Canon Hugh Beavan writes:
THE Revd Andrew Walters who died on 17 February this year, aged 70, was the last warden of St Michael's College, Tenbury Wells, and went on to follow in his father's footsteps as headmaster of Lichfield Cathedral School.

Over the years, he fought against numerous serious illnesses, yet his stoicism, lust for life, and unfailing good humour were never anything less than an inspiration to generations of children, parents, and colleagues. In the words of one appreciative parent: "He naturally taught our sons all the good qualities of life, a Christian attitude towards others, humility, tolerance, a zest for life, and a zeal for hard work, plus, importantly, a sense of humour."

Andrew Walters was born in the Cathedral Close at Lichfield. He was head chorister, and head boy of the cathedral school. He won a choral scholarship to Ellesmere College, Shropshire, where his father had been chaplain and housemaster, and where this writer was a fellow chorister.

After leaving Ellesmere, he worked from 1960 to 1963 as a management trainee at Walsh Graham, timber importers, in Wednesbury. But a vocation to teach was too strong to resist, and he joined the staff of Stubbington House preparatory school in Ascot in 1963, where he first met his future wife Sally, and where he also pursued his love of cricket, and practical jokes. He stayed at Stubbington until 1977, becoming housemaster and assistant headmaster.

In 1977, he became the ninth (and last) warden of St. Michael's College, Tenbury Wells, an Anglican choral foundation set among the rolling orchards of the Worcestershire-Herefordshire borders.

It was here that Andrew explored his growing sense of a vocation to the priesthood. He was ordained deacon in Hereford Cathedral in 1981, and priest in 1982. He and Sally worked hard, and very successfully, in bringing the college and parish closer together, and were utterly devastated when St. Michael's was forced to close in 1985. They were grateful when their friend, Christopher Helyer, offered Andrew a post as chaplain at Exeter Cathedral School.

In 1987, Andrew was appointed headmaster of Homefield preparatory school in Sutton, Surrey. He would have stayed longer at Homefield, but, in 1991, the job to end all jobs came up, and Andrew returned to where it all began, the Close at Lichfield Cathedral, this time not as pupil, but, like his father before him, as headmaster of the cathedral school.

As so often in Andrew's life, tragedy was just around the corner. His beloved Sally was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, and, after a brave fight, she died in 1997.

During his later years at Lichfield, Andrew adopted Alex, who had been one of the boys who participated in a Russian exchange, to experience life in an English preparatory school. As part of the exchange programme Andrew went to Russia to visit Alex's home town.

After a heart attack and a by-pass operation, Andrew retired from Lichfield, and went to live near Brecon. In spite of having to endure more health problems than most people, his days were full, visiting and subsequently caring for his mother who lived across the valley, serving on the local community council, taking services during vacancies, officiating at weddings and baptisms for former colleagues, pupils, and parents, and being an active member of the MCC.

As the Revd Timothy Goode, himself a former pupil of Andrew's at Tenbury, said at Andrew's funeral: "With Andrew we had a friend, a mentor, a confidant, and most of all, an inspiration. And that care did not end when we left school, as so many former pupils of all the schools where Andrew taught would testify".

A choral evensong, as a Service of Thanksgiving, was held at Michael's, Tenbury Wells, at Andrew's request, in June. A full choir included former choristers from both Tenbury and Lichfield, and the service also illustrated the unique balance of respect and mischievous humour for which Andrew was renowned.