Archive #47/65: M.J. Walker - Lindisfarne College Chairman #6, 1990 – 1995

Mr Walker’s stewardship witnessed the practical application of the business plan that he had initiated at the start of his tenure.

Part of the business plan was to send out a questionnaire to parents to canvas their opinions and this line of communication proved very valuable to the Council. During this time, the College also benefitted from new buildings and major extensions to existing structures such as the four new classrooms built on the first storey of the Mouat Block Further improvements were the completion of the “Pines” dayboy locker and common room complex and the D.W. Storkey hostel for junior boarders.

The questionnaire to parents had endorsed the horizontal boarding structure for boys and this was recognised in the new junior boarding facilities. The new buildings successfully reflected the style of the Herrick Homestead while being of a high modern standard and generally improving the appearance of the College.

In 1993, the College celebrated its 40th anniversary and the school could be justifiably proud of the developments that had taken place in the previous four decades. The anniversary was celebrated in October with a weekend of festivities which were well supported especially by Old Boys from the 1950’s. In the same year, Mr Walker was instrumental in acquiring the purchase of a 8.3 hectare property in Lyndhurst Road which was to become the Farne playing fields.

This addition effectively doubled the size of the college’s land and initially a portion of it was leased out. Despite the cost of this land, The College Council was also able to purchase and install 14 new computers and establish a fleet of five mini buses. Further developments during Mr Walker’s period as Chairman saw the Old Boys’ sports pavilion built and opened and a new project for an astroturf sports surface undertaken by the Parents and Friends Association.

In 1995 on Mr. Walker’s retirement, the Rector, Mr Smith, thanked him for bringing a “businessman’s perspective to the role that has carried us through the last few years to the very healthy position we enjoy today”.

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