A tribute to Duncan Townson

November 09, 2023

Many OS will be sad to learn that Duncan Townson died this week, aged 96.

Duncan served at Sevenoaks from 1952 to 1987, and was known as ‘Dunc’ to generations of students. He was a much revered Head of History for 23 years under Kim Taylor, Alan Tammadge and Richard Barker, and something of a Sevenoaks institution. Duncan and his wife Lesley, who died in 2012, provided a caring family setting in Park Grange for students from 1967, before he became Senior Master.

Duncan had an exceptional mind and a fierce demand for scholarship and learning – as many students found, he had a reverence for facts. He became an expert on the French Revolution, pre-revolutionary Russia, and the origins of the First World War. He was the author of several history books; ‘Access to History: France in Revolution’ is a well-used text book in the school library.

Duncan’s driving force was as effectively felt on the cricket field. Just as exams are meant to be passed, games are meant to be won; and he enjoyed winning. Duncan had played in the Lancashire league, and at Sevenoaks he coached the 1st XI and was President of the Orbilians, the staff cricket team.

Duncan stayed in touch with the school and was a regular guest at the OS Annual Lunch. Our thoughts are with his family, especially his children Nigel (OS 1977), Rowena (OS 1984) and Nicola.