Michael D G Harris
Died aged 79 on the 2nd November 2020 at home at The Bell at Aston Clinton.
John Dalby (written by his wife)
It is with great sadness to inform you my husband John Dalby passed away on 4th Feb 2021 after a long illness, it was the non Hopkins lymphoma relapsed after 11 years. John is finally at peace. I remember we visited your school a few years ago. John had great memories and fondness of Edge Grove. Michael Guilbride
Michael Guilbride
We are desperately sad to announce the recent death of Mike Guilbride. Edge Grove was a huge part of his life and he truly loved his job. He was still in touch with many former pupils and Edge Grove was never far from his thoughts. He died at home of a suspected heart attack on Friday 30th July 2021 and will be hugely missed by Janet, Suse, Tom and all his grandchildren, to whom he was devoted.
Mike was a teacher and Deputy Head of Edge Grove from 1966 to 2004.
In 1966, soon after graduating from Trinity Dublin, Mike arrived at Edge Grove to teach, among other things, French. In 1975 he married Janet, who had recently arrived at the school as Matron and together they made the school a huge part of their married lives until Mike’s retirement in 2004. In his career he was the archetypal schoolmaster, turning his hand with grace and humour to almost everything from the classroom to boarding house, from the sports field to the Easter French canal holidays and the annual ski trip to the Alps at Tignes. For many years he was half of the annual Christmas and the Leavers’ songs duo which were the highlights of the annual Boarders Christmas party and Leavers’ BBQ. He was a stalwart member of the staff theatrical troupe, when it was called upon to perform - who can forget his portrayal of ‘the wall’ in the rustics scene from Midsummer Night’s Dream on the front lawn as part of a summer garden soiree - always performing with humour and a sense of fun even when his props - usually containing his script – were removed by his fellow participants on-stage. As Deputy Head, in the days well before computers were in use in the school, he was a consummate administrator, calm under pressure, and diplomatic though he never failed to get his point of view across to parents, colleagues or pupils. Fair, firm and friendly, he was an exemplar of a gentleman; good manners were the basis of everything he did and he encouraged the same in all who came in to contact with him. Cricket, soccer and rugby teams were not only coached to a high standard of technical competence but also in sportsmanship and most importantly in how to win and lose magnanimously. His greatest legacy will be the countless pupils in whom he encouraged the self-confidence to have a go, not be afraid of setbacks, and seek their dreams.
