Devoted Downs teacher dies

2:25pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

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A TEACHER who devoted almost all his career to the Downs School, Colwall, has died, aged 85.

Donald Boyd, who had been associated with the independent school for over 75 years, as a schoolboy and then a teacher, passed away on Tuesday, May 13.

The funeral was at Worcester Crematorium yesterday (Thursday, May 22), followed by a gathering at the school for friends and family.

Mr Boyd's connection with the school began as a ten-year-old in 1933, when he arrived as boarder from his home in Cheshire. He left after five years as a pupil, only to return in 1947 to begin a 12-year stint as a teacher.

After leaving to work as a master at Hillstone School, in Malvern, Mr Boyd returned to The Downs in 1966 to teach classics. He remained there until he retired in 1988.

Since 1964 he ran the Old Downians society, typing the annual 16-page booklet which was copied and delivered to the society's 1,600 members, and hand-writing all the envelopes, which took a month's worth of evenings every year.

For over 60 years he was at Holly Mount United Reformed Church, Malvern Link, where he was a valued elder.

For many years he voluntarily looked after the gardening at Colwall Railway Station, and he was treasurer of Leominster Conservatives for over 20 years.

Downs head Alastair Ramsay said this week: "Donald was a magnificent servant to the school. As a boy he had a very distinguished record, and later he spent his whole teaching career at the Downs, apart from a few years. He then ran the Old Downians, and he only gave that up two years ago. From my perspective, it's been a complete honour to know him."