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Michael Franklin: TBSHS 1999-2022

May 23, 2022/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Michael Franklin: TBSHS 1999-2022

23 May 2022

It is with very great sadness that we share that Michael Franklin, a caretaker at the school, has passed away after a short illness.

Mr. Franklin joined The Bishop’s Stortford High School in June 1999 and so served the school for a remarkable nearly twenty three years.    He often said that caretakers  take care of the school. They do and Mr. Franklin did. Mr. Franklin, together with the rest of the site and technical teams, worked in school throughout every holiday, even in the substantial summer vacation.  Whilst we were enjoying our summer holiday, Mr. Franklin was in school, with the rest of the site and technical teams, improving the ground for the new season at TBSHS.

For, whilst staff give students opportunities on the stage of the school curriculum and the extracurricular, always wonderfully supported by parents, it is the senior, administration,  caretaking, catering, cleaning, finance, network, office and technical teams that do vital behind-the-scenes work which is key and vital to any production.

Many staff and current and former students will remember Mr. Franklin as a perceptive, thoughtful, knowledgeable, good-humoured, widely read, well-travelled, honest and unique person and character.  He talked with people, spoke different languages and particularly enjoyed tending to gardens around the school. Outside of school hours,  Mr. Franklin was a very keen birdwatcher.  With his wife,  he would travel to pursue such ornithology . Mr. Franklin had a great love of nature.  Mr. Franklin was also a devoted follower of Arsenal Football Club, and the way they played,  but generously appreciated all teams that played “the beautiful game”.

Mr. Franklin modelled TBSHS’ values of commitment, aspiration, respect, integrity and community.  Mr. Franklin will be  greatly and very much missed.

We are very grateful for and to all those people who inspire and guide us in our lives, and those who will always be remembered and will always inspire and guide us.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Franklin’s partner and with Mr. Franklin.

If you wish to send a message please email: condolence@tbshs.org

The funeral of Michael Franklin took place on the 22nd June 2022. The School was well represented at the funeral by teaching and support staff.

Tribute messages to Mike Franklin

Mike Franklin gave almost twenty three years of service to the school before he very sadly passed away this week. During his time at the school he formed some wonderful friendships and will be sorely missed by many colleagues. He took great pride in nurturing several flower gardens around the site, bringing a bit of colour into all of our lives, for which he will be fondly remembered.
Dale Reeve, Headmaster

Mike was a valued member of the Site Team and also a true and loyal friend. I only knew Mike for a few short years but he made a massive impression on me and my family.

He loved working in the school and in particular looking after the schools gardens. School was a massive part of Mikes life and although he could be grumpy and sometimes difficult, he never said no to anyone. He loved the Science and PE Departments and found many friends amongst the staff. He loved football and in particular Arsenal. Even when Arsenal struggled, he would still ‘big them’ like all long suffering fans of football.

Mike became a close friend of mine and my family. He took an interest in our garden helping us to organise It and giving us plants which he made sure we looked after.

We shared a beer or two and many a laugh. He had a wicked sense of humour and would love to wind up Jackie, but he had Jackie were similar in wit and would just bounce off each other. If you were able to understand Mike’s sense of humour, you would know he was a great and funny man with a heart of gold and a willingness to help and look out for others. He had the true Black and Gold spirit running through his veins.

He worshipped his wife Ellen and would in the same way joke about silly gifts he had got for her. For instance he told once he had treated her for Christmas to a foot massager.

Not a shop one, but a homemade one. He had put some marbles in a bowl with warm water and soap. He said his wife was over the moon and loved the gift. His wife is German

And Mike loved Germany and would I’m sure have moved and lived there if he could but his wife was very happy here.

Another of Mike’s big interests was bird watching. He would travel all over country to see rare birds to add to his collection. His joy at getting sometimes many miles away and seeing a rare bird was infectious when he returned to the office and shared and pictures.

I will miss Mike but I am happy knowing he is now at peace and no longer suffering. I send my family’s condolences to his wife Ellen and Mike’s family. God Bless RIP
Roy Spilsbury, TBSHS Site Manager

Right from when I joined the school in 2007, Mike was always a smiling, cheerful and cheeky presence around the building, be that pushing his bike through school, chatting around the staffroom and corridors or practising his French and German with the members of the MFL Department.  He always had a witty riposte and a wicked smile while he got on with his varied tasks.  I particularly appreciated his efforts in the various little pockets of garden around the school which added welcome colour to our ageing buildings.  He was a real character who will be sadly missed.  My condolences to his family.
Fiona Price

Mike had a good line in irony which meant you were constantly having to work on your wits when chatting with him: replacing a light shade became as much an intellectual exercise as a physical one!   I especially enjoyed the cut and thrust of our conversations about the shortcomings of late Arsene Wenger Gunners.
NJP

Mike welcomed me to the school this year. He was always happy to help me, even after inundating him with request to fix/repair/throw out old items from my art room. No job was too big and if it physically was, he would ensure extra hands were on board to help.

In the short time that I got to know Mike, I really enjoyed working with him.
My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Megan Mansfield

Although I am new to the school, Mike made a big impression on me. He always took the time to stop and chat, and I particularly remember one day in December when he spoke to me for ages about how Christmas is celebrated in Germany and other countries. It was clear that he was interested in people, and he was so welcoming to the school. He will be sorely missed.
Emily Jones

Upon joining the school as a teacher in September of 2018, I met many members of the PE department at the Year 6 Summer sports camp in the last week of August. Mike was at the Pavilion doing some painting and needed to find a member of staff for whatever reason. Despite my best efforts to convince him I wasn’t a 6th former he decided to wait for Mr Harris to return, threatening to tell him of the disrespect a student had shown him. In the years following he would question why I was out of lessons every time our paths would cross in the corridor.

Mike was a very well liked, friendly and funny person who would always look to add some laughter to the working day. He would often swing by the PE office for a chat about the state of Arsenal, to inspect any cake we might have had in, or offer motivational words of encouragement to us all.

He will be missed by many.
Elliot Kelsall

Mike always had a smile for me and very often a little dig at my French nationality!! Often asking me why I was still here after Brexit had happened. He never failed to make me laugh and smile. I knew that whenever I met him in the corridor he would have a sarcastic but always very funny comment.

I will miss him dearly.
Christine Hollins

Mike greeted everyone with a smile and was always willing to offer help along with his jokes and banter which kept me laughing. I was a constant source of exasperation for him as he would have to patiently unpick my temporary sellotape fixes in classrooms before he could get the job done properly. When he found out I spoke German he tested my abilities and we both laughed at my ineptitude when guessing at vocabulary when asking for things to be fixed.

I will miss him greatly.
Rachel DeWald

Such sad news. For all the years I inhabited the little office next to the caretakers, it was Mike who kept me sane with his friendly banter and chats about nature, football and general gossip. A true gent. He will be missed.
Simon MacNeill

Having spent many hours with Mick working on the extra events, shows, concerts and more at the school I wish his family and friends my condolences in this sad time. Always cheerful and a pleasure to be with.
Michael Swan, Former Pupil

 

https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Michael-Franklin.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2022-05-23 16:24:042022-09-08 12:42:52Michael Franklin: TBSHS 1999-2022

Ian Wickens: TBSHS 1972-2020

December 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Ian Wickens: TBSHS 1972-2020

14 December 2020

It is with great sadness that the School announce that Mr Ian Wickens passed away on the 14th December after 48 years connected to the School.

Mr Wickens worked under four different Headteachers having started at TBSHS in 1972 under the tenure of Headmaster Ron Davies, followed by Ian Shaw and Andrew Goulding before ‘retiring’ in 2008. In 2016, under Headteacher Dale Reeve, he returned to the School as an exam invigilator.

Mr Wickens had taught every subject on the curriculum, over his years in teaching, before becoming the Bursar, (“In charge of the money!” – I. Shaw) under Ian Shaw. During the time of Andrew Goulding he moved to take on the role of Exams Officer, until his retirement in 2008. Over the last four years he had enjoyed a part time role which kept him busy during his retirement.

As a geography teacher, Ian was always very interested in the natural world and travelled extensively,  particularly since his retirement and always managed his trips himself, booking only the flights and first night accomodation and going when and where the spirit led him and his wife, across all seven continents.

Ian’s late son, David Wickens,  went through the School, becoming Head Boy in 1998 before going up to Selwyn College, Cambridge to read history.

Ian leaves a wife Angela and daughter Sally, and son David’s two grandchildren.

He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him as a kind and gentle man.

“Many staff had known Ian for a long time and are acutely aware of just how dedicated he was to the school; absolutely Black & Gold. I knew him as a warm, generous man who had clearly contributed so much to TBSHS over such a long time; we owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Ian will be sorely missed and our deepest sympathies are with his family, they will remain in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult of times.”
Mr Reeve, Headteacher

Ian Wickens funeral took place on the 13th January 2021. The School was represented at the funeral, under strict Covid rules, by Mr Reeve and several present and former, staff.

If you wish to send a message please email: condolence@tbshs.org

Tribute messages to Mr Wickens

When I joined the school in September 1982 Ian warmly welcomed me into his tutorial team. As a natural team player, Ian led his tutors with conviction, compassion and a steely determination to support us daily in raising our tutees expectations and improving their personal attitude to learning.

As a leader he was a pure soul. Ian had a heart of gold, basically just genuine and loyal to the core. His depth of kindness and willingness to help others always shone forth. You could always depend on him being there when in need and would support you, no matter what it may entail. Ian always took his responsibilities very seriously.

As the School evolved Ian mastered every new role and portfolio of responsibilities in his own inimitable way – his hard working attitude was an inspiration to us all. Ian was always ready to learn new skills typically viewing this positively as a challenge. He would embark in an intelligent, detail-oriented way, with a tenacious approach which was invariably fruitful. This level of commitment and accomplishment at TBSHS throughout his life will always be respected and cherished.

He was a dear friend to me who always made the time to listen, actually ‘hear’ your story and proffered shrewd counsel when sought. Ian was a true gentleman or gentle man, who was wise beyond words.

Fond memories of a truly great colleague who touched the lives of so many people and worked tremendously hard in contributing to the School’s transformational journey over time.

My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all of Ian’s family.
Paul Noble, Former Deputy Headmaster

I was incredibly sad to hear of the very sad passing of Ian. When I started at the school as Deputy Headteacher, Ian was one member of staff who helped me settle in. He showed great kindness and words of wisdom, particularly in helping me understand some of the great traditions of TBSHS.   Please do pass on my sincerest condolences to the whole of the TBSHS community and to his family.
Tim Litchfield, Former Deputy Headteacher

I had been thinking about Angie and Ian just this week, as he kindly met me from the station when I came to your splendid awards evening this time last year They kindly also provided tea, company and news of so many people.

Ian (the Head) was so fortunate to have such a man on the staff , both professionally and as a man of honour and a good friend.                                                                                                                                       Barbara Shaw

Terribly sad news. Mr. Exams as he was known, a gentleman. My thoughts are with his family and friends and those @TBSHS connected to him. #blackandgold                                                                                 Josh Ward

I have just read the sad news about Ian passing. I was at TBSHS with his son David and remember what a great man Ian was. So caring, thoughtful and always had time for people – he really was part of what made the school such a fantastic place to be.

Thoughts and prayers are with all the community at TBSHS and of course his family.
James Pooley 
I was so sad to hear from Barbara (Shaw) about Ian’s death. During my time at TBSHS I was one of the staff reps on the PTA and after every meeting the two Ians, (Shaw and Wickens), Ray Franklin (Chairman) and I would head off to the Tanner’s Arms and chew the cud over a couple of pints and a cigar or two. He was always joking about his office in the back passage. Ian was a lovely man with a great sense of humour and a wonderful colleague.
Catherine Buck (Science Teacher and Head of Year 1992-1996)
So sad to hear about Ian. Great memories of him during my time as a governor at the school. Always cheery with a great sense of humour. He lightened up many a meeting.
David Royle

Very sad to hear the news about Ian.

I had the pleasure of “working” with Ian through PTA and Governor roles whilst he was the school Bursar and also as Exams Officer when my three sons went through the exam process at TBSHS.

He was a kind and lovely man who had the black and gold running through his veins.  A generous man; as part of a fundraising event, he kindly donated a large number of old football programmes he had collected over the years helping to raise a significant amount.  He also worked tirelessly sorting all the “takings” at the Christmas and Summer Fayres, a great deal of which was in small denomination coins – no easy task!

One of TBSHS’s greatest friends who will be missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Our thoughts are with his family.
Liz Webber – TBSHS parent
An absolute honour to have known such a gentle-man. You meet such rare gems in life and it was our privilege to consider you a friend. You will be greatly missed by all my friend. Heartfelt condolences to your family. May God bless you all.
Helena Duffy
I was very sorry to hear about Ian’s passing..
I met him when our son, Stuart was a student, and I served on the PTA.
Ian was a lovely man, and a gentleman.
I’m sure he will be greatly missed by the school and particularly by his family.

Please pass this on to his family with my kind regards.
Colin Jeffrey

To all staff members,
Sending our condolences on the loss of Mr Wickens.
Charlotte Reed (Alice Year 13)

I am really shocked and immensely saddened by the tragic passing of Ian Wickens. My condolences to everyone concerned

I was very lucky to have met Ian when our son Ryan Daniels started at TBSHS in 2004 He encouraged me to become part of the exams invigilating team of which I was very honoured and proud to be part of.  The skills he passed on are still with me today as I continue still to invigilate in London where I relocated to in 2013 and often think of Ian. We often spoke about our mutual support of West Ham United FC and know Ian was a life long fan like myself.  I was glad when I saw him whilst on a visit to Bishop’s Stortford a while ago that he was back at TBSHS invigilating.

He was a kind and generous man and I know many staff and students both past and present will remember him fondly especially his dry sense of humour and life experiences which he used to great affect when gaining respect and admiration.  He always managed to make people feel at ease and was extremely proud on results day of the students success.

My thoughts and prays are with Angela his lovely wife, who I met a few times, his daughter Sally and grandchildren. RIP
Angela Daniels
So sad to hear of the death of my former maths teacher, Ian Wickens. I was definitely not a maths natural and his patience and kindness made it a subject I could deal with. He was a truly lovely teacher-I’m sure all at @TBSHS will miss him hugely.
Steve Pinches
A great friend and colleague. I taught with Ian for 15 years at TBSHS. I always remember the day I went to ask him for some chalk. Out came a box. He took out a stick. Snapped it is half and gave me one half of one stick.
Paul Hughes
Mr Wickens taught me in the 70s . He was a great teacher and a kind and generous man. I met him again when doing some work in the school about 10 years ago. He was so helpful and supportive of what we are doing. Sending best thoughts to his family.
Paul Bamlett
Very sad news indeed. I worked for Ian as an exam invigilator for a number of years. He was a TBSHS legend and very appreciative towards his staff. He didn’t put up with any ‘nonsense’ in the exam hall. RIP Mr Wickens.
Juliet Scantlebury

I first met Ian Wickens back in 2004 when I offered to come into school as a parent to add an extra pair of hands during the summer examinations. The following year I became one of the first external invigilators to be employed by the school. Ian taught me everything needed to know about invigilating including organisational skills of setting up and running exam rooms, how to deal with challenging students and how to have compassion and consideration for students during examination periods. When Ian left TBSHS in 2008 it is one of my regrets that I did not apply for the position of examinations officer at that point as I knew, that he knew, I could do the job and do it well. I did in fact become examinations officer in 2015 and it was only a year later when I met Ian in school at a retirement ‘do’ for another member of staff that he asked me very politely if I would consider taking him on as an invigilator or whether that would be ‘awkward’. I told him I would be delighted as long as he did it my way! He saw the joke in that.

Ian was always professional, polite and compassionate to others. Many of our newer invigilators looked to him as a mentor when learning the ropes of what can often be complex examination regulations and administration. Many students will remember his calmness during a stressful time in their lives and also some of his catchphrases such as ‘ when you leave the exam room, do not pass go, do not collect £200…’ At one point there was even a Facebook page dedicated to the appreciation of Ian and his sayings.

Ian was a true gentleman and a true black and gold legend. The exams department will miss his presence enormously. Our hearts go out to his wife and family. May he rest in peace.
Sarah Watts, Examinations Officer
Very gentle man. Rest in peace.
James Walters, Former Head Boy
It is so sad to hear of Ian’s passing.  I will always remember him as a dedicated, long standing member of TBSHS staff.  In my last few months as a pupil, he ‘summoned’ me to his office, which was buried deep within the school’s maze of corridors encircling the Foyer.  I’d been at the school for many years and thought I knew every inch of it, but I had never ventured this far into this dark area.  Those corridors were narrow and bewildering, and you could lose your bearings.  “Oh no…” I thought.  “Why does Mr Wickens want to see me?”  I’d never really had dealings with Mr Wickens, and he could see I was apprehensive – or was that because I was dazed by the unfamiliar corridors?  “Oh, everyone worries when I want to see them!” he said.

His reason for summoning me?  He was liaising with what is now the Department for Work and Pensions to secure long-term disability benefits for me, as well as informing them of my future role as a volunteer at TBSHS.  He reassured me he would deal with it all – and he did.  Once I started as a volunteer teaching assistant, Ian was on hand to provide advice whenever I asked for it.  I have been thinking a great deal about the conversations we had and how many of them remain so relevant.  He was a great mentor.

Although Ian’s family and close friends will miss him deeply, I do hope they will be comforted by the positive messages left by others who were fortunate enough to have spent time with him, learning from his decades of experience.  My deepest condolences.  Rest in peace, Ian.
Carl Stock. Former pupil (1990 intake), Former ICT Support Assistant (1998–2000)

The true heroes are not the people you have seen on a screen and do not really know. They are the people you just walked past. They are in your school and local community. They are in your family. The true heroes are standing right in front of you. Mr. Ian Wickens was and is one such hero.

No one showed the values of The Bishop’s Stortford High School, “The Black and Gold Spirit”, more than Mr. Ian Wickens. For Mr. Wickens was a true gentleman and true professional who always had every time for students and staff and exhibited the values of TBSHS – commitment, aspiration, respect, integrity and community – in everything he did and in every word he spoke on every day. In short, he did everything properly. Furthermore, Mr. Wickens was someone who was always more concerned about others more than himself.

A truly global citizen and a fine geographer who lived his subject, Mr. Wickens had the greatest interest in places and people and travelled the world, always learning, questioning, discovering and exploring. Last year, you heard a piece Mr. Wickens wrote for TBSHS’ Christmas services on his wonderful visit to Bethlehem at Christmas two years ago. With typical modesty, he did not want credited. That was not his style. Empathy, humility, meticulous organisation, kindness, patience, wisdom and judgement were particular hallmarks.

Sir Isaac Newton once wrote the following in a letter to a rival scientist: “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Today, we are very fortunate to stand on the shoulders of TBSHS giants of the past who continue to shape our present and future. Mr. Wickens is one such giant. For one example amongst so many, Mr. Wickens helped sow the seeds for Jobbers Wood. At the time, schools across the country were having to sell their playing fields whilst Headmaster Mr. Shaw, of course, and Mr. Wickens, TBSHS Senior Management Team and other key school leaders were buying them. In so many ways, the history of the school is his history for Mr. Wickens served the school across five if not six separate decades, a remarkable forty-eight year association out of seventy years of total school history. An inspirational lifetime of public service. Ever the humble servant, Mr. Wickens, like Mr. Shaw, always gave the credit to others. Like Mr. Shaw, he thanked everyone else apart from himself. Mr. Wickens felt a massive debt of gratitude to Mr. Shaw who gave Mr Wickens opportunities and trust in Financial, Senior and Pastoral Leadership.

Like father, like son. We were equally blessed that Mr. Wickens’ son David attended TBSHS. David became Head Boy and was a truly outstanding student leader before excelling, reading History, at Selwyn College, Cambridge University, and in his life and leadership beyond and across the world. David’s leadership, intelligence, passion, verve, integrity and community spirit was also extraordinary.

It was wonderful to hear Mr. Wickens speak so glowingly of TBSHS of today when he visited to invigilate examinations. He was so impressed with the students of Mr. Reeve’s school. And even now, after all these years, Mr. Wickens was still showing his wonderful values, our wonderful values, as he invigilated. It truly is an astonishing achievement to be so brilliantly consistent, as Mr. Wickens was, through the seasons and through the years, in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.

Mr. Wickens loved his sport, especially football and cricket and was a keen West Ham United supporter. The West Ham United who played a pivotal role in the Men’s Football World Cup Win of 1966. Still the greatest. Iron in the soul.

This week and beyond we are very sad beyond words. But, as with all the loved and lost at TBSHS and beyond, we are very grateful to have known such a truly wonderful human being. We will always remember Mr. Wickens and be inspired by him. We will always remember and be inspired by the staff and students who were with Mr. Wickens and gave him the greatest care on his final day at The Bishop’s Stortford High School, a school that he greatly loved and a school that greatly loved him. Most of all, our thoughts and prayers will be with Mr. Ian Wickens and his family now and always.

Thank you for everything, Mr. Wickens. You are us and we are you.
Simon Etheridge, TBSHS

I just wanted to pass my condolences on to Ian’s wife and daughter. He was the kindest man at TBSHS and really tried to look after staff. He guided me through many a mishap. Funny, too.

What a gent.

Grateful to have known him.
Giselle de Siun
https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Ian-Wickens.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2020-12-14 09:49:032022-08-31 10:28:15Ian Wickens: TBSHS 1972-2020

Helen Fletcher: TBSHS 1989-2020

March 3, 2020/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Helen Fletcher: TBSHS 1989-2020

3rd March 2020

Staff and students are, today (3rd March) shocked and saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of our School librarian Helen Fletcher.

Mrs Fletcher worked at the School for 31 years as School Librarian, and during that time had overseen the silent study of thousands of boys.

A typical librarian; quiet and unassuming, Mrs Fletcher was always somewhere about the library, yet she had the ability to raise her voice in a most commanding way, to reprimand talking or unsuitable student behaviour when necessary. She was most amused last year, to discover former pupil Greg James had based the librarian in his successful Children’s Books on her – “…… wonderful school librarian and secret superhero Mrs Fletcher (whose special power is that her head can turn into a foghorn)……”.

Helen worked under the tenure of four Headteachers (Mr Shaw, Mr Goulding, Mr Noble (Acting Head) and Mr Reeve), and she worked very closely with Barbara Shaw, (former Head, Ian Shaw’s wife), as they ran the library together during the early 1990’s.

Many former students will have fond memories of her and remember her with great affection.

Mrs Fletcher leaves a husband and adult step-children Sarah, Toby and Holly who are both former TBSHS pupils, and several grandchildren.

If you would like to send in a tribute, please email: condolence@tbshs.org
Mrs Fletcher’s funeral will be held in early April, attended by family only. Her family hope to hold a memorial service after the current virus restrictions are lifted.
Mr Reeve, Headteacher said “We have, today, lost a dear member of our school community. Mrs Helen Fletcher, who had been our school librarian for 31 years, suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away this morning.

Mrs Fletcher made a very significant contribution over such a long period of time. She has impacted the lives of so many members of our school community, supported thousands of students and worked with hundreds of staff, volunteers and library helpers down the years. She was incredibly proud to be our school librarian and we are very grateful for the commitment she gave.”

So very sad to hear this news. As a loyal, compassionate and faithful member of TBSHS staff, Helen strove with her staff and student teams to make the school library an accessible and creative place for students where they could engage with quiet study, learning and working. This vision we applauded and treasured. Many generations of students have gained the benefits that have stemmed from using our library as a ‘sanctuary’ for quiet study and reflection.

Helen will be sorely missed by us all!
My thoughts and prayers are with her family and the whole school community as we endeavour to come to terms with her passing and reflect on her sterling contribution to the life of TBSHS over the years.
Paul Noble, Former Deputy Headteacher

I have some happy funny silly memories of our friend in school over many years. I am also saddened by this premature death. Please pass on my condolences and give everyone a hug.
Frank Beran, Former Head of Business Studies
Please pass on my condolences
Jane Jones, Former PA to the Head of 6th Form

Extremely sad news about Helen. Given our success in the quiz last night the timing is horribly ironic, as Helen always enjoyed it when we invaded the Library for a lunchtime of buzzers and bells.
Please pass on my condolences to her family and best wishes to all at school.
Tony Fraser, Debating Team Coach, Former Maths Teacher

Really sad to hear about her passing as she was always so helpful. Every time I needed something for exams or just general help in the library she always helped me. As well as everyone else. Nothing was too much trouble.
So sad to hear such a lovely person has passed. Hope everyone’s doing okay over there.
Matthew Wood

Condolences to family, friends & all staff & students at TBSHS.
Andy Lane

What a legend!! R.I.P
Mark Townsend

TBSHS Legend. RIP ??
Conrad

I am so sorry to hear this. Both my boys, being avid readers, have spent many hours in Mrs Fletcher’s company, and they will be extremely sad about her death. Please accept our condolences.
Gill Mullins (mum to Angus and Felix May)

Firstly I would like to offer you my condolences on the member of staff who sadly passed today. I’m sure she was a valid member of your team and I can only imagine how much the pupils appreciated her too.
Louise Newberry

Very sorry to hear the news of Mrs Fletcher, both Mr Taylor and I have fond memories of her from our TBSHS days.
Charlotte Taylor

Absolute legend ?????? sad loss
Tommy Merry

Sorry to hear the sad news about Helen. She gave so much to TBSHS over many years and will be greatly missed by all.
Andy Clare – Former Head of Art

Very sad news. Through 31 years, Mrs Fletcher has been a great part of this school. I still remember when I became a library helper in my first year at the school, a job I continued for 5 years. It wouldn’t have been the same without Mrs Fletcher. My thoughts are with her family.
Ollie Jones

So terribly sad, such a big part of so many’s TBSHS journey. Condolences to Mrs Fletcher’s family, friends, colleagues and students.                                                                                                                                     Justine

I am so sorry to hear the news about Mrs Fletcher. The library was a key part of life at TBSHS, for me and many of my friends, Mrs Fletcher maintained it to the highest standards and inspired a love for books that I still have today. Sending love to her family and friends.
Rory Galloway – former student and library helper, 2001 to 2006

The school won’t be the same without Mrs Fletcher. She worked at the school for many years. And worked extremely hard to make the library fit for students and staff, with this she took much pride and it showed. She was a real asset to the school.  I send my deepest condolences to her family and her husband in this sad time.
Jonathan Whitmore

A sad loss – to both TBSHS and everyone whose path Helen crossed – RIP to such a lovely soul.
Denise

So sorry to hear of Helen’s death. She was a loyal, encouraging and supportive person who always spoke proudly of her work at TBSHS whenever I heard from her. Sending lots of love to all who are missing her at this sad time.
Kate Reader (nee Edwards)
TBSHS Head Girl 2001-2

I am so very sad to hear of Helen’s sudden passing. She was a great friend to me during my time working at TBSHS. She always had a smile on her face and always expressed how much she loved working with the library helpers. Her enthusiasm and dedication of training them was wonderful and she always took the time to inform myself and the relevant form tutor of their success.  She provided a sanctuary for many students.  On an entirely different note, Helen also made my breakfasts very special with her provision of fresh eggs from her chickens! The yolks were so tasty and we often had chats about whether they were or were not laying!  She used to make my day when I came back to my desk to find a fresh box left for me!
Words cannot really express what a lovely lady she was and I want to pass on my sincere condolences to her family, friends and all those she worked with at TBSHS.
Emma Boniface (Torry)

Second generation library helper. I also served briefly. Helen (rightly) sacked me for not taking it seriously. She was a lovely lady, a great school librarian and, if memory serves, a talented musician playing the clarinet in the school orchestra on occasion. She will be missed.
Alasdair Jones

Library’s biggest legend
Harry Feest

So very sorry to hear this news. Helen was a constant ally in the battle to promote reading and a love of books, be it the Carnegie shortlisting, the reading projects and research we undertook over the years, the conversations we had. I will miss her greatly.
Simon MacNeill
(Former Professional Tutor and English teacher)

If anyone was synonymous with a particular place at TBSHS, it was Mrs. Fletcher. For the Library of TBSHS, the heart and soul of any school, was and is Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Fletcher was and is the library.  It was the most appropriate connection.  In the morning, at lunch, in the afternoon, always after school and in the holidays, Mrs Fletcher cared for, nurtured and cultivated the professional pride and joy that was the library. Brilliant words indexed on the immaculately organised surrounding shelves were also wonderful actions by the librarian. Deeds and words. Generations passed through the library on any given school day, after school and over an extraordinary 31 years of dedicated service. Here we encountered the wonderful, wise and warm Mrs. Fletcher. Mrs. Fletcher led, nurtured, helped and encouraged all students, staff and her devoted team of parent helpers.   With humility, integrity and character, Mrs. Fletcher set the standard.  The seasons outside may have changed but Mrs. Fletcher remained always constant. A sanctuary.  Sometimes people just need to go and talk with a friendly face.  On charity days, Mrs. Fletcher quietly sought collectors out to make her donation.  In the holidays,  Mrs. Fletcher was always in school, enhancing the library; work hours in most of one summer holiday were spent refurbishing the library.   The Library, and TBSHS, will not be the same.  Memories and legacy never ever fade.  Individuals are unique. Personal contributions are remembered personally.  A truly devoted family person, Mrs. Fletcher was everything we aspire to.   Every time we enter the library, we will reflect on Mrs. Fletcher’s kindness and class. No doubt, Mrs. Fletcher will be watching over us to ensure we are helping one another, issuing brilliant books, giving wonderful opportunities, hosting key events studying and, of course,  reading in her library.

Simon Etheridge

I am very sad to hear of this news. I am still shocked and find it difficult to accept that she is gone. We used to talk every time we saw each other, may it be in the corridor, the library or even in the ladies’ room. Mrs Fletcher was a good friend of mine, always smiling and ready to help or assist with anything. All my sympathy to her family. She will dearly be missed. May she rest in peace.

Miss Yao

Mrs. Fletcher was an amazing lady. My abiding memory of her is that she taught me to use Encarta on the one computer we had in the school library back in 1993, massively broadening my intellectual horizons. I remember her being patient and generous with her time. She was both kind and authoritative, which is a fine line to walk. She did it supremely and was very well-liked as a result. RIP Helen.  Adam Greenwood-Byrne

To the Fletcher family. I’m so sad to hear about our dear Helen. I helped her out in the library for many years. She always talked about you all and was so proud of her family. Helen was kind and so supportive to all the students. She will be greatly missed. She will live long in so many people’s memories. Rest in Peace Helen.
Helena Duffy

I was very sad to hear about this. I spent (wasted rather, very rarely would I do anything productive) most of my time in the library at break and lunchtimes and after school. Mrs. Fletcher was always a friendly face, a kind word and a helping hand. She was the first to sign my year book at the end of sixth form, which will remain with me as a key part of my time at TBSHS. Pass my condolences on to her family, I will be praying.
Jordan Smith

Such a sad loss. Helen joined TBSHS as our third qualified librarian and built up the Library based on their  and Barbara Pashley’s good work.
Helen moved things on at a fast but secure rate, building up the volunteer systems of parents and pupils and prodigiously enlarging the facilities  in 1990 including newly acquired shelving and introducing, with the overall help of Anthony O’Sullivan, computer systems to facilitate borrowing and security.
She had made a sterling contribution not only in the library but ensured she gave her time in other ways. She was interested in the development of the students not only in relation to study and literature but also appreciated their musical abilities. She added her lovely soprano voice to  musical activities in the school and helped with make up in school productions.
It was a privilege to be educated by her in library skills and to share in her ideas and enthusiasms, not least the joy she took in her much loved family.
Barbara Shaw

Good morning,
Or really, not that good a morning, when one hears of losing an invaluable member of the TBSHS community 🙁
In fact, thanks to her, I finished my silver DofE skills section in the library. Memories of Mrs Fletcher teaching me how to mend books, cataloging new ones and shelving the returned ones flash back to me vividly. The tasks were repetitive, but in that library there was a sense of calmness and ease and pleasure with the passing of time. I enjoyed my time volunteering there. She is the reason I know my ways around a library so well, feel at home, even. She had taught me how to enjoy and love and take care of a book, just as, I believe, she passed that passion on to the generations of pupils. “31 years”, “thousands of boys”, wow.
She will be missed with deep sorrow. Condolences to her family and friends.
Rest in peace, Mrs Fletcher.
Kind regards,
Joey Xiang

It is very difficult to say just how sad I feel at Helen’s passing.  I had the privilege of knowing her as the School Librarian and, later, as a colleague and friend.  I spent many hours in the library, effectively a sanctuary, given extra time there to study and rest due to illness. Helen was always there, but she did far, far more than just being there, as countless current and former students and staff can attest.

Over many years, I would chat with her regularly.  There was never an occasion where there was nothing to talk about!  It was so rewarding and so much fun later working with Helen and keeping in touch, with the last time being just before Christmas.

At a gathering of friends and family in 2004, which Helen and her husband Mel attended, Helen and I spent almost the entire evening chatting to each other!

To her family, I offer my most sincere condolences for your great loss, and I hope your grief is met with the overwhelming love and appreciation so many of us hold for Helen.

Rest in peace, Helen.
Carl Stock
Student 1990–97
ICT Support Assistant (Volunteer) 1998–2000

Helen Fletcher’s funeral took place on the 6th April 2020.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions it was a family-only event, but the School sent their condolences to Helen’s family.

https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Helen-Fletcher.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2020-03-03 10:16:282022-08-31 10:28:39Helen Fletcher: TBSHS 1989-2020

Ian Shaw: TBSHS 1980-1998

March 18, 2019/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Ian Shaw: TBSHS 1980-1998

18th March 2019

The School were very saddened today to hear of the death of former Headmaster Mr Ian Shaw.

Ian Shaw, Headmaster between 1980 and December 1998, was the transformative leader at TBSHS, instrumental in raising the School from its secondary modern roots to a high achieving, forward thinking high school with a prestigious reputation.  His contribution to the School’s progress and achievements was immense, creating an ethos which has transcended time.

Ian Shaw’s funeral took place on the 1st April 2019 in Darlington. The School was represented at the funeral by many, present and former, staff and pupils.

Ian Shaw addressed the School at Awards Evening , December 2013

Ian Shaw’s sad passing has come as a blow to lots of staff, both past and present. He clearly made a huge impact during his time as Headmaster of the School and will be remembered very fondly by so many former students, parents and governors. He played a massive part in the development and proud history of our School and shaped the ethos we strive to uphold today.

Ian Shaw made a great effort to stay in touch with the School and so many of the staff he worked alongside for eighteen years. He was the guest speaker at our Awards Evening just before I joined the School and was delighted to attend our annual Rugby Dinner a couple of years ago, where he reminisced with great fondness, about his time at TBSHS. His passion for the School and his desire to see it continue to flourish has never diminished, even 20 years after retiring.  He has left an incredible legacy, for which I am truly grateful. Our thoughts are with his wife, Barbara, and all of the family at this most difficult of times.
Dale Reeve, Headmaster

Mr Shaw was an inspirational headmaster, implementing many much needed reforms to education in the school. He had a clear vision of what an all-ability school could be and a determination to make sure his vision was realised. To raise the academic profile of the school, two things above all else were needed. First, the school needed to attract pupils from the full ability range, and secondly to teach them, energetic and well qualified staff were required. There was a vital third; he made sure he was known to the students on an individual basis – he knew every student by name throughout the school!

He had a very strong belief that everyone deserved the best education possible, both in and out of the classroom, and did his best to ensure that was the case for every student at TBSHS. Mr Shaw was always passionate about every child who came to the school and every member of staff who worked here. He believed that students can share in a wealth of sporting, dramatic, musical, aesthetic, spiritual, cultural, international and social experiences and achieve well beyond the confines of the classroom. In order to compete with the best schools in the country, the School should provide additional energy and focus to providing opportunities for students to develop personal interests, take on roles of responsibility and leadership and to become involved in the wider life of the School. This vision, to provide a wealth and variety of extra-curricular activities, is an important and intrinsic part of TBSHS life today and our exceptionally well-qualified and dedicated staff continue to set high standards of commitment and expectation.

L-R: Paul Noble (DHM), Keith Collie (Deputy Head Boy), Catherine Vaughan (Head Girl), Mr Shaw Headmaster, Claire Yeoman (Deputy Headgirl) Roger Cooke (DHM), 1991

In his time as Headmaster from 1980 to 1998, he made a huge contribution to the lives of so many pupils during their time at TBSHS and found it particularly rewarding to see students’ progress through the school and achieve success in their A Levels and beyond. His insistence on developing an ethos of high achievement and developing pride in the school, we will always respect and cherish. The School he created has stood the test of time providing a genuine climate of learning so that students come to school expecting to learn, to succeed, to develop exciting talents, to discover hidden ones and to contribute to the enhancement of a unique school community.
Throughout Mr Shaw’s retirement his lifelong loyalty and dedication to the community of the school shone forth.
Paul Noble Deputy Headmaster, appointed by Ian Shaw in 1982

“The Bishop’s Stortford High School is because Headmaster Mr. Shaw was.  Thank you to Mr. Shaw, and, of course,  Mrs. Shaw, for everything.  TBSHS will always stand on the shoulders of these inspirational giants.”
(Simon Etheridge, Eternally grateful to be appointed  by Mr. Shaw in 1996)

I remember Ian Shaw, with his glasses on the top of his head, sailing down the corridors with his gown floating behind him, & in the early days a waft of cigar smoke in his wake.

He would stop in the middle of the library to demonstrate a better way to play a particular shot with the cricket bat to someone he had watched play, and then he would just sit down at a library table & go through his post. Not only did he know every student’s name, but he also knew something about them all! He cared so much about each & every student, & each & every member of staff.

It was Ian who had changed the name of the school from “Boys’ High” to TBSHS, & got cross if anyone forgot “The” at the beginning!! This marked a huge turn-round for the school. It had been very much a secondary modern, but Ian soon began to make it feel like a grammar school. At the first parents’ evening after he was appointed, half the teachers didn’t turn up. He apologised profusely to all the parents & assured them that this would never ever happen again; it never did. Although this was a bit before my time, my husband told me this – he was there!

School Flag at half mast on the day of the funeral

If Ian phoned anyone, he would start in mid-sentence, so it took most of the conversation to work out what he was talking about! This happened because his brain worked so fast, the rest of us couldn’t keep up. He was of course a historian, but was incredibly well-read in everything; and even his general conversation would be peppered with quotations that went over the head of most of us!

When we redecorated the library following the building of the extension, Ian was there with the rest of us, paint brush in hand – that’s the sort of person he was.

His wife Barbara helped me to run the library, so I got to know the Shaws very well over the years & have kept in touch with them through my Christmas letters & Ian’s comments in the Christmas cards. My thoughts are with Barbara, Robin & Geraldine at this very sad time.
Helen Fletcher
School Librarian, appointed by Ian Shaw in January 1989

The present students, staff, parents, governors and the whole community of Bishop’s Stortford owe Ian Shaw a great debt. He took an at best average school and by his inspiration and leadership he oversaw and drove its transformation into something exceptional. He was idiosyncratic driven and sometimes infuriating but he was always a great headmaster. I was honoured to work for him.
Roger Cooke, Former Deputy Headmaster

It was with the greatest sadness that I received this news. I had known Ian for  60 years, as I was a pupil at Sir George Monoux Grammar School when he started his career there in 1958. We lost contact thereafter until I applied for the post of Second Deputy at TBSHS in 1984, not knowing that he was the Headmaster. I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate to have worked closely with him for six years. What a joy and privilege it was!

I have often said that you only need to know one thing about Ian’s achievements, which is that when he entered the School in 1980 the whole of the Sixth Form numbered 36, and when he retired 18 years later it numbered exactly 360. And all aspects of the life of the School: academic standards, sport, music, drama, public speaking and so forth (Ian would never permit the term “etc”.!) improved in proportion. One might add that in 1984 we had just 15 university places, compared to 120 in 1998!
Another thing I frequently say is that if I achieved anything in my own 15 years of Headship at Beechen Cliff School in Bath, it was because of what I learned from Ian, especially in terms of raising standards throughout the life of a school. Ian was extraordinary, charismatic and utterly exceptional. He was my mentor and a very dear friend. I shall miss him enormously.
Roy Ludlow  Deputy Headmaster 1984 – 1990

Very sad news indeed. As one of his first pupils he will always be Batman to my generation. It was only on leaving school I realized how brilliant he was. RIP.
Darren Briscoe

Very sad news. A tremendous man and inspirational Headmaster.
Alasdair Jones

My first identifiable mentor and someone who continued to guide me throughout my early adult life. A unique style and a razor sharp mind who transformed a school and left an incredible legacy. Rest easy sir, your work is done.
Love and condolences to Barbara and the family.
Jonathan Hewlett
TBSHS 1986-1988
Student Teacher 1989
Friend of the School

I was honoured to serve on the PTA and Jobber’s Wood committees with Ian whilst my sons attended TBSHS.
He was a great character, an inspirational headmaster and it was a privileged to have known him.
I will miss his notes and Christmas cards with news and shared memories of great times at TBSHS.
Thank you Mr Shaw.
Liz Webber

Very sad news
Juliet Scantlebury

Very sorry to hear this. Was a great man and did a hell of a lot for the school. RIP
Mark Sellars

A truly inspirational headmaster. I am proud to have worked @TBSHS under his leadership.
Paul Hughes

#RIP Sir. A true legend amongst men.
Pete Curtis

Sad to read about the passing of Mr Shaw, my old Headteacher from @TBSHS – many fond memories of the man, not least the carol singing at his house and the welcoming drinks.
Gavin Simpson

Mr Shaw still remembered my name and asked after my parents literally decades after I left the school. I will never think of him without hearing the words, “Backlift! Stance!” ??
Paul Morrison, TBSHS 1987-1994

I was at the School when Mr Shaw arrived. He caused quite a stir because of his fondness for wearing a gown and his slight eccentricities. But beneath all that was a very smart mind working hard to transform the school and make it the best possible place for everyone involved.

I was lucky to be part of the year that he fondly called the ‘annus mirabulus’  because of our record-breaking A-level performances – since surpassed many many times under his leadership. He deserves a lot of credit for that. It wasn’t just about education; Mr Shaw encouraged us to be ambitious and nurtured our confidence.

The culture of the school immediately became far richer under his leadership, in sport, in music but also in general student life. I led a pretty daft campaign to ban school uniforms at the school, which most heads would have ignored – but he gave me the opportunity to present my case, which he patiently listened to me before gently interrogating my argument, and winning me over.

He was also wonderfully tolerant of two drama productions that I wrote and put on in the school with sixth-form friends. They were called Macshaw and Lord of the Coconuts and were parodies of school life borrowing from Macbeth and Lord of the Flies. But while both productions satirised him wildly (as did our unofficial school magazine The Alternative Voice), it was always done fondly.

Mr Shaw encouraged debate and like to drop baffling little comments into conversations, the sense of which only emerged later in a lightbulb moment. He once asked me what books I was reading for pleasure. I said I was reading everything that George Orwell had ever written. ‘Don’t do English at University, Fraser,” he said. “Do history or politics – that’s what you’re really interested in.” It was sage advice that I should have taken, and often thought about later.

As Darren says, we all liked Mr Ian Shaw at the time, and he was impossible to miss, flapping along the corridor in his gown, with a whiff of cigar smoke, addressing boys by name, frequently offering deliberately mischievous, head-scratching comments. Yet it’s only with the benefit of hindsight that we realised what an outstanding headmaster he was and how fortunate we had been to know him. RIP Mr Shaw.
Fraser Allen (1975-83)

He was a great man who will long be remembered at TBSHS, he not only knew the name of every pupil but he knew about us all and cared for us all. Many memories of him – having to play for the 3rd VI rugby team after a mistake with the schedules and having him training us on the lawn outside his office (and reminding us rule changes as most of us hadn’t played in years), him sweeping through the hall, cape flowing for assembly, glasses perched on his head. Standing at the top of the stairs on the Tee corridor and being able to name a pupil right at the far end who was running. The school became what it is because of his care, compassion and drive for everyone to do their best. RIP Ian Shaw.
Neil Hollis – 1987-1994

Sad day. He was a magnificent beast of a man. Best head teacher ever.
Ben Millard

A surprise to say the least and sad to hear. I remember him taking over from Mr Davies in my second year. Mr Shaw did a lot to improve the school’s reputation but, like so many others, I didn’t appreciate it fully until I left.
Keith David Nicholls

So sad to hear of Ian’s death but so glad to have had a son at school during his time and to have been a governor then too. Wonderfully eccentric at times but so passionate about the school and its sport. My son told me about impromptu training sessions in the corridors depending on the season, from a practice lineout to revisit the previous Saturday’s game, to a forward defensive. He gave the school real character which has continued and blossomed. You can feel it!
David Royle

Ian Shaw interviewed me and offered me the role of leading Business Studies in 1990. He was a unique rather eccentric headmaster and reminded me often of the classic/ old school world of gowns and tradition. He was a man of his word and generous with the people he worked with and the children who were lucky enough to be part of his school. His ability to motivate was undisputed. He selected teachers because he believed they could and would make a difference to the learning of the children in his care. Jackie Leavers, later Jackie Shaw was one of the extraordinary carers that he took on to look after the disaffected and struggling students. She was one of the few people to break the glass ceiling for women in secondary school management. Ian helped make that happen. His care was significant. His love for sport came to fruition in the delivery of Jobbers Wood which is a wonderful resource few state secondary schools could imagine accessing today.  I think TBSHS will always will be infused by  Ian Shaw’s influence, despite the fact that all of the students now were not even alive when he retired! I was privileged from time to time by a few moments of personal/private discussion with him. He could and would challenge ideas in a rational academic way. As a historian he was able to make strong arguments for the things he believed in of which giving EVERYONE an opportunity to shine in one way or another was the core of his pedagogical approach. Now it is too late to say thank you to him in person, for which I am sorry. My sincerest condolences to Barbara and their children who I am sure are very proud and very sad at this time.
Frank Beran (Business Education Subject Leader 1990-2017)

 

Please can I offer my condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Shaw family, to you and all colleagues who worked so closely with this great man and to the entire TBSHS family.

I may no longer work at TBSHS, but I am a proud former student and even proud form teacher of the black and gold.  Having worked with Dale, and working with the fantastic head I have now here at St Ivo, I can only imagine how lucky and fortunate you all were to have worked with someone like Mr Shaw.

My tribute to Mr Shaw is simple, I was at the school from 1997 to 2003.  Mr Shaw it appears was only my headmaster for one year.  That has left me stunned, because I always thought I had him throughout my KS3 and KS4.  Such was his character that I hold him as my headteacher to this day.

‘Abedin! Are you doing cricket in the summer?’

Rest in Peace Mr Shaw
Tam Abedin

Ian Shaw’s achievements at The Bishop’s Stortford High School are the stuff of legend.  Through shrewd appointments, insisting on the right ‘standards’, some local politics but most of all by inspirational leadership, Ian transformed the sleepy and under-achieving Bishop’s Stortford Boys’ High School into The Bishop’s Stortford High School as we know it today – a high-achieving, forward thinking centre of excellence with a prestigious reputation.

The school grew out of all recognition from the initial roll of less than five hundred 11-16 year olds to over twelve hundred 11-18 year olds with a Sixth Form of three hundred and fifty.  New buildings to include a sports hall, sixth form centre, on site pavilion, the Newton block and Jobbers Wood were acquired along the way.  Today the School must move to a new site in order to accommodate its ambitions (something Ian Shaw identified and attempted in 1990’s), and in doing so the School should not allow his immense contribution to its development to go unmarked.

But I am forever indebted to Ian Shaw for the great personal faith he showed in me and for the challenges he set that I could never have imagined when I joined that secondary modern school in 1972.  But that was his style.  When he made an appointment he would give them their head and let them get on with it – a policy that reaped great dividends in so many departments.
Ian Wickens
TBSHS Teacher, Senior Bursar, Director of Examinations, etc. 1972-2008

I left the school in 1991 but have as recently as last week mentioned some of Ian Shaw’s reports on me, including “occasionally brilliant”, and “a good, if somewhat loquacious, report”.

Being in possession of an uncommon surname, it turned out that he taught one of my relatives in his early career at George Monoux.
Carl Warnell

I am very sad to hear the news, but it has also been fantastic to read the other tributes, that have brought so many memories flooding back from my time at TBSHS.  Looking back I remember Mr Shaw as an inspiration figure.  His energetic drive and passion to continually improve the school and its pupils created an institution which punched above its weight both academically and on the sports field.  His vision saw us playing rugby against (and often beating) top tier public schools who, traditionally, we had no right associate ourselves with, and he would always be there on the touchline supporting.  He was continually visible in and around the school, for example, taking the time to prowl the corridors during lesson changes, learning everyone’s name (whilst simultaneously intimidating everyone he came into contact with…even the teachers!).

He continually encouraged us, and crucially gave us the confidence to aim high, for the very best careers and universities we could achieve.  Only retrospectively do I realise how much I have gained from the institution which Mr Shaw built.  Thank you Mr Shaw, you will be sorely missed.
Peter Harding
TBSHS 1992-1999

Very sad news. So many generations of TBSHS pupils, me included, owe Mr Shaw so much. A great teacher, leader and motivator, inspiring (and striking fear into!!!) students and teachers alike to be the best they could be. He knew every pupil’s name, was on the touchline every weekend, and was always visible around the school, firing A level combinations at you in the corridor for uni applications “Phys, chem, bio!”, “double maths, phys, chem!”. He even took the trouble to phone me, after he had retired, to congratulate me on my university place. Great memories, thank you.

David Harding

When someone says the word “headmaster” I think of this man. Thank you Sir, you were tough but your ways are needed today more than ever! Him walking the corridors with gown in full flow is a glorious memory. Everytime he would see me I just remember all he’d say is “Abedin!” and everytime I expected he was about to tell me off or say somehting important but off he’d continue on his way.
Tarakul Abedin 
TBSHS student 1994 to 2002

Mr Shaw was the most eccentric and inspirational person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

I am very grateful to him for all the amazing school memories.
Stephen Bilby

V sad to hear this. A wonderful man and a wonderful role model to many of us. RIP sir.
Andy Black

 

The inspirational headmaster of @TBSHS has passed away. His impact on thousands of young lives will be his legacy. RIP Mr Shaw.
James O’Donnell

This news saddens me greatly. My thoughts are with Ian Shaw’s family. He was a man who’s thoughts, musings, debates and eccentricities still shape and contribute to my life today. A man who will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.
Dale Richards

A very kind and Dear Heart, Mr. Shaw also allowed me back after expelling me! Bon Voyage Sir!
Nick Caffrey

Mr Shaw was an incredible Head Master – a man who inspired me both as a student and as teacher. I have so many memories of him while I was a student at the School. Just to highlight two – being berated for playing the hymn in assembly either too loudly, too quietly, too fast or too slow (it was always his joke) and him being furious with me for missing the first Oxbridge meeting when I hadn’t even considered applying to Oxford (he only forgave me after I was offered a place).

When I was on my teacher training placement in Braintree, I was summoned to the office to receive an “urgent” phone call from an Ian Shaw – I had heard nothing from him since leaving the school in 1991 but somehow he knew that I was doing my PGCE and exactly which school I was training at. This resulted in an interview the next Saturday morning in the pavilion during which I think he offered me a job.

So after, 7 years as a student I returned to the School to teach Chemistry. Ian’s approach to education really helped me formulate my own ethos and I always imagined that one day I could be a Head Master like him. However, Old School Head Masters simply don’t exist in education these days and it soon became clear when working with subsequent headteachers, that the job today has very different kinds of demands and expectations.
So with grateful thanks to a man who I still hold in great affection, RIP Ian Shaw, B.A.
Martin Scott 
TBSHS Student: 1984-1991
TBSHS Teacher: 1997-2005

Great Headmaster with a nice sense of humour,  always remember attending my first “Parent of a prospective 6th form student” meeting, where he discussed reading newspapers “Broadsheets were for reading & Red Tops were for wrapping up fish & chips” on my 2nd such meeting he used the same example but spotted me in the audience & I had to deliver the punch line !!!
Jan Zelezinski  (Ex BS Secondary Modern) !! 

Ian was Deputy Head at Whitby School in the late 70’s and I was privileged to be one of his History pupils at that time.

The man was truly inspirational and he above anybody nurtured my love of History, and developed it into a life-long passion – I will be forever indebted to him.

In addition to his passion for Education and History, his quirky sense of humour was never far from the surface, and I cannot help but smile about some of the other comments that have been posted in tribute. Even now 40 years later, I still have happy memories about the long conversations we had about Geoff Boycott’s ability to seemingly bat all day for England, and the merits of his unequalled defensive batting technique! If not that, it was a discussion about the latest TV presentation on the causes of WW1 by the renowned historian AJP Taylor.

My one claim to fame is that I once beat him at a game of Chess – but it was only once!

If ever anybody wants to hack my internet accounts, I am going to give you all a massive clue – One of the regular security questions is ‘’Who was your favourite Teacher’’? – Can anybody guess my answer!
Rest in Peace – Top Man
Hugh Gollogly

I am very sad to hear this news. Mr Shaw was a wonderful man and truly dedicated to TBSHS. He was a very kind and caring person and really cared about all his students and staff (even after they left TBSHS). I was appointed by Mr Shaw in 1993 to join his staff. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity and privilege to work with him under his leadership. He was an exceptional Headmaster and a fantastic boss to work for. I have many fond memories of him and my time at TBSHS and I will never forget him. My thoughts are with Barbara and his family at this very sad time.
Mandy Matthews

My TBSHS memories are full of fond images of Ian Shaw, a true British eccentric.  Greeting us with seemingly random comments in the Tee corridor (until our brains caught up with his),  taking first year cricket and rugby, knowing every pupils name,  the deafening silence the fell upon the library when he entered, the promptness with which we all stood up when he entered a room.  He had the upmost respect of students, teachers and parents alike.  His legacy will live on through the many generations he has inspired.

Thank you, Sir.
James Billing  1993-2000

I’ve just heard the sad news of Mr Shaw’s passing. My memories are so similar to other people’s, but still so vivid… not just the flowing gown, but the awful, 1970s tracksuit that he wore when deciding to ‘help out’ with Games. His knowledge not only of names, but of a snippet of information about every student, was legendary. He was always completely up to date. He used to ask me how my clarinet playing was coming on, but shortly after I gave up, I got asked about my cricket instead. His grasp of what went on in his school was amazing. And it was HIS school. The pride I have in being a TBSHS alumnus is completely down to the community that he built. So sad to hear of his passing, but the school’s continued success provides a fantastic legacy to a great man.
Andy Gould

An inspirational, quirky yet totally passionate man, Ian Shaw was an amazing character that drove TBSHS into a new stratosphere of education. From the time I started in 1983 the school changed immeasurably in the 7 years I attended. Concert Band Tours to Hungary and Holland, Cricket Tours, the Ski trips under Mr Wickens’ leadership, the sporting accolades and of course the rise in academic standards Ian Shaw never stopped pushing the school forward to bigger and better things. My proudest moment was when my twin brother Gavin, and I, received the Headmaster’s Prize in the Final Sixth Assembly for our contribution to Music and Sport. This has led us into careers in teaching, Gavin now working as a Head of Music in an international school in Abu Dhabi and me as a Deputy Headmaster of a preparatory school in Winchester. RIP Mr Shaw- you inspired a generation and the Greenaway Twins!
Alex Greenaway 

The wonderful experiences I had at TBSHS, both as a student and volunteer teaching assistant, really are some of the best in my life.

There are countless examples of Mr Shaw’s impact on my life, one of them being his intervention so I could sit my GCSE English examination later in the day due to long-term illness.

I asked Mr Shaw if I could continue to volunteer at TBSHS once my time had ended as a student.  This was because, as is still the case, I was unable to work due to chronic illness and disability. He sat me down in the Foyer and proceeded to interview me!  After the interview, he said I could continue to volunteer.  I was so happy. This was the best and possibly the most impossible thing I had ever asked for.  I could see a stable future for me and the work I loved doing in a career I still hope to pursue should I recover.

The next day, still elated and still a student, I went into the computer rooms to continue helping.  I was told, much to my utter astonishment, that Mr Shaw had made it clear I was to be classed as a member of staff (de facto).  That meant I would be able to go behind the scenes at TBSHS.  Yes – the staff room!  It took me two weeks to pluck up the courage to go into the staff room after starting!  Behind the scenes was amazing, and it was such an experience having been a student and then working there.  Being able to see the School from both sides is something only a few have been able to experience.  But in that, the School and its staff were the same on both sides.
Ian was the leader of a large team of dedicated people that made that all possible.  For that, and all of the things he did for us far beyond that expected of a Headmaster, my family and I will be forever grateful.
“In silence, please stand.”  Rest in peace, sir.
Carl Stock
Student, 1990–97
ICT Support Assistant, 1998–2000

I was saddened to hear of Ian Shaw’s passing.  I had the good fortune to be appointed to my first position at TBSHS in 1988 by Ian and could not have had a better start in teaching.  My four years at the school under Ian’s guidance and astute leadership shaped me for the rest of my career.  The school I joined was a marvellous place to work.  I became one of the ‘Brick House Boys’ who along with other young staff were nurtured and inspired by Ian to take risks, be bold and to challenge our students to achieve great things.  In assemblies, in prayer, staff and students alike were encouraged to “hold fast to everything that is good”; Ian led the way in doing so.

Ian had the knack of knowing something (usually quite a bit) about everyone and everything in the school.  He would identify key achievements of boys (and young ladies in the sixth form) and unashamedly promote them as examples to the rest of the school.  Small boys were asked “elevate” (stand) in assemblies as Ian would tell all present about their inspirational moment of “brilliant” tactical genius on the rugby or cricket field.  Years after I left, whenever I met Ian, he would pin-point certain events as seminal in the development of the school: Warren’s try at Hitchin, our first win at Cooper’s, Trigg’s century, the First Fifteen visiting the Burrell collection in Glasgow.  He saw contextual significance in everything.

Ian knew that as much as the boys needed educating so did their parents.  So he could be seen every Saturday working the touchlines and boundaries, cultivating, politicking and manipulating support for the school.  Occasionally he would admonish those parents who dared to criticise the referee.  He won the parents over and succeeded in recruiting many who contributed significantly to the school’s development, not least the Harlow mafia and the Scottish clan.

One of Ian’s legacies was the number of staff that he appointed who went on to become Head teachers or deputies later in their careers.  There were many dozens!  He was an astute judge of character.  He once told me that recruitment of staff was the most important part of his job.  It may have reflected a certain bias but we had a pretty good staff cricket team at the time!
I visited TBSHS last year and it was great to see the school flourishing.  So much of what Ian Shaw created has remained, not least the values that he strove so hard to instil.  It is with great fondness that I remember my time there; they were halcyon days.  My thoughts go to Barbara and the family.
Stuart Dodds
Teacher and Senior Physical Education Master 1988-1992

Very sad news I was secretary to the PTA for a short time he did so much for the school.RIP
Terrie Cowler

I’ve only just read the news of Mr Shaw’s passing, and as everyone else, am deeply saddened.
As a student that meekly sailed under the radar, I generally didn’t have much personal interaction with Mr Shaw however, I remember well his eccentric moments, including when he burst into a lesson to excitedly announce Thatcher had resigned. He was a teacher that certainly had great respect for students with talent and endeavour, but perhaps an even warmer spot for students that had, to put it politely, character and a glint in their eye. But my abiding memory will be my one direct and warm conversation with him on my very last day, on asking my name he enquired if I was indeed my brother’s brother, he then recalled that my brother had gone on to Portsmouth University. Astounding considering my brother had left the school 6 years earlier.
James Levett

Ian Shaw appointed me in the early years of his headship before he developed fully his unconventional approach to interviewing. The panel consisted of local authority advisers, governors and Headmaster. When I was asked if I would accept the job, Ian leant back in his chair so that no-one except me could see him and nodded his head vigorously. As he did with so many others, he put his trust in me and the next fifteen years were the most exhilarating of my career.

He believed in us and we – staff, pupils, and parents – believed in him and his vision for the School. As with the best teachers, he had the priceless ability to inspire others in such a way – a word or note of praise; a restless, persistent desire to aim ever higher; a deep understanding of what it is to be human – that the fortunate recipient would find themselves achieving something they never thought possible. So many blossomed under his guidance and Ian took great delight and pride in their development and that of the School.

One memory of many that comes flooding back. He kept everyone, students and staff, on their toes. Even in assembly (especially in assembly) it was an unwise teacher who let their mind drift – “tell us about the General Studies speaker last week, Mr Etheridge” or even, “Mr Smith …”. One quickly learnt to be prepared. Assemblies, of course, were important in the life of the School: delightfully described by Melvyn Bragg as an “unconscious education through the magnificent language of the King James Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, the hymns”, they provided a wonderful opportunity for the Headmaster to set the tone and establish the ethos.

For those reading these tributes who never knew him (and to bring a smile of recognition to those who did), I’d like to finish with an insight to the man through his own words. On Thursday, 17th December 1998, at the final event of a week of celebrations to mark his outstanding leadership of The Bishop’s Stortford High School, Ian Shaw addressed Governors, parents, staff, local teachers, councillors and supporters of the School. Unusually, and exceptionally in his eighteen years as Headmaster, he finished his speech by talking about himself:

 I went to Primary School with Ken Taylor who was to open for Yorkshire and England and played centre half for Huddersfield Town. Ian Shaw left King James’s Grammar School, Almondbury on 31st August 1946. His birthday was 23rd June. He was Head Boy. I arrived on 1st September 1946, my birthday is 23rd June. The Headmaster’s birthday was 23rd June. I suppose the die was cast. Another Headmaster, Harry Taylor, made me Head Boy – he taught me probably all I knew – how men can be greater than they think in spite of themselves, how they can achieve more than they can dream if they dream at all, and how they can enrich our lives if we can encourage them to fulfil their talents and fulfil themselves.

Thank you all for the joy you have brought to this School, The Bishop’s Stortford High School, but above all, I thank the Staff for the joy they brought in the morning, the joy they brought in their scholarship and their craft, the joy they brought in their music, drama and sport, the joy they brought in the afternoon and the joy they brought in the evening and the joy they brought in the pub – the home, said AJP Taylor, of Common Sense.

Floreat Schola

It is very sad that this remarkable man is no longer with us but how fortunate we were to have known him.
Peter Smith, TBSHS 1983-2008

The growing number of tributes to Ian Shaw on the TBSHS website is evidence of the huge respect and affection for him from former pupils and their parents, from former staff and from current staff who either knew him well or knew him by reputation.

I was privileged to serve as a Governor during the 1990s/early 2000s, whilst my son and my daughter attended the School. TBSHS shaped their future and how fortunate they were to have been able to be there. It was by then well-known that Ian Shaw had led the transformation of the School from an average secondary school to a sought-after Grant-maintained school which was significantly over-subscribed. This transformation was not without its controversy, but the impact was clear for all to see and the results spoke, and continue now to speak, for themselves. It was in no small measure the product of Ian Shaw`s vision of what needed to be, and could be, achieved and his ability to lead a group of dedicated staff –  a mixture of the established professionals who shared his vision and newly-appointed young teachers, so many of whom have now achieved great things in their careers at TBSHS and on into the wider world.  I know that Ian was just as pleased about their success as he was about the success of the many young men and young ladies who passed through his School.

He was, of course, an idiosyncratic leader. That shines through in these tributes. I am sure that current school leaders would not disagree that his approach is not likely to be seen again soon. But the underlying philosophy – that all young people should have the opportunity to achieve either academically or artistically or in sport, or in all of those – is, I think,  the same now as it was when he set about the transformation of the school to become TBSHS.

Ian Shaw was an inspiration to his staff, to his pupils and to their parents, and he knew how to get the best out of his Governing Body as well. The message that stands out from every one of these tributes is “I am pleased, and lucky, to have been at TBSHS when Ian Shaw was there.”

I will miss deciphering the cryptic Christmas messages!
Condolences and love to Barbara, Robin and Geraldine.
Michael Billing

Outside my own family, Ian Shaw had a bigger impact on my life than anyone else.

I arrived as a green probationary teacher in 1987 and was immediately told to take on the RE department.  I lacked self-confidence in those days and could easily have spent the rest of my career doing as little as possible; Ian Shaw would have none of this and saw something in me that I didn’t.  With his guidance, encouragement, and generosity (he even let me have a few of his cigars over the years!), he pushed me through the ranks and, when I left the school, I was Senior Master.

But I never would have made much of myself in teaching without him.  I went on to two deputy headships and served under five headmasters in all; none of them even began to compare to him.  I left teaching in 2008 as a result of ill-health; Ian continued to keep in touch and did so until his death.  (I never called him by his Christian name until I’d left TBSHS; while I was there, he was always just “Headmaster”.)

I can’t believe he’s gone.

He could be caustic at times but he never bore a grudge; his general reaction to my sillier proposals was to say, beaming, “That’s bollocks, Danes.”  And yet he was one of the kindest men I’ve ever known: his vision was inspired by his deep-rooted Anglicanism; he was someone who tried very hard to love his neighbour — in particular, the pupils and the staff — as himself.  We shared a love of Alan Ayckbourn and he was hugely supportive of the plays we mounted; few heads these days would come to every performance of every play.  He appointed my wife Duvessa to the English staff in 1993.  We are both going to miss him very much.

Times change.  TBSHS under Ian was never a school that simply aimed to tick off the boxes in the OFSTED handbook; it was never an examinations factory, either.  It was much broader and deeper.  We tried to follow Ian’s lead and make the school the best it could be.  It was certainly the best school I have ever worked in, in both the state and independent sectors.
Rest in peace, old friend, and thank you — for everything.
Simon Danes
TBSHS 1987-1996
Head of RE, and variously Deputy Head of Sixth Form,
Head of General Studies,
Head of Middle School and Senior Master

Like so many, I was greatly saddened to hear of the death of Ian Shaw.

It was my privilege to work with the school during the 1990s, when it was part of the IQEA project, a school improvement network coordinated by Cambridge University. In those days I was a regular visitor to the school where, driven by Ian’s unquenchable ambition, staff developed a number of interesting and innovative practices, benefiting both the school and, with the wider dissemination of their experience through the network, the wider educational community. However, I rarely got in and out of the building without Peter Smith telling me that ‘the boss’ would like me to drop in for a chat while I was there.

Reading these moving and affectionate tributes, I must concede that he may indeed have cut a somewhat eccentric figure in the LEA liberated but OfSTED oppressed education system of the nineties, though, probably because we shared similar schooling backgrounds and teachers swooping around corridors in gowns did not strike either of us as unusual, it was not something I really noticed at the time. However, while some of his habits may have been rooted in the rituals that the oldest grammar schools inevitably acquire over some four hundred odd years of educating elites, under his stewardship BSHS was transformed into an outstanding but wonderfully modern and thoroughly diverse high school. His fierce determination to demonstrate that individual talents can be nurtured and individual needs addressed in a community that is, nevertheless, unashamedly meritocratic, brought a marvellous mix of challenge and opportunity to staff and pupils alike.

My own abiding memory of Ian is arriving at the school sometime around 8.45am, one balmy summer morning, and finding him out in the cricket nets, turning over his arm against the keener members of the junior cricket teams, who had arrived early for a spot of batting practice before school- an activity he was clearly enjoying.
As we walked into the school he asked me if I knew of any pleasure greater than helping others to become better at something than you are yourself, or any job with more opportunity to do this than teaching.

He will be missed, to be sure; but there are many still here who face life with a straighter bat because of his influence.
Mel West
Professor Mel West FRSA
Manchester Institute of Education
University of Manchester

I’m going to confess that this is the umpteenth attempt at writing what I hope is a fitting tribute to wonderful Headmaster.

Why am I battling to put pen to paper? I ask myself.

Do I fear that my writing skills and grammar would likely offend him? Absolutely.

Is the breadth of my vocabulary sufficient to articulate his brilliance as a leader and mentor? Not even close.

Will any number of adjectives truly reveal the full extent of his influence? No.

If I’m brutally honest, the real reason I’m struggling and I’m ashamed to say it – I never properly thanked him.
He created a culture that enabled staff and pupils to thrive, installing values that transcend time and characteristics that have defined the paths and successes of so many. This is true leadership and a legacy befitting a man who dedicated his life to the sharing of knowledge.
Thank you Headmaster.
D.Zelezinski 
Student 1990-1997

Ian Shaw was, quite simply, an amazing headteacher.  Having been at the boys’ high from 1985-1992 there are so many memories of Ian Shaw it is difficult to know which to include.

For example, in my younger years at TBSHS I was knocked off my bike, and indeed unconscious, on Thorley Hill while cycling home with my friends.   As I regained my awareness lying at the side of the road, I realised that Mr Shaw was there, even before the ambulance was.

I used to be a paperboy and Mr Shaw lived along Cricketfield Lane and his house was on my round. One morning he stopped assembly halfway through, paused, and looked around the school hall seeking me out.  He then proceeded to complain with enthusiasm, and a twinkle in his eye, in front of the whole school that he didn’t receive his (wife’s) Woman’s Weekly that morning, and when did I plan to sort that out?

During my A-levels I felt sure he changed his drive to school on two or three occasions to go over Chantry Road – my walking route – to offer a lift and persuade me to join the Oxbridge class that he was starting up.  I never did join the class, but I do remember he met each A-level student personally on results day to congratulate us.

I went on to university to study Maths and whilst in my second year I was pondering becoming a teacher.  Ian Shaw took time out from running a school to write to me personally to impart his wisdom and encourage me in my career choice.  He even enabled me to do my first teaching practice in TBSHS where my biggest barrier was my own psychological one of walking into the staffroom at breaktime and discovering that all teachers had first names.
I recall his assemblies ending with quotes or prayers, such as: “to toil, and not to seek for rest; to labour, and not to ask for any reward; save that of knowing that we do thy will”  and  “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
I have now been teaching over 20 years and am now part of a leadership team in a school in Buckinghamshire.  My understanding of how schools should be has been largely shaped by his leadership of the school I attended.  I now end my own school assemblies with the same words Mr Shaw used; echoes from my childhood, from my head teacher who chose to get to know me – just one of thousands of students – and chose to encourage me in both my career and my lifetime.
Alex Rees
Student 1985-1992

Even someone who had never met Ian Shaw would read the comments on this page and realise that he was an inspirational man who achieved something that so many others have tried, and failed to do.  Before Ian Shaw (and a long time before I joined the school) TBSHS did not have the best of reputations locally.  Then Ian Shaw joined.  From what I understand he turned the school around and when I joined in 1994, until I left in 2001, there is no doubt it fundamentally changed me as a person and likewise so many of my peers.

What Ian Shaw truly understood is that while a school should clearly teach it’s students academic ability and achievements, it takes far more to achieve a well rounded individual, especially in the world we live today where so much has become about “league tables”.  He understood that building a successful young man ranged from learning in the classroom, achieving in your exams, having a firm handshake, looking people in the eye, maintaining good values and excelling at extracurricular activities, including sport, music, drama to name a few.  For me, he, with the strong staff team he built and inspired, created an ethos that taught you to work hard, respect people, aim for the sky, not to be scared, follow your dreams and try to achieve, give and gain as much as you can from life.

One of my fondest memories, strangely, of Ian Shaw is the day he stood outside one of the toilet blocks, I can’t remember whether it was “Churchill” or “Bastille”.  I was in the wrong year for the toilets (used to be years 1-3 in one set and 4-5 in another).  He said “Sam Prior?”, I said “Yes, Sam Prior”, he said “Year”, I said “Year 4” and he said “Wrong toilets boy, go and see my secretary and get a Head of Year”.  The memory is still fresh for me today.  He taught discipline but also team spirit and fun.  It is still fundamental to the “Work hard, play hard” culture I instil in my business today.  He always kept you on your toes, knew your name and knew your story. When I was made Deputy Head Boy in 1999, I still remember knocking on his office door and him saying “Come in Prior”.

Today, my stepson is a pupil at TBSHS and it has a very good Headmaster in Dale Reeve.  When I walk around the school now, so many years after Ian Shaw was pacing the corridors, it very much still has the same feeling (ethos) of hard work, believe, respect, effort, achievement, team spirit and fun as it did in the days when I walked the same corridors.

Rest in peace Mr. Shaw.  You achieved so much and are so fondly remembered by so many, and deservedly so.  My thoughts are with your family who no doubt supported you tremendously while throwing yourself into life at TBSHS.

Respice, Aspice, Prospice
Sam Prior

I was saddened to hear of the loss of such a great man. I am thankful for his leadership and for him appointing so many of the wonderful staff who directly made such an impact upon me, having been taught by Mr Noble, Mr Danes, Mr Dodds, Miss Heller, Mrs Vaughn, Miss Welch and Mr Thompson amongst others and most significantly to me Mr Hows. Legends one and all. I was fortunate enough to have not only been taught by Mr Shaw, politics – very scary, but also by dear Mrs Shaw. Thank you for nurturing my early love of science, sorry for talking in class, I was listening. Thank you for your support and love you showed to the school. My heartfelt condolences are with you and you family.
Edward Richardson,
Pupil 1987-1994

A few words cannot really do justice to the life long affect that Mr Shaw had, not only on my life, but on that of countless staff and students.  I first encountered Mr Shaw on a June Summer’s Day when I arrived for my Sixth Form interview with the Head of Sixth Form, Steven Munday.  It was safe to say it was like encountering the man from Delmonte in his beige suite.  He uttered very few words but what I do remember is “Faiers, we don’t just play Rugby at this school.  We have other sports and other activities for you to engage with”.  I actually didn’t realise that he was the Headmaster – just some mad professor.  I was fortunate enough to be part of the vocational route through education that Mr Shaw and Jackie Farrell-Shaw believed in.  He was passionate about giving everybody the opportunity to reach their goals through whatever route was available.  I spent three wonderful years at the school where his passion and vision for students to pursue higher education was instilled in me.  Having left University I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to go back to the School to work whilst I explored the possibility of training to be a PE teacher.  Without Mr Shaw’s ethos and values for the foundation of my education I would not be in the position I am now working in a job which I love and, hopefully, taking some of his thoughts and beliefs and passing them on to the next generation.
Rob Faiers

I was really saddened to discover, yesterday, that Ian Shaw had died. My son is now 47, but Ian Shaw’s character is firmly stamped in my memory. He was a great man and a wonderful head.

Several years after my son had left TBSHS, I met Ian by chance. He still remembered family details and asked with interest after him.

Two or three things stick in my mind when I think of Ian. One was the electrifying way he had during parents’ evenings of keeping his staff on their toes. There came a moment when with a deafening noise he brought parent/teacher consultations to a standstill. With his glasses perched above his eyebrows, sometimes using a word or phrase that I would have to look up when I got home, he would launch into his talk.  Then at some unpredictable point, his address would come to an  abrupt end with the shout of the name of the poor, unfortunate teacher, who was expected to follow him!

Another memory concerns the fact that all A level students had to do a weekly sport’s session.  I greatly admired the way he allowed my non-athletic son to choose as his sport, snooker. He and his friend went up to the local Working Men’s Club for this activity and from time to time a member of staff would appear to make sure they were actually playing. How brilliant was that?

A further memory concerns our local Rector who arrived to take a school assembly and was asked by Rosemary to sit on one of two chairs outside the Head’s study. After a few moments a man sat silently down next to him, also waiting. Several minutes later, Ian (for it was he) turned to the clergyman and, indicating the study door,  said “Shall we go in?”
Because I discovered yesterday that there was a memorial service today, I was able to go along to say my goodbyes. Ian was unforgettable and we were so lucky to have had him in charge at the optimum moment. That there were so many people there this afternoon for the excellent service, was a fitting tribute to a charismatic man who will never be forgotten.
Sandra McAdam

I learned today of Mr Shaws passing from a random conversation with a stranger some 50 miles from Bishop’s Stortford.  I look back with fond memories of our occasional meeting in the corridors – he always knew your name, even if you had not ever spoken to him before – he would know you and about you and in a friendly way he would ask you questions about how you were getting on.

He was everything a Headmaster should be, fairly terrifying to an 11 year old, but by the time you left TBSHS, you realised he was a giant of a man who saw what your future could be.
1st September 2020
David Bushell
TBSHS pupil from 1988-1995

Dear Headmaster, “Ian” in later years:
I’ve been thinking about you today again: I instantly admired you and liked you, then I cared about you,
then I loved you. I’m still learning now because of you.  You spotted talent at lightning speed, you nurtured it,
encouraged it, cajoled it, provoked it!

TBSHS was my first teaching post: What more could any new teacher want?

Inspirational, energising and totally exhausting sometimes! A truly special man to remember with
love and admiration.
Kate Anderson.
 TBSHS 1993-2002: English & Theatre Studies teacher, 
Head of Year, ‘Senior Mistress’
15 June 2021

I sadly only learned recently of Ian Shaw’s passing. I was a pupil at Whitby School and Ian was one of my history teachers. He was the most influential and inspiring teacher I ever had and if there is any rigour in my thinking, it was nurtured by Ian. RIP, a wonderful man. My belated condolences to his family.
5th December 2021
Simon Walter
Please click to read Dr M Sewell’s Eulogy Tribute from Ian Shaw’s Memorial Service.

https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ian-shaw.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2019-03-18 10:30:572022-08-31 10:29:06Ian Shaw: TBSHS 1980-1998

Darren Solomons: TBSHS 2010-2017

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Darren Solomons: TBSHS 2010-2017

20th November 2017

It is with great sadness that I announce that Mr Darren Solomons, our subject leader for Government & Politics and Philosophy, suffered a massive heart attack last night (Monday 20th November) and has passed away. He was taken into intensive care several weeks ago, and although he had made some improvements more recently and had come out of intensive care, it came as a great shock to us all this morning to hear the tragic news. He joined the school in September 2010 and spearheaded our very successful Model United Nations (MUN) group, taking students to many conferences in Holland and hosting our own MUN conferences at TBSHS every year. He was loved and respected by staff and the sixth form students he worked with and will be greatly missed. He was 45 and leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. They will all remain in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult of times. We are blessed to have such a strong, caring and supportive community, where the Black & Gold spirit, embodied by Mr Solomons, will live on in his memory.
Mr Reeve, Headteacher

The School cannot pay a high enough tribute for the contribution Darren made to the High School. He was much liked and respected by staff and students, and will be sorely missed.
On behalf of myself and all the governors, sincere condolences to the family.  Sincerest Regards.
Alan J Fordham
Chair of Governors

Darren Solomons came to TBSHS in 2010, taking over from Mark Barrow as Subject Leader for Government & Politics and Philosophy.

Many colleagues remember him as being kind,  caring and loyal. He had a passion for Politics and he oversaw many heated discussions with calm authority. As the Union Representative for the ATL he was hugely supportive of the staff under his care

He also hosted and ran the school’s Mock General Election in the past, and when he was a Sixth Form Tutor was very popular and supportive to a whole range of students.

Students going back seven years will remember Darren with great appreciation, as he was always willing to help with their studies.

He will be sorely missed.

I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Darren in the politics department. The students under his pastoral care will remember him fondly as a supportive, witty and charismatic form tutor. There will be a small number who will remember him for his love of Arsenal, in fact he was a season ticket holder. Some of our alumni will smile when they read that
Rob Stark, Head of Sixth Form

Darren was a wonderful man to work alongside, quietly and calmly providing support and materials to help me to teach the minefield that is Philosophy. He was incredibly popular with sixth form students and teachers alike
Natalie Miles, Deputy Head of Sixth Form, RS & Philosophy

Darren was great with the students on our school trip to New York – he got into wonderful discussions with the students about politics and current affairs. However he gave us several grey hairs when he got on the Metro, on his own, travelling in the wrong direction!  We dubbed him Pupil No 32, when we were doing a headcount to make sure he was not left behind
Alexia Kitching, Trips & Visits Co-ordinator

Darren was my form tutor, politics teacher and general mentor when I returned back this September. He supported any initiatives I had whilst making politics fun and engaging through his comic opposition to student ‘Tories’. He helped me start MUN and made our first Dutch MUN conference unforgettable by constantly getting us lost and refusing to take his black hoodie off. Our politics trip to New York was just as enjoyable as he managed to turn all the Christmas lights off in our hotel lobby by trying to charge his beloved kindle. Not to mention Jane having to head count him with the other students after he got lost and ended up solo downtown in the Bronx. He was a great teacher, supportive and kind whilst going to any lengths to help with any further politics revision or MUN. He was constantly happy and chirpy which rubbed off on those around him. Darren basically shaped my interest in politics and international relations. He made my time at the sixth form entertaining as well as informative and would go out of his way to help anyone he could
Sophie Anthony, Cover Supervisor and former student.

I had worked with Darren since he started at TBSHS  and we shared a number of trips to New York with Business, Economics and Politics students. My abiding memories of these are typical Darren – he got lost on the Subway as he went the wrong way and didn’t realise for 30 minutes, he went to a library rather than The Public Library, riding on the big wheel in Toys R Us, searching the Disney Store for the right gifts for the girls, travelling for 9 hrs on a budget bus to Washington DC for 45 minutes in the Capitol Building, his kindle as an extra limb and ever recognisable by his hoodie.  On one particular trip Darren was sitting surrounded by students in the UN watching football whilst I panicked about a cancelled flight. As a colleague Darren was intelligent, witty and most of all compassionate. On a personal level I am grateful that I could call him a friend and the world will be a little less interesting without him in it
Jane Parr, Business Studies.

Mr. Solomons made others feel special. However, everyone knew that it was Mr. Solomons who was the true star.   Darren was loved by all. Darren was the most warm, wonderful and wise person of the greatest good humour, humility and intelligence. A leader and a team player, Darren loved Politics and Philosophy, put others first at all times and cared so deeply about staff and students past and present. The sheer number of students that studied Politics and Philosophy in the Sixth Form and beyond, is testimony to his brilliant talent and gift  to nurture, inspire,  empower and change lives.  All students and staff were moved by his, the kindest, patient and most respectful of, natures. He listened and encouraged all.  Support was always friendly, perceptive and unconditional and conversations about Arsenal, Politics and Life always enlightening and educative. We will all remember his School Mock Election Assembly Question Times which, with Darren in the chair, characteristically challenging candidates and audiences whilst giving students the opportunity to shine and lead.  They were worthy of national broadcast. Mr. Solomons’  Model UN was another masterclass. It was never about Mr. Solomons but always about the students for him but everyone knew he was the genius who gave others the opportunities.

In the classroom, Darren was always objective, judicious and impartial. Even today one former student said to me we never knew his political views.

Words cannot, of course,  do justice. Genuinely loved by students, and staff, as a teacher and a person, Darren was, and will remain,  the most wonderful inspiration and example to all
Simon Etheridge, Subject Leader for RS & Citizenship

Tributes from former students and pupils of Darren Solomons

My deepest heartfelt condolences. A lovely guy, through and through.
Pass my best onto the appropriate people. I’ll be praying
Jordan Smith

It just happens Mr Solomons was one of the teachers who made life a bit better. He was a great person and I never forgot the things he taught me.

One day when I was upset, Mr Solomons played this very song to cheer me up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRMqCK_QMDk

I listen to this song with happy memories now he has passed on. with a smile and laugh as he shared my sense of humour. So keep young and beautiful if you want to be loved
Jonathan Whitmore

Always a smile on his face. He was a truly special man and responsible for so many successes.

Beyond this, he was a true friend and companion throughout many a difficult situtation. He will be missed by so many
Bella Cooper

Mr Solomons was the most amazing teacher, form tutor, and friend. He’ll always hold a very special place in my heart
Jack Stewart

He was one of a kind and had a heart made of gold. He was a friend more than
a teacher and his memory will live on forever.

Keep on supporting the arsenal up there Daz
Harrison Costi

There is no one more kind, loving and caring than Darren Solomons,
heaven is lucky to have you
Nick McCrone

Mr Solomons was the man behind why I study politics, he went above and beyond to help me academically, and develop me as a person, I will miss him dearly. He was my friend right until the end- there wont be another teacher like him
Sam Grant

Darren was more than just a teacher, funny, dedicated, with encylopaedic knowledge, he was a friend
Edward Ray

As well as his extensive knowledge of politics, his care, guidance and kindness is something that will stick with all of us forever, and is the reason he will be missed by so many
Henry Pugh

Darren was a kind and caring man who never failed to make us laugh. He was more than our teacher; he was a friend. Darren was the best teacher we could’ve asked for and I am at uni today because of him. Darren touched so many of our hearts, and he will never be forgotten
Katya Parish

Darren was one of the most kind and considerate teachers I ever had through school. He treated everyone with the same amount of compassion and respect and would always happily go out of his way to help any student. His humour and belief in us got me through a lot of the hardest part of A levels and he played a huge part in helping me decide my degree. As a teacher and friend he will be missed by all
Callum Perry

Darren was the most caring, supportive and kindest teacher, tutor and friend. He will be missed by so many but his humorous and caring nature will be remembered forever
Sophie Hargrave

Darren was the most amazing man who touched mine and everybody else’s heart. Every day i’d be greeted by his amazing smile and fantastic sense of humour. Darren honestly was almost like a father figure with his great advice and his considerate, trusting nature. Will be greatly missed and remembered by all
Rosa Peck

There are no words to describe what an amazing teacher and friend Darren was to me and all of his students. He believed in me and supported me unlike anyone else could and for that I am eternally grateful. He will be so missed
Katy Adams

Darren made my education so much brighter. He was a kind, supportive friend to me and so many others and will be deeply missed. I will never forget what he taught me
Thea Procter

Darren’s selflessness and sincere care for others was beyond admirable. He was a friend to us all and a figure to look up to. He will continue to always live on in our hearts in the same way he was always there for us – Jasmine Paramasivan

I think it’s safe to say that anyone who knew Darren would say that he was as a kind, passionate and selfless soul who touched the lives of many, he will be missed dearly
Ola Majekodunmi

A great man has left us today. The cleverest person I have known, and a funny chap who always brightened my mood upon speaking with him.

He was a man of many abilities (most notably supporting Arsenal F.C. for whom he held a season ticket), able to drive anyone up the wall with his mastery of devils advocate. What I liked most was his sharp dry wit,  and perfectly satirical view on most things. He was kind, and supportive in the darkest of times, something I will always be grateful for.

I suppose death is always decidedly inconvenient, but I must say, above all else, he was robbed… taken far far too young. The world is already distinctly dimmer without you, Sir. But I take solace in the fact that you’re looking down on us from above. I am just so glad that I had the privilege of knowing you. May God bless his wife Miriam, and their two beautiful daughters
Eli Haines

I just wanted to express my condolences to you about Darren Solomon; from the limited contact I had with him whilst working at TBSHS, he seemed to epitomise ‘Black and Gold’. My thoughts are with his family and all TBSHS staff and students
Ollie Paget

TBSHS, the wider student community and the teaching profession has lost a true great. Mr Solomons inspired an interest in politics that I never knew I had, endlessly going out of his way to support my studies. Probably without ever realising it, he was the driving factor behind my decision to take on the subject at university. He provided career guidance, life advice and helped me through a few of the tougher personal parts of my life.

The number of obituaries that have come in speaks volumes of the man. More than a teacher and form tutor, he was a genuine friend to myself and a number of the alumni community. All I can say is thank you. For your creative teaching techniques. For the football chats. For the laughs in class, during MUN conferences and in New York. For everything you’ve done for us. RIP Darren, my thoughts are with your family at this difficult time
Matt Pink

Mr Solomons was always much more than a teacher to all those he taught. He was a friend, a trusted advisor, a mentor, a wind-up merchant and a comedian. I know I’m not alone in saying that I would not be who I am today without his support and belief in me. From writing us references, supporting our student activities, to helping us in our many hours of needs, Darren went above and beyond to give us his time and make sure we always got to where we needed. We all have many treasured memories of our experiences with Darren and it is testament to what an amazing teacher and human-being he was to hear just how many people loved him
Alice Dutton

Mr Solomons was the one teacher that I can say has truly shaped my life. He was so caring towards all of his students and someone who would never fail to make me laugh. He was my biggest inspiration to studying politics and always would encourage me to go the extra mile. I do not have a bad word to say about Darren and I have so many funny memories I can look back on and these are what I will remember him by. I never thought I’d have to say goodbye to the greatest teacher and most amazing man who fought so hard. He was taken too soon and my thoughts are with his wife Miriam and two beautiful children.

When I sit my politics exam in June, I will be thinking of him and I will do him proud and get the grades he believed I could achieve
Emily Dutton, Year 13

Mr Solomons was what every educator should aspire to be, and then some. As a teacher, his enthusiasm was infectious- the fact that so many of his students went on to study Politics at university is no coincidence.

When I think of Mr Solomons I remember lively debates in class, school trips to New York and the Netherlands, and generally a lot of laughing.

Above all, he taught me to stand up for what I believe in whilst listening to those who disagree with me and treating them with respect. In a world where people are quick to voice their own opinion but have no time to listen to others, we need more intelligent, compassionate people like Darren Solomons.

Mr Solomons was a teacher, mentor and friend to me and many others. Sadly, the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long
Will Vince

Darren was certainly one of the most well liked teachers within the school, always on hand to lend support in whatever form to anyone. His enthusiasm and chipper nature was infectious; his level of commitment to teaching and his students was second to none.

I am sure many other students will have incredibly fond memories of trips ‘led’ by Darren to the Netherlands, New York and to conferences in London. No matter where in the world, these excursions were always planned and conducted with considerable aplomb.

It is a testament to his character that news of his death has been so widespread and met with such sadness; a true gentleman whose contribution to the school will be hard to replace.

My thoughts and deepest sympathies go to his wife, as well as his two daughters who have been robbed of growing up with their loving dad
Louis Lyons – ex pupil, 2006-2013

Mr Solomons with 6th Form candidates for TBSHS Mock General Election 2015

Darren’s funeral was held on the 24th November 2017. The School was represented at the funeral.

29th November 2017

https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Darren-Solomons.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2017-11-29 11:22:172022-08-31 10:29:31Darren Solomons: TBSHS 2010-2017

Peter Cook: TBSHS 1970-2014

February 7, 2017/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Peter Cook: TBSHS 1970-2014

7th February 2017

It is with great sadness that the school heard this week of the death of former colleague Peter Cook.

Peter was an inspiring teacher, in the English Department at The Bishop’s Stortford High School between 1970 – 2009. After retirement in 2009, Peter came back as a part-time employee taking One-2-One sessions, small groups and individual English or literacy lessons until 2014.

He started work as an English classroom teacher in 1970 under then Headmaster Ron Davies (1964-1980). In total he worked under three Head teachers.  Along the way he took several roles including Second in Department and fulfilled the role of Head of Sixth Form at a time when the sixth form had only 32 pupils, helping that section of the school to grow to the 300+ strong unit it is today.  For many years, Peter organised Christmas trips for the Sixth Form to a London show, which were very popular with students and staff alike.

Under Headmaster Ian Shaw (1980-1998), he managed the First IX Cricket which in turn led to his deep commitment to the Jobbers Wood project. Following his interest, under Headteacher Andrew Goulding (1999-2013), he was a vital force in helping develop our amazing sports facility at Jobbers Wood, from a field, into a sports ground.

He was a very good cricketer and a very good footballer.

In the mid-1980s he took a sabbatical for a year and went to Cambridge to take a degree.

He regularly told his pupils about how he was evacuated at the age of three during the war (WW2), and had the most wonderful mellifluous voice when reading stories, text or verse which held classes captivated.

Current Subject Leader for English Nick Patterson, remembers Peter as being outspoken, a valuable, ‘critical friend’ and sounding board for the benefit of the school but an excellent English teacher, who taught Nick a lot; “He was always on the side of the pupils, and during the holidays would put himself out to ensure they got the right grade. He wouldn’t allow them to under-achieve and would chase them up during the holidays to make sure they did the work required. He cared a great deal and those kinds of things are important.”

Everyone who knew Peter remembers him doing his newspaper crossword every morning in the staffroom.

Students and colleagues alike remember him as someone to learn from and respect.

Subject Leader for Business, Frank Beran remembers Peter fondly; “I have lots of fond memories of Pete in school and out. He was a very good friend of Jackie Farrell-Shaw. He hosted the best parties. He was very proud of his son. I think he had a variety of jobs before teaching, one of which included selling encyclopaedias something he found challenging when he recognised the cost to his customers!

He had a wonderful personality which gave him the confidence and assertiveness teachers need, but he also knew how to get the most out of the least and most able students.

The image I have of him in the classroom and the staffroom is with his newspaper at hand for those moments when the students were working and he needed to escape. Not Ofsted approved, but I think a lot of his students really appreciated his honesty and integrity and no nonsense attitude.  He was always willing to listen and help out especially if managers were being particularly difficult or unhelpful. Old school, real gentleman.”

Former pupil and now Radio 1 DJ, Greg James heard the news on Friday and got in touch immediately, “What a wonderful man.  Mr Cook made me realise how brilliant it was to read and write.  Mr Cook taught great storytelling and was the teacher we wanted to impress”

School Librarian, Helen Fletcher says, “Peter used to go about the school, pom-pomming classical music as he went, on his daily quest for the library copy of the Times (mainly for the crossword). Woe betide anyone who got to it first!

He loved bringing classes of students to the library in their private reading lessons, where his love for books was infectious. He would put his feet up & read himself, once he’d got them all settled with a book, and you wouldn’t hear a peep out of any of them. Sometimes he would teach a lesson in the library, regardless of the silence rule, and if he read aloud, everyone would be spellbound, even if they weren’t part of his class!”

Assistant Head Jonathan Griffiths remembers walking quickly past Peter in the Tee Corridor. “He reminded me that life wasn’t a sprint; it was a marathon. A nice moment that I will never forget.”

Nick Patterson, has many memories of Peter. He says “Back in the days when English coursework was all-important in exam grades, when we were moderating coursework, the whole English department went to Peter’s house. It was an oasis of civilization – he knew how to host.”

His funeral was held on Monday 20th February at 4:45pm at Harlow Crematorium.

https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PEter-COok.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2017-02-07 11:34:292022-08-31 10:29:50Peter Cook: TBSHS 1970-2014

Jill Kemp: TBSHS 2008-2016

April 22, 2016/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Jill Kemp: TBSHS 2008-2016

23 April 2016

It is with great sadness that the school heard yesterday of the death of Jill Kemp. 

Jill came to TBSHS in 2008, after living in Dubai for several years.

She took over from Ian Wickens as Examinations Officer and also arranged cover for teaching staff.

Many colleagues remember her as being detailed and thorough in the Examinations role,  and fun and lively in private. Many students will remember her with great appreciation, as she was always willing to help students with their examination entries and re-sit paperwork.

Mrs Kemp leaves three daughters and one grandchild.

She will be sorely missed.

“Very sadly we lost a dear member of our school community yesterday. Mrs Jill Kemp, who had been the exams officer at TBSHS since June 2008, lost her long battle with cancer and passed away peacefully, with her family around her. She has not been in school since last summer, when her health first began to deteriorate, but throughout her time here she made a very significant contribution, mostly behind the scenes, to the effective running of our school. She was a quiet, gentle, hard-working person and will be very sorely missed by her many friends and colleagues at the school. On behalf of the whole school community, I have passed our deepest sympathies to her family at this most difficult of times.”
Mr Reeve, Headteacher

Her funeral was held at Parndon Wood Crematorium on Tuesday 10th May 2016

https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jill-Kemp.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2016-04-22 11:33:332022-08-31 10:30:07Jill Kemp: TBSHS 2008-2016

Jackie Farrell-Shaw: TBSHS 1982-2004

January 23, 2015/0 Comments/in Obituaries/by tbshs

Jackie Farrell-Shaw: TBSHS 1982-2004

23 January 2015

It is with great sadness that the school heard this week of the death of former colleague Jackie Farrell-Shaw.

Jackie was born in St Helens in Merseyside. She moved south when she was very young and trained as an English teacher. Jackie worked for some time in the City in stock broking and then started her first job as an English teacher in Harlow in the early 1970’s.  Jackie was an inspiring teacher, working her way up to Deputy Headteacher at The Bishop’s Stortford High School between 1982 – 2004.

She started work as an English classroom teacher and picked up the role of vocational business teacher early on. She became the lead teacher training mentor. She became Deputy Head under Headmaster Mr Ian Shaw and worked tirelessly to promote discipline and move the school from a rather bleak secondary modern school into something rather inspiring. She was a vital force in helping develop our amazing sports facility at Jobbers Wood with the support of her husband Mr Michael Shaw.

Many students and colleagues remember her as someone to learn from and respect. She was the person to search for to help in any crisis. Former pupil Dr Martyn Fisher, who now teaches at the school, remembers a magic moment when Jackie taught him in a Year 7 geography class in 1985: “Jackie had a wonderful sense of humour and used to regularly complete her exercises up (She was in high heels) and down the classroom whilst we completed our work in Geography and History. She would swing her arms about and stretch, to our great amusement. I can also remember that she convinced me her real name was Esmerelda Jackerina Levers.”

Languages teacher Dr Frances Horgan remembers Jackie too: “Jackie was a wonderfully supportive colleague, and could always be relied upon to help out when younger and more inexperienced teachers were having difficulty with problematic classes.  She was a role model and an inspiration to me.”

Mr Andrew Hood, Business Studies colleague, remembers her social grace and laughter. Her famous “curry night” at a beautiful cottage in the middle of the countryside was a joy.

Friend and colleague Subject Leader for Business, Frank Beran said “Jackie was a good and loyal colleague with a great sense of fun. There are hundreds of families and young men in Bishop’s Stortford and around the world, who Jackie helped during their time at the school. The school will remember Jackie with great affection.”

Her funeral was held at Parndon Wood Crematorium on Wednesday 4th February 2015.

https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jackie-Farrell-Shaw.jpg 800 600 tbshs https://tbshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/logo-white.png tbshs2015-01-23 11:31:242022-08-31 10:30:28Jackie Farrell-Shaw: TBSHS 1982-2004

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