John H Weekes (3 Aug 1924 – 8 Jan 2010) – Obituary
January 20, 2010 in Obituaries
Borden’s John inspired the boys
John Weekes, who worked at Borden Grammar School for 39 years, has died aged 85.
John suffered with ill health, mainly due to Parkinson’s disease, for the past few years.
He grew up in Cliffe, near Rochester, and joined the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, qualifying as a pilot in 1944. He flew Tiger Moths, Spitfires and Hurricanes among others and maintained a keen interest in flying until his death. He flew a Tiger Moth for the first time in more than 60 years as part of his 80th birthday celebrations.
After the war, he began work as a teacher at Borden Grammar School, becoming a much respected teacher of PE and woodwork, technical drawing and mathematics. In 1974 he was one of the first to obtain an Open University degree in mathematics.
By the time he retired in 1986, he was head of the sixth form.
In a testimonial given to John, George Hardy, the late former head teacher of Borden Grammar, wrote: “Mr Weekes understands boys, he can draw them out, he can work with them …; he is a popular member of the common room, friendly and witty – liked and respected by all.
“Mr Weekes is the master every head welcomes on his staff – a professional, man of dignity, a friendly person, a man you can turn to for help.”
John loved trains and ran the school’s model railway club. He had kept his boyhood train set and after retirement set it up in the attic of his bungalow, making new tracks himself and fashioning very realistic Pullman carriages out of old oil cans.
His years of flying and navigation gave him a passion for astronomy and in the early 60s he built his own telescope grinding the 6in mirror himself in his spare room.
Later he built an observatory in the garden which housed a bigger 12in reflecting telescope. This enabled him to make more detailed observations and drawings of the planets, particularly the moon. Some of his drawings were published in the British Astronomical Association Magazine.
He inspired pupils at school and many became enthusiastic about astronomy and would come to look through the telescope. At one time he interviewed Patrick Moore at his home for Radio Kent.
After he retired he enjoyed golf, holidays with his late wife, Ceinwen and spending time with his family and friends. He will be sadly missed by his two daughters, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The funeral took place at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing at noon on Friday 22 January.
Article reproduced by kind permission of Christine Rayner, editor East Kent Gazette. Pictures supplied to the EKG by John’s family.
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RobTommo said on January 21, 2010
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.
mcatchlove said on January 21, 2010
Great man, enthusiastic about what he did, and my mum used the teapot stand I made under his tutelage for many years!
Phil Goldacre said on January 21, 2010
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.
Mark Sayer said on January 22, 2010
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.
James Payn said on January 24, 2010
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.
Dave Palmer said on February 7, 2010
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
davidharvey1 said on February 15, 2010
What a very wise and kind man John was; loved his quiet sense of humour too; always very well observed
gpetts said on March 15, 2010
>>> if [only] I’d known then that he’d flown Tiger Moths, Spitfires and Hurricanes……
>>>Perhaps the marque of truly outstanding teacher 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.
+1
Greg Petts
’77-82