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| 15 Nov 2025 | |
| Written by John Thornley | |
| OE news |
We are sad to announce that Simon Langdale, College headmaster from 1973 to 1980, passed away on Thursday 13 November 2025. Our thoughts are with his widow Diana, their daughter Philippa and sons Andrew and Mark.
Admiral Sir Derek Empson, the then-chairman of governors, wrote in the OE Magazine of November 1980:
‘The selection of a headmaster is an act of faith and an awesome responsibility for the governors. The process is not, and cannot be, comprehensive or foolproof, so it is a source of relief and delight when the chosen candidate proves himself within months to be a total success, as Simon Langdale did. I hasten to add that this is not intended to be a commercial for the wisdom of the governing body! We were very luck to attract Simon to Eastbourne.
What he has achieved is clear for all to see. The College has been transformed under his leadership, not only materially, but equally or even more importantly, academically and spiritually. In the last seven years, we have seen a remarkable change in atmosphere, attitudes and standards throughout the school, and the present record numbers of boys and girls in the College show that parents and prep-school headmasters are also keenly aware of this change. It came as no surprise when the headmaster of another major public school recently told me that, in his view, Simon is the outstanding headmaster of his generation.
Simon was the man the College needed in 1973 and he has worked wonders in the years between. All of us, governors, parents, Common Room, boys and girls, owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude, as we do to Diana who has both sustained him and also done a superb job in her own right for the College and all who live in it. We wholeheartedly acknowledge this debt and we shall all miss them, none more than I, for they have made my life as chairman not only easy but fun.
We grieve for our own loss while rejoicing (with some envy) for Shrewsbury in their gain…’
More details will be published in due course.
The College flag will be flown at half-mast on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 November.
