Back in November two of the School’s most distinguished and well-liked former teachers, Father Edmund O’Shea and Mr William Mogford, reached the end of their lives.  They both contributed greatly to the welfare and high standards of the School, and their passing has affected many Old Boys as though they were undergoing personal loss.  Anthony Kenney at School 1941-1950, has sent in the following appreciation of Father O’Shea:-

 Father Edmund O’Shea, R.I.P.

It says much for any teacher that forty-five years after leaving a school, some twenty-five former pupils found their way to a Seminary Church tucked away in the countryside for that teacher's funeral. But for those who knew Ed O'Shea it came as no surprise.  

The John Fisher School first came to know Ed in September 1944. He had by then been ordained three years having spent these years in Cambridge University reading for an English degree. Memories are dim about the early years but he was a man of such character that he was quietly able to sustain perfect discipline and respect with the odd word or merely by "being there". Needless to say his main role was that of a teacher of English and having sat at the feet of Dr Leavis at University he was able to set high standards in the sixth form and send a number of his pupils back to Downing College to hear the great man in their turn. He was great success.

My recollection was not along these lines but two others. Early on I re-call he made part of his English teaching into mini debates when terrified midteenagers had to face the class on their feet and propose or defend some viewpoint lucidly and coherently or, at least, that was the idea. But under his charitable guidance we did come to do it and many had reason to be truly grateful to Ed for the skills we acquired and took into adult life.

The second main innovation he introduced into the JFS during the later forties was to establish an after school society which came to be called the SECAS (the Society for the E??? of Culture, the Arts and Sciences). This society of sixth formers met at 4.31 p.m. each Monday afternoon for about an hour during which, for most evenings, one or other member presented a paper and defended challenges. The range of topics was wide and through this medium the JFS was establishing in a fun way the-later A/L General Studies courses. The minutes of these meetings were part of the entertainment and should be archived if these still exist.

Ed's contributions to the school were, with hindsight, quite exceptional but first and foremost he was a priest of great devotion and belief. So, on leaving the JFS he joined the parish at St Leonards as parish priest for five years and then set out for an eight year mission to a village in Chile where he assisted the Columban Fathers. We were told at his funeral that Ed had two profound conversions during life - one as a teenager in the seminary which led him to make a promise to devote 15 minutes to spiritual reading every day without fail which he did till he died. Secondly, in Chile he came to understand and live a preferential option for the poor and he lived "as the poor, very simply and frugally. He became King of the poor in their struggle for human dignity as sons and daughters of God". He returned in poor health but once fit he had a ministry to priests for some years before he became Spiritual Director to the students at St John's Seminary. The tales of his life at this period displayed his love of music, talent as a composer for the guitar and how he used these talents to come close and to be trusted by the students. He would bring his guitar to entertain at evening get-togethers and was even in his eighties seen in pantomimes!

He always had a soft spot for the JFS and wrote back from Chile excusing himself from an Old Boys' Dinner by saying he was praying on a mountain top. My last memory of Ed was one Sunday morning in the Weybridge parish 53 years after leaving school. At the back I couldn't see who was celebrating Mass but knew instantly when Father Ed made the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass. I waited to speak to him after Mass and started by “You won't remember me, but my name is…”  “Yes” he said, “and how is your brother Pat”. Lively and with it to the last.

He died on 19th November 2004 . God bless him and may he rest in peace.

Father James McGillicuddy, parish priest of Our Lady of the Rosary, Sutton, has sent in a copy of the homily which he gave at Our Lady of the Rosary on Mr Mogford’s funeral Mass on the 29^th November.

Mr William Mogford, R.I.P.  

The first reading (1 Thessalonians 4:13 -18) has 3 important messages for us: first, the resurrection of Jesus Christ; second, our resurrection; third, a message of comfort for the bereaved. In the light of these, let us reflect on the life of Bill Mogford.

 He was born in Paris in 1922. His mother was French, his father was English. He had three sisters, two of whom are still alive one in Paris and one in Canada .

Two of his nephews - Jean Louis and Pierre, sons of his sister Loulou - are here with us having arrived by Eurostar from Paris this morning. Bill lived in France until the age of eleven. He was then sent to school in England , to Mayfield College near Tunbridge Wells. He was in England at the start of the Second World War. He joined the British army and saw active service in the Sicily landings. At the end of the war he returned to France , having not seen his family for five years. He later went to St. Andrew's University where he received an M.A. degree.  He began teaching French at The John Fisher School in 1951. He retired in 1984. The school is represented here by Father Richard Fawssett (who is concelebrating this Mass) and by members of staff.  

In 1954 Bill married Dorothy at the Church of Our Lady of Muswell, Muswell Hill, London . Earlier this year they celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their marriage. In 1956 they came to live in Thicket Road, Sutton and in 1970 they moved to Redruth House, Grange Road, Sutton where they have lived ever since.  

Bill will be remembered as a kind-hearted man, with a keen interest in cycling - especially the Tour de France. He was strongly committed to his Catholic faith. Until his final illness he came each Sunday to the 10.30am Mass here. He was easily recognised with his zimmer frame. He and I frequently joked about his mode of transport. It was always a pleasure to meet this kind and decent man on Sunday mornings. Recently he suffered two strokes. In his final two months he was cared for at Carshalton Nursing Home, Salisbury Road .  

Bill made far more effort than most to be at Mass every Sunday and to receive Holy Communion. We pray for him, that the Bread which came down from Heaven (Gospel reading, John 6:51 -58) will now have brought him to fullness of life with God. This is the season of Advent. Early on in Advent we think in particular of the second coming of Christ at the end of time. Bill's life in this world is over. We pray for him, that God will purify him of all stain of sin and bring him to Heaven. We are still in the month of November, when we are reminded of the power of our prayers to help our friends and relatives who have died. As well as praying for Bill, we also give thanks to God for his life, his faith and goodness. In particular we give thanks for the many children he taught and helped during his years at the John Fisher School .  

We pray also for Dorothy that God may comfort and support her during this time of loss and sadness. They had a good marriage, for which she can feel very proud. May God help her and all of us to look forward in hope to being reunited with Bill in the company of Our Lady, the angels and saints in the presence of God in Heaven.

Teddie Leslie, R.I.P.

There was a tribute to Teddie Leslie, who died last June, in the October Newsletter.  Audrey Lacey, widow of Cecil Lacey, at school 1932-1937, wrote to Michael Thelwell when she heard of the sad news, and Michael has passed the letter on to me, part of which is given here:-

‘Thank you for informing me of the death of Teddie Leslie.  As you may know, Charles (Cecil to his school friends) was actually best man at his wedding.  This was because Teddie’s brother, who was to have been best man, had become ill with measles, and Charles happened to be around on leave from the Army.  It was on Charles’s return from this leave in January 1942 that I first met him and heard the news of the wedding of Teddie and Patience.  We have kept in touch but have not visited each other frequently as we spent the first 26 years of our married life in Yorkshire .  I think the last time we met was at their Golden Wedding celebration.  (This was in 1992 when after Mass in Arundel Cathedral, celebrated by Canon Tony Whale we repaired to the George and Dragon Inn, Burpham, for a delectable lunch.  Ed.)   There I met, among others, Tony Leftwich who had previously been only a name to me, and at the lunch we sat with Louis de la Torre and his wife, and very much enjoyed their company.  You can imagine the reminiscing, I am sure.  I still drive short distances, but back trouble and arthritis make travelling by public transport very difficult, so I’m afraid I shall not be able to attend the Requiem Mass.  As I have told Patience, I shall be thinking of them all and shall remember them in my prayers.  Yours sincerely, Audrey.’