Tributes to Peter Barnett

I remember "Ken" Barnett very well. He was a man of great gentleness and civility and I learned almost all the Latin I ever learned from him. You will be getting lots of stories about him. He was always said to have been in some kind of intelligence work during the war. Whether or not that was true I don't know, but he did tell the story of being in a Dakota over Yugoslavia some time in the war with someone from Tito's resistance organisation. They tried various languages but had nothing in common until Ken tentatively started to use his classical Latin. The Yugoslav immediately responded and they spent the rest of the flight conversing easily in the language of ancient Rome.
Peter Preece (S 55-63)

Though not surprised I amsorry to hear of Peter's death. We shared a study on the top floor of the New Block[Annett building] from when I took over Chappel in 1969 untilits revamp in the early 80s and we would often actin concert in disciplinary matters!
John Turner (Hon OV 60-96)

I remember being taught by Ken (as we knew of him) Barnett: he was very keen on music, and helped to form my enduring love of Mozart.
Stephen Cleobury (Ch 58-67)

I am sorry to hear that. Please pass on my condolences to his family. I was one of those terrible people who gave up classics as quickly as possible, but this was mainly because I came to King's will a lot less Latin background than other boys so was constantly behind. He struck me as a true gentleman with a deep knowledge and love of his subject. 
Andrew Griffin (Ch 78-83)

He taught me Latin for a while before I escaped to Olly Thompson. Perhaps if he had retained me I might have passed my classics O level. Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres. I know its a cliché but we did actually study De Bello Gallico and I can distinctly remember his teaching us this quote. I can also remember him wincing at my Latin accent as my previous teacher at prep school, who was ex Indian army, had firmly taught us the 1920s pronunciation, tut, tut....
Charles Lock (S 73-78)

A very special man who I greatly admired and respected, I am sure he will be missed by many people.
David Richards (Cr 75-82)

Thank you for letting me know this sad news.
Roderick Cox (Cr 61-71)

Thanks for letting me know. I remember him well though was never taught by him.
Peter Hewitt (Ch 64-69)

I'm so sorry to hear of Peter Barnett's death. He was an incredibly nice man and taught me not only some classics but a huge amount about music and life in general.Which leaves only Harry Ferrar of my old teachers!
David Bryer (H 51-62)

Thank you for the email. I was verysad to hear of Mr. Barnett s death. His support and good teaching enabled me to achieve a classics O level of a reasonable grade. He was a kindly soul.
John Horton (Cl 60-65)

I am very sorry to learn of Mr Barnett's death. I have happy memories of his quiet and unemphatic but assured and effective way of teaching and general bearing. He always seemed a humane chap with a discreet sense of humour, and I gathered that his political views were relatively radical, though of course he was far too sensible to flaunt them. I remember in particular his once describing my delivery in the Latin reading competition as 'Churchillian' (with a smile, of course). I telephoned him when I was in Worcester contributing to the conference before the re-enactment of Prince Arthur's funeral in 2002, but alas couldn't visit him on that occasion. When my friend David Bryer contacted him in (2007?) he seems to have felt too frail to see us. I'm very sorry to have to tell you that I shan't be able to attend the funeral.
Ralph Houlbrooke (Ca 57-62)

Thank you so much for this. Peter Barnett, as my housemaster, did more for me than anyone else at King's because he believed in me: most of the other staff treated me as a 'waste of space' but he was always very supportive and gave me good advice and help. As a result of his making me a House Monitor (he told my parents that he took the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude in my case!), then Head of House, he taught me a most valuable lesson for my own teaching career: never to write off any pupil.
Angus Bentall (Cr 53-63)

This is sad news. I remember KPB from my time at school and I have seen him in the village more recently.
Laurie Green (Cl 65-70)

Thank you for sharing this. How very sad. 'Ken' was a wonderful teacher and could brighten up even the dullest subjects. He will be greatly missed.
James Ross (Ch 60-74)

He was for a time my ancient history teacher (on and off 1962-64) and I remember him as being a gentle if firm teacher with a distinctly intellectual bent. 
Mike Coley (Ch 57-64)

Sad news indeed, as a former member of Creighton House I found him to be never anything other than charming and dignified. I recall that he had to tell me off once in a house assembly, I think I have may have been making apuerile joke during the announcement of some important news, he didn't hesitate in making an example of me and rightly so, but the thing that struck me at the time and an image that remains with me to this day was the look on his face..........he absolutely hated having to reprimand me, it saddened him enormously.  I spent only two years in his charge, as I became a boarder at the beginning of the fifth form and joined Choir House but on my very lastday at KSW I sought him out as I wished to to thank him for his counsel and guidance. Heand I recalled the house assembly incident together, we both knew the effect that it had had on the other, we didn't need to discuss it, we just knew........ A kind and gracious man, I am certain that he was respected by all who knew him.
Rick Ormerod (Ch 77-85)

Very sad to hear of this news, as my housemaster and Latin master for 3 (ultimately pointless) years, I always had great respect for Ken, who was the most considerate and caring of souls.
I often thought of Ken when driving through Kempsey, wondering if he was still alive. He must have reached a fair old age.
Jeremy Pitt (Cr 76-81)

Thank you for sending me this sad news. Ken, as we called him although Ithink to his colleagues he was Peter, was a lovely man of great erudition.
Stephen Tomlinson (H 63-70)

Thank you foryour message. I'm pleased to hear that Ken had a long retirement.He was a lovely gentleman housemaster of the old school, popular with the staff and the boys. He helped me a lot by trusting me and not judging me when, quite frankly, I must have been a bit of a nightmare.We did sweep the board in house competitions and I felt his hands off approach played a big part in this. I had great fun at King's and have very happy memories of the place and that says a lot. 
Robert Millner (Cr 78-83)

I remember him as a very compassionate man and excellent housemaster. He also gave me a love for the classics, and I give him the credit for the fact that I later gained a Doctorate in the subject. 
Anthony Morton (Cr 72-79)

Mr Barnett was my housemaster and I have good memories of him as a civilised and fair-minded man. 
David Hewitt (Cr 59-66)

Mr Barnett was my Housemaster all the way through Senior School and also taught me Latin at some points. I say "Mr Barnett" because we used to refer to him as "Ken," but clearly he was known as Peter. He was a fine man and I am sorry to hear of his passing. I had heard that he was very ill and he had been in hospital for quite a time before his death, I believe. I was a House Monitor in Creighton for 2 years and had a lot of contact with him at that time. I can picture him very clearly and remember some of our dealings. He was a kind, generous man and I am sure he will be missed. I do offer my sympathy to his family.

I took pleasure in looking at the tributes on the website which are very well deserved. I remember Angus Bentall as Head of House, too, and one or two othersof people who have paid tribute to Peter. The tributes capture some very important aspects of Peter and why he was held in such affection. It is very good to see them recorded.
David Stallard (Cr 58-68)

Very sorry to hear the sad news of the death of Mr Barnett. He taught me Greek and I actually managed to struggle through O Level Greek. Thank you for letting me know.
Tony Sheffer (Ca 52-57)

Thank you for the email informing of the sad news. I remember Mr Barnett very well and was taught by him for a while.  Very sadly I am away that day and will not be able to attend the funeral. I would however like to express my condolences and prayers for the family at this time. With my very best wishes.

+ Alistair Magowan (Cl 66-73)

An inspirational teacher & lovely man.
Peter Miyazaki-Ross (W 62-69)

This is sad news. I lastmet Peter Barnett when he attended the official opening by David Annett of the Annett Building (the refurbished "New Block"). I remember him as a real gentleman, scholarly, very courteous andkind -but someone who exercised firm and effective authority when required. He taught me Latin one year, in Lower Remove A (I think),quite a challenge for him as it was certainly one of my weaker subjects! After the summer exams he asked us all to compile a crossword in Latin and promised a prize for the one he judged the best. He called me up to his desk and asked me to explain one of my more obscure clues. My explanation apparently satisfied him and, to my utteramazement, he announced that I was the winner. My prize was a Penguin Classics copy of an English translation of Homer's The Odyssey. I have proudly kept it ever since, and I have it by me now as I type this! 
Donald Howell (S 53-61)

I remember Ken Barnett as a very kind and gentle teacher - he will be greatly missed.
Mike Dudley (Cl 51-59)

He was always very kind to me and made me feel part of the school very quickly when I joined.
Michael Gwilt (Cr 75-77)

'Ken', as I will always know him, gave me a life long love of the Classics. I am now telling the stories that I learnt from him to my children so his teaching certainly had an impact.
Jason Hubert (Ch 78-84)

Sic transit gloria magister. A delightful man. I well remember lending him a translation of 'A House at Pooh Corner' translated into latin. He loved it, but it came back with marginal notes where he disagreed with the translation! 
Simon Cawdell (S 78-83)

This is sad news. K P Barnett was my housemaster, and I remember his discreet and sympathetic support when I was Head Boy in 1962/63. He was a very nice person. Please pass my condolences to his family. 
Marcus Ferrar (Cr 53-63)

I only met KPB two or three times - including at interview! - but at the end of my first term, after I took over from him, I found some fresh graffiti on a desk in the classroom: "Bring back Ken"!
Bob Stone (Hon OV 84-09)

Thank you for sending me the sad news of Peter Barnett's death. He was a colleague I greatly respected, and who offered friendship when I first arrived at King's. His quiet,retiring manner only emphasised his unfailing politeness and sincerity; very much in the mould of the Wykehamist. At a time in the early 60s when there was rather less music than later, Peter ran a lunch-time gramophone (as it was then) club for a group of enthusiasts to enjoy thirty minutes of musical refreshment. I attended whenever possible; it was rather like a flickering flame kept alight before the musical re-ignition of the Annett years. In addition there were invitations to 'Melbury', his home in Kempsey, for gentle recorded musical evenings - especially chamber music, nothing too brash. And he was always good value for reliable advice on new purchases.I was grateful for his recommendation to buy Strauss's 'Four Last Songs'.

When I was once invited to a Creighton House supper, I saw anotherside of Peter. The star turn for the House Entertainment was a video, shot with great affection,entitled "Special K". Episodesof Peter, taken surreptitiously over some period, hurrying about the school, with a spoof commentary relating his investigation intosome alleged criminal activity. All done very convincingly - and Peter loved it. It could only have been offered to a Housemaster who was held in great affection.

A gentle man indeed; not only an inspiring teacher, but a schoolmaster.
Alan Stacey (Hon OV 58-91)

Thank you for the sad news re Peter (though I think we all referred to him amongst ourselves as Ken). I remember very fondly hisuniquely humorous way of dealing with Latin and the classics. A real gentleman andI am sure those, like mewho had the privilege of knowing him will allow themselves a moment of sadness on hearing the news. Please pass on my condolences to his family. 
Paul Raby (W 66-73)

Thank you for letting me know of Peter Barnett'sd emise. I was not taught by him butt hose who were, held him in very high regard.
Edward Rippier (Cr 47-54)

Thank you for letting me know this sad news. Peter Barnett was quite influential so far as I was concerned in a number of ways during my time at King's. He was my Housemaster and in addition to being an absolute gentleman, he was a fine teacherand extremely patient with me. I may have bored you with this tale before but, faced with the task of filling a vacant House Monitor post in Creightonaround 1961, Peter called the five 'candidates' (including me)into his room and solemnly informed us that he had given the matter significant thought and haddecided that I be appointed as 'the lesser of five evils'.
I was endebted to him for giving me my first taste of responsibility.
Robin Vincent (Cr 52-62)

He was my housemaster in Creighton. I was the only 6th former he didn't make a house monitor, so he made me house captain of cricket instead.  We didn't have a cricket team.....
Mark Meyrick (Cr 69-74)

I belonged to a group (a year) that must have tried Ken's patience to the limit. Why such a bunch of reactionaries should have been concentrated in Creighton I do not know, and that was KPB's misfortune, but he managed to shepherd us as well as anyone could. I do not recall him ever raising his voice, but somehow managed to pull us back into line if we had overstepped the mark a little too much, without a scene. Donald Leonard was his Assistant House Master, and they were so different in approach: Ken quiet and subtle, Donald brash and 'in your face'; a strange combination, but it seemed to work! 
Mike Page (Cr 60-65)

I was not a classics scholar, though I still value the Latin I learned at school, so my memory of Peter Barnett is perhaps different from that of boys he taught. I recall him as a young new member of staff, who impressed as a gentle and cultured man who, more than anyone else at King's really, introduced me to the simple delight of listening to classical music. His initiative was just to play classical records at lunch-time - in a little room in that part opposite the notice boards, just past the stairs going up to the then science labs, as I recall.

The music was always of his choice, I think, but he offered it without any sense of demand. There would be no test or discussion; just the pleasure of listening and sharing - though my friend Mike, especially, and I did often talk together later about what we had heard. No-one else suggested to me that such activity could be a pleasurable part of life - and I remain grateful for the start on that particular road offered by the sensitive teacher who I remember Peter Barnett to have been.
David Westgate (Cl 47-56)

I well recall KP's attempts to teach me Latin, all rather fruitless due the low quality of the student, I fear, but learned much from him particularly about civilised behaviour, courtesy and kindness. He was a gentleman in every way and I am sure many boys will have benefited from his tacit manner of teaching.
Nigel Bax (S 56-66)

I have a particular reason for mourning the loss of KPB; if he had not managed to scrape me through O level latin at, I think, the 4th attempt I would never have been able to take up my place at Magdalen. They say that Manners mayketh Man. It certainly was so in the case of KPB. He was a gentle and courteous guide to the intricacies of Kennedy's Latin Primer; he explained things and in due course I got my reward. I shudder to think how things would have turned out had he not. I shall always be grateful to him.
David Watson (Cl 48-58)