Browse Sections

• Business
• Education
• Special reports

Former head passes away

Jo Rostron
15/ 3/2006

A FORMER St Joseph's headmaster, described as a teacher ahead of his time, has died at the age of 72.

Joseph Jones was at the helm of the Pot Hall school between 1970 and 1985 and pre-empted modern trends by putting the school at the heart of the community.

His widow Pat, who also taught at the school, said: "He had a real knack for predicting what would happen in education trends before they actually did.

"In Heywood he was very keen on the school being involved in the community and he was a driver for meals on wheels most of the time he was there.

"He began the tradition of holding a Christmas party for the town's elderly people where the staff used to go and pick them up, then entertainment would be provided by the pupils and refreshments laid on. It became an annual event they looked forward to.

"He was a good singer and a fan of amateur dramatics in his younger days so he and the deputy head, Paul O'Rourke were always a big hit when they performed The Road to Mandalay as a duet."

Mr Jones, who had lived on Langley since 1965, was also heavily involved in the shake-up of secondary education in the borough in the early 1980s, which saw St Joseph's become a high school.

His passion for education was taken up by his seven children, all of whom gained degrees, with three following in his footsteps to become teachers.

Mrs Jones, 71, added: "He placed a high value on education not only for his family but for his pupils and set very high standards for them.

"He was a strict headmaster but he was always very caring, putting the needs of other people first. He was a loving husband and dearly loved father, grandfather and more recently great grandfather."

And while teaching may have been his professional calling, his other great passion was his garden. A member of both Heywood and Middleton horticultural clubs, he took top prizes at their shows for his vegetables year on year, with pride of place going to his onions.

He was also a well known face in Heywood and Middleton crown green bowling circles and keen snooker player, picking up a host of trophies for his efforts.

Mrs Jones, who was married to Joseph for 49 years, said: "Whatever he turned his hand to, he did well.

"He was a man who believed if a job's worth doing it's worth doing properly and, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing now."

In addition to his wife and children, family man Mr Jones leaves behind 13 grandchildren, soon to be 15 as two of his daughters are expecting, and one great grandchild.

Most recent 1 of 1 user comments