Friday, July 20, 2012

TRIBUTES TO RETIRED BRIGG TEACHER JACK MOORE



News of the death of Jack Moore, retired chemistry teacher, will sadden many former pupils of Brigg Grammar School and Sir John Nelthorpe School across the world.
Likewise, the many members of Brigg Men's Hockey Club who played alongside him will wish to raise a glass or two in memory of a fine and very long-serving defender.
Retired Sir John Nelthorpe School headteacher, David Brittain, said Jack had been ill for some time but had remained cheerful and enjoyed remembering the 'old times' with his friends and former colleagues whenever they were able to visit.
"Jack was a legend in school circles and dearly loved by many who were inspired by his love of chemistry, sport, the Lakes and the occasional half at the Angel," said David.
"Others will remember his time in the boarding house, or on the hockey field, but above all he was a great schoolmaster and dedicated all his working life in the service of local children and students.
"Rest in peace, dear Jack."
The funeral service will be on Thursday, 26th July at 11am at St John The Evangelist Church, Brigg, followed by noon committal at Woodlands Crematorium, Scunthorpe. Friends and are all invited to join the family afterwards at Elsham Golf Club.
Family flowers only - donations can be made to The Alzheimer's Society or Cancer Research UK.

NF adds: I first encountered Jack - known to generations of Brigg Grammar School pupils as Archie - when starting there in 1967. He taught chemistry in his own style, with a firm hand but a joke, or quip, always to hand, which generally began with: "You, boy...!"
He was a very good hockey player in the top Brigg team in the days when home games were on grass at Brigg Rec. However, as he dropped down the teams with advancing years, he found no difficulty in adapting to the arrival of synthetic surfaces.
He was always good fun off the field, notably with his contributions to in-car conversations while we made our way to, and from, Yorkshire League matches.
On one occasion we set off from the Queen's Arms in Brigg to play at Huddersfield, with Jack at the wheel.
Umpire Len Marshall was among the passengers and a discussion kicked off about how skilled navigation in the RAF  needed to be mastered in the days of old-fashioned bombers like the Lancaster.
Eventually I had to join the conversation and point out to Jack that his first choice at the end of the M180 had been the wrong one and we had better pull off and turn round.
So much for navigation!
Jack particularly enjoyed attending Briggensians' Association annual dinners at Elsham Golf Club, where he would meet up again with so many boys (now men) he had taught over so many years.
Somehow Jack, and late chemistry teaching colleague Gerry Longden, steered some of us with no aptitude for their subject through our O-Level exam after five years of hard slog...for them as well as us!




DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOW READ MORE INTERESTING NEWS  ABOUT BRIGG AND DISTRICT BY VISITING THE BRIGG PEOPLE WEBSITE?

brigg people

No comments: