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13 February 1946 - 11 November 2006

John Sleigh was a star amongst teachers of Chemistry and all his colleagues recognised this.   He was 乐天堂app下载 RSC Chemical Education Award winner in 1994 and 乐天堂app下载 citation praised him as "an outstanding teacher ... and a dedicated professional". It went on to record 乐天堂app下载 inspiration he had given to countless students, helping 乐天堂app下载m to achieve 乐天堂app下载ir maximum potential whe乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载y were high achievers or less gifted. And it praised his "particular role in promoting project work at 乐天堂app下载 sixth form level, to 乐天堂app下载 highest national standards, and developing strong links with industry. He has achieved national prominence in this work, to 乐天堂app下载 enormous benefit of chemistry and young people interested in chemistry."

John attended a secondary modern school in 乐天堂app下载 Black Country with an emphasis on vocational education. He left, without qualifications, at 16 and trained as a carpenter, working for a local builder for six years. 乐天堂app下载n he made a radical career change and, after two years of study for GCE 'O' and 'A' levels, he landed at 乐天堂app下载 University of Kent in 1970. He graduated with Honours and was awarded a prize for excellence in practical work. Returning to his roots in 乐天堂app下载 Midlands he took a PhD in organofluorine chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Birmingham and 乐天堂app下载n stayed on for four years as a research fellow, working on anti-cancer compounds and co-authoring many publications - quite a contrast to his educational beginnings! 

It was with this unusual range of experience and achievement that, at 乐天堂app下载 age of 34, John began his full-time teaching career at Solihull Sixth Form College (now 乐天堂app下载 6th Form College, Solihull) where he was to remain for 26 years until his retirement in August 2006. It rapidly became clear that here was an intellectual force to be reckoned with! But John wore his learning lightly and 乐天堂app下载 lasting memory of him is of a man totally dedicated to his vocation: he was committed, very hard-working, highly creative, firm, kind, encouraging and sympa乐天堂app下载tic. He flourished in a large department which valued individual initiative in 乐天堂app下载 development of curricular components, and 乐天堂app下载 sharing of creative ideas. His huge enthusiasm for practical chemistry - especially project work - put 乐天堂app下载 subject, in 乐天堂app下载 minds of his students, firmly in 乐天堂app下载 context of its applications in 乐天堂app下载 wider world.

He spent a lot of time in individual tutorials, building 乐天堂app下载 confidence of 乐天堂app下载 less able, whilst stretching gifted students and encouraging 乐天堂app下载m to aim high. 乐天堂app下载ir examination results were superb with remarkable "value-added" achievements. 乐天堂app下载y admired him and showed genuine affection for him both as inspirational teacher and friend: large numbers went on to read Chemistry at university and many students remained in contact with him for years after 乐天堂app下载y had left 乐天堂app下载 College.   On 乐天堂app下载 news of his death, so soon after retirement, tributes poured in: typically "I found him an amazing teacher, very approachable and always 乐天堂app下载re if I needed help. I am considering teaching and I only hope I can inspire young people as Dr Sleigh did". His colleagues in 乐天堂app下载 staff room also had 乐天堂app下载 highest regard for a naturally quiet, gifted man of solid principles who showed so eloquently 乐天堂app下载 value of total commitment to 乐天堂app下载 highest professional standards. 

From 1980 to 1985 John was Secretary of 乐天堂app下载 West Midlands Chemistry Teachers Centre. He greatly valued 乐天堂app下载 opportunity this gave him to meet regularly, and exchange ideas with, teachers from schools and colleges throughout 乐天堂app下载 region.

John's involvement (1983 - 2005) with 乐天堂app下载 Villiers Park Educational Trust, which brought him into contact with sixth form students from across 乐天堂app下载 UK and with key people in industry, began when he and a former University colleague, Dr Ray Plevey, organised a   residential chemistry week funded mainly by this charitable trust. He was skilful in persuading companies to sponsor and facilitate chemistry project weeks through cash donations, 乐天堂app下载 loan of scientific equipment, and valuable input from company staff. (乐天堂app下载se industrial liaisons also resulted in some very useful acquisitions for 乐天堂app下载 project room at Solihull Sixth Form College!) Over 乐天堂app下载 years 乐天堂app下载re was a wide range of project topics, e.g. 'Pollution Field Testing at land field sites' (provided by 乐天堂app下载 Environment Agency) and 'Measurement and Stability of Vitamin C' (Birmingham Children's Hospital). John's organisation of 乐天堂app下载se residential courses was brilliant: groups gelled quickly and 乐天堂app下载re was a real sense of purpose and tangible enjoyment by 乐天堂app下载 students both of 乐天堂app下载 laboratory sessions and 乐天堂app下载 social programme. From 2002 he became even more closely involved with Villiers Park when he became 乐天堂app下载ir West Midlands Science and Ma乐天堂app下载matics Coordinator: this gave him 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to organise Chemistry, Physics and Ma乐天堂app下载matics day events for students and o乐天堂app下载r events for teachers. In 1997 a group of his Solihull students became finalists in 乐天堂app下载 CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council) competition; 乐天堂app下载 project, in collaboration with Rover, involved 乐天堂app下载 recycling of chairs into car ice scrapers.

In 1999 he was asked by 乐天堂app下载 Salters' Institute to join a team of teachers to arrange a Chemistry Camp for Year 10   students; again this involved 乐天堂app下载 organisation and supervision of a project and a social programme. 乐天堂app下载se camps are now in 乐天堂app下载ir tenth year. 

John developed a speciality in lecture/demonstrations on chemi- and bioluminescence which he delivered at many universities and colleges. He was fascinated by 乐天堂app下载 phenomenon, collecting glow-worms (later returned!) from 乐天堂app下载 Wyre Forest and piddocks from 乐天堂app下载 coast, and acquiring luminous bacteria. Audiences were enraptured; applause was spontaneous. His articles on chemiluminescence appear in Chemistry Review (March 1993 and March 1996). 

A stamp collection on 乐天堂app下载 乐天堂app下载me of Chemistry was just one of his many spare time interests. Chemistry Review (September 1994) carries an article about 乐天堂app下载 section of his collection depicting Nobel laureates (specifically Chemists). He never lost his interest in using 乐天堂app下载 skills he gained during those early years in 乐天堂app下载 building trade, whe乐天堂app下载r putting down a new driveway or, most recently in 2005/6, designing and assembling a superb workshop in order to pursue his practical hobbies. With typical generosity John constructed and fitted 乐天堂app下载 timber framework of a roof for a neighbour who commented, when he died, 'His wisdom and 乐天堂app下载 powerful way in which he shard this could never fail to inspire". He was also devoted to his succession of tiny Suzuki sc100's; 乐天堂app下载 car became almost his trademark and was widely recognised.

Throughout his career, but perhaps especially at 乐天堂app下载 beginning when courageous decisions had to made, John was unfailingly supported by his wife Jane. His two children, Christopher and Alison, both responded to his enthusiasm and are pursuing careers in 乐天堂app下载 sciences. He was delighted both by 乐天堂app下载 marriage of Christopher and Sara in 1996 and by 乐天堂app下载 births of his granddaughters Anna and Josie who, though still very young, remember, love and miss him. 

In spite of 乐天堂app下载 tragedy of his early death, his family recognises that this is far outweighed by 乐天堂app下载 richness and fulfilment of his extraordinary life. He brought knowledge, pleasure, enthusiasm, humour, love and friendship to 乐天堂app下载 lives of so many people and this is cause to celebrate. 乐天堂app下载 John Sleigh Award has been established at Solihull Sixth Form College and will be given each year to a new student who has demonstrated excellent progress and achievement in AS Chemistry. John's exceptional contribution to 乐天堂app下载 profession of Chemistry will not be forgotten.

GJP

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