Popular Burnley physics teacher dies

Mr Don Taylor, who was 75, was a physics and maths teacher at the former Burnley Girls’ High School in Kiddrow Lane for over 30 years.

He came to the school in 1966 and stayed until he took early retirement in 1996. During that time he saw the school merged with Burnley Grammar School, where he himself was a former pupil, to create Habergham High School in 1981. It later became a sixth form and Mr Taylor was appointed Head of Physics there. He loved tutoring students in the subject he had a lifelong passion for.

Mr Taylor’s wife of 53 years, Sonia, said: “Students always used to come up to Don when we were out and thank him for helping them understand a subject that was often difficult to grasp.

“They also used to say how much they liked him because he was such a lovely man and easy to get on with.”

Born in Padiham Mr Taylor grew up in Burnley and studied for a BSC degree in maths and physics at Liverpool University. After graduating his first teaching post was at Cowley Grammar School in St Helen’s where he taught for four years until returning to his hometown.

A keen sportsman, Mr Taylor, who lived in the Lowehouse area of Burnley, was a talented swimmer, footballer and cricketer. As a young man he played for Burnley FC youth team and was captain of the cricket and football teams at Burnley Grammar School. He also enjoyed walking, dancing and had recently taken up crown green bowling at Towneley. He leaves a son Steven, daughter Diane and two grandchildren.

A funeral service was held on Thursday at Burnley Crermatorium.

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