Richard Hughes (SH 60-64) has submitted the following notice regarding
John D. Jones (M 59-69).

“St Beghians who attended the school in the 1960s will be sad to hear of the death of John Jones, teacher of biology and resident tutor in both Foundation and later School House. He succumbed to cancer at the age of 83 after a long and valiant struggle.

John grew up in Burton-on-Trent and the town remained his base for the rest of his life. That said, he was always involved in the boarding fraternity of the schools where he taught and spent a considerable portion of both his personal and professional life within the school community. John arrived on the Cumbrian coast in 1959 to commence his first teaching post at St Bees, having spent his university days at Imperial College, London followed by a year at Trinity Hall, Cambridge studying for his postgraduate teaching certificate. He remained at St Bees for a decade and then headed south in 1969 to St. John’s School, Leatherhead, thus swapping the coast of West Cumberland for the Surrey suburbs. One of John’s earliest classroom challenges was his attempt to implant some basic knowledge of biology into my reluctant brain; a task in which - we both admitted - he was largely unsuccessful. He also had some pastoral responsibility for me in his role as resident tutor in School House. It was a considerable shock for him, and for me, when some years later, in the mid-1970s, our paths crossed once more when I arrived at St. John’s School and joined him on the teaching staff. I was Head of history; he was Head of biology; he was a Housemaster and I became one sometime later. I had made a similar journey from north to south, having previously taught at Rossall.

It was typical of John’s good nature that he did not spread the word about my earlier life; in particular that my schooldays had been marked by an absence of any noticeable academic distinction. Indeed both of us increasingly found our shared past a source of amusement. In his quiet and unobtrusive manner John found most aspects of life amusing; he had a first rate sense of humour, which was sometimes hidden beneath a rather shy demeanour.

At both the schools where John taught he earned respect for his teaching and for his huge contribution to many aspects of school life. Two characteristics stand out for me, both as a former pupil and later as a professional colleague: the long hours he worked and his love of the stage, as director, actor or simply audience member. The proximity of the West End of London had been a major factor in his decision to move south in 1969.

John retired early in 1994 on grounds of poor health. He returned to Burton-on-Trent but seemed to be rarely there for he was constantly on the move, usually travelling through Europe in his beloved campervan. He also took longer journeys to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. He made frequent and sometimes quite lengthy journeys in pursuit of a particular play or performer he wanted to see. He enjoyed returning for reunions to both the schools where he had taught and was always full of good-humoured gossip and nostalgia. Sadly he was diagnosed with cancer about five years ago, but it was only in the past year that his travelling and theatre-going was brought to a halt. He will be much missed by the many people who enjoyed his good company both inside and outside the classroom.”

 

Home

The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk