Dear Shimelis, and all of the former scholars who have spoken of John
with such appreciation, and Patrick, for your very thoughtful
appreciation
You have spoken powerfully about John. I guess for those of us
teachers for whom this was a first job, he provided a quiet, if
slightly aloof, role model of single-minded dedication and commitment
to high standards for the school.The school and its students were his
life. I am not sure he had time for anything else!
Those Wingate years gave me a number of life-long friends, such as the
late Alan Radermacher who was the best man at my own wedding, Patrick
Gilkes, still with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis, Fev and
Frank Dawson (sadly Frank died last year); Ian and Jill Duffield who
were the reason I returned to do a PhD in African Studies in
Edinburgh. They are both still in Edinburgh
and none more important than Asfaw Yemiru a former Wingate 12th
grader, who John encouraged in Asfaw's determination to start a free
school for the poorest kids just over the wall in Wingate, and to take
leftover food from Wingate to help out initially. John maintained
contact with Asfaw and supported his work,in so many ways over so many
years, and not least by sending young men and women out to work with
Asfaw. I dont know if timothy Kinahan initially went out to Addis via
John, but I am copying him in here, as he has been crucially important
to Asfaw's two school sites over the years, and Asfaw's hundreds and
hundreds of young students, and dedicated teachers.(Asere Hawariat
school)
During one of my two research visits to Addis in the last two years, I
had the privilege to stay with Asfaw and his family just over the
Wingate wall. When I returned to UK, I made a point in going down to
Salisbury rightaway to report to John on the latest from Gefarsa.
He knew in detail about so many of his former pupils, and regaled me
with information about what they were doing and where.
He then, after lunch, at 88 years old, said right it's time you were
off to the station. Took his car and drove me there as he might have
done in Addis in 1962 when I stayed with him in the headmaster's house
on my arrival.
It would be super to hear from Asfaw, and indeed from Fev who with
Frank also kept support for Asfaw going over so many years.
Kenneth (Ato Negussie!)
Remember me:
> For gathering a cadre of elite teachers, whose abilities and
> dedications were unmatched by any in Ethiopia,
> For standing guard over your physical, mental, moral and spiritual well
> being,
> For judging the prince and the pauper amongst you by the same moral code,
> For doing my level best to equip you for the world out there,
> For not raising my voice at you but lead you by example,
> For dreaming of a life that is up right, productive and dignified for you,
> And for visiting you & the school few years before I joined my Maker.
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