Governors past and present gathered at Merchant Taylors’ Hall for a special lunch to pay tribute to Simon Everson and celebrate his retirement, after thirteen years as Head Master of Merchant Taylors’ School. Mr Everson was joined by his wife, Ginny, and together they were guests of honour as the Governing Body marked the conclusion of his headship with thanks, reflection and good humour.
In recognition of his service, the Head Master was presented with a silver Armada Dish on behalf of the Governing Body, while Mrs Everson received flowers in thanks for her own steadfast support throughout his time at the School.
Speaking on behalf of the Governors, Commodore Andy Cree CBE, Chair of Governors, paid tribute to Mr Everson’s leadership, describing how he had “understood instinctively that Merchant Taylors’ greatest strength lies in balancing confidence with humility, ambition with kindness, and tradition with the willingness to evolve.”
Commodore Cree reflected on the breadth of Mr Everson’s achievements, from steering the School through the merger with Northwood Prep and the move to an 11+ through-school model, to leading staff and pupils through the challenges of the pandemic. He also noted the lasting physical legacy the Head Master leaves behind, with numerous building and refurbishment projects completed during his tenure, and announced that the School’s new Art Exhibition Space will be named the Everson Gallery in recognition of his support for the arts.
One of the School’s longest-serving Governors, Jane Redman, also spoke warmly of Simon’s impact, recalling their “almost in parallel” journeys through the School since 2013. She spoke of the enviable reputation Mr Everson had helped to build for the School, both locally and further afield, but also of the personal qualities that have meant so much within it: his approachability, his genuine interest in pupils’ progress and welfare, and the sense among boys that their Head Master was firmly on their side.
In a lighter moment, she recalled Mr Everson’s love of language, noting that his favourite word, once brought to a Governors’ meeting, was “sprezzatura”: an air of effortless, cool confidence. It was a quality, she observed, that summed him up rather well.
Mr Everson’s headship has been defined by the six qualities he championed throughout his time at Merchant Taylors’: Innovation, Courage, Confidence, Inspiration, Excellence and Joy. It has also been shaped by his guiding belief that young people can achieve more than they themselves imagine.
The Governing Body extended its deepest gratitude to Mr Everson for his leadership, dedication and the countless decisions, often unseen, that have safeguarded and advanced the School over thirteen remarkable years. They wished him and Mrs Everson every happiness as they begin a new chapter together.
