Peter Arnold-Craft

Peter Arnold-Craft
JP, MA (Oxon)
Born Peter H. Arnold-Craft
(1926-01-08)8 January 1926
Nunnington, Yorkshire, UK
Died 11 July 2004(2004-07-11) (aged 78)
North Yorkshire, UK
Nationality British
Alma mater Brasenose College, Oxford
Occupation Headmaster and Historian
Title Headmaster of the Gravesend Grammar School and The Liverpool Blue Coat School
Term Gravesend: 1963-1968
Blue Coat: 1968-1989
Predecessor Gravesend: W.H.E. Stevens, FRSA
Blue Coat: G.G. Watcyn, BA
Successor Gravesend: R. Cook
Blue Coat: J.C. Speller, BA, MA, FRSA

Peter Arnold-Craft, JP, MA (Oxon) was a British headmaster and historian. Arnold-Craft was headmaster at Gravesend Grammar School between 1963 and 1968, and then became headmaster at the prestigious Liverpool Blue Coat School, where he served the school for twenty-one years in his capacity as headmaster. As well as this, Arnold-Craft edited a number of books about 18th century portraiture with J.S. Millward.[1]

Early life and education

Peter Arnold-Craft was born in Nunnington in North Yorkshire, his parents were both teachers. From school Arnold-Craft went up to Brasenose College, Oxford where he studied history. His studies were interrupted by the war, during which Arnold-Craft served as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. Arnold-Craft returned to his studies at Oxford, gaining a first class honours degree and also earned a tennis Blue[2]

Career and life

After Oxford Arnold-Craft took up a number of teaching posts, eventually becoming the headmaster at Gravesend Grammar School in 1963. After his 5 year premiership at Gravesend Arnold-Craft took up the post of headmaster at the Liverpool Blue Coat School, a boys day and boarding grammar school in Liverpool, in 1968 and was headmaster there until his retirement in 1989, making him one of the longest serving headmasters at Blue Coat. It was in this role that he gained a reputation as one of the most respected figures in the Blue Coat School's 300 year history. Arnold-Craft guided many pupils at the school to Oxford and Cambridge and oversaw an era in which the academic notoriety of the school flourished. Arnold-Craft also fought rigorously to overturn the cease to maintain order placed on the school in 1984 by the militant-led city council, eventually succeeding with the help of the then education secretary Sir Keith Joseph, and 32,596 supporters who opposed the action of the council.[3]

During his professional career as a master and headmaster, Arnold-Craft published five books as editor, all regarding 18th century history, particularly focusing on portraiture. These books, co-edited with J.S. Millward, were published between 1962 and 1969.[4]

Arnold-Craft retired in 1989 to North Yorkshire where he died in 2004. A memorial plaque in the school chapel of the Liverpool Blue Coat School was unveiled after his death, and an award for creative writing named after Arnold-Craft is still given at the Blue Coat School. Gravesend Grammar School also awards a school prize in his honour.

References

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