Old Bordenian Association

John H Weekes (3 Aug 1924 – 8 Jan 2010) – Obituary

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7 Responses to “John H Weekes (3 Aug 1924 – 8 Jan 2010) – Obituary”

1. RobTommo says:

   January 21, 2010 at 2:31 am

   Very sad to read of the passing of one of the most respected teachers of my time at the school. Rest in peace John and thank you for all your dedication.
   Rob Thomson 1976-1981.
2. mcatchlove says:

   January 21, 2010 at 2:23 pm

   Great man, enthusiastic about what he did, and my mum used the teapot stand I made under his tutelage for many years!
3. PhilGoldacre says:

   January 21, 2010 at 4:46 pm

   I just wanted to say how sad I was at learning of the passing of John Weekes.

   He was my first Form Master in 1W 1965-6. I’ve always had genuinely fond memories of him as a truly good man and an excellent teacher. He did his best to ensure that each one of us had as easy and productive a transition into Borden life as possible. And I can only ever remember him smiling, being helpful and positive – even though I must have been one his most trying pupils.

   I still have the tea trolley that I made and the rotating bookcase Gary Ansell made during our first year in his woodwork class so have remembered him through them all this time. He certainly taught us something right – they’re both 45 years old and still going strong! I can still remember the smell of that pot of glue. It was awful but, by golly, it was good stuff.

   He inspired my interest in astronomy and, if I’d known then that he’d flown Tiger Moths, Spitfires and Hurricanes, I’d have wanted to pump him dry for information about them. Even more so as I learnt to fly when I was a member of 2230 Sqn ATC and later trained as an Aircraft Technician with the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons he never told us. His personal modesty aside.

   An extremely fond memory of last days of term was his, I believe, self-devised and home-made table top cricket game. If he’d had the proper commercial backing I’m sure it would have made him a fortune.

   The more I remember of him and the more I learn about him, the more remarkable and inspirational he becomes both as a man and as a teacher. I just wish I’d had the sense then to take full advantage of everything he had to offer us.

   Can there be a finer epitaph? Would that I could aspire to anything like it. A great man. Thank you Mr Weekes.
4. sayermh says:

   January 22, 2010 at 1:26 am

   My first awareness of “Wally” Weekes was as the member of staff with the dusty-blue gown. Everyone else had chalky-black. It wasn’t until I reached the 6th form, where he was its head, and when he taught me in technical drawing, that I came to appreciate him as a teacher.
   A teacher different from the rest but, like the rest, not only a teacher but a proper schoolmaster.

   My enduring memory of Wally is as always good natured, patient, calm and smiling. Like a kindly uncle; quietly wise.

   His parting words to me were “you’ve been a rock”. I never really understood how to take that. Perhaps he could have meant dense and inflexible, but that was never in the man’s nature.

   And it is only now, a long time afterwards, that I learn about the huge and humble bushels under which he rested his other talents and, for me, to discover he was also the inspiration responsible for the train layouts on those wonderful BGS open days, when families of current boys were given the run of the school; tiny primary school siblings, as I was then, in tow.

   Perhaps the marque of truly outstanding teachers is not the number of boxes ticked on an Ofsted report, but the extent to which past pupils still remember them with affection and appreciation, decades later, and the degree to which their influence still underpins our values and character.

   A long and heartfelt “Ahhhh” upon hearing the news.
5. James Payn says:

   January 24, 2010 at 12:02 am

   Mr Weekes was the best mathematics teacher I had and as a primary school teacher now I continue to be inspired by his helpful down to earth style. I felt a very strong sadness hearing that he has passed away but also thankful that I know he made a real difference to me and that influence continues.
6. Dave Palmer says:

   February 7, 2010 at 1:53 pm

   Additional comments sent via email:
   Sorry to hear about ‘Wally’ Weekes he was one of the real good ones, I remember going to his back garden to look at Mars through his telescope (no, no double entendres please)
   It was awesome.
   Tony Young

   It was very sad at receiving the news about John Weekes, one of the
   rare ones you could talk to and get an explained reply and not just a
   NO!
   Dave Feaver
7. davidharvey1 says:

   February 15, 2010 at 7:52 pm

   What a very wise and kind man John was; loved his quiet sense of humour too; always very well observed