Concert proves poignant for Bromyard school (From Ledbury Reporter)

Concert proves poignant for Bromyard school

9:20am Friday 19th June 2009

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STAFF at Queen Elizabeth Humanities College paid tribute to a former teacher who “inspired generations of students” this week.

Richard Jones, aged 60, passed away at St Michael’s Hospice on Wednesday, June 10 after losing his battle against illness.

In a poignant twist, former colleagues and pupils at the QE and surrounding primary schools had planned two concerts for the Hereford-based hospice on the days after his death.

Hundreds of Bromyard people attended the concerts, on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12, and helped raise more than £2,500 for St Michael’s.

QE headteacher Dr Michael Goodman said: “Richard was a brilliant colleague - intelligent, kindly, diligent and great fun. He inspired generations of students by his teaching and gentlemanly attitude towards everyone. The care he received at St Michael's was second to none. How lovely that we could do something positive in his memory so soon after his passing.”

Mr Jones, who lived for years on Bromyard Downs, before moving to Hereford, started teaching at the QE in 1977 and retired in 2003. He taught maths and Information and Communications Technology.

On Thursday the musicians from the QE performed in their school hall and this was followed the next day by the pupils from the six cluster primary school – Bredenbury, Brockhampton, Burley Gate, Pencombe, St Peter’s and Whitbourne.

The audience were entertained by a wide variety of music from Faure’s Requiem to Alesha Dixon and everything in between.

Head of music at Queen Elizabeth David Kemp said: “Many of the parents who attended would have been taught by Mr Jones.”

He commended the amount raised for the hospice which he said was due to the generosity of local people.

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