Christmas 2012 John pulling a cracker with “Magick”

I first met John in 1992 in the grand educational establishment that was known as Walford High School. Set in the westernmost part of London, not the east end as you might expect, it was in many ways a nightmare of a school, but as a source of friendships, collegiality and perseverance it was second to none. I lasted 8 years there, much to my surprise when I first arrived, but this was made possible only by the friends I made.

John was one of the first. I met him initially when I was entering a classroom, ready to teach analysis of newpapers to some decidedly unfriendly and unenthusiastic 13 years olds. I had a pile of Metros with me, and I was dreading the possible chaos that would ensue. John sat at the back of the class, smiling benignly and I got through the lesson. I have no idea why he was there, although his presence definitely helped, and I don’t think I ever found out. But, and this is a very big and important but, he congratulated me on the lesson and said he had learnt so much. Well, that made me beam, both externally and internally for the rest of my life. What a confidence booster!

I don’t think I ever saw him again in the school after that. I soon discovered his wife was also working at the school. She and I went back even further. Our fathers had been friendsat university after the war, and used to push our prams together in the park! What a coincidence. What a great start to our friendship.

I survived a few more years, teaching more children, making more friends, but becoming increasingly frustrated with the way things were run, Ofsteds, management, etc etc. I decided to leave. I applied for many jobs, quite unsuccesfully – Perhaps I was not suited to be a primary school teacher? I applied for one post where the only other candidate was a very beige woman. beige sandals, beige skirt, beige face, beige hair. (I looked at her from the feet up as you can tell.) We had a little chat in the staff toom before our interview. We were both quietly confident. I was lively, enthusiastic. She was knowledgeable, as it turned out. I couldn’t answer any of the questions. I had no idea. What a humiliation. The PE inspector!! who interviewed me came to cheer me up after he had let me know ever so gently that I was useless.

So, onwards and upwards, Lots more applications, one or two interviews and no success.

And then quite inadvertently I applied to a special school. I have written about it elsewhere. By the time I knew what it was, I realised that this was the school where John was working, in Hammersimith. I went for the interview and he very kindly waited for me as the powers that be deliberated whether they should employ me or not. I was the only candidate. They took an hour and a half. Not because there was any question. They were just having tea.

As soon as they told me the good news, John and I headed for the nearest pub. Of course. He needed a cigarette, I needed a drink. And how to work out how the mobile phone worked so I could tell my family! ( It had rung during the interview and I had no idea how to turn it off. Oh the joys of modern technology!)

And so our friendship was resumed. The school was great, the people in it greater. John and I had a lot in common. The first year I was there we both had to teach maths – we were both right out of our comfort zones, but we coped. Somehow. We both liked to have a good time. So did everyone ielse in the school, It was a very convivial place to work, and very intelligent too. The teachers there liked to talk and discuss,not just to moan about the kids. Both educational matters and art and literature and music. I do@t know about the kids, but I learnt so much from everyone there.

The best things were the Christmas celebrations. Plays were written and acted. The whole staff and most of the pupils were on the stage at any one time. No-one knew any lines. One teacher was the prompter, She had the most work to do. It was great fun. John, however, took his parts more seriously than the rest of us. He knew his words; his pirate make up and costume were immaculate. He was definitely the star of most of the shows.

You may have guessed by now that all this is in the past tense. He would have been seventy today, but he very tragically died ten years ago. it is hard to believe. He had been very ill and had kept it from everyone, until he finally ended up in hospital. Still cheerful, still hopeful, still positive to the very end.

His funeral was one of the best attended I have ever been to. Family, friends, colleagues, pupils from around the world, Most of them wanted to publicly say soemthing about John. He had spent a year teaching in Jamaica as a young man – no one forgot him there or anywhere else. Full of personality, a briliant teacher, I should write about his preparation for a sex ed lesson, but perhaps not here …

He loved parties, both giving – he was an excellent and inventive cook, and attending them. Whenever he came to us, he would make a beeline for my mum – or she for him. They could been seen laughing and drinking and smokong together, and that is how I like to rmemeber them both – sitting on a sofa enjoying themselves. They both left us too young – does one ever get over the shock? I don’ t think so. But his legacy of hard work, good humour, and great kindness live on.

RIP John, I’m jsut sorry this has taken me ten years to write.