Christian Lanzer, who died on 14^th January, was Headmaster at Bethany from 1970, succeeding Kenneth Pengelly, until 1988. 

Christian was born in Vienna in 1924 to a happy and cultured home.  However by 1938 the tightening grip of the Nazi party on Vienna encouraged the family to send Christian to England, where he arrived at Ramsgate.  He started school at Chatham House and enrolled at Christ Church, thanks to a charismatic vicar. Christian clearly did well at school as he was in due course appointed a ‘student-teacher' and took an external London University degree.  In 1951 he was appointed an Assistant Master at Felsted School, Essex, where he taught modern languages, eventually becoming Head of Department.

Outside the classroom he enjoyed regular trips to Covent Garden & Glyndebourne with his colleagues and started continental cycling tours for the boys in the summer holidays, usually with Vienna as the goal! In 1958 Christian married Juliet, daughter of Sir Gerald Creasy, and soon their family of four daughters began to arrive. His appointment as Housemaster of Follyfield proved a happy outlet for Christian's energy, initiative and Christian care for his boys, though he still found time to write a book, 'Gute Reise', as well as scripts for a radio series.

In 1970 Christian was appointed Headmaster of Bethany and moved his family, which now consisted of Juliet and four daughters, into the lovely family home, The Firs. The new job proved more of a challenge than he had expected even though Kenneth Pengelly had developed the school unrecognisably after the war years, with considerable building. Academic standards, pastoral care of the boys as well as the conditions of the buildings all needed improving immediately and he tackled these ‘head-on' with the appointment of like-minded new staff. Emphasis was given to improved A-level results, which weren't long in coming, to widening the curriculum with the introduction of new subjects, to forging stronger Prep School links and steadying the intake, as well as supporting Richard Ashlin's recommendation of a Dyslexia Department. This proved an inspired development and Bethany quickly became a leader in this field, with a resultant improvement in academic successes.

The opening of Pengelly House in 1974

All this helped to increase the intake of new pupils as confidence in the school grew, so that building developments became increasingly possible. As he arrived plans to extend the kitchen area and to add eight new cedar-wood classrooms were quickly realised, enabling all classrooms bar one to move out of the Victorian building and be located together at the top of the old orchard. An inspection of School House dormitories by the Kent Fire Officer early in

Pengelly House

the 1970s resulted in the building of Pengelly House and long-overdue improvements in School House, so that two parallel boarding houses were created.  Rather by chance Christian thereby had the opportunity to foster a boarding house tradition with the development of The Mount and its own extension of the North Wing in 1985. Old Poplars was also considerably extended allowing it to house all the junior boys as they joined the school.

Lord Astor of Hever unveiling the foundation stone of the new Art School in June 1977

A new Art School in 1977 replaced the timber structure originally erected by Samuel Kendon for Science, an advert for the sale of a second-hand Dutch Barn led to the building of a Sports Hall in 1983, and the acquisition of the former Curtisden Green Primary School allowed the creation of a purpose-built Music School in 1986.

The opening of the Art School June 1978

Even as he retired Christian's urge to rebuild led to the new Administration Building, aptly named after him.

Such extensive rebuilding could only have been achieved through good housekeeping and Christian was commendably disapproving of waste. Staff will remember receiving notes and instructions from him in a variety of re-used envelopes and another example occurred on an interview panel at the Firs, when there was a power cut. Christian soon appeared with a torch, which illuminated the candidates to a degree. However, when each interview was over, Christian reappeared and turned the torch off.  In the interests of battery life, post interview discussion had to be conducted in near darkness!

Although it might seem that Christian's Lanzer's achievements were all about change at Bethany, he remained incredibly faithful to the Founder's aims. The appointment of the first School Chaplain, in the Revd David MacIntosh, emphasised the long-held Christian ethos of the school.  Similarly the extension of the games programme on the timetable, the change from football to rugby as the main winter game, and the levelling of the old Firs cricket field to provide a spectacular 1^st XV rugby pitch and a junior cricket wicket provided improved physical opportunities for the boys. Christian's vision and energy led to a huge improvement and broadening out of the boys' welfare, though he was extremely fortunate in being supported by an able and enthusiastic governing body and two prudent Bursars in Roger Vickers and Maurice Burbidge. One governor remembers that his eyes never lost their sparkle even when dealing with weighty matters and the complexity of his intelligence was often revealed by the delightful, and sometimes unexpected, contrast between his Austrian respect for protocol and his ability to produce unconventional yet successful solutions to old problems.

Christian's family were at the centre of his work. He & Juliet shared their home willingly and hospitably with boys, visiting speakers and preachers, governors, as well as regular meetings. Juliet brought her family to Sunday morning Chapel, helped at the Primary School, ran the School Tuck Shop and Clothing Exchange as well as included local residents in school activities. The family also supported school matches, concerts and plays, thereby setting an example to the increasing number of staff and staff families who lived on The Green and so continuing the ‘family tradition' of the Bethany community. By the end of his Headmastership, in 1988, few would disagree that he retired firmly in the mould of Samuel Kendon and Kenneth Pengelly in his devotion and love of the school.

Presentation to Juliet and Christian Lanzer, Speech Day June 1988

On his retirement Christian and Juliet moved to Crowborough, where they enjoyed a lovely house and extensive garden. Christian busied himself with much local voluntary work as well as being able to spend more time at Covent Garden, where he frequently enjoyed rehearsals for coming operas. Eventually they needed to downsize and be nearer some of the family so a move to Wimbledon resulted, where Christian was delighted to find a wonderful church community at Emmanuel. It was entirely fitting that this church should host the family's own Thanksgiving Service for Christian in February, a wonderful occasion that drew many members of the past & present Bethany community.

Reunion Day 2009

Christian's love of Bethany remained strong and he maintained his links with The Bethanians' Society.  In June 2009 he attended Reunion Day at Bethany and in September he was able to attend the Society's Annual Dinner in London, where he was photographed with the current Heads of School.

TBS Annual Dinner September 2009

A memorial service will take place at Bethany on Saturday, 15th May at 2.30 pm, which will also be attended by members of Christian's family.  Former pupils and staff who knew Christian are warmly invited to attend the service but in order to assist with catering it would be most helpful if you could advise Alicia Houghton at Bethany if you will be attending: tel: 01580 211273 or email ahoughton@bethanyschool.org.uk

We are very grateful to Paul Holmes for compiling this tribute to Christian.  Paul has asked that if you have any anecdotes or recollections of Christian please could you send them to Alicia Houghton at Bethany so that they could perhaps be included in the memorial service in May.