very popular former member of staff at Speech Day or at OM events.
He is survived by his wife Judy and their three adult children.
A memorial service has been arranged at the Monmouth School for Boys Chapel on Saturday 26th March at 11am. For more information, please contact the Development Office at Monmouth School for Boys.
The following are just a few of the many tributes received from Old Monmothians acknowledging the role Peter played in their development and future lives.
“I had the privilege of being taught by Peter in my Sixth Form years (1968-70). I have fond memories of his classes where his warmth, energy and enthusiasm, and diligent care for scholarship and his pupils, inspired academic excellence. Although I opted for Geography at University and beyond, he left me with an abiding love of his subject and an avid intellectual curiosity, based on thorough research. He was an excellent teacher.”
Dr Eric Huxter
In the mid 1980s I had the great fortune to be taught History by Mr Anthony. He made me understand that the story of the past is not one of kings, queens, and far-off dates. Instead, it’s the story of people just like ourselves, born in earlier times, who reacted rationally, even if not always wisely, to the threats and opportunities they faced. Rather than being about repeating meaningless dates, History is the study of how mankind reacts to a changing world. For me this was a watershed moment and gave me a lifelong fascination (my children would say obsession) with the subject. He was without doubt the most inspirational and impactful teacher that I have ever had, including later at universities.
Graeme Reynolds
“I have very happy memories of my time in Chapel House, and a large part of that was the warmth of the welcome that Peter and (his) family gave to us all. Peter inspired me to read History at University and that inspiration has continued into later life as I am now retraining as a History teacher at a Girls’ Grammar School in Kent after a 30-year career as a lawyer. I have said to another OM (Guy Douglass) that if I can become half the teacher that Peter was (with a touch of Robert Parry mixed in to reflect my age relative to my fellow teachers!) I shall be very pleased.
I recall he was a big fan of Oliver Cromwell (as was I in consequence). It seems in the intervening 40 years, Oliver’s popularity among historians has waned. However, I did manage to get a Year 8 class to acknowledge he was a good thing for the development of Parliamentary democracy. I hope Peter might have been pleased with that outcome.”
David Emanuel