Charles Jonathan ‘Jonty’ Driver, Headmaster of Berkhamsted School 1983 – 1989, dies aged 83

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Charles Jonathan ‘Jonty’ Driver.

Jonty Driver (pictured above, centre) was Headmaster of Berkhamsted School, arriving from Hong Kong in 1983, before leaving to take up headship at Wellington College, after only six years, in 1989.

During his time at Berkhamsted, Jonty set out to achieve the objectives of halting the decline in numbers at the Prep School, continuing to improve the academic standards, establishing a new salary and career path for staff and, finally, of seeing an immediate and dramatic improvement in the School’s library facilities.

He was described within his valete, which appeared in the October 1989 edition of The Berkhamstedian as “the first of the ‘modern’ headmasters of Berkhamsted who recognised the need to get out and about- forging international links, teacher swaps, the introduction of scholars from other continents, contributing to the work of the Headmasters’ Conference and many other public engagements and visits abroad. All these activities have brought the name of Berkhamsted to the forefront, sometimes in places where it was little known before, as well as enriching the life of the School in many ways.”

“Jonty’s personal recipe for success has been ‘motivation and inspiration, the germs of which he has introduced in epidemic proportions to the School. We have all been shaken and stirred and are the better for it.”

We were delighted to have last welcomed Jonty and Ann back to Berkhamsted School in March 2022 when they returned for the Memorial Service of John Davison.

We send our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.