David J Edwards

It is with sadness that we report the recent death of David Edwards (teacher 1980-2001). Fellow former teachers Andrew McGregor, Alan Guyver (OB 1963-65), Andrew Stevenson and David Pickthall (OB 1970-77) attended the funeral.

Below, we print the Valete that appeared in The Brentwoodian of  2001.

"When David Edwards joined the Classics Department at Brentwood School in September 1980 he had already taught in three schools and three countries. Having started his career at Hampton Grammar School, after graduating from Keble College, Oxford, he moved to take responsibility for teaching Classics at the United Nations International School in New York. After five years there he went to Athens (a Hellenist's dream) where for five years he was the Principal of the Hellenic International School. He established the school as centre for G.C.E. and International Baccalaureate syllabuses and had responsibility for the curriculum, timetable, staffing and discipline of a thriving establishment. 

With such valuable experiences already in his curriculum vitae he quickly under took a succession of posts of responsibility at Brentwood, as an assistant House- master for Weald, a rugby coach and master i/c the Second XI cricket team. Since 1986 David and his wife, Susan, have looked after boarders, firstly the Junior Boys (in Otway and Mill Hill) and most recently the Girls in Mill Hill. This has been a wonderful partnership to observe. Their care for their charges has been constant and compassionate, inspiring both great affection and gratitude, not least from those parents whose anxieties on behalf of their children were quickly allayed by the supportive atmosphere of the Edwards House. 

Throughout his teaching career David has found ways to include his passion for music to complement his Classics. At all his schools he has trained and been a member of choirs. He is an accomplished singer (former Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court) and pianist. 

David has touched many lives in his time at Brentwood. His pupils, especially those who were in his form as Upper 2, have spoken to me most movingly of his care for them and his enthusiastic teaching of a range of Classical subjects. He has led generations of pupils into a love of classical languages and literature. 

At his best with those able students who responded so successfully to his demanding and stretching regimes of translation and composition in both Greek and Latin, he has contributed enormously to the department's success over the last twenty years and has enriched the lives of countless individual pupils. We shall miss him and the school will greatly miss him and Sue, but it would be churlish of us to deny then this wonderful opportunity to enjoy a long, happy and healthy retirement together. They go with our best wishes and with, we hope, many fond memories of their time at Brentwood School."