Sir Robert Andrew KCB MA FRSA

Sir Robert Andrew KCB MA FRSA                
1928-2023

The Conservators and staff of Wimbledon and Putney Commons were saddened to learn of the death of past-Conservator, Sir Robert Andrew KCB MA FRSA, on 31 December 2023.

Sir Robert was one of the longest serving Conservators, being first appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence in 1973.  He was reappointed every three years until he stood down in 2009 after 36 years of outstanding service to the Commons.

The Commons were a big part of his life, beginning as a school boy at King’s in the days after the outbreak of WWII, he was also a cross-country runner and despite plenty of practice around the Common, when he went up to Oxford apparently he found he could never beat a chap called Bannister! Sir Robert returned to Wimbledon and the Commons following his marriage in 1963 and, living on Camp View, brought up his family with the Commons as their front garden.

Sir Robert had a distinguished career in the Civil Service, rising to Private Secretary at the Ministry of Defence from 1971-73 before eventually becoming the Permanent Under-Secretary of Northern Ireland.  

Sir Robert enjoyed a lifelong association with King’s College School to which he returned as the Chairman of Governors in the 1990s. A tribute by the then Headmaster recalled him as “wise, courteous, compassionate, astute, cautious, without ever being negative; and always loyal to the school’s values and purposes”. Qualities which all those who had the privilege to work with him would recognise.

David Devons, who was Chairman of the Conservators during the later years of Sir Robert’s tenure, commented “Sir Robert’s extensive administrative skills were invaluable to the Board as was his knowledge of the workings of the civil service, particularly when it was necessary to negotiate with government departments.  At Board meetings his gentle yet incisive common sense guided the Conservators out of the quagmire of indecision on many occasions.  During heated discussions he would listen quietly and then add:  “If I may suggest…” followed by an admirable solution leading the rest of the Board to wonder why they had not thought of it!”

Sir Ian Andrews, who succeeded Sir Robert as the Ministry of Defence appointed Conservator, added “I had belonged to the same Ministry of Defence department as Sir Robert and I was very much aware of the respect and affection in which he was held by those who had worked with him. He was always the perfect gentleman and will be greatly missed.”

Current Chairman, Diane Neil Mills, said “Although I didn’t have the privilege of serving alongside Sir Robert, his great contribution to the Commons is very much evident in minutes of meetings;  his name is still mentioned in discussions, always with great reverence and respect. It was an enormous honour to have him attend the Conservators’ Service Recognition dinner this past October and there was no person more perfect to make the toast to the new King Charles III than Sir Robert.“

Our thoughts are very much with his family at this sad time.