Ivor John Mclachlan (founder Headmaster of Lord Malvern High School)

Ivor John McLachlan,was born in Johannesburg in 1919. He matriculated at Durban High School and went to the University of Natal, where he took his B.A. degree and U.E.D. He had ten years with the Natal Education Department, three of these years being spent away from teaching with the South African Air Force during the war. Schools he taught at in Natal included Port Shepstone Secondary, Eshowe High, Glenwood High and Warner Beach Secondary. In 1951 Mr. McLachlan emigrated to Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), where he joined the staff of the Frederick Krupp School in Kitwe. He became senior master there in 1953 and in 1955 became deputy headmaster of Kitwe High School. From here he was appointed founder Headmaster of Lord Malvern School, Salisbury (Harae), in 1959. He transferred to Gifford in 1967.Mr. McLachlan as a youngster played rugby, cricket and hockey and was also a swimmer. He promoted these interests throughout his career. His other varied school-orientated interests include drama, printing, careers guidance and sixth form studies. Outside school his interests centred on his family (two sons — one going on study as a lawyer and the other studying medicine — and his wife, Margaret, who was much involved with the School during Mr. McLachlan’s headship.)

He was an innovator, but every innovation was based on sound experience.