Ralph Bailey. R.I.P.

[Sparkologist]

I only found out today that Ralph Bailey, the long serving headmaster of Accrington Grammer School and laterly Moorhead High School passed away on the 2nd of this month. He was headmaster whilst I was at Moorhead.

Here is the obituary notice that I ripped from a local newspaper website:
Ralph Bailey



A POPULAR and respected headteacher has died at the Clitheroe Hospital aged 77.

Accrington-born Mr Ralph Bailey was the last headmaster of the former Accrington Boys’ Grammar School and the first of Moorhead High School when it was formed from a merger of the grammar school and the Girls’ High School in the mid-1970s.
Mr Bailey, of Barrow, near Clitheroe, had spent the last year- and-a-half battling with motor-neurone disease, a degenerative illness which affects the muscles.
After attending Peel Park Primary School and Accrington Boys’ Grammar School, Mr Bailey studied at Cambridge University where he gained a degree in geography.
Following a stint working for ICI he decided teaching was his vocation and went into the profession in the early 1950s.
His first teaching post was at Sutton Coldfield, followed by a job in Stockport before he was appointed head of geography at Stand Grammar School in Whitefield.
In 1967 he became headteacher of Accrington Boys’ Grammar School where he served until it changed to become Moorhead in 1975.
He then remained as headteacher of Moorhead until his retirement in 1984.
This week family, friends and former work colleagues paid tribute to Mr Bailey, describing him as a natural leader who loved the great outdoors.
His son Kenneth, 52, said: “He had a very active life and one of the things he did when he retired was to help blind skiers on holiday trips.
“At the school he also organised an outdoor activity trip to Windermere for Year 9 pupils which was very popular. He was also involved with Clitheroe Golf Club.”
Former colleague Kathleen Jones, who served as Mr Bailey’s deputy, said: “He was a very popular man who loved geography and outdoor activities.
“He was a very lively man to work for and he certainly kept all the staff on their toes. He was also very active and an excellent tennis and badminton player.”
Current Moorhead headteacher Andrew Bateman said: “There are a lot of staff at the school who fondly remember Mr Bailey and a lot of pupils who remember the camps he used to take them on. He was a very dedicated teacher.”
As well as Kenneth, Mr Bailey also leaves daughters Christine, Jacqueline and Susan as well as grandchildren Hamish, Neil, Clare, Callum. Hannah, Harry, Sophie and Lucie. He also leaves a sister Myra who lives in Canada.
Burial will take place at Trinity Methodist Church, Clitheroe, on Tuesday.

[lettie]

R.I.P. Mr Bailey... I never spent as much time in his office as Sparks did but he was a decent headmaster who, I'm sure will be remembered by ex-pupils of Moorhead and Accrington Grammar alike. Condolensces to the Bailey family.

[Sparkologist]

Originally Posted by lettie

R.I.P. Mr Bailey... I never spent as much time in his office as Sparks did but he was a decent headmaster...

Wrong on the first count, but correct about him being a decent headmaster. My presence was never requested for tea and biscuits in Mr Bailey's office, nor during Mrs Jones' term of office. As for the next incumbent, Neville, well that is a whole different story...

[Wynonie Harris]

Very sorry to hear that. I spent my last two years at school under his headship and we had many interesting but usually one-sided conversations along the lines of, "Your hair's too long -get it cut." "You were seen in town smoking in school uniform - don't do it again." "That shirt isn't school uniform - don't wear it again." His parting words to me on leaving day were "Mark my words, you'll come to a sticky end." (To be fair, he had very good reason for saying this, although I prefer not to go into details). Fortunately, I proved his prophecy wrong, although I suppose there's still time.

Still, RIP Ralph.

[SPUGGIE J]

Originally Posted by Sparkologist

Wrong on the first count, but correct about him being a decent headmaster. My presence was never requested for tea and biscuits in Mr Bailey's office, nor during Mrs Jones' term of office. As for the next incumbent, Neville, well that is a whole different story...

Very true and I am familiar with that senario. Its a pity that there are no headteachers left like him or iron britches.


R.I.P Mr Bailey

[grego]

Originally Posted by Sparkologist

Wrong on the first count, but correct about him being a decent headmaster. My presence was never requested for tea and biscuits in Mr Bailey's office, nor during Mrs Jones' term of office. As for the next incumbent, Neville, well that is a whole different story...

Unlike Sparky, I had tea and biscuits with Mr Bailey (only on one occasion) and several visits to Mrs Jones
fortunately for me the cane had just been banned, he was a decent headmaster though, RIP.

[Wynonie Harris]

So, did Katie Jones take over the headship after Ralph retired? Must admit I wouldn't have fancied a visit to her office - a very formidable lady indeed!

[SPUGGIE J]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

So, did Katie Jones take over the headship after Ralph retired? Must admit I wouldn't have fancied a visit to her office - a very formidable lady indeed!

Sadley no we got Terry Neville. At least a visit to his office was a lot easier than to Baileys or Jones (had a few visits )

[Wynonie Harris]

Can't remember Terry Neville; maybe he hadn't started when I was there. He certainly doesn't sound like Ralph or Katie. I would certainly never describe an encounter with either of them as "easy"!

[SPUGGIE J]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Can't remember Terry Neville; maybe he hadn't started when I was there. He certainly doesn't sound like Ralph or Katie. I would certainly never describe an encounter with either of them as "easy"!

I had more than my fair share of run ins with Mrs Jones and always came of second best (even when she taught me history). I still maintain that teachers like Mr Bailey and Mrs Jones are needed today more than ever as to the lily livered PC lovering liberals we have now.

[maxwell silver]

Ralph Bailey was my headmaster all through my time at Accy grammar/Moorhead(last year only).In those 5 years not once did we exchange words,acknowledgments or a "hows your father".As far as he was concerned,i was'nt there.I don't hold this against him in any way.Lets just say he could get on with his job without any extra hassle from the likes of me.And i could get on with mine.Getting through those 5 years.

[SPUGGIE J]

Originally Posted by maxwell silver

Ralph Bailey was my headmaster all through my time at Accy grammar/Moorhead(last year only).In those 5 years not once did we exchange words,acknowledgments or a "hows your father".As far as he was concerned,i was'nt there.I don't hold this against him in any way.Lets just say he could get on with his job without any extra hassle from the likes of me.And i could get on with mine.Getting through those 5 years.

Best way because a visit to his office was not for idle chit chat. To think I had the misfortune to see inside his office in both buildings when at Moorhead.

[maxwell silver]

Idon't know why but Mr "Pinky" White always dealt with my misdemeanors.Maybe i was'nt Catogary A.

[SPUGGIE J]

Originally Posted by maxwell silver

Idon't know why but Mr "Pinky" White always dealt with my misdemeanors.Maybe i was'nt Catogary A.

If a music teacher was dealing with em then you were at the bottom end of the alphabet, unlike some of us.

[maxwell silver]

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J

If a music teacher was dealing with em then you were at the bottom end of the alphabet, unlike some of us.

I don't recall Pinky being a music teacher when i was there.Iknow he did maths.He was the deputy head from 71 till 75 when i left.Mrs Jones was there but even she was lower down the chain of command than Pinky or maybe it all changed when it went comp.Only became Moorhead in my last year and then there was no mixed classes & two seperate camps