Tributes to teacher who led from the front
Terry O’Flynn, a headteacher of Blessed George Napier RC School for two decades, has passed away at the age of 78.
Mr O’Flynn led the school through a determined effort by education bosses to close BGN in favour of a larger Banbury School campus in the 1970s.
In a combined effort with the town’s Catholic leader at that time, Mgr Corrigan, he managed to ward off the threat to the only RC secondary school serving Banbury and Bicester.
Mr O’Flynn died on March 11 at Brooklands Nursing Home, where he had been cared for over the past three years. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s.
His wife Maureen said: “One of his greatest achievements was saving the school when Oxfordshire County Council wanted to shut it and open a Catholic hall at Banbury School.
“They wanted all the schools on that side of the town under the Banbury School umbrella.”
Mr O’Flynn trained at St Mary’s College, Strawberry Hill, London. His first appointment was at St Thomas More School, Bristol, where he taught history, English and drama.
“Terry taught anyone anything – he could teach Eskimos to fish! He became head of lower school and his head was able to leave everything to him. He came to BGN as head in 1974 and stayed until his retirement in 1994,” said Mrs O’Flynn.
Mr O’Flynn taught drama to sixth form students at BGN and his school and community plays were hugely popular, involving pupils, parents and staff.
A spokesman for BGN said: “Mr O’Flynn was the second headteacher of Blessed George Napier. He was an inspirational head and led the school through a time of growth. He had the welfare of each pupil at heart and was well received by pupils and teachers alike. He and his family are in our prayers.”
Mr O’Flynn leaves Maureen, daughters Ruth, Sarah and Rachel and sons Matthew and Dominic. His funeral will beheld at St John’s RC Church, Banbury at 11am on Monday.
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Weather for Banbury
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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