The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Having grown up in the mining village of Boldon, Dame Allan’s Schools (DAS) opened Bryan Sanderson’s eyes to a new world, leading to a long and illustrious career in banking, chemicals and finance. The President of the Allanian Society talks about his recent Knighthood, his charitable work and the advice he’d give today’s pupils. Sir Bryan Sanderson CBE
Growing up in post-war Boldon, there were not many options for young men other than to work alongside fellow villagers down the local pit. It was a place and time where people lived simple lives and pit work was regarded as ‘men’s work’. For the son of a rent collector, who wasn’t particularly ambitious, Bryan Sanderson thought differently and knew deep in his bones that village life wasn’t for him. Fortunately, he gained a scholarship to Dame Allan’s Schools. “It’s hard to understand today how enclosed we were in the village. There was no Internet, and my knowledge of the outside world was very restricted,” he recalls. “I had a poor but happy childhood, and I wouldn’t have gone to Dame Allan’s were it not for the scholarship. It opened my eyes to a whole new world, and they did it in a very kind way. I wanted a different life, and I was encouraged in that. I owe them a great deal.” While his environment among predominantly middle-class pupils was new to him, he didn’t feel uncomfortable. “It was a very friendly school,” he says. “I learnt to value education for its own sake and community outside of family; the importance of good relationships with colleagues and those around you. That’s been very important to me.” There were several good masters, he says, but geography master Don Walker stood out. “I took Geography at A Level and Don Walker had been through North Africa and Italy and he really opened my mind. He was a remarkable teacher. There was no nonsense in his class, but he was inspirational. He was very open minded and encouraged you to think outside of the box. He talked a lot about North Africa and Italy, and I knew then I wanted to spend part of my life outside of the UK.”
The experiences of a good education with inspirational teachers gave Bryan the foundations and springboard to begin an outstanding career which began by studying at the London School of Economics (the first pupil from DAS to do so) and went on to span the energy, chemicals and financial sectors. He was a Managing Director and CEO of BP Chemicals; Chairman at Standard Chartered Bank, Northern Rock (having been asked to take over the stricken bank on its collapse in 2007/8), the Learning and Skills Council, BUPA and his beloved Sunderland Football Club. He has sat on numerous boards and is renowned for his charitable work, as Chairman of the Florence Nightingale Foundation charity and The Home Renaissance Foundation. He’s been the recipient of a CBE and, more recently, he was Knighted in the King’s New Year’s Honours list for his services to the labour market as Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, which has overseen an increase in the National Minimum Wage. “I was always interested in politics and Government,” he says. “I joined the Young Socialists party when I was 16 – the entire school was Tory so I wasn’t popular for doing that. “The Low Pay Commission was comprised of three trade unions, three businessmen and three independents. It was a powerful group. We pushed the minimum wage up to two thirds of the average and improved the lives of around 5-6 million people, many of whom were women.” Asked what he’s learned over his years dedicated to industry and public service he jokes: “Well I’m rather bruised.” He adds that the need for physical fitness and stamina is paramount when working (and staying) at the top.
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