8 years ago
Jean Simpson (Laughton)
I was so very sad to hear of the death of Paul Knight. He was the first headmaster at the Malcolm Sargent School in Stamford when it was established in 1970. He recruited me to his staff in 1971, in my first years of teaching, when the school had grown from 14 pupils to nearly 100 and steered the school's progress and growth for 25 years.
He battled to establish a modern school despite the long temporary phase in the old Bluecoat buildings on St Paul's Street. The move to the present site was fraught with problems and for the next twenty years an almost continuous building programme as the school number rose and the town moved out to surround the school.
He was a mentor and friend and as the years have gone by I realise just how much of a debt I owe to him. As a Head Teacher myself I can now see the weight he carried on his shoulders, and the skill with which he kept a stable base for staff and children to grow and blossom, and in my case to transplant his ideals and values to reseed to other generations.
We did not always agree over the years but he set me on the path which has allowed me to support many children whose needs were different to the expected norm, and to lead me to establish my new school at a time when I thought I would be retired.
I have been blessed with the health and strength to achieve a lifetime ambition to have my own school, but could never have done it without such a great example to follow.
Thank you Mr Knight - I still find it hard to call you Paul! Old habits die hard.Many thanks for all you have done! Deepest condolences to your family and friends. Jean xx
£30.00
