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Jeremy Gareth Lane Nichols, the youngest of three children, was born on 20 May 1943 in Walton-on-Thames. His father Derek, who flew Spitfires and Hurricanes in WWII, married Ruth Madge affectionately known as ‘Muzzy’.
From Prep School – Woolpit, Ewhurst, Surrey - Jeremy went to Lancing. He was in Field’s House where he was greatly influenced by his Housemaster Patrick ‘Tiger’ Halsey. Originally Jeremy considered becoming a priest, then a doctor, but finally he turned to English Literature.
He went to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where he read English and Italian. So started his long and distinguished career in teaching.
Jeremy studied in Perugia, Italy, then graduated in 1966, spent a year teaching at Rugby then moved to Eton in 1967. In 1981 he took over as Housemaster and in 1989, aged 45, he was appointed Headmaster of Stowe.
Stowe was going through some troubled times when Jeremy arrived but, as his successor noted, he “steadied the ship by force of personality, charm, good humour underpinned with a strong sense of values.” Whilst there he introduced a tutor system and presided over the restoration of ‘The Mansion’, a Grade 1 listed building. When he retired in 2003, the school had been put back on its pedestal and, to quote The Good Schools Guide was once again ‘one of the top schools in the country’.
Jeremy was a keen all-round sportsman and played football for Lancing and then the Old Boys in the Arthurian League and Arthur Dunn Cup. Whilst at Cambridge he was awarded a Blue for athletics and represented the University at football. He also played tennis, golf and cricket to a high standard.
Jeremy met Annie Swanton, a nurse and the daughter of Commander Alan Swanton, in 1971. They were married a year later and had four children – Lucy, a Speech and Language Therapist; Rupert, a Trading Director; Victoria, a Primary School Teacher and Emma, an Art Teacher- and nine grandchildren.
Jeremy and Annie created a family atmosphere at Eton and Stowe and from an early age the boys in their care were introduced to some of Jeremy’s favourite writers and authors ranging from Dickens and Hardy to Dylan Thomas and Bob Dylan. His taste in music was eclectic and he also had a fondness for dogs, all of which were named after a Dickens character. Jeremy inherited a green 1924, 3 litre, ‘Red Label’ Bentley and when he sold it, he did so with the proviso he could borrow it for his daughters’ weddings!
Jeremy retired from Stowe in 2003 and moved with Annie to Truro in Cornwall and they also spent time at their idyllic seaside cottage in North Devon. He had a strong Christian faith and a great social conscience and was a Governor of many schools.
In 2009 Annie died of cancer aged 65. By common consent she was Jeremy’s greatest asset in his professional and home life, and he was totally floored by her death. However, he met Katherine (Katie) Lambert, an academic and former writer and editor of the ‘Good Gardens Guide’, whom he said had made him whole again. They married in 2013.
Jeremy first had heart problems in 1995 and suffered another attack in September 2019. Having rallied well for nearly a year, he died of a further attack on 8 August 2020 followed just four weeks later by Katie who died of dementia.
On a personal note, it has been an honour and privilege to write about my dearest friend. He was a remarkable man, a larger-than-life character. Caring and erudite, Jeremy had a wonderful sense of humour, was a terrific family man, a mentor to many - both young and old - and was much loved by all. One never felt anything but better after being in his company.
Jeremy will be greatly missed by many people but especially by his four adored children: Lucy, Rupert, Victoria and Emma, his brother Pete (Field’s 1953-1958), and sister Jennie and her husband Johnny Keeler (Field’s 1953-1957).
Nigel Belle
Olds 1956-1960