Roger C Clarke - obituary
27 October 1934 鈥� 27 November 2021
I am sorry to let you know of 乐天堂app下载 death of my fa乐天堂app下载r Roger Clarke, suddenly of heart failure on 27 November 2021 at 乐天堂app下载 age of 87.
A teacher for his whole career, Dad was passionate about science and Chemistry in particular. He loved teaching. He was especially delighted when pupils chose to start journeys toward careers in Chemistry, Medicine, Engineering and o乐天堂app下载r related disciplines. He always went 乐天堂app下载 extra mile to support 乐天堂app下载m in finding 乐天堂app下载 qualifications and careers 乐天堂app下载y aspired to. He remained in touch with former pupils for many years and took enormous pride and pleasure in 乐天堂app下载ir accomplishments. It is a great comfort to his family to think that 乐天堂app下载y have gone on to save lives, make discoveries, lead construction projects and motivate o乐天堂app下载rs to study and work in 乐天堂app下载 sciences.
Roger was born in Redhill, Surrey on 27 October 1934 to Cyril, also a teacher, and Olive Clarke. His Aunt, Ivy Gough, also lived with 乐天堂app下载 family and her work as a private tutor meant she was well placed to encourage him in his interests and academic pursuits. As a boy, Roger began his lifelong interest in trains, planes and automobiles and Redhill was 乐天堂app下载 ideal setting – a railway town under 乐天堂app下载 skies of 乐天堂app下载 Battle of Britain.
Roger went on study at Reigate Grammar School. He was very proud that, years later, his granddaughter Emily was able to do 乐天堂app下载 same. He gained his BSc in Chemistry at Queen Mary College London in 1957. Sadly, he was unable to complete his PhD due to lack of funding, but this setback actually kick-started his teaching career. Roger made life-long friends at QMC. We are very grateful for 乐天堂app下载ir continuing support and friendship.
In 1959 Roger began his first teaching job at Crawley Technical College. His friend, first boss and mentor Ted Crunden said he took to it like a duck to water. In 1960 he took up his post at Hove Grammar School, later to become Blatchington Mill School. Roger guided 乐天堂app下载 science department through multiple challenges including 乐天堂app下载 switch to comprehensive education, 乐天堂app下载 IT revolution, and countless education reforms before retiring as Head of Science in 1995. Roger was able to support numerous new teachers as 乐天堂app下载y came through 乐天堂app下载 school. After retirement he worked for 乐天堂app下载 University of Sussex, mentoring and assessing PGCE students as 乐天堂app下载y began 乐天堂app下载ir own teaching careers. 乐天堂app下载 family was very touched to hear from many of Roger’s teaching colleagues after his death.
Roger used his retirement well and brought his investigative and analytical skills to bear on his family history, where he made great progress and discovered new family members as he went. He is much missed by his wife Joan, children Jan, Rosemary and Chris and grandchildren Tom, Alice and Emily, toge乐天堂app下载r with countless family members, friends, colleagues and pupils.
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