Former deputy head of CRGS dies

It will be held for Edward, Ted, who died on April 10th, aged 71, on Tuesday (April 23rd) at Clitheroe Parish Church at 2 p.m.

Ted, who was born in Preston on January 6th 1942, was the grandson of a Preston North End Lillywhite!

In 1960 he went to the University of Liverpool to study Classics, a fortunate decision in many ways, as the subject formed the basis of his lifelong career in teaching and it also gave him the chance to meet a young mathematics student Valerie Matthews whom he married on Boxing Day in 1964. They were fond of talking about they went to the famous Liverpool Cavern Club when The Beatles were only a supporting group.

Ted applied to Clitheroe Royal Grammar School (Boys) for a teaching post in September 1964 and was appointed by former Headmaster Gerry Hood.

In his early years of teaching he was heavily involved in running the Scouts Troup for 16 years, taking the boys on trips all over Britain and to the International Scout camp at Kandersteg in Switzerland.

During his time at CRGS, he and his wife Valerie had three daughters, Helen, Sarah and Clare. Valerie started working part-time at the school teaching A level Statistics.

Then in 1980, Ted was appointed Head of Classics at the girl’s grammar school so he moved up Chatburn Road. It was during this period that Ted took Val to see the ruins of Pompeii. Not only did he manage to make himself understood to the Italians by speaking Latin, but also by being so knowledgeable in his explanation to Val that they found a group gathered behind them thinking they had found a proper guide.

In 1985 when the two schools amalgamated to form the new mixed sex grammar school, Ted was appointed as Head of the lower school. In 1989 he was appointed Deputy Head in charge of the main school (11 – 16) on the Chatburn Road site, where he was much loved and admired by all his pupils and fellow teachers.

Ted retired in 2002. He will be remembered with enormous fondness by his students, who loved his lessons and found him an inspirational teacher. As Deputy Head all the students appreciated his interest in them and valued his kindness and support. After his retirement he continued his connection with the school by acting as clerk to the Governors.

Ted will also be remembered for his passion for walking. So many people recall happy memories of meeting him striding up Pendle and, only last summer, he boasted of completing the Three Peaks in nine and a half hours with daughter Clare and her husband Martin.

Ted also helped and supported several local groups. After moving to Rimington in 1985, he became treasurer and loyal supporter of the local football team, who have dedicated their recent successes to him.

He was a popular member of the Clitheroe and District Caledonian Society where, in addition to doing the audit, he and Val could try yet another form of dancing to add to their success at ballroom and jive.

He also decided to learn Italian and achieved a Grade A at GCSE after only one year and the following year he passed Italian at AS level. For the past few years he has been co-ordinator of the U3A Italian conversation group.

His extensive knowledge in so many areas made him a real asset as a team member in quizzes.

Ted’s joy was always in his family. His pride in the achievements of Helen, Sarah and Clare was immense, in their graduations and their successful careers. Helen shared his passion for Classics and dancing and he was delighted with Sarah’s year-long student exchange in Beijing and Clare’s amazing two and a half year round the world trip. He was delighted with their choice of partners, Mark, Alex and Martin and above all he adored his granddaughters Sophie and Alice and relished their weekly visits when with an amusing bit of role reversal in their games, he was put in the role of “pupil” whilst they instructed him and made him “behave”, before serving them ice cream. Ted’s own fondness for ice cream made him an expert!

Generations of students have reason to thank him for passing on some of his vast knowledge. Until very recently, he was still teaching a weekly class at Salesbury CE Primary School. Everyone who was fortunate to have Ted as a colleague or a friend admired him and he will be much missed by many, many people. He was a truly kind and honourable gentleman who was always happy to help everyone.