School '˜owes debt' to inspirational teacher
The King’s School deputy head Trevor Elliott bade farewell to colleagues on Saturday at an event attended by hundreds of former pupils and parents.
School headteacher Darren Ayling paid a stirring tribute to his second in command, stating: “Trevor Elliott’s career-long devotion to The King’s School has brought us professionalism, fun and companionship.
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Hide Ad“He is that rare person whose genuine humanity has enriched our lives, and in an unforgettable way. Neither we, nor our school, would have been the same without him.”
Trevor has taught famous alumni such as Andy Bell, lead singer of synthpop duo Erasure, and Tottenham MP David Lammy.
The Labour politician sent in a video tribute which was aired during Saturday’s retirement event, while Andy said: “He was always very supportive and not judgmental, always willing to sit and listen and very good humoured!”
Trevor joined the school in 1976 as a languages teacher and assistant boarding housemaster. He was head of modern languages from 1979 to 1986 then appointed as deputy head aged 35, a role he has held for the past three decades, including a stint as acting headteacher in 1992 and 1993.
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Hide AdMr Ayling said: “To see Trevor’s contribution to the school as being solely academic would be to miss one of the most significant contributions he has made to the lives of generations of students - to their sense of themselves as confident and rounded individuals, capable of empathy and modesty in their high achievement.”
Trevor has co-ordinated public events at the school in Park Road, including the visit of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1991 and the Duke of Gloucester in 1993.
His farewell event at the school saw him presented with a clock by former teacher Charles Conquest.
Mr Ayling added: “Trevor’s success is in his stubborn refusal to see the aspects of his work as separate from each other, or to see a young person’s life as being only about school work.
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Hide Ad“It is his contribution to the welfare of the individual for which Trevor will be most remembered.
“Our lives have been enriched by knowing Trevor Elliott and our school owes him a debt of the deepest gratitude.”