Grant Lander came to Lindisfarne from Mahurangi College in 2000 at a time when Lindisfarne had accepted integration and was poised on the brink of a new era. Much of that early promise was realised during Grant Lander’s period of leadership and the college went on to achieve many diverse milestones.

Numerous aspects of Lindisfarne’s culture which are now considered an integral part of the school were introduced during Mr Lander’s tenure. These include Grandparents’ Day, The annual Performing Arts Concerts, the re-introduction of the Te Whiti nui a Toi scholarship and Kapa Haka group, the first publication of the Highways magazine, The Good Man award, the U15 rugby tournament, the establishment of exchanges with American schools and an agreement with the New Caledonian government to send students to Lindisfarne.

Many new educational strategies such as Habits of Mind and Thinking Maps were introduced by Mr Lander and he initiated Lindisfarne’s entry into the International Boys’ Schools Coalition and made it possible for many staff to attend the international conferences organised by this organisation. Perhaps the most dramatic change to Lindisfarne during Mr Lander’s years as Rector were the changes to the buildings and physical environment of the college.

Over a period of nine years, all the school boarding houses except Mitchell were extended and refurbished, the new technology block was finished, a new Ag.Hort block was built, a reading room was added to the library, a new PE classroom and fitness centre were built on to the gymn, the dining room was extended and renovated and two beautiful new art rooms built, the Storkey Chapel Sanctuary was developed and most spectacular of all, the Performing Arts Centre and drama complex were completed in time to host the International Boys’ School Conference “Windows into Manhood” in 2009. It was largely through Mr Lander’s active role within the IBSC that Lindisfarne became the only New Zealand school to host this prestigious event.

Grant Lander was well known with the staff and students at Lindisfarne for his very ‘hands on’ approach. There was no job, no matter how small, that he was not prepared to get involved with. His example of leading from the front was exemplified by his infamous Rector’s Runs in which misbehaving boys had to accompany the Rector for a run and fitness programme around the school and into Frimley Park. They were certainly less enthusiastic about this activity than he was. Mr Lander will be remembered by all associated with Lindisfarne as the quintessential ‘people’s person’.

He always remembered boys’ names and had a genuine interest in their welfare. Perhaps the greatest endorsement of Grant lander’s contribution to the school comes from Thomas Yule who was Head Boy in 2009 and said this in the Head Boy’s Report in the Chronicle of that year: “We would like to thank Mr Lander for his total dedication and commitment to ourselves and our education. In his time at Lindisfarne, Mr Lander has never failed to be a wonderful role model for all boys who have passed through these gates during his nine years tenure.

From the boys’ perspective, he has been a great mentor and shown a keen interest in all our activities, making himself available at all hours of the day and night. He never fails to be on the sideline, guiding and supporting student activities. There are times when even the boys cannot keep up with the boundless energy of our Rector and we have often wondered when he gets any rest”.

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