Page 69 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

she would have moved abroad and used 12 years there, Helen received excellent
her teaching skills there. She lived with care and support from her family. Michael,
her brother, Michael, for a while before he his wife, and their three daughters moved
met his now wife, Sarah, and they moved to Ireland, and they would continue to
to Birstall. visit regularly. Helen also had many letters
and photographs from friends in various OBITUARIES
After undergoing some tests in her late corners of the world, which were such a
twenties, Helen was diagnosed with delight to read and share.
multiple sclerosis. During this time, her
mother, Sandra, lost a very short battle with We are blessed to have had such a shining
cancer. Such a traumatic event impacted light in our lives. Helen was incredibly
on Helen’s condition and, over the next few brave, proud, and strong. We will always
years, she needed more assistance with miss her, but we will never forget her
daily activities. She moved back home to beautiful smile, and her warm, kind, and
live with her dad, Hugo. Despite her efforts caring nature. Our Helen.
to maintain her independent lifestyle, the
nature of her ‘progressive aggressive’ Alison Court (née Mason) (98)
diagnosis saw her move to a specialist Cousin
neurological clinic in Leicester. During her

EDWARD FRANCIS BRENNAN

JUNE 10TH 1923 – JUNE 24TH 2019
RATCLIFFE COLLEGE CHAIR OF GOVERNORS 1986 – 1988

Ted was born into a working-class family first became aware of the Catenians and,
in Hunslet, Leeds, in 1923 – a family that more importantly, where he met his wife-
would eventually comprise Mum and Dad, to-be, Molly.
Ted, his three brothers, and two sisters. In
an autobiography produced quite late in Ted was discharged from the RAF in
his life, he remembers those early days in February 1947, and in April of that year,
Leeds, when most houses were lit by gas he and Molly married. He then had to give
mantles on the ground floor and candles consideration to his future career and
on upper floors, with no indoor toilets, decide whether to go back to the bank or
and a zinc bath for the weekly bath nights. pursue another avenue. At the time, the
It was a time before the welfare state. University of Leeds was offering places
Doctor’s bills were collected in weekly on degree courses to ex-servicemen, and
instalments, and both doctors and dentists Ted, on the strength of his matriculation,
were avoided where possible, because of enrolled on a course leading to a Bachelor
the costs involved. of Arts degree. Having decided to follow
a career in teaching, he then completed
Having won a governor’s scholarship, Ted a one-year course at the Leicester
was educated at St Michael’s College, Postgraduate School of Education. On
Leeds. He was a bright pupil, winning completion of his studies, Ted and Molly
various school prizes, and ending his set up home in Leicester, and Ted accepted
school career by matriculating, which his first teaching post at Christ the King
meant that he had the necessary academic Primary School. This was to be the first
qualifications for university entrance. appointment in a distinguished career
On leaving school, Ted worked as a junior which culminated in the headship of English
clerk, including a period at Barclays Bank. Martyrs in Leicester, a comprehensive
Ted Brennan, who died on June 24th In July 1942, he received his call-up papers school with over 1,000 pupils.
2019 at the age of 96, was a popular and for the RAF and spent the war years as an
well-respected member of the Catenian armourer and, later, an instructor. Towards Beyond his career in teaching, Ted used
Association for over 50 years, having joined the end of 1944, he was posted to RAF his talents in a wide variety of spheres.
the Leicester Circle in June 1965, where Leicester East, now Stoughton Aerodrome, Early in his career, in addition to his
he served as president in 1976. In 2015, and later to RAF stations at Syerston and day job, he was a tutor, and then tutor
he moved circles, joining the Kirby Muxloe Wymeswold. Whilst serving at Stoughton, organiser, at Leicester Prison. He was, for
Circle, where he remained a member until Ted was invited to a Christmas party many years, a member of the Diocesan
his death. organised by the Leicester Circle, where he Schools Commission, and he later became
The Old Ratcliffian 2020 69