In remembrance of Clifford Ashby, former Deputy Head at King's

The King’s School community was saddened to learn that much-loved former teacher and Deputy Head, Mr Clifford Ashby, passed away in October.

Clifford Ashby was a dominant figure at King’s over three decades.  Arriving in 1960 from Lord Wandsworth College, Basingstoke, his initial appointment was as Head of Science, to which he quickly added the responsibilities of Housemaster of School House and Careers Master from 1963.  When Pat David became Headmaster in 1969, Mr Ashby was promoted to Second Master, which at that time was the term used to describe the position of Deputy Head. 

Working with prodigious energy in this role from 1969 until 1990, Mr Ashby was at the centre of most developments that took place at King’s in these years of rapid development.  Between 1971 and 1976 he took on the additional role of Housemaster of Wardle House and lived on the school site with his family; in 1979 he was Acting Head during the Headmaster’s sabbatical term.

A hugely respected teacher of Physics, Mr Ashby also had a love of sport, in particular rugby and cricket.  His enforcement of discipline often involved him in difficult decision-making, but his fairness and sense of understanding were generally acknowledged.  He was a great promoter of the concept of the school as a community and used his regular Thursday Chapel talks to emphasise the mutual bonds and standards of courtesy that held members of the school together.  He also acted as examinations officer and supervised all the arrangements for O levels and A levels in person.  He particularly enjoyed his chairmanship of the School Council and his work as Secretary of the Old Boys’ Society. 

He retired in 1990 and was commended by Pat David in the School Magazine of that year as having had ‘a greater influence on the school during the post-war years than anyone else, with the possible exception of Tom Brown’. In retirement Mr Ashby remained in close touch with the school, organising a number of hugely successful reunions for former pupils and returning in 2015 to mark the occasion of his ninetieth birthday with a celebratory lunch in Paddock House.