We are deeply saddened to share the news with the Shiplake community that former Shiplake headmaster, Peter Lapping, died on Monday 15 May at the age of 81, following a short illness. Peter was appointed the fourth headmaster of Shiplake College in 1979 when he was 37 years old and had a successful nine years at the helm, before taking up the role of Headmaster at Sherborne School, which he held from 1988 until his retirement in 2000.
Peter Herbert Lapping was born on 8 August 1941 in India. He moved to South Africa when he was young, where he attended St John’s Johannesburg school and Pietermaritzburg University, before going on to read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University. His first teaching job was at Reed’s School in Cobham and he was Head of History at Loretto School from 1967 until his move to Shiplake in 1979.
During his time at Shiplake, Peter was instrumental in implementing an ambitious plan to improve and build new facilities, investing in the Houses and considerably in the areas of music and sports. Not only will such material progress, including improving exam results and a strengthening of fixture lists, be attributed to Peter's tenure but he will be fondly remembered by many Old Vikings and former staff as being the headmaster who embedded and developed the outstanding pastoral care that we continue to provide to this day.
Peter and his wife Diana maintained their close links with Shiplake College, attending numerous events over the years. We will remember with particular fondness their attendance at the lunch for Old Vikings to celebrate the College’s 60th anniversary in 2019, their visit to the College in February 2022 as well as their attendance at the Boat Club’s 60th Anniversary Dinner last October. Peter is pictured above standing in front of his own portrait in the OVR.
The Court magazine from 1988 holds many tributes to Peter, recognising his popularity and character. His legacy will live on at Shiplake and he will be much missed and will always be remembered for the positive impact that he had on so many lives. The Shiplake flag has been lowered to half-mast in tribute to Peter and out thoughts are with his wife Diana and their children Mark (OV 87O) and Joanna.
Old Vikings were invited to a Service of Thanksgiving on Friday 23 June in Holy Trinity Minchinhampton Church near Stroud. There is a tribute page in memory of Peter https://peterlapping.muchloved.com/ - the family would very much welcome messages and memories about Peter. This site also includes a Donate button for those who wish to leave a donation in his memory - Peter has requested that these are sent to The Gloucestershire Cricket Trust, for the promotion of youth cricket in Gloucestershire.
