OBITUARIES .............................................. the bright new art room in the Valetort Block, an important addition to the existing facilities in basement of Valetort Villa – and he was behind the radical overhaul of the school magazine – The Plymothian. The content and cover were transformed. Derek was responsible for a number of the covers himself. Chris Robinson, Chairman of Governors, and fellow Governor, Ian Penrose, both say they’re indebted to man who chuckled and mumbled
JOHN TRESISE
John was born in Mylor Bridge, Cornwall on 15 May 1943, the son of the village carpenter and undertaker. He attended St Wilfred’s primary and subsequently Hele’s Grammar School in Exeter. John attended Shoreditch Training College, which specialised in the teaching of craft and design. It was during his college years that he met his wife of nearly 50 years, June. John’s teaching career began in South London. He also held posts in Bedfordshire and the West Midlands. His final career move was to Plymouth College in 1981 where he took up the post of Head of Woodwork, a role that was to evolve considerably during his time at the college. Former college students will fondly remember the 1st year wooden spatula projects, Perspex puzzles, and the importance of documenting the design process in the infamous design folio. At the other end of the scale, two A-level Design Students designed and made the altar and lectern for the college chapel. OPM 90
through his beard. Ian, who studied the History of Architecture under Marjorie as part of his A Level Art programme, remembers the two together as making a great team and in turn being hugely influential on his approach to Architecture as a career and now Art generally, as he’s become something of a painter in his retirement. “I’m doing things now that Derek was telling me I should have been doing almost 50 years ago,” he says.
John contributed to other aspects of college life providing much support to the drama department making stage sets and props. His biggest influence to the fabric of the college was the redevelopment of the design department in 1990. The result was an extensive purpose-built facility for teaching integrated design concepts including fabrics, plastics, electronics, pneumatics, wood and metal technologies. It boasted one of the country’s best-equipped school CAD facilities. John held several prestigious posts including treasurer of the National Association for Design Education, involvement with ‘The Men of the Trees’, and as a founder member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, helped to establish their visitor’s centre in Bovey Tracy. Perhaps his finest accolade was as national treasurer of the Independent Schools Craft Design and Technology Association. He was instrumental in establishing the Stuart Pugh Award for excellence in A Level design, and was responsible for securing prestigious locations for the award ceremonies; including the design centre of Rover Cars, Hewlett Packard and a major TV studio. In recognition of this contribution, John was awarded an IEd honorary membership. His work in this area proved influential in the development and expansion of design and technology education in independent schools in the early 1990’s. Outside of the academic arena, John embraced cricket with a passion. He was an active team member in village teams, and a
qualified umpire. He played a big part in the college First XI who he took on tours to Holland and Denmark and to inter-schools’ festivals in the UK. This devotion paid off, resulting in the position of vice chairman of the West Devon Umpires Association; followed by appointment to the role of manager of the Devon U19 squad. Here he had the opportunity to mentor his protégé, Chris Read; who went on to play for England. In 2003 John was diagnosed with a degenerative heart condition. A glint of hope appeared in 2013 in the form of stem cell
PHILIP LIDDICOAT
Philip Liddicoat, who died in January this year aged 94, was a musician whose music marked the great occasions in the lives of Plymothians and their city across many decades. As organist at St Andrew’s Church for 33 years he played at a great many civic occasions and directed the music for over 30 years at the city’s mother church. He was also musical director of Plymouth Philharmonic Choir for 18 years and founded and led other ensembles and taught music in schools and privately for more than 40 years. A member of Plymouth and District Organist’s Association, he was its president on three different occasions. However, after leaving Plymouth College there seemed no prospect of a career in music, and Philip started work in a bank. Teaching did hold an appeal, though, and it was this that provided a pathway into music.
implantation - a pioneering technique that was undergoing clinical trials. The specifics of his condition made him an excellent candidate for the procedure at the London Chest Hospital, funded by the Heart Cells Foundation. Sadly, by the time he was admitted for the procedure his condition had deteriorated. He passed away peacefully, in October 2014, surrounded by his close family. We extend our condolences to his wife June, son Paul, daughter Helen and grandchildren Joe, Elizabeth and Samuel. At a time when new recruits to the profession were being sought, Philip left to train at Birmingham and Exmouth, and, after qualifying, taught at Compton Primary, and then at the former Stoke Damerel High School for Girls, where he met his wife-to-be, Janet. She was a trainee teacher there, and went on to become Head of Classics at St Dunstan’s Abbey, as well as a driving force behind the annual Plymouth Music Festival. As Musical Director of the Plymouth Philharmonic choir, a post from which he retired in 1996’ Philip is remembered for bringing great encouragement and enthusiasm. Philip Buttall, classical music writer for the Plymouth Herald wrote: “Those of us who sang with Philip will mourn his passing with sadness and remember him with great affection and gratitude. “Philip introduced us to many of the major choral works, interpreted with meticulous attention to every musical detail and his deep feeling for the music. “Many of these works have become part of the choir’s repertoire. Without Philip’s commitment and inspired leadership in those years the PPC would not be the choir it is today. “Throughout his life, in a great many ways, Philip helped maintain the highest standards of classical choral music in the city.” OPM 91