Keith Wiltshire was born in the United Kingdom in 1932 and educated at Oxford University. He served in the British army but later trained as a Methodist pastor. He eventually resigned from the church when he found his calling in education. 

Wiltshire arrived in Sibu, Sarawak as a missionary teacher in 1958 with his wife, Pauline, and two daughters. In 1961, the Methodist School Management Board appointed him principal of the Methodist School, Sibu, the youngest ever at age 27. 

He served in the school from 1958-1969 and his role as principal had an impact on many including ministers, top civil servants and community leaders, as well as thousands of students. As principal, he witnessed momentous events such as the arrival of the Cobbold Commission ^[1] (in Sibu, the meeting was held in the school) which caused the school compound to be filled with huge crowds of people. He also experienced the chaotic aftermath, curfews, communist insurgencies and even students “turning left”.^[2]Some in the community feared that as an expatriate, his life would be at risk. But he and his family stayed on courageously and worked harder than anyone else.

It was not easy to be a principal in the days before the formation of Malaysia. Wiltshire adhered to government policy and had to steer the school through the change of medium of instruction from Chinese to English amidst the unhappiness of the school’s financial supporters. He also fought for the introduction of Form Six in Sibu; up to then, students had to go to Kuching or further for sixth form. In 1965, together with Sacred Heart School, the first sixth form was introduced. 

He brought in graduate teachers from the UK to teach sixth form, including teachers from his alma mater Oxford, Cambridge, American missionaries, and US-trained local graduates. Former students have often said that the Methodist School under Wiltshire achieved international standards. He allowed students to practice democratic principles, especially freedom of speech. Few would ever forget his maxim, “Comments are free, facts are sacred, the truth will prevail.”

He ensured that the students in the school were trained to be global citizens and be socially responsible. He was instrumental in introducing rugby, football, softball and hockey, and ensured that the school had good tennis and badminton courts and a well-trimmed football field. He made sure that boys from the rural areas had football boots and socks and paid for these from his own pocket. 

He was an eloquent speaker and trained many of his students in public speaking. He was fond of drama and the school produced several musicals during his time. Wiltshire would be at the school early and could often be seen there even in the evening with his office door still open or coaching football or rugby in the huge school field. 

He lived simply and never owned a car. Students would remember him riding his small motorcycle to school but most of the time, he walked. The school was a  no-smoking zone – he led by example and did not smoke or drink.

Wiltshire left Sibu in 1969 and taught in Singapore and later, in Bristol before retiring. He never lost his passion for social justice and fought for the Green Party and even stood for election. 

He and Pauline kept a corner of their home in Bristol filled with Sarawak memorabilia to remember their years in Sarawak and to welcome former students who visited him in later years.

He died on January 3, 2017 before his 85th birthday. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons-in-law and two grandchildren. Wiltshire was methodical and systematic and a true Wesleyan who lived out John Wesley’s dictum: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”