Jonty Driver
1939-2023

Jonty Driver, poet, novelist, political activist and teacher, was one of Kim Taylor’s inspired appointments, joining Sevenoaks in 1964 in his first teaching post. An anti-apartheid  protester, his arrival from South Africa was delayed after he was arrested under the 90-day detention law and spent 30 days in solitary confinement.

He was born Charles Jonathan Driver in 1939 in Mowbray, a suburb of Cape Town, and attended St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown, where his father was chaplain. Jonty became involved in student politics while at the University of Cape Town, being elected President of the National Union of South African Students and becoming involved in student  protests. His father died just before his arrest and detainment.

Following a year teaching English at Sevenoaks, Jonty went to Oxford to study for an MPhil, before returning to the school in 1967. The following year he became Housemaster of the IC. At six foot four, he was a striking and commanding figure, but his teaching style was inspirational and encouraging, and he is remembered by Old Sennockians as a kind and hugely influential schoolmaster. After leaving Sevenoaks in 1973, he went on to other schools in England and Hong Kong, including three headships, completing his career as Master of Wellington College. Jonty was also a poet, novelist and biographer. He was an honorary senior lecturer in the School of Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.

He was a great friend and supporter of Sevenoaks and stayed in contact with many Old Sennockians. It was a great pleasure to see him and his wife Ann, back at the school in June 2022 for the Annual Reunion Lunch. Sevenoaks played an important role in their lives and they had great affection for the school. Jonty is survived by his wife, Ann, whom he met and married in 1967, their three children, Dominic, Dax and Tamlyn, and eight grandchildren.