Michael Keall

Michael Keall For those looking for the epitome of a schoolmaster of the old school, the life and career of Michael Keall stands as a prime example. As headmaster of three preparatory schools he encapsulated what schoolmastering was all about, namely the care of pupils and a determination to benefit their lives did so in abundance. He was renowned for his energy on little sleep, his copious letter-writing, his mischievous sense of humour and his love of bananas which sustained him throughout many a long night of report writing. His love of music, sport and history, as well as his devotion and loyalty to his many friends, guided his activities throughout his long life and he supported the young and talented right to the end. Thomas Gerald Michael Keall, known as ‘Archie’ to his Cambridge contemporaries, was born in Putney, the son of John Keall, who was one time Mayor of Wandsworth and President of the Pharmaceutical Society, and of his second wife Dorothy May Hubbard. He became a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, under Boris Ord and became Head Chorister in his final year. When Ord was away on war service, his place was taken by Harold Darke and Michael would enjoy relating that the 1945 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, his last as a boy at King’s, was conducted by Darke with the recently returned Ord at the organ whose pages were turned by the organ scholar who had recently returned from war service, one David Willcocks, M.C.(Abbey Old Chorister). Before his time at King’s had ended, Michael’s father died and he subsequently went to Culford School where he became Head Boy, captain of cricket and, later, a Governor with his great friend and contemporary Sir David Plastow. After National Service in the Royal Artillery, he returned to King’s to read History. It was a great pleasure to Michael that in the first television recording of Carols from King’s in 1954 he carried the Processional Cross. After Cambridge, Keall’s first teaching post was at his old school, King’s College School, where he taught children of many dons, one of whom, Adrian Dixon, would become a distinguished professor of Radiology and Master of Peterhouse. After two years he went to Bedford School for 14 terms to teach History to junior forms and run Lower School cricket, his side only losing one match during his time there. Keall was nothing if not competitive and would go to extreme lengths throughout his career to ensure that his boys were well equipped to win any match they played. He did not waste a minute of any day and expected his charges to do the same. It came as a surprise when his friend Hugh Woodcock, who was leaving The Portsmouth Grammar School as Headmaster for Dulwich College Prep School in London, suggested that he might apply for his job. Despite his youth Michael got it, throwing himself into life at Portsmouth with customary style which included singing alto in the cathedral choir. After seven happy years there, Michael moved to Eastbourne College Preparatory School, Ascham, where he spent eight fulfilling years as Head, not least because of the companionship of Simon Langdale, the Eastbourne College Head. Around this time he and Paddy Heazell, later Head of The Hall School, Hampstead, founded a club for IAPS heads called The Gangsters in response to an equivalent HMC head’s club called The Gang. The club was really a dining club and each member was expected to host an evening with interesting food and wine. Paddy always spoke at these occasions and Michael’s job was to keep a close eye on the hospitality arrangements. Michael had always hoped that he might one day lead a choir school. Indeed, he had been appointed at some stage to be Headmaster of The Prebendal School, Chichester, and had the letter to prove it, but the Dean and Chapter refused to tell him what the salary was going to be so he declined the offer. When the Headship at Westminster Abbey Choir School came up, and despite the school being much smaller than any school he had taught in, Michael jumped at it. Over the next 31 terms he developed the Abbey Choir School into an energetic institution which excelled in everything it took on. He had a very supportive Dean in Edward Carpenter, of whom he was very fond, and Michael always spoke of his gratitude to Edward for being the most caring chairman of governors he had worked with. At the Choir School, Michael’s hospitality at the Headmaster’s house was famous and he and Edward would spend many a long night, well into to early hours, talking about the Choir School and their vision for it. On the musical side, when Douglas Guest retired as Organist and Master of the Choristers, his successor was fellow Kingsman Simon Preston, who had been a King’s chorister when Michael was an undergraduate. A golden period of the Choir School and the Abbey Choir was the result. His retirement at the age of 57 was a surprise to some but, having been a headmaster for almost 30 years, he could not resist the offer from Sir David Calcutt, his King’s contemporary and to whom he had been Best Man who was now Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, to apply for the post of Junior Bursar at Magdalene. Thus began a very happy 30 year period of Michael’s life back in Cambridge. After five bursarial years he became Alumni Secretary, organising many dinners with the meticulousness of detail that had characterised his schoolmastering days as well a huge amount of thought as to who should next to who. He retired in 2012 but continued to hold his Fellow Commonership until his death. Between the Abbey and Magdalene, Michael took time out to visit Tristan de Cunha, of which he became a member of the Council, and South Africa, as a result of his friendship with Barry Smith who for over 40 years was Organist of Cape Town Cathedral. Michael purchased a flat near Newlands Cricket Ground, where he would spend many a British winter and entertain friends. In Cape Town he managed to visit well over 40 South African vineyards and he helped to found a club of wine tasters called The Bacchus. He was thrilled to be invited to be a Governor of the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School in Natal, famous for its world choir tours, and he hardly ever missed a meeting even if he had to fly there from the UK. When visiting Natal, he took delight in staying with a cigar smoking nun with whom he drank a good deal of whisky and of whom he was very fond. Life in Cambridge gave Michael the scope to engage in his gregariousness and his abilities as a raconteur at High Table were legendary. He was a keen supporter of Cambridge University rugby, had membership of several university sport clubs, including the Hawks’, and clubs such as MCC, the XL Club and Surrey CCC of which he became an Honorary Life member after more than 60 years membership. Perhaps the most treasured activity during these years was his almost daily attendance in his beloved King’s Chapel where he greatly supported the work of Stephen Cleobury of whom Michael became an ardent admirer and the closest of friends. He lived life to the full and for many years would visit Epernay to buy his champagne, making these trips with a retired Anglican bishop who had become a Roman Catholic monsignor. They stayed at an attractive manoir nearby and the lady owner famously rang a large bell vigorously on their arrival, so thrilled was she to have a monsignor in her house. The two day visit would include a train ride to Paris for lunch at the club Cercle de l’Union Interalliée, which had reciprocity with The Athenaeum where they were both members, followed by a siesta before the train ride back. Keall never married but had a huge number of friends of all ages to whom he was generous and caring. His Christmas card list was rumoured in his heyday to number well in access of 600. He collected over 80 liqueurs which he produced each year at the end of the annual Fellows’ Christmas Lunch at Magdalene. His gin-and-tonics at home were half and half, of course. Picture 1: Michael Keall in his early schoolmastering days at Bedford Picture 2: Michael Keall in his Magdalene years Picture 3: Michael Keall with one of his Abbey choristers receiving the Prix Audiovisuel de l’europe from Jacques Chirac when Mayor of Paris in 1984 for the Abbey Choir recording of Handel’s Coronation Anthems. .

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