Tribute to a great man (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Tribute to a great man

9:27am Friday 30th July 2010 in

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Sir.–I should like to pay a personal tribute to Lawrence Shaw, founder headmaster of Brighton Hill School, who died on July 22.

I was appointed founder headmaster of Bishop Challoner School, which was scheduled to open in September 1975, along with Brighton Hill.

Coming from my previous appointment in Leicestershire, I arrived in Basingstoke when Hampshire was undergoing one of its many reorganisations.

Consequently, there was little offered to a newly-arrived head in the form of induction.

Having taken up my appointment in April 1975, I discovered that the head of the other new school had already served as a deputy head in Basingstoke and I quickly made his acquaintance.

From that moment, and for the next 35 years, Lawrie Shaw became my very good friend and colleague. I admired him enormously for the high all-round standards of his school, his values, his humanity, his culture, his deep kindness and generosity, his courage and his immense good humour.

Headship can sometimes be a lonely task but I never felt alone when Lawrie was at the end of a telephone. “Hey, Lawrenzo!”

“Hey, Paolo!” our conversation would begin. There would be some moments of laughter before the problem, if any, was aired. Afterwards, I always felt uplifted and affirmed.

Since retirement Lawrie and his lovely wife, Hazel, have kept in close touch with Ann and myself. We shall miss him deeply and shall retain rich memories of a great man.

–Paul Connolly, Yew Tree Close, Oakley, Basingstoke.