This week we had A Conversation With... the Right Honourable Tim Eggar, our Chairman of Governors. Tim has been a governor at Shiplake since 2006 and Chairman of Governors for 10 years. His connection to Shiplake goes back longer than that as his father, John Eggar, was Headmaster from 1963 to 1979.
What does your average day entail?
There is no such thing as an average day for me, every day is different; during my days I advise different individuals and also companies for which I am Chairman. For the past 15 years my office has been based at home, although I spend a lot of time away. Heathrow is one of my most frequently visited places! This week I am away in Aberdeen, next week I will be in France and sometimes I am working in the USA.
As well as being Chairman of Governors here at Shiplake, what other roles do you have?
Recently I have become Chair of the UK Oil and Gas Authority, which is an agency that works with the government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It is the body that oversees all the activity by oil and gas companies in the UK continental waters; we create the regulations that companies have to adhere to. Our main objective is to increase the amount of oil and gas that is produced in a safe and environmentally friendly way. I am also Chairman of a company in the USA, which has patented technology that takes oil out of water to help clean up the environment. Most of what I do involves energy and the environment.
What is your favourite aspect of Shiplake College?
The friendliness and sense of community at Shiplake. For a school, it is a very friendly place. Both pupils and staff are very open and welcoming and this makes Shiplake very special.
What were you like as a schoolboy and what was your favourite subject?
As a schoolboy, I was pretty serious and quite competitive, both academically and in sport. I really enjoyed history as a subject, and in particular medieval history.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to travel and have always travelled a lot. I’ve been lucky enough to visit many different countries and observe varied cultures throughout my life. I also enjoy taking my dogs on long walks. I follow international current affairs very closely; I like to know what is going on in the world. A lot of time is also spent being a grandad, which is a real pleasure.
If you were shipwrecked on a desert island, what two items would you want to have with you?
I would definitely take a Leatherman. It is a USA version of a pocket pen knife, like a Swiss Army pen-knife but bigger and more robust. This is the practical item. For a leisure item on the island, I would take the Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. I am currently reading a biography and an overview of history in his time. I would take the original version, which is well over a thousand pages and difficult to read as it is written in Old English. It would keep me busy!
What does the future hold for Tim Eggar?
I suppose retirement. But I cannot imagine retirement anytime soon, so for now I will stay busy and keep learning.