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- John lives in Westbury-on-trym, Bristol. He was the Headmaster of a large Comprehensive School. He did his national service in Cyprus with the King's Regiment.
Ray?s education first started at Meliden School in North Wales at the age of five, when the family was evacuated from Liverpool during the blitz. After this period the family returned to Liverpool where he continued his education and enjoyed many happy years at St Phillip?s Primary School, Litherland, before passing a scholarship to Merchant Taylors? School Crosby. At Merchants? he proved himself to be good academically, but also enjoyed other activities such as scouts, Army Training Corps, walking, climbing and camping. Often he would say I?m just off for a bike ride and eventually after some hours would phone to say he was in the Lake District! This obviously was the start of his extremely adventurous and interesting lifestyle and his love of Kendal mint cake. Ray?s first job after leaving school in 1954 was as a Civil Servant for The Admiralty in Westminster, London. He then went directly to do his National Service for two years starting at Formby Barracks, followed by Officer Training at Eaton Hall in Chester, and passing out as a 2nd Lieutenant for the King?s Regiment. He was recruited to the Intelligence Corps in Cyprus meeting and inspecting in-coming ships for illegal substances and arms along the Mediterranean. On one such occasion he was greeted by the Ship?s Captain.who just happened to be his cousin Brian Cormack and ended up being treated to dinner what a coincidence!
After completing his National Service he turned down an offer of staying in the military or to further his education. He went to Bristol University to read Modern Foreign Languages and graduated Hons 2.2. It was also during this time that he met his future wife-to-be, Shirley, and they became engaged in 1960. His first teaching post was at Newquay Grammar School in 1961. Also, it was not long after that they married (in 1962) and lived happily in Cornwall until 1964 when their first child Rosie was born. Then Ray felt the need for change and they moved back to Bristol and he took a post at Lawrence Weston Comprehensive School until 1968, when he became Head of Lower School at Portway. In 1970 he became Deputy Head of St. Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, and became Head in 1974, where he remained until his retirement in 1996. during this time Ray and Shirley were happily married and had two more daughters, Katie and Jenny. All three have done extremely well and Ray was indeed very proud of them all. In turn they have produced 7 grandchildren 5 granddaughters and 2 grandsons all of whom he loved dearly. Over 400 people attended his funeral at Holy Trinity Church, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, on November 3rd 2014.
Obit: Bristol Post.
Ray Eachus, The Former Headmaster of St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, has died aged 78, Born on 7th March 1936, he was fiercely proud of Liverpool, where he lived with his parents and younger sister Gill. He went to Merchant Taylors School in Crosby and worked at the Admiralty before National Service in Cyprus, searching for Mines. He studied at Bristol University where he met his future wife Shirley. The Couple who celebrated their Golden Wedding two years ago, had three children and seven grandchildren, Ray started his teaching career in Newquay before returning to Bristol to teach at Lawrence Weston and Portway schools.
Ray was the Headmaster of St Mary Redcliffe from 1974 to 1996. It was said he transformed the school into an outstanding institution. He also served on Bristol University Council. Ray died at the BRI on October the 20th, and his funeral will be at Westbury -on-Trim Parish Church at 11am on Monday
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1936 - 2014 (78 years)
