Anthony Gardiner (Haig & Marlborough 1956 - 1964) sadly passed away at the age of 76, on the 22nd January. His obituary appeared in the Telegraph, describing him as 'the crusading mathematician behind the UK Schools Maths Challenge'.

The article states how Anthony founded the Junior and Intermediate Mathematical Challenges in 1987, which sought to 'tap into children's natural competitiveness with questions designed to stretch them and encourage them to develop formal arguments and proofs.' The Challenges continued until 1996, numbers had reached 105,000 (juniors) and 115,000 (intermediates), when he founded the UK Maths Trust (UKMT) to run both challenges and the separtate National Maths Contest (Seniors) which was founded in 1961 by F R Watson. Thanks largely to Gardiner's leadership and energy, the UKMT is now on of the UK largest maths enrichment programmes.'

Anthony was born in May 1947, his father was in the Royal Signals and his mother a nurse in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. Whilst attending DOYRMS, Tony took his O level maths aged 14 and his A levels at age 15, but remained at the school for another 3 years.

To read the full article in the Telegraph please click here 

Derek Jones remembers him fondly, 'he was very good at most things and was quite fluent at French because his dad was at SHAPE HQ and he learnt his French over there, he was also an excellent swimmer. Anthony was also a very able Chorister, along with Ben Johnson, Mike Powell and some others, and became a regular main part in school G&S performances.  I seem to recall he was a half decent bugler too.'

Anthony, during his time at school was CSM, played in the first teams for Hockey, Cricket and Swimming, gaining colours in Swimming for Kent. He was also House prefect of Marlborough.

On leaving school Anthony went on to Southampton University to study Maths, he later completed a PhD at Warwick and a Post-doctoral at Royal Holloway.

Please leave your thoughts and memories of Anthony in the comments below.